NASA astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita Williams, who traveled to the International Space Station (ISS) in June last year and became stranded, are now preparing to return to Earth after a nine-month stay.
In a press conference from the ISS, Wilmore and Williams expressed their anticipation of returning home while also reminiscing about their extended time in space.
The mission began last summer when the astronauts traveled to the ISS aboard Boeing’s Starliner capsule. However, a technical malfunction prevented their scheduled return, prompting NASA to prioritize their safety.
Wilmore, Williams, and two engineers had initially departed for the ISS on June 5, 2024, with a planned return on June 13, but the delay extended their stay to nearly a year. Now, after months of troubleshooting, they are set to make their long-awaited journey back to Earth.
