BUTCH WILMORE AND SUNITA WILLIAMS STUCK IN SPACE UNTIL FEB 2025
Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are both Navy Veterans and astronauts for NASA. They are now in a bit of a pickle—their eight-day mission is now going to last until at least February 2025. The reason Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams are stuck in space boils down to the fact that it’s still really hard to send people to and from the heavens. NASA was hopeful that their return could be made possible on the Boeing spacecraft, however, a SpaceX return trip was also explored. The two have already been aboard the International Space Station for months. Unfortunately, it’s going to have to be their home for a bit longer after a series of unfortunate events.
Why Is Sunita Williams Stuck in Space?
Sunita Williams is stuck in space with fellow Navy Vet Butch Wilmore. This is because Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft had issues in June. The Boeing Starliner stuck in space with two astronauts continues to make headlines. Now, more information surrounding the incident is coming out. Wilmore and Williams were traveling as a part of NASA's Commercial Crew Capsule program. Suddenly, helium leaks and five thruster failures added more than enough complications to their mission. Since then, many of the issues have been fixed and NASA and Boeing both say the Starliner is safe. However, the exact cause of the issues remains unclear. This is why Wilmore and Williams remain suspended in the stars. Everyone was looking to repair the Boeing Starliner to find the root of its problems, along with exploring other options. Notably, the main alternative option for bringing Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams home was to use the SpaceX Dragon Crew-9 spaceship launching in September 2024. It appears that his option is the preferred option now, though SpaceX will now chop its crew in half to make room on the return flight in 2025 to bring the stranded Vets home.
SpaceX’s Dragon Crew-9 Mission
The mission was going to be a big one for SpaceX regardless; however, its September run to the ISS is taking on even more notoriety as it will serve as a taxi for the stranded Wilmore and Williams. Not only is the company using Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC 40) at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station but NASA astronaut and active duty U.S. Space Force Colonel Nick Hague is scheduled to make the trip. This is a first for any active-duty Guardian; however, it’s unclear if Col. Hague is now going to be cut seeing as the mission to bring home Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams from being stuck in space requires additional room. Reasonably, bringing both astronauts home through SpaceX’s Dragon Crew-9 will still mean a much longer stay for both affected parties. The flight home using a SpaceX spacecraft means Williams and Wilmore won’t make it back until February or March 2025.
Sunita Williams Being Stuck in Space is the Latest Boeing Blunder
High-profile crashes in 2018 and 2019 were bad enough. However, Boeing’s 2024 is one to forget in a world that documents everything worth remembering. The company is still part of an ongoing FAA investigation following the door of a Boeing 737-9 MAX Aircraft coming detached from an airplane mid-flight. Now, Boeing's Starliner has stuck its astronauts on the ISS. Now, one of the U.S. military’s largest aerospace contractors has egg on its face yet again. The reality of the situation is that while Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams remain stuck in space, thanks to increased innovation in space travel, a create solution has emerged to bring back the brave souls that continue to explore locations beyond our world.Suggested reads: