Stranded NASA astronauts Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore are returning sooner than planned on this date

NASA, SpaceX speed up ISS crew rotation to bring astronauts home

NASA and SpaceX are fast-tracking their upcoming crew rotation missions. The revised schedule aims to bring back astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore sooner than planned. They have been at the International Space Station (ISS) since June 2023.

Revised launch and return schedule
NASA now targets 12 March for the Crew-10 launch. This depends on mission readiness and final safety checks. Crew-9, which includes Williams, Wilmore, Nick Hague, and Aleksandr Gorbunov, will return after Crew-10 arrives. A brief handover period will take place before Crew-9 departs.

Originally, Crew-10 was planned for late March. However, NASA adjusted plans to use the Dragon spacecraft Endurance, which has flown before. This change speeds up the process, allowing for an earlier launch. NASA and SpaceX teams are ensuring the spacecraft meets safety requirements.

Calls for a quicker return
The delay in Williams and Wilmore’s return drew attention from US leaders. Former President Donald Trump urged SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to prioritise their return. Musk called it "terrible" that they had remained in space for so long.

The astronauts were meant to return on Boeing’s Starliner. However, technical issues have kept them in space since last year. NASA has now confirmed SpaceX will handle their return with Crew-9.