What was meant to be a weeklong trip to outer space, turned into nine months.
On Tuesday evening, astronauts Sunita (Suni) Williams and Barry (Butch) Wilmore, landed off the coast of Tallahassee in the Gulf of Mexico after being in space for 278 days longer than anticipated.
The two astronauts were initially part of the first crewed flight test of Boeing’s Starliner. However, due to helium leaks and a manufacturing thruster, NASA deemed it unsafe for human travel. The organization ultimately decided to keep the two veteran astronauts in space, with the astronauts safely docking at the International Space Station (ISS).
Sarah Gallagher, the director of the Institute for Earth & Space Exploration at Western University, notes it’s abnormal for astronauts to be in space for longer than intended.
“Usually, their missions are extremely carefully controlled and planned. I mean, down to the minute, right? Their astronaut time is extremely valuable,” said Gallagher.
Williams and Wilmore returned in the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule along with fellow NASA astronaut Nick Hague and cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov. Hague and Gorbunov had arrived at the ISS in the Dragon spacecraft back in September, but could not depart with William and Wilmore until a full replacement crew had arrived at the station.
Upon the capsule’s landing, the crew were lifted from the capsule and into the recovery ship. Currently, they are undergoing medical checks, which is a standard procedure after spending extended periods of time in space.
During their stay at the ISS, William and Wilmore conducted 150 experiments including those to help improve stem cell technology.
“We are thrilled to have Suni, Butch, Nick, and Aleksandr home after their months-long mission conducting vital science, technology demonstrations, and maintenance aboard the International Space Station,” said NASA acting Administrator Janet Petro in a press release.