After 9 months in space, NASA’s astronauts return home

Sony Williams and Boot Wimor, American astronauts have been cut off for nine months on International Space StationAnd finally made her at home on Tuesday 18 March. They returned to Earth with two members of the Spacex Crew-9 mission-Nassa Nick The Hague and Russian astronauts Alexander Gorbonov from Roskosmos – on board Spacex Space vehicle Freedom Dragon.

The four crew started successfully off the coast of Florida at 5:57 pm EST. The difference on the Spacex Recovery Craft Dragon Freedom and helped the crew. Then the astronauts were transferred to the Johnson Space Center of NASA in Houston to be included with their families.

Sonita Lin “Sony” Williams, 59, and Barry Eugene “Bush” Wilmor, 62, It was raised on June 5, 2024On a Starliner test mission, Boeing spacecraft is designed to move the crew to and from ISS and other destinations in low orbit. Space pioneers have not planned to spend more than two weeks in space, however Technical issues With Starliner thwarted that plan.

As she approached the space station, some Starlener defender stopped working. Although the Boeing spacecraft managed to circumvent ISS, NASA preferred to withstand any risks with her return and chose Send Starliner to Earth Without a crew on the plane. The spacecraft landed safely in September.

While the residence of Williams and Willore, which extended in space, was unplanned, they were trained to stay at the International Space Station for several months. Both also have extensive experience in space missions, including previous stays at the International Space Station.

In order for astronauts to return to the homeland, NASA decided To send only two astronauts instead of four on the subsequent Spacex mission. Williams and Wilmmore will return to Earth in the vacant seats in the Spacex vehicle. After some of the delay, that task-Crew-9, was stopped with Hague and Gorbunov on board-on September 28, 2024, committed to ISS.

But this was not the end of Williams and Wilmore at the space station. It was still necessary to wait for the next task to arrive at the International Space Station in order to leave the space station with a sufficient number of employees to operate it. So even after the arrival of Crew-9, Williams and Wilwmore had to wait until Crew-10 arrived-which did not happen until March 14-to be free to return to Earth.

While the astronauts have been prepared for this inconvenience, their condition has become a political issue among the administrations of the heads of the United States Joe Biden and Donald Trump. Elon MuskThe owner of Spacex and a leading personality in the Trump administration accused the Biden administration of giving up astronauts on ISS. Soon after its opening, President Trump Musk request To restore the astronauts that were cut off as soon as possible.

“The promise was made, the promise: President Trump pledged to save the astronauts who were cut off in space for nine months. Today, they started safely in the Gulf of America, thanks
Elonmusk, Spacex, and @NASA! “The official White House account Posted on X Tuesday after the start.

“We are happy with the presence of Suni, Butch, Nick and Aleksandr after their mission that lasted for months in biotechnology, technological demonstrations, and maintenance on the International Space Station,” said NASA DMINISTARTOR Janet Petro In a statement. “In the direction of President Trump, NASA and Spacex worked hard to withdraw the schedule a month ago. This international staff and our difference on the ground adopted the Trump administration challenge of an important and somewhat unique important plan to bring our crew to the home.”

According to NASA, Williams and Welmore traveled 195 million kilometers during their mission, spent 286 days in space, and completed 4,576 orbit around Earth.

This story was originally appeared on EN Español wireless It was translated from Spanish.