NASA ASTRONAUTS RETURN AFTER 9-MONTH STAY IN SPACE

Why in the News?

  • Successful return: NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore returned to Earth after 286 days in space.
  • Unexpected delay: Originally planned for a shorter stay, their mission was extended due to technical issues with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft.
  • SpaceX rescue: The astronauts returned aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon, landing in the Gulf of Mexico near Tallahassee, Florida.

NASA ASTRONAUTS RETURN AFTER 9-MONTH STAY IN SPACE

Extended Mission

  • Boeing Starliner failure: The duo arrived at the ISS in June 2023 on the Starliner, which later became unfit for their return.
  • Longest ISS stay: Their stay extended 278 days beyond schedule, making it one of the longest unintended space missions.
  • Crew-9 mission: They were part of NASA’s Crew-9 mission, working alongside Nick Hague (NASA) and Aleksandr Gorbunov (Roscosmos).

Final Return and Future

  • Safe splashdown: The Crew Dragon capsule parachuted safely into the Gulf of Mexico, completing their mission.
  • Spacecraft reliability: The incident raises concerns over Boeing’s Starliner program, reinforcing SpaceX’s role in NASA’s ISS missions.
  • Future missions: NASA will review Starliner’s technical flaws before planning new crewed flights for safer space travel.

International Space Station (ISS)

Overview

  • Global collaboration: A joint project involving NASA, Roscosmos, ESA, JAXA, and CSA.
  • Launch year: 1998, with continuous human presence since 2000.
  • Orbits Earth: At an altitude of ~420 km, completing one orbit every 90 minutes.

Structure and Function

  • Modular design: Composed of multiple laboratory, habitat, and service modules.
  • Microgravity lab: Conducts scientific research in biology, physics, astronomy, and technology.
  • Solar-powered: Uses large solar arrays to generate electricity.

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