SpaceX capsule docks as astronauts prepare return after nine months

A SpaceX capsule has successfully docked at the International Space Station (ISS), marking an important moment for astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who are preparing to return home after an extended stay. Initially, they were scheduled to be on the ISS for just eight days, but due to technical difficulties with the spacecraft they arrived in, their stay has stretched to over nine months. This week, they are set to begin their journey back to Earth. Steve Stich, the manager of NASA's commercial crew program, expressed his excitement about their return, stating, 'Butch and Suni have done a great job and we are excited to bring them back. ' Live footage captured the moment the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule docked with the ISS and opened its hatch, allowing the astronauts to embrace their fellow crew members in the unique environment of zero gravity. Alongside Butch and Suni, four new astronauts from Russia, Japan, and the United States will be taking their place on the ISS. After a two-day handover period, the old crew will begin their journey back home. However, there may be a slight delay as they need to wait for favorable weather conditions on Earth for a safe landing, according to Dana Weigel, the manager of the ISS program. She explained, 'Weather always has to cooperate, so we'll take our time over that if it is not favorable. ' The astronauts have been preparing for this handover since last week, with Butch ringing a ceremonial bell as Suni handed over command to cosmonaut Alexei Ovchinin. The astronauts shared hugs and warm greetings in the weightlessness of space. Suni Williams has often described her time in space as her 'happy place. ' In a recent video, she was seen floating in the ISS, smiling and enjoying her surroundings. Her hair floated freely as she mimicked a box-like apparatus that was also floating nearby. The interior of the ISS was a colorful mix of cables, keypads, and monitors, creating a lively atmosphere. While the astronauts have expressed their happiness about being on the space station, Dr. Simeon Barber from the Open University pointed out that their extended stay may have had personal consequences. He noted, 'When you are sent on a work trip that is supposed to last a week, you are not expecting it to take the best part of a year. ' This prolonged absence could have disrupted their family lives, and they may have missed significant events back home. Butch and Suni arrived at the ISS in June 2024 to test an experimental spacecraft called Starliner, developed by Boeing, a competitor of SpaceX. Their mission faced numerous delays due to technical issues with the spacecraft, including problems with its thrusters and leaks in the propulsion system. NASA ultimately decided it was safer to bring Butch and Suni back on SpaceX's Dragon capsule rather than risk using Starliner, even though this decision meant they had to remain on the ISS for several additional months. Boeing expressed dissatisfaction with this choice, arguing that it would have been safe to return the astronauts on their own spacecraft. Dr. Barber remarked that it was not a good look for Boeing to have astronauts return in a competitor's craft. Both President Trump and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk have commented that Butch and Suni could have returned home sooner. President Trump stated, 'They got left in space,' and when asked about the duration of their stay, he simply replied, 'Biden. ' Mr. Musk added that they were left up there for political reasons. However, NASA's Steve Stich refuted these claims, stating, 'We looked at a wide range of options and worked hand-in-hand with SpaceX to look at what was the best thing to do overall. ' Dr. Libby Jackson, who works at the Science Museum in London, also supported NASA's decision, emphasizing that the well-being of Butch and Suni was always a top priority. She expressed her eagerness to see them return to Earth safely, along with their crewmates.