SpaceX successfully docked its Dragon capsule at the International Space Station (ISS) on Sunday to bring back two astronauts stranded since June. The astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, traveled to the ISS aboard Boeing’s new Starliner capsule for what was supposed to be an eight-day test mission. However, due to technical problems with the Starliner, including issues with thrusters and helium leaks, NASA decided it was unsafe for them to return on that spacecraft. Instead, NASA and SpaceX arranged for the astronauts to come back to Earth using SpaceX’s Dragon capsule.
The Dragon capsule launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Saturday with NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov aboard. The capsule docked at the ISS on Sunday evening as it flew 265 miles above Botswana in southern Africa. The two astronauts were welcomed by the current crew, including Wilmore and Williams, who had been waiting for their ride home for several months. The Dragon capsule was sent with two empty seats specifically for Wilmore and Williams, who will now return to Earth in February.
The Starliner capsule, launched by Boeing in June, was supposed to be a major milestone for the company’s efforts to carry astronauts to the ISS. It was Boeing’s first test flight with astronauts on board and part of NASA’s plan to use private companies for missions to and from the space station. However, the problems with Starliner were serious enough that NASA decided to delay using it for future missions. The capsule returned to Earth without astronauts earlier this month, and engineers are now examining the issues.
NASA retired its space shuttle program in 2011, and since then, it has relied on Russia’s Soyuz spacecraft to transport astronauts. The agency has been working with private companies like Boeing and SpaceX to develop alternatives. In 2020, SpaceX became the first private company to take astronauts to the ISS, a significant achievement. SpaceX has been flying regular missions for NASA since then, and the current flight is part of that program.
During their extended stay at the ISS, Wilmore and Williams have been participating in scientific experiments and other tasks. These include studies on blood clotting, plant growth, and changes in astronauts’ vision due to the space environment. The arrival of Hague and Gorbunov also means that the crew members who have been on the ISS since March can soon return to Earth, bringing the crew size back to the usual seven.
NASA officials emphasized that they are still working with Boeing and have not ruled out using Starliner for future missions. Engineers are reviewing the data from the test flight, and inspections are ongoing. Despite the setbacks, NASA continues to push for multiple transportation options to the ISS to avoid relying on a single company or spacecraft.
Meanwhile, SpaceX’s Falcon rocket, used to launch the Dragon capsule, also experienced a minor issue with its upper stage landing, which missed its target in the Pacific Ocean. SpaceX is investigating the problem before moving forward with further launches.
