HOMEWARD BOUND: NASA astronauts set for return after being stranded in space

International

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are finally heading home after an extended nine-month mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

Initially scheduled for just eight days, their stay was prolonged due to technical failures in Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, which was deemed unsafe for re-entry.

BBC reported that the astronauts will return aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule, accompanied by NASA’s Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov.

During their extended mission, Wilmore and Williams conducted numerous scientific experiments and spacewalks. Williams also set a new record for the most hours spent outside the ISS by a female astronaut.

In a report by Sky News, NASA clarified that the astronauts were never in danger, as an emergency evacuation option was always available. However, concerns were raised when SpaceX CEO Elon Musk suggested that the delay was due to political reasons rather than technical ones. NASA officials, however, maintained that their decisions were based on safety and scheduling factors.

Upon returning to Earth, the astronauts will be transported to the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, for medical evaluations. Long-duration space missions can cause muscle loss, bone density reduction, and circulation issues. They will undergo rehabilitation to help their bodies adjust back to Earth's gravity.(MyTVCebu)