Unexpected voyage: Astronauts return after 286 days in space
Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore were supposed to spend 8 days at the International Space Station, but they stayed for 286 days. Fortunately, they were safely brought back to Earth.
American astronauts Sunita "Suni" Williams and Barry "Butch" Wilmore, who had been on the International Space Station (ISS) since June 2024, returned safely to Earth. According to the Polish Press Agency, their Crew Dragon capsule landed off the coast of Florida, and the return flight lasted over 17 hours.
As reported by CNN, not only did Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams return to Earth, but also NASA's Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov. Their capsule was hoisted onto a rescue ship within an hour of landing at 6:57 PM Eastern Time. The astronauts were transported in wheelchairs because their bodies needed to readjust to life with gravity.
Williams and Wilmore began their mission in June 2024, when they flew to the ISS as part of Boeing's Starliner's first mission. Their stay was planned for eight days, but technical problems, such as a helium leak and engine failures, caused delays. Ultimately, the astronauts spent 286 days on the station.
During their time on the ISS, Williams and Wilmore quickly integrated with the rest of the crew, performing daily duties such as scientific experiments and station maintenance. They returned to Earth aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon ship.
Exceptional achievements of the astronauts
Sunita Williams, 59, and Barry Wilmore, 62, are experienced astronauts who spent 500 days in space before the Starliner mission. Williams is also known for completing a triathlon in space in 2012, using a stationary bike, a weightlifting machine, and a treadmill on the ISS.
After returning to Earth, the astronauts will undergo medical examinations at NASA's centre before returning home. A prolonged stay in space can lead to health issues, such as muscle atrophy or vision impairment.
Williams and Wilmore spent more time in space than the average ISS mission, which lasted about six months. The record for the most extended single stay in space is Frank Rubio, who spent 371 days there. Meanwhile, Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko holds 878 days in space.
