NASA leaders are set to make an important announcement today regarding the return of two astronauts who have been aboard the International Space Station for over two months now after facing technical problems. Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore were part of a historic SpaceX mission to the ISS in early June. However, issues with the spacecraft meant their short eight day stay has been extended indefinitely.
At a media briefing scheduled for this afternoon, top officials from the US space agency will provide a status update on the situation and reveal their plan for bringing the astronauts home safely. They are expected to discuss the rationale for deciding between options like returning them on the same spacecraft or switching to another vehicle. Technical data collected so far will also be assessed to understand the glitches faced.
Williams and Wilmore were boosted to the orbital laboratory as part of Boeing's Crew Space Transportation-100 mission, a crucial demonstration for the aerospace firm's new Starliner spacecraft. Unfortunately, multiple thruster failures and a leak prevented the capsule from docking to the station as planned and extended the crew's mission. Over the past few months, NASA has been weighing different return strategies while working closely with its partners to resolve any issues.
With the briefing only hours away, the world awaits the critical announcement on the next steps that will finally bring the stranded astronauts back to Earth after their unexpectedly long mission. More details are likely to emerge on the timeline and logistics of the chosen approach. NASA will no doubt take all precautions to ensure the safe homecoming of the pioneering space explorers.
