NASA Astronauts Nearing Earth Return After 9 Months

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Two astronauts from NASA, who have been in space for nine months, are looking forward to their long-awaited return to Earth in just a few weeks. Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have been aboard the International Space Station and are eagerly anticipating their journey home, which is set to occur later this month. Before they can depart, however, they must await the arrival of their replacements, expected to reach the space station next week.

The duo will be embarking on their return trip alongside two other astronauts who initially launched in September, with two empty seats available on their SpaceX spacecraft. During a news conference on Tuesday, Wilmore addressed the limited role politics played in the adjustment of their return date, which was moved forward by a few weeks due to a change in the SpaceX capsules. This change came after President Donald Trump and SpaceX’s Elon Musk expressed a desire to hasten their return, citing decisions made by the previous administration.

In a response to a question, Williams also expressed her disapproval of Musk’s recent suggestion to decommission the space station within two years rather than adhering to NASA’s plan to do so in 2031. She emphasized the vast amount of scientific research being conducted at the facility, underscoring its continuing value. “This place is ticking. It’s just really amazing, so I would say we’re actually in our prime right now,” Williams remarked, having been a resident of the space station on three occasions. “I would think that right now is probably not the right time to say quit, call it quits.”

Williams is particularly excited about reuniting with her Labrador retrievers upon returning to Earth, though she acknowledged that the unexpected extension of her stay has been challenging for the families who await their return. “It’s been a roller coaster for them, probably a little bit more so than for us,” she said. “We’re here. We have a mission. We’re just doing what we do every day, and every day is interesting because we’re up in space and it’s a lot of fun.”

Originally, Wilmore and Williams had anticipated a brief mission of about a week last June when they launched aboard Boeing’s Starliner capsule, which was making its crew debut after numerous delays. However, the Starliner encountered significant difficulties in reaching the space station safely, prompting NASA to declare it unsafe for human passengers, resulting in an empty return. The astronauts’ return was further delayed due to the additional time required to complete a new SpaceX capsule, initially intended to deliver their replacements.

In a recent update, NASA disclosed that the next crew would launch using a previously flown capsule, allowing for a March 12 liftoff. Once the new crew arrives, the current astronauts will have a week-long overlap before Wilmore and Williams, accompanied by NASA’s Nick Hague and the Russian Space Agency’s Alexander Gorbunov, will leave the station.

Throughout their extended stay, Wilmore and Williams, both retired Navy captains and seasoned space travelers, have affirmed their health and dedication to their mission, regardless of its duration. Earlier in the year, the pair conducted a spacewalk together. They have opted for generic SpaceX flight suits for their return journey in the Dragon capsule, as this particular trip home was not originally anticipated. Despite this, they remain content with their gear, with Wilmore humorously considering personalizing his suit with a pen. “We’re just Butch and Suni,” Williams stated. “Everybody knows who we are by now.”