NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams completed an unexpectedly long 286-day mission on the ISS, returning to Earth aboard a SpaceX capsule after delays caused by technical issues with Boeing’s Starliner.
NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams returned to Earth on Tuesday, landing off Florida's coast after nine months in space. Their return followed a prolonged mission that faced several challenges, including issues with Boeing's Starliner, which disrupted their initial plans for a short stay on the International Space Station (ISS).
Originally intended as an eight-day test flight, their mission in Starliner was delayed after problems with the spacecraft’s propulsion system. This led to them being included in NASA’s Crew-9 rotation, with their return aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule.
The astronauts undocked from the ISS at 1:05 a.m. ET (0505 GMT) and, after a 17-hour journey, splashed down at 5:57 p.m. ET (2157 GMT), about 50 miles off Florida’s Gulf Coast. The crew, which also included two other astronauts, used parachutes to slow their descent from 17,000 mph to a safe landing speed of 17 mph.
After landing, NASA’s Steve Stich confirmed that Wilmore and Williams would undergo health checks before returning to their families. The mission had attracted political attention, with U.S. President Donald Trump calling for an expedited return, alleging political motives behind the delay. In response, NASA accelerated Crew-9’s schedule, ensuring the astronauts' return earlier than planned.
During their 286-day mission, Wilmore and Williams conducted numerous science experiments aboard the ISS. Williams, now with 608 total days in space, ranks second in U.S. astronaut history. Wilmore’s mission was his second, having previously spent time on the ISS.
Boeing's Starliner, which had hoped to compete with SpaceX’s Crew Dragon, faced further setbacks, and NASA indicated that another uncrewed test flight may be required before Starliner can regularly carry astronauts.
A Russian Soyuz spacecraft carrying an American astronaut and two Russian cosmonauts blasted off from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Tuesday for the International Space Station (ISS), Russia's Roscosmos space agency said.
NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have returned to Earth after a nine-month mission on the International Space Station (ISS), landing in a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule on Tuesday following prolonged delays due to technical failures on Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft.
NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are finally heading back to Earth after spending nine unexpected months aboard the ISS due to issues with Boeing’s Starliner. Their long-awaited return on a SpaceX Crew Dragon caps a mission filled with delays, challenges, and global attention.
A SpaceX capsule has delivered four astronauts to the ISS for NASA’s latest crew rotation, allowing Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to return after nine months stranded due to a faulty Boeing Starliner capsule. Their scheduled departure on Wednesday has drawn political attention.
Harvard University’s endowment is in advanced talks to sell about $1 billion in private equity fund interests, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Thursday.
President Donald Trump said on Thursday that trade talks with China are underway, pushing back against Beijing’s claim that no consultations have occurred.
South Korea’s data protection authority said Thursday that Chinese AI startup DeepSeek transferred user information and prompt content abroad without user consent during its initial launch in the country.
The United States is preparing to offer over $100 billion in arms sales to Saudi Arabia, according to six sources familiar with the matter. The package is expected to be announced during President Donald Trump’s visit to the kingdom in May.
China has rolled out the world’s first 10-gigabit (10G) fixed broadband network in Xiong'an New Area, promising ultra-fast speeds and low latency through cutting-edge optical infrastructure.
Pope Francis's relationship with Azerbaijan has evolved significantly over the years, characterized by diplomatic exchanges, promotion of religious tolerance, and peace advocacy in the Caucasus region.
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Severe rainfall on April 17 led to flooding and landslides in the Piedmont region, prompting a large-scale emergency response from over 400 firefighters.
Harvard University’s endowment is in advanced talks to sell about $1 billion in private equity fund interests, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Thursday.
President Donald Trump said on Thursday that trade talks with China are underway, pushing back against Beijing’s claim that no consultations have occurred.
South Korea’s data protection authority said Thursday that Chinese AI startup DeepSeek transferred user information and prompt content abroad without user consent during its initial launch in the country.
The United States is preparing to offer over $100 billion in arms sales to Saudi Arabia, according to six sources familiar with the matter. The package is expected to be announced during President Donald Trump’s visit to the kingdom in May.
A 15-year-old boy killed a fellow pupil and wounded three others in a stabbing attack at a high school in the western French city of Nantes on Thursday before he was overpowered by teachers, police said.
Harvard University’s endowment is in advanced talks to sell about $1 billion in private equity fund interests, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Thursday.
President Donald Trump said on Thursday that trade talks with China are underway, pushing back against Beijing’s claim that no consultations have occurred.
South Korea’s data protection authority said Thursday that Chinese AI startup DeepSeek transferred user information and prompt content abroad without user consent during its initial launch in the country.
The United States is preparing to offer over $100 billion in arms sales to Saudi Arabia, according to six sources familiar with the matter. The package is expected to be announced during President Donald Trump’s visit to the kingdom in May.
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