Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore will have to wait longer to return to Earth, as NASA announced on December 17, 2023, the delay of their return from the International Space Station (ISS) due to spacecraft issues. Originally expected to return sometime in February 2025, their return has now been rescheduled to late March 2025.
The veteran astronauts, who have been orbiting the Earth since June, are still eagerly engaged with their work on the ISS, but news of the delay has raised eyebrows back on Earth. The delay, according to NASA, allows time for both NASA and SpaceX teams to complete the processing needed for the new Dragon spacecraft intended for the mission. This new spacecraft is seen as the best option to meet NASA’s requirements and fulfill the space station's objectives for 2025.
Steve Stich, manager of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, highlighted the challenges of preparing the spacecraft. “Fabrication, assembly, testing, and final integration of a new spacecraft is a painstaking endeavor... We appreciate the hard work by the SpaceX team to expand the Dragon fleet,” he stated, emphasizing the thorough effort being put forth to ready the spacecraft.
The new Dragon spacecraft is scheduled to reach Florida by early January, but until then, Williams and Wilmore are making the most of their extended stay. Over the months, they have shared how life continues aboard the ISS, and their Thanksgiving celebration was particularly notable. “We have a bunch of food packed away that's Thanksgiving-ish,” Williams told NBC News, referring to their special meal which included smoked turkey and apple cobbler. Williams even noted her intention to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade from space.
The duo has been proactive about their health and fitness during their prolonged mission, with Williams stating, “We’re feeling good, working out, eating right, it’s just awesome.” She has also dismissed concerns about the physical toll of long-term spaceflight, asserting they are maintaining their health and morale. “People who are worried about us, really, don’t worry about us ... we’re happy crew up here,” she reassured viewers during her November interview with NBC Nightly News.
Their mission was not without intrigue or discussion. Just before Christmas, both astronauts shared festive photos from the ISS sporting Santa hats, which unexpectedly prompted speculation from observers on Earth. The pair had turned their eight-day mission, which began on June 5, 2023, and was extended indefinitely due to technical issues with their spacecraft, now leading to them celebrating Christmas high above the planet.
The holiday-themed photo was shared on December 16 by NASA’s Johnson Space Center and quickly drew attention online. Users on social media expressed skepticism, questioning how they were able to celebrate Christmas months after their initial eight-day trip began. “8-day mission turned months long and they’ve somehow got Christmas hats?” commented one user. Another pointedly noted, “If your original trip was only supposed to be 8 days back in JUNE, how did you get Christmas hats?”
Despite the outcry, NASA clarified these festive decorations were delivered as part of a SpaceX resupply mission which included holiday-themed items intended for the crew’s enjoyment. NASA confirmed the delivery included traditional holiday meals and decorations, with Williams sharing her own sentiments on the matter, saying, “It’s a great time up here, we get to spend it with all of our ‘family’ on the International Space Station.”
While the fun and festivities have helped keep spirits high, the mission has faced its share of technical difficulties. Earlier complications with the Boeing Starliner capsule, including leaks rendering its thrusters unusable, forced NASA to make the decision to return the spacecraft unmanned, which contributed to the astronauts being stranded.
The team will make their return aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule attached to the ISS, though this future departure, initially slated for early February, has been modified to late March 2025. The wait continues, but Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore are holding strong, exemplifying resilience one orbit at a time.
