NASA Astronauts Stranded in Space for Nine Months to Return

NASA Astronauts Stranded in Space for Nine Months Set to Return

After Nine Months in Orbit, NASA Astronauts to Finally Return to Earth

NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who have been stranded aboard the International Space Station (ISS) for nine months, are finally set to return to Earth. The duo initially embarked on their journey in June 2024 aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, expecting an eight-day mission. However, unforeseen technical failures resulted in an extended stay in space.

Return Timeline and Process

Today, March 12, SpaceX is set to launch a fresh crew to the ISS aboard the Dragon spacecraft from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The new crew, designated as Crew-10, will replace the current Crew-9 team, who have been stationed at the ISS.

The Dragon spacecraft will dock with the ISS on Thursday, March 13, allowing the new team to assume duties onboard. Once the transition is complete, the Dragon capsule will detach and begin its return journey to Earth, carrying Crew-9 members along with Williams and Wilmore. Their descent is expected between March 16 and 19.

NASA astronaut Nick Hague will pilot the return journey, overseeing the capsule’s re-entry and ocean landing. Alongside him, Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore, and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov will make their long-awaited return.

NASA continues to rely on Elon Musk’s private space company, SpaceX, for transporting astronauts to and from the ISS. This marks another milestone in the commercial partnership that has become crucial for space travel.

Sunita Williams to Set a Spaceflight Record

Upon her return, Sunita Williams will achieve a historic milestone. She will become the first astronaut to have traveled to space aboard four different spacecraft: Space Shuttle, Soyuz, Boeing Starliner, and now SpaceX’s Dragon. This achievement underscores her exceptional contributions to space exploration.

The Boeing Starliner Setback

Williams and Wilmore initially traveled to the ISS on June 5, 2024, aboard Boeing’s Starliner as part of a test flight. The mission was intended to last only eight days, but critical technical malfunctions forced an extended stay. The spacecraft encountered failures in five key systems and suffered from helium leaks, which significantly affected its propulsion.

With these issues unresolved, NASA determined that the Starliner was unfit for a return journey, leaving the astronauts stranded for months. Eventually, the faulty spacecraft was remotely piloted back to Earth, leaving Williams and Wilmore to await an alternative transport back home.

Health Implications of Extended Space Missions

The prolonged stay in microgravity has raised concerns about the potential physical effects on the astronauts. However, Williams and Wilmore expressed that their extended time in space was a unique opportunity to conduct further research.

"We will miss everything about space," Williams stated, reflecting on her time aboard the ISS.

During their extended stay, the astronauts participated in multiple experiments, including spacewalks and plant growth studies in microgravity conditions.

Despite the valuable scientific contributions, long-duration missions present significant physiological challenges. After spending months in space, astronauts often struggle with walking upon return due to the absence of gravity. The lack of gravitational force weakens muscles, affects eyesight, and reduces bone density.

Past studies, including research conducted on astronaut Frank Rubio, have provided critical insights into the impact of prolonged space exposure. Rubio's mission served as a case study on how limited exercise equipment and nutrition affect the body in microgravity.

Implications for Future Deep-Space Missions

These findings hold immense value for upcoming deep-space missions, particularly a potential manned journey to Mars. Based on current estimates, a round-trip to Mars would take approximately 1,100 days—over three years—posing unprecedented challenges for human physiology.

Future Mars-bound spacecraft will be significantly smaller than the ISS, restricting available exercise equipment and storage for essential supplies. Extended exposure to low gravity can lead to a 20-30% reduction in muscle mass within six months, increasing the risk of bone fractures and prolonged recovery periods upon return.

Astronauts in space for six months experience up to a 10% reduction in bone density, whereas Earth-based individuals typically lose only 0.5-1% per year. Given these risks, astronauts aboard the ISS currently engage in rigorous exercise routines for approximately 2.5 hours daily to mitigate muscle and bone deterioration.

NASA’s continued research aims to refine strategies for maintaining astronaut health during long-duration missions, paving the way for humanity’s next great leap into deep space.