Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Suni Williams finally They will return to Earth This Tuesday after taking more than nine months trapped at the International Space Station (EEI).
The two astronauts had arrived in June an inaugural trip of the Boeing Starliner ship that suffered propulsion problems. Therefore, NASA decided that, as a precaution, the couple did not return to Earth as programmed and the empty ship traveled in autonomous mode after decoupling the US.
Wilmore and Williams are part of the CREW-9 mission designed in origin to be a Routine replacement mission of crew of the space station. The couple arrived for A one -week mission in a Boeing Starliner ship which performed its first manned mission to the orbital complex. However, the ship recorded failures during the approximation and subsequent investigation determined that it was not sure for the return. The lack of ships available for the return has been postponing its return months.
On March 15, Spacex’s CREW-10 mission was successfully coupled at the International Space Station (EEI) with the objective, among others, to relieve four astronauts, among them Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore.
According to the state agency statement, “NASA and Spacex met Sunday to Evaluate weather conditions and of America on the coast of Florida for the return of the CREW-9 mission of the agency from the US. The managers of the mission are aimed at advancing the return of the CREW-9 to the favorable conditions planned for the night of Tuesday, March 18 “.
The two astronauts will return home on Tuesday in a Spacex ship together Nic Hague and Aleksandr Gorbunov.
A return in controversy
The return mission of these two astronauts has been marked by the political rifirrafe. The founder of ‘Space X’, Elon Musk, demanded a quick rescue mission, While President Donald Trump accused his predecessor, Joe Biden, to abandon astronauts without offering evidence.
Who are trapped astronauts
Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Suni Williams have a long career in NASA.
Wilmore, 64, is an aeronautical engineer from Michigan who joined NASA in 2000 as part of NASA’s astronaut program.
He has been in several missions throughout his career in NASA, including expedition 42/43 to the US in 2014, where he passed 6 months conducting scientific research and space walks. In this mission, Wilmore was also the EEI commander during expedition 43.
Among the distinctions he has is the NASA distinguished service medal and the US Air Force Medal.
For his part, Suni Williams, 59, is a native of Ohio and a graduate in Naval Engineering. Before joining NASA, Williams was a pilot and official of the US Navy. and obtained the commander range.
He joined NASA in 1998 and as Wilmore has participated in Numerous Missions of the Agency. Both astronauts have been pioneers in their field and have a rich trajectory in both the US Navy.
