New Astronauts Arrive

The four astronauts, representing the United States, Japan, and Russia, will undergo a familiarization period with the ISS, learning its operations from current crew members Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams. Following this onboarding, Wilmore and Williams are set to return to Earth in their own SpaceX capsule, which has been stationed at the ISS since last year.

Extended Missions and Delays

Wilmore and Williams had anticipated a brief stay of just one week during their mission, which was launched aboard Boeing’s inaugural crewed flight. However, their mission has now extended to nine months, far exceeding original expectations. The prolonged stay has resulted from complications with the Boeing Starliner capsule, which faced numerous technical issues that led NASA to send it back to Earth without its test pilots.

Spacecraft Challenges

Upon returning to the ISS, Wilmore and Williams were welcomed with hugs and handshakes as they floated in through the hatch. “It was a wonderful day. Great to see our friends arrive,” Williams remarked to Mission Control upon the newcomers’ arrival.

Initially, the SpaceX capsule that was to bring them home arrived in September but was only able to carry a reduced crew due to delays. More recently, the required battery repairs on their replacement capsule further pushed back their return, necessitating the use of an older capsule that has delayed their departure by several weeks to mid-March.

Return Timeline

If weather conditions permit, the SpaceX capsule that will take Wilmore, Williams, and their two fellow astronauts will detach from the ISS no earlier than Wednesday. The planned splashdown is set to take place off the coast of Florida.

In the meantime, the ISS will host a total of 11 astronauts hailing from the U.S., Russia, and Japan, showcasing international collaboration in space exploration.