BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams embarked on a mission to the International Space Station in 2024 with a timeline that has been anything but straightforward.
Leading up to now, here’s a sequence of the saga’s events:
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June 5, 2024: Wilmore and Williams launch aboard the Boeing Starliner spacecraft, beginning their mission to the space station. The mission was meant to take eight days.
June 6, 2024: Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft successfully docked to the space station.
June 14, 2024: NASA and Boeing push back the return date to June 22 for Wilmore and Williams’ return to Earth. “The extra time allows the team to finalize departure planning and operations while the spacecraft remains cleared for crew emergency return scenarios within the flight rules,” NASA said in a statement.
June 21, 2024: Boeing and NASA announced another delay without a new return date.
September 6, 2024: The Starliner capsule returns to Earth without Wilmore and Williams due to technical issues, including thruster failures and helium leaks. NASA projects the astronauts will work as part of the Expedition 71/72 crew through February 2025, when they will return on a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule.
December 17, 2024: NASA updates the timeline to target a return date of March 2025 for the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule.
January 28, 2025: Donald Trump posts on Truth Social, asking Elon Musk to “go get” Wilmore and Williams from the space station.
From unexpected delays to technical hiccups, Wilmore and Williams’ mission has kept everyone on their toes. As they continue their important work on the space station, the countdown to their return on a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule is on.
This whole saga has not only showcased the teamwork between NASA, Boeing and SpaceX but also caught the eye of big names like Donald Trump and Elon Musk. As we look forward to their safe return, it’s a great reminder of the ups and downs that come with exploring the final frontier.
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