SpaceX Capsule Arrives to Rescue Stranded Astronauts After Starliner Failure
A SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule has successfully docked with the International Space Station (ISS) to bring home two astronauts who have been stranded for months. NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams were left aboard the ISS after the Boeing Starliner capsule they arrived on in June was deemed unsafe for their return.
Wilmore and Williams were part of an eight-day mission aboard Starliner, which experienced a series of technical issues, including thruster failures and helium leaks. These malfunctions led NASA to delay their return, ultimately deciding to send them back on SpaceX's Crew Dragon, with the mission now set for February 2025. By that time, the pair will have spent eight months in space.
Boeing’s Starliner returned to Earth unmanned earlier this month.
The SpaceX capsule, carrying NASA's Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov, docked with the ISS at 5:30 pm EDT on Sunday, soaring 265 miles above Botswana. Footage from the ISS showed the two new arrivals being warmly greeted by the existing crew. The docking marks an important milestone in what has been a challenging mission, initially delayed by Hurricane Helene.
Speaking from the ISS, Williams said the station had become their "happy place" after such a long time in space. Wilmore added that they had experienced "tough times" during the mission, especially with the repeated technical issues surrounding Starliner. Despite these challenges, the pair have remained optimistic.
NASA retired its space shuttle program in 2011, making it reliant on Russia's Soyuz spacecraft for transport to and from the ISS. The goal of having two American companies — Boeing and SpaceX — providing transportation has been part of NASA's broader effort to regain independence in space travel. However, Boeing’s Starliner program has faced numerous setbacks, including technical failures during both manned and unmanned test flights.
The arrival of Hague and Gorbunov increases the ISS crew to 11, a temporary boost until Wilmore and Williams return to Earth next year. NASA deputy program manager Dina Contella confirmed that the stranded astronauts watched the Crew Dragon launch from the ISS, with Williams cheering "go Dragon!"
