The return of American astronauts who went on an 8-day test flight to the International Space Station (ISS) but ended up staying for 9 months due to unexpected issues is expected to conclude soon. As the astronauts taking over the mission arrive at the ISS, the astronauts who had been stranded there will soon be able to return to Earth.
According to foreign media including the AP News, SpaceX's Dragon capsule carrying the 'Crew-10' team, who will replace Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams currently staying at the ISS, successfully docked with the ISS at 12:04 a.m. Eastern Time on the 16th.
On the early morning of the 16th (Eastern Time), Crew-10 members who arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) met with Crew-9 members who were previously performing their mission on the ISS and applauded. Photo by AFP Yonhap News
Earlier, they had come to the ISS on a test flight last June aboard Boeing's Starliner space capsule, but their return was delayed after a defect was found in the Starliner. As their stay extended, the two joined NASA's astronaut rotation and replacement mission 'Crew-9,' carrying out tasks such as facility management and space experiments.
The Dragon capsule intended to bring them home had already arrived at the ISS in September last year, but according to NASA's principle that a proper number of crew members must remain on the ISS at all times, the two could only hand over their mission and return to Earth after the arrival of the next mission team, Crew-10. Since then, the return schedule was postponed several times due to issues such as the use of the Dragon capsule for Crew-10 transport.
Going forward, they will spend about three days with the newly arrived astronauts to hand over duties, then board the Dragon capsule that two other Crew-9 members arrived in last September, departing for Earth on the 19th.
Meanwhile, their return issue became a political matter after former U.S. President Donald Trump blamed the Biden administration following his election in November last year. However, the two astronauts themselves repeatedly stated in media interviews that they have no dissatisfaction with their extended stay on the ISS.
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