NASA Astronauts Return After Unprecedented Nine-Month Mission
NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore splash down after a nine-month stay at the ISS, extended due to technical issues with Boeing's Starliner.
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NASA has become increasingly dependent on and intertwined with SpaceX, and Musk has capitalized on every opportunity to highlight that reliance.
As stranded astronauts return, SpaceX's victory is Boeing's embarrassment
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Behind the story of the return of stuck NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams
Associated Press·1M·ReliableThis source consistently reports facts with minimal bias, demonstrating high-quality journalism and accuracy.CenterThis outlet is balanced or reflects centrist views.Now, finally, the wait is over and they're returning home.
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Both astronauts have been good-natured about their extended stay.
As NASA astronauts finally return to Earth, Trump takes the opportunity to attack Biden
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Tuesday's splashdown will cap a lengthy space odyssey for Williams and Wilmore, whose troubled voyage became mired in politics and raised questions about Boeing's ability to carry out missions for NASA.
2 NASA astronauts head back to Earth after an unexpectedly long mission in space
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The plight of the Starliner duo had become a political talking point after Elon Musk and President Trump called out the Biden administration for keeping them up at the station instead of sending up a rescue mission.
Stuck Boeing Starliner astronauts taking SpaceX ride back to earth
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Their plight captured the world’s attention, giving new meaning to the phrase “stuck at work.”
Stuck Astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore Are Finally on Their Way Back to Earth
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The return of Wilmore and Williams became somewhat of a political debate earlier this year, with President Trump claiming former President Biden left the pair “abandoned” on the ISS and asked SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, one of his closest advisers, to speed up their return.
SpaceX capsule with retrieved astronauts departs space station
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The extended mission became a subject of political debate, particularly involving SpaceX founder Elon Musk and President Donald Trump.
US astronauts stranded on ISS returning home on SpaceX capsule
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The imminent water landing would bring to an end a lengthy spaceflight saga that thrust Williams and Wilmore into the spotlight and raised questions about the future of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft.
Homebound: Starliner astronauts undock from ISS, head back to Earth
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Return will mark end of nine-month-long stint in space for Wilmore, Williams.
NASA astronauts SpaceX rescue: What to know
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Such a long time spent in space can take a physical and mental toll, but Wilmore and Williams’ expedition isn’t the longest spaceflight.
Who Has Spent the Longest Time in Space?
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This did get wrapped up in politics like everything seems to do with Elon Musk and the Trump administration, essentially accusing the Biden administration and NASA of having abandoned these astronauts after.
NASA Astronauts Head Home After Months Stranded in Space
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Their plight captured the world’s attention, giving new meaning to the phrase “stuck at work.”
NASA’s Stuck Astronauts Finally on Their Way Back to Earth After 9 Months in Space
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The unexpected nature of their layover — which was supposed to last just days — sent eyes to the skies.
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NASA also announced that Wilmore and Williams, who are both veteran astronauts and retired Navy test pilots, would return on a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft instead.
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The future of Boeing’s Starliner capsule, developed as part of Nasa’s commercial crew program, remains uncertain.
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Williams and Wilmore’s extended mission is expected to conclude after 286 days, which is still significantly shorter than the world record of 437 days in orbit held by the late Russian cosmonaut Valeri Polyakov.
NASA’s Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore are finally returning home after nine months in space
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They had travelled to the ISS on board Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner as part of its first crewed test flight.
Stuck NASA astronauts returning to Earth on SpaceX capsule: What to know
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However, what was supposed to be a mission lasting about one week turned into a nine-month stay aboard the ISS due to several issues with Starliner.
Timeline of Boeing's Starliner mission that left NASA astronauts aboard ISS for 9 months
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By keeping them in space as part of Crew 9, NASA was able to minimize the disruption to the ISS crew rotation sequence while maintaining a full slate of experiments and research.
Astronauts to return to Earth after being stuck in space for 286 days
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The Nasa pair have embraced their longer than expected stay in space.
'Stranded astronauts' Butch and Suni set to begin journey home
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Summary
NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore have splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico after a nine-month mission aboard the ISS, originally intended to last only a week. They became the first crew aboard Boeing's Starliner, but technical failures led to an extended stay, as NASA opted to send the damaged capsule back to Earth without them. Their eventual return via a SpaceX Dragon capsule included two new crewmates, and the astronauts, who have conducted numerous experiments during their unexpected journey, expressed a mix of excitement and relief at being home.
Perspectives
NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry 'Butch' Wilmore return to Earth after nine months on the ISS due to Boeing’s Starliner technical failures. They departed on a SpaceX Dragon capsule withStarlinerr crew members.
The astronauts conducted pressure, commCrew Dragonnd seal tests before departure, with NASA expecting optimal weather conditioGulf Coastashdown.
Boeing’s Starliner program faces uncertainty, with reports suggesting it won’t fly again in 2025 due to ongoing technical issues.
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