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Astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Suuni Williams He returned home safely on 18 March after being stuck at the International Space Station (ISS) for 286 days.
The duo created history in June 2024 as part of the Boeing’s Starliner test flight to the ISS, but what was supposed to be an eight -day mission stretched for more than nine months due to technical problems. SpaceX finally sent the Dragon Crew-8 spacecraft to bring two astronauts home this week, with a vessel safely landing safely off the coast of Florida after a 17-hour journey. Now that Wilmore and Williams met with their families, Starliner will face the questions why his test mission failed.
Continue to move for a complete overview of the planned Wilmore and Williams test mission, what they can expect when they are at home and reactions from important personalities:
What happened
The former NASA astronauts Wilmore and Williams were originally supposed to participate in an eight -day Boeing’s Starliner mission when their craft took off on June 5, 2024. The mission was designed to test the viability of rotating commercial commercial missions, but Boeing faced unexpected obstacles.
Helia leaks were a recurring problem throughout the Starliner’s journey, forcing flight regulators to close two helium pipes, which in turn deactivated 6 out of 28 Thrusteers of the Starnder Reaction System. This problem has been sufficiently repaired to move the Starliner forward with planned docking to the International Space Station.
However, as Starliner approached the ISS, the mission teams found that eight Thrusters reaction management of the craft response ceased to work. Wilmore and Williams were forced to keep the Starliner in the stages outside the non -flush zone of the space station until the mission crews on the ground were able to reset the nozzles with a number of tests.
Once Wilmore and Williams were safely on board ISS, NASA decided in September 2024 to bring Starliner back to the ground without performing further testing on board. This left Wilmore and Williams basically stuck at the space station until NASA started a rescue mission in March.
At the time of Wilmore and Williams, 286 days (or nine months) in space, which is significantly longer than a six -month mission that astronauts normally take on to the International Space Station.
Wilmore told reportersFrom the space, in March: “We came ready to stay long, even though we planned to stay briefly.”
“That’s what the human cosmic flight is about,” he continued. “Planning unknown, unexpected unforeseen events. And we did.”
Rescue
Wilmore and Williams were originally ready to leave the space station on June 14, 2024, but this date was repeatedly pushed back until NASA decided to bring Starliner back to the ground so that he did not shorten.
“We don’t feel abandoned. We don’t feel jamming. We don’t feel stuck. I understand why others can think of it,” Wilmore said CNN in February. “We have come ready, we will come determined.”
While NASA and Boeing worked on a rescue plan, Wilmore and Williams conducted more than 900 hours of research, according to on Joel MontalbanoDeputy administrator of the Directorate Directorate Space Operations Mission.
President Donald Trump He ordered NASA to move his schedule for a rescue mission when he joined office in January. In response, NASA made changes in its flight plan by choosing a SpaceX capsule for a mission for about $ 100 to $ 150 million, according to Reuters.
March 18 Wilmore and Williams left the ISS to join two other astronauts, NASA Nick haag and Russian astronaut Aleksanddr GorbunovOn board the spacecraft of the crew for a 17 -hour journey back to the ground.
Dragon SpaceX safely landed off the coast of Florida around 17:57 et. The cameras were on the scene to capture the moment Wilmore and Williams got out of the dragon and first retreated to the ground.
What will be next
Wilmore and Williams now could face various physical and emotional challenges after their nine -month stay at the International Space Station.
According to ReutersPeople who tolerate lengthy periods in microgravity can face swelling of the face and potential vision problems due to increased skull pressure. Astronauts may also notice the loss of bone density and muscle atrophy and blood pressure irregularities.
In addition, they regularly tolerate complications of balance and coordination, as soon as they return home, plus the possibility of psychological stress and change of sleep due to life in isolation for a long time.
Given that Wilmore and Williams were originally closed on an eight -day mission, but spent more than 900 hours of research at the time of their rescue, NASA was concerned about getting overtime in addition to their reported salary.
Eight former SpaceX employees have filed a lawsuit against the Aerospace Company and its CEO Elon Musk. On Wednesday, June 12, submissions acquired by the US Weekly, former employees claim that Musk has run a workplace that “(treated) women as sexual objects to be evaluated on a bra size”. In addition to sexual (…)
“When NASA astronauts are on board an international space station, they receive regular 40 -hour work wages. People. “While in space there are NASA astronauts on official travel orders as federal employees, so their transport, accommodation and meals are provided
As far as Starliner is concerned, the NASA commercial crew manager Steve stich He told reporters before the rescue mission that Boeing would have to mount another test flight – a potentially unabled – before doing regular missions to the ISS with a human crew.
“We would like to make the flight and then get into the rotary crew flight,” he said. “So the next flight up would really test all the changes we make in the vehicle, and then another fight for it we really have to get Boeing into the crew rotation. That’s a strategy.”
Stich later confirmed that Boeing was in the process of organizing another Starliner test mission, after speculation that it could be too expensive to invest for the airline.
“(We) we work hand in hand with boeing also in Starliner certification and get this vehicle back to flight,” he said via Via BBC News.
Reaction
CEO SpaceX Elon Musk He appeared on Fox News 18 March to thank his rescue crew for the safe bringing two stuck astronauts.
“Thanks to the excellent work of the SpaceX team, which works with NASA, astronauts are now safely at home. So congratulations to SpaceX / NASA teams for excellent work,” he said.
Jimmy Fallon illuminated the rescue mission during his opening monologue in March 18 The tonight show.
Fallon joked, “Today, astronauts Boeing, who were imprisoned at the International Space Station for nine months, have finally returned to Earth. Right now they are the first people in history who sincerely sent someone,” Sorry, just saw it! “
“Yeah, they have been up there for nine months, or what two astronauts said,” we are three now, “Fallon added.
Millions around the world documented social media, what it was like to watch, how Wilmore and Williams return home after their unexpectedly long stay in space.
“At the age of the division, we realize a success that goes beyond policy: the safe return of our astronauts. This extraordinary act is evidence of human ingenuity, perseverance and unlimited possibilities of science and engineering,” ” The largest loser star Jillian Michaels wrote over X. “It reminds us that when we direct our collective efforts to explore and discovery, we will achieve the impossible. Today we celebrate not only the individuals who have embarked on this journey, but a generation of visionaries, scientists and engineers who allowed this moment. @Spacex.”
Happy days legend Henry Winkler Shared“Astronauts are at home … what moment !!!! Welcome back to the ground.”
NASA manager Janet Petro said Her team was “enthusiastic” to welcome all four astronauts back to the ground after a successful rescue mission.
“Through preparation, ingenuity and determination, we achieve common things in favor of humanity and push the boundaries of what is possible from the low orbit of the Earth to the Moon and Mars,” Petro said.
