SpaceX Crew Arrives at ISS to Rescue Stranded Astronauts
A SpaceX Dragon capsule carrying four new crew members successfully docked at the International Space Station (ISS) on Sunday, allowing NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore to finally return home after an extended nine-month stay. Originally sent to the ISS for just eight days aboard Boeing’s Starliner, the astronauts remained in orbit due to technical failures, including thruster issues and helium leaks. NASA ultimately chose to bring them back on SpaceX’s Dragon capsule during a routine crew rotation rather than risk using the malfunctioning Starliner.
The new arrivals—NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, Japan’s Takuya Onishi, and Russia’s Kirill Peskov—will join the existing ISS crew for a short handover period before Williams, Wilmore, and two other astronauts depart for Earth. The decision to leave Williams and Wilmore in space for months was met with criticism, with some, including President Trump and Elon Musk, suggesting that there were political motives behind the decision. However, NASA’s Steve Stich dismissed such claims, saying, “We looked at a wide range of options… the best option was to have the one we are embarking upon.”
Boeing, which developed the Starliner as part of NASA’s commercial crew program, has argued that the spacecraft was safe to use and was reportedly frustrated with NASA’s decision. The situation has been a significant setback for Boeing, which is already facing scrutiny over its commercial aircraft division. Despite the challenges, Williams and Wilmore have remained positive, with Williams calling the ISS her “happy place.” Their long-awaited return is expected later this week, pending favorable weather conditions.
