Stranded US astronauts expected to return home after nine months in space

Two NASA astronauts are expected to return to Earth this month after being stranded in space for several months. Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams were originally scheduled for an eight-day mission, but their return has been delayed because the Boeing "Starliner" spacecraft they were testing was deemed unfit for the return journey. This unexpected delay has caused concerns about the future of the Starliner program.

Currently, Wilmore and Williams are waiting for their replacements to arrive at the International Space Station (ISS) next week before they can begin their journey home. This mission extension has brought additional waiting time for the astronauts' families, and Williams said the hardest part is her family's worries, and she can't wait to reunite with her Labrador retriever. The safe return of the astronauts is the top priority for NASA and the families.

Williams said, "It's like a roller coaster for them, maybe even more so than for us. We're here, we have a mission, we're just doing what we do every day, and every day is fun because we're in space, which is very interesting." The astronauts are maintaining a positive attitude and focusing on their tasks while awaiting their return.

SpaceX's Elon Musk had an online clash with Danish astronaut Andreas Mogensen. Mogensen accused Musk of lying in a Fox News interview, claiming that astronauts were abandoned for "political reasons." Mogensen pointed out that NASA had long planned for Wilmore and Williams to return on the SpaceX Crew-9 mission, which arrived at the International Space Station in September with two spare seats, because the Boeing "Starliner" was deemed unfit for manned return. This highlights the ongoing competition and occasional tensions between different space companies and agencies.

Wilmore and Williams' return was further delayed because the brand-new SpaceX spacecraft needed additional completion time, which was supposed to transport their replacements. Last month, NASA announced that the next astronaut team would switch to a used spacecraft and move the launch date forward to March 12. The two astronaut teams will spend about a week together on the space station, after which Wilmore and Williams will leave with NASA's Nick Hague and Roscosmos' Alexander Gorbunov. This adjustment in plans demonstrates the flexibility required in space missions.

Musk's response to Mogensen included insulting remarks about people with intellectual disabilities, sparking strong opposition from the space community. Former NASA twin astronauts Scott Kelly and Mark Kelly defended Mogensen and criticized the SpaceX founder. In addition, Frank Rubio became the first NASA astronaut to spend more than a year in space after a micrometeoroid damaged his Russian "Soyuz" spacecraft. In 2003, after a space shuttle disintegrated upon re-entry, NASA suspended flights for two years, forcing astronauts to rely on "Soyuz" spacecraft and extend their missions. These incidents underscore the inherent risks and challenges of space travel.