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Astronauts return to Earth after extended stay on space station
Two astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, have begun their long-awaited return to Earth after spending more than nine months in space. Their SpaceX capsule undocked from the International Space Station (ISS) at 0505 GMT on Tuesday, marking the end of a mission that garnered global attention.
Joining them on the spacecraft were American astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov. The crew is now on a 17-hour journey back to Earth, having been allowed to change into more comfortable clothing after departing the station.
If all goes as planned, the capsule will make a splashdown off the coast of Florida around 2157 GMT on Tuesday, where a recovery team will retrieve the astronauts.
Wilmore and Williams initially arrived at the ISS in June of the previous year as part of a mission to test Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. However, after the spacecraft developed propulsion issues, it was unable to return them and flew back empty. Subsequently, the astronauts were reassigned to the NASA-SpaceX Crew-9 mission, which launched in September with a reduced crew of two, making room for them.
In a touching moment early Sunday, Crew-10 arrived at the ISS, greeting Wilmore and Williams with smiles and hugs before the crew members departed together. After saying their goodbyes to those still aboard the ISS, the astronauts boarded their capsule and closed the hatch on Tuesday.
Wilmore and Williams’ stay at the space station exceeded the typical six-month mission duration, though it falls short of the U.S. record, which is held by Frank Rubio at 371 days. The world record for the longest single mission is held by Russian cosmonaut Valeri Polyakov, who spent 437 days aboard the Mir space station.
Health risks associated with extended stays in space, such as muscle loss and fluid shifts, are well understood and managed. Suni Williams, known for her commitment to exercise, is expected to have maintained a rigorous physical regimen throughout the mission.
Their extended stay captured public interest due to the unexpected nature of the mission. As psychologist Joseph Keebler noted, “These individuals have shown unbelievable resilience.” Despite the difficulties, the astronauts’ perseverance in space has earned admiration.
Political controversy also surrounded the mission, with former President Donald Trump and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk suggesting that the astronauts were abandoned by President Biden. Trump criticized the Biden administration for not acting on an earlier rescue plan, and made controversial remarks about the astronauts’ personal dynamics during a press conference.
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