Boeing Starliner Astronauts Set To Return on March 16 After 10-Month ISS Stay

A mission initially deliberate for ten days has stretched into practically ten months, with two NASA astronauts lastly set to return to Earth. Astronauts Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams, who launched aboard Boeing’s Starliner on June 5, 2024, have been meant to conduct a short-duration take a look at flight to the International Space Station (ISS). However, points with the spacecraft resulted of their extended keep. Their return is now scheduled for March 16, 2025, following the arrival of their reduction crew.

Details of The Return

According to NASA’s flight schedule, Starliner was initially anticipated to carry the astronauts again, however after assessing its efficiency, the choice was made to return it uncrewed in September 2024. As reported, NASA as a substitute adjusted its crew rotation plan, allocating seats for Wilmore and Williams on the SpaceX Crew Dragon, which launched as a part of Crew-9. The return mission was initially scheduled for February however was delayed additional as a result of operational constraints. The ISS program has now confirmed that their journey again will happen this month.

Crew-10 Mission Prepares for Launch

Four astronauts are set to launch aboard SpaceX’s Crew-10 mission on March 12, 2025, from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The mission, commanded by NASA astronaut Anne McClain, consists of pilot Nichole Ayers, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov. Their arrival on the ISS will facilitate the Crew-9 group’s return, together with Wilmore and Williams.

Adjustments in Spacecraft Selection

NASA officers have confirmed that Crew-10 will journey aboard the beforehand flown Dragon capsule, Endurance. The swap from a newly manufactured spacecraft was prompted by battery-related delays, resulting in the choice to make use of a flight-proven various. Steve Stich, NASA’s Commercial Crew Program supervisor, acknowledged throughout a briefing that adjustments in car assignments are a routine a part of mission planning.