When & How Will Sunita Williams & Butch Wilmore Be Brought Back from Space?
NASA has finally revealed the long-awaited landing date for astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who have been stuck on the International Space Station (ISS) for quite some time now. According to the latest update from NASA, these astronauts, who are part of Crew 9, will be brought back to Earth by SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft on March 16, 2025. But, what’s the story behind their extended stay on the ISS?
For those who might not be aware, Williams and Wilmore were part of the Expedition 63 mission to the ISS, which launched on November 15, 2020. Initially, they were scheduled to return to Earth in April 2021, but due to various reasons, including the COVID-19 pandemic and technical issues, their return was delayed multiple times.
In October 2022, NASA announced that the astronauts would be staying on the ISS for an extended period to accommodate the “changing needs of the space station” and to “ensure the continued success of the scientific research being conducted on the station.” However, the exact date of their return remained unclear until now.
So, what’s the plan to bring these astronauts back to Earth? As per NASA’s latest update, their return is dependent on the successful launch of Crew 10 on March 12, 2025. Crew 10, which includes astronauts Kjell Lindgren, Bob Hines, and Jessica Watkins, will be taking over the ISS from Crew 9. Once the handover is complete, Williams and Wilmore will board the Crew Dragon spacecraft and begin their journey back to Earth.
The Crew Dragon spacecraft, developed by SpaceX, is a reusable spacecraft designed to carry both crew and cargo to the ISS. It’s equipped with advanced life support systems, propulsion systems, and a state-of-the-art navigation system. The spacecraft has already successfully completed several crewed missions to the ISS, including the Demo-2 mission in May 2020, which marked the first crewed mission of the Crew Dragon.
Before returning to Earth, the Crew Dragon will perform a series of checks to ensure the astronauts’ safety and comfort. These checks will include verifying the spacecraft’s propulsion systems, communication systems, and navigation systems. Once all checks are complete, the Crew Dragon will begin its descent back to Earth, and the astronauts will experience the thrill of re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere.
Re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere is a critical phase of the return journey, as it exposes the spacecraft and its occupants to intense heat and friction. To mitigate this risk, the Crew Dragon is equipped with a heat shield that protects the spacecraft and the astronauts from the intense heat generated during re-entry.
After re-entry, the Crew Dragon will deploy its parachutes and splash down into the ocean, where it will be retrieved by NASA’s recovery team. The astronauts will then be transported back to Kennedy Space Center, where they will undergo a series of medical checks and debriefings.
In conclusion, the return of Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore from the ISS is a significant milestone in the history of space exploration. Their extended stay on the ISS has allowed them to contribute to numerous scientific research experiments and has also provided an opportunity for NASA to test the capabilities of the Crew Dragon spacecraft.
As we eagerly await the return of these astronauts, we can’t help but wonder what they will bring back with them from their time on the ISS. Will they have new insights into the mysteries of the universe? Will they have discovered new biological or physical phenomena that can benefit humanity? Only time will tell.
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