The International Space Station (ISS) is set to say goodbye to two of its crew members. Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are scheduled to return to Earth on Tuesday, March 18.  This return is highly anticipated, as their mission has lasted much longer than initially planned.  They were originally supposed to spend only about 10 days in space.  Instead, they have been in orbit for nearly nine months.

The journey back to Earth will be a multi-step process.  The astronauts, along with Nick Hague and Aleksandr Gorbunov, will leave the ISS in the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule named "Freedom. "  The capsule is expected to splash down off the coast of Florida later that day.  The exact timing and location of the splashdown will depend on various factors, including weather conditions and spacecraft readiness.

The return process will be broadcast live by NASA.  Viewers can tune in to watch the hatch closing, undocking, and descent operations.  The live stream will begin on Monday, March 17, at 10:45 p. m. EDT.  It will cover the closing of the hatches between the Crew Dragon and the ISS.  The stream will resume two hours later for the undocking, which is scheduled for 1:05 a. m. EDT.  The descent operations will be covered starting at 4:45 p. m. EDT on March 18.  The capsule will conduct a deorbit burn at 5:11 p. m. EDT and splash down 46 minutes later.  The plan is subject to change based on various factors.

Wilmore and Williams launched to the ISS in June 2023 on Boeing's Starliner spacecraft.  Their mission was supposed to be a short one, but technical issues with the Starliner's thrusters delayed their return.  NASA decided to bring the Starliner back to Earth without a crew, leaving Wilmore and Williams to stay on the ISS for a longer duration.  They were then integrated into the ISS' long-duration Expedition 72 mission.  Their return to Earth will be on the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule "Freedom, " which launched to the ISS in September 2023.

The situation has garnered significant attention, with some public figures referring to the astronauts as "stranded. "  However, NASA has maintained that Wilmore and Williams have a clear path home.  The Crew-9 mission's return was initiated by the arrival of SpaceX's Crew-10 mission, which docked with the ISS on March 16.  This mission brings a new set of astronauts to the ISS, allowing for the rotation of crew members.

The ISS is a critical hub for scientific research and international cooperation in space.  It serves as a laboratory for experiments that cannot be conducted on Earth.  The station is a joint project involving NASA, Roscosmos, JAXA, ESA, and CSA.  It has been continuously inhabited since November 2000, making it one of the longest-running space missions in history.

The return of Wilmore and Williams marks the end of a challenging but successful mission.  Their extended stay on the ISS has provided valuable data and experience for future long-duration space missions.  As they prepare to return to Earth, the focus will be on ensuring a safe and smooth journey back home.

Astronauts Return Home After Extended Space Stay

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