After a delay caused by Boeing’s Starliner capsule issues and Hurricane Milton, four astronauts have finally returned to Earth following an extended eight-month stay on the International Space Station (ISS). Their journey back, initially scheduled for two months ago, concluded early Friday as a SpaceX Dragon capsule carrying three Americans and one Russian splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico off Florida’s coast.
The return marks the end of a mission that faced multiple obstacles. Boeing’s new Starliner capsule, which had initially brought two astronauts to the ISS in June, had to return empty to Earth in September due to safety concerns. Subsequently, Hurricane Milton and continued rough weather pushed the crew’s homecoming even further, underscoring the challenges of space travel and mission adaptability.
NASA astronauts Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt, Jeanette Epps, and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin completed this journey, with Barratt, a seasoned astronaut, praising the support teams for their resilience. “The ground teams had to retool and replan every step with us as we navigated these setbacks,” Barratt shared.
The ISS remains occupied by two Starliner test pilots, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who originally planned an eight-day stay that turned into eight months, and two additional astronauts launched by SpaceX last month. This team is scheduled to stay until February, continuing critical operations aboard the space station.
Source: Swifteradio.com
