Welcome Home Sunita: Stranded NASA Astronauts Embrace Replacements in Space

NASA and SpaceX have joined forces to mark the return of astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who have been stranded aboard the International Space Station (ISS) since last June. The Crew-10 mission, launched by SpaceX, docked with the ISS early Sunday morning, paving the way for the long-awaited handover.

The new crew joined the station’s Expedition 72 team, and as the hatch opened around 12:35 a.m. ET, the atmosphere was filled with warm hugs and handshakes. Butch Wilmore rang the station’s bell while Sunita Williams snapped photos of the emotional reunion. “It was a wonderful day. Great to see our friends arrive,” Williams said to Mission Control.

This gathering is not just a celebratory moment but the start of a long-duration research mission. The Crew-10 members, representing the United States, Japan, and Russia, will spend the next few days learning the station’s routines from Williams and Wilmore before the two NASA astronauts prepare for their journey back home. Their return, now set for mid-March, has been delayed due to ongoing issues with their original Boeing Starliner capsule, which initially led to plans for a quick week-long mission.

Originally, both astronauts were expected to return just eight days after arriving at the ISS. However, technical setbacks and further delays forced the use of an older SpaceX capsule, pushing their departure closer to mid-March. Weather permitting, the capsule carrying the returning crew is scheduled to undock from the ISS no earlier than Wednesday and splash down off the Florida coast.

SpaceX founder Elon Musk confirmed on social media that Williams and Wilmore will be joining Crew-9 on their journey back to Earth. Despite the delays and challenges, the emotional welcome from the Crew-10 team signals a hopeful end to the astronauts’ extended stay in orbit, as the ISS continues to host 11 crew members from the United States, Russia, and Japan.