A SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule has successfully docked with the International Space Station (ISS) on Sunday at 21:30 GMT, embarking on a critical mission to bring home two astronauts who have been stranded aboard the orbiting laboratory for months.
The capsule, part of SpaceX’s Crew-9 mission, is set to return NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to Earth next year, after their intended return vehicle, Boeing’s Starliner capsule, was deemed unfit for reentry due to technical issues.
Wilmore and Williams have been on the ISS since June, when they arrived via the Starliner capsule. However, the Starliner suffered thruster failures and helium leaks, prompting NASA to decide against using it for their return journey. The capsule was sent back to Earth empty earlier this month after being declared unsafe for crewed reentry.
Joining the Crew Dragon capsule are NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, who boarded the ISS shortly after docking. The Crew-9 mission, originally planned to transport four astronauts to the ISS, adjusted its manifest to accommodate the unexpected need to bring Wilmore and Williams home.
“This mission exemplifies international cooperation and the resilience of our teams,” said a NASA spokesperson. “We’re looking forward to welcoming Butch and Suni back home.”
What was initially an anticipated eight-day mission has now evolved into an eight-month stay in space for Wilmore and Williams. Their extended mission highlights both the challenges of space exploration and the collaborative efforts to ensure the safety of astronauts.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
