NASA astronauts return to Earth
World
After nine months in orbit, NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunny Williams finally returned to Earth. Their mission was supposed to last only eight days, but due to technical problems with the Starliner ship, they became participants in one of the longest expeditions.
The crew, consisting of Wilmore, Williams, as well as NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov, disconnected from the ISS on the morning of March 18. SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule entered the atmosphere, overcoming overloads four times higher than Earth's gravity, and gently approached Florida's coast.
The mission began in June 2024. Soon, technical malfunctions were discovered, and the return of the ship was deemed unsafe. In September, the Starliner returned empty to Earth, while Wilmore and Williams remained in orbit, waiting for the next manned flight.
NASA decided to return the astronauts along with the Crew-10 crew aboard the SpaceX spacecraft that arrived at the station in September. However, the mission was designed for six months, so the return period was delayed until March 2025.
After returning, Butch Wilmore and Sunny Williams will travel to the Lyndon Johnson Space Center in Houston. They will have to undergo a medical examination and adapt to Earth's gravity: due to prolonged exposure to weightlessness, astronauts' bone density decreases, muscle mass is lost, and the redistribution of fluid can affect vision.
Despite the difficulties, the astronauts admitted that they were satisfied with their space adventure. Sunny Williams even set a new record for time spent in outer space among women.
The mission began in June 2024. Soon, technical malfunctions were discovered, and the return of the ship was deemed unsafe. In September, the Starliner returned empty to Earth, while Wilmore and Williams remained in orbit, waiting for the next manned flight.
NASA decided to return the astronauts along with the Crew-10 crew aboard the SpaceX spacecraft that arrived at the station in September. However, the mission was designed for six months, so the return period was delayed until March 2025.
After returning, Butch Wilmore and Sunny Williams will travel to the Lyndon Johnson Space Center in Houston. They will have to undergo a medical examination and adapt to Earth's gravity: due to prolonged exposure to weightlessness, astronauts' bone density decreases, muscle mass is lost, and the redistribution of fluid can affect vision.
Despite the difficulties, the astronauts admitted that they were satisfied with their space adventure. Sunny Williams even set a new record for time spent in outer space among women.
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