NASA astronaut Sunita Williams has formally transferred the command of the International Space Station (ISS) to Russian cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin, marking a significant step ahead of her scheduled return to Earth.
Williams and fellow astronaut Barry Wilmore have been stranded in space for nine months, after their initial 10-day mission aboard the Boeing Starliner was extended due to successive failures.
The Boeing Starliner spacecraft returned to Earth without a crew in September last year, leaving Williams and Wilmore to continue their mission on the ISS. To facilitate their return, Roscosmos and NASA collaborated on a plan, which involved launching the SpaceX Crew-9 mission with NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov aboard the Dragon spacecraft.
Although the Crew-9 mission was initially scheduled to bring back the stranded astronauts in February, successive delays pushed back their return. Fortunately, all four astronauts will now return together on March 19, aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft. This development marks a welcome conclusion to the extended stay of Williams and Wilmore on the ISS.
Williams and Wilmore’s prolonged mission has provided valuable insights into the effects of extended spaceflight on the human body. During their stay, they participated in various scientific experiments, conducted maintenance tasks, and contributed to ongoing research projects aimed at improving long-term spaceflight conditions.
The return of the astronauts on March 19 will be a relief to their families, who have had to endure the uncertainty of their loved ones’ prolonged stay in space. As Williams noted, “Every day is interesting because we’re up in space and it’s a lot of fun, so I think the hardest part is having the folks on the ground have to not know exactly when we’re coming back”.
The successful collaboration between Roscosmos and NASA has ensured the safe return of the astronauts, demonstrating the importance of international cooperation in space exploration. As the astronauts prepare to return to Earth, they can reflect on their remarkable experience and the valuable contributions they have made to our understanding of space travel.