NASA astronauts who have remained in space for months more than planned finally return to Earth.
Barry “Butch” Wilmore y Sunita “Suni” Williams made the first astronaut flight of the Boeing Starliner capsule to the International Space Station (ISS) in June 2024.
However, what was supposed to be a mission that lasted approximately one week became a nine -month stay aboard the ISS due to several problems with Starliner.
The problems with the spacecraft took NASA and Boeing to send Starliner back to Earth and keep Wilmore and Williams aboard the ISS until the beginning of 2025, when they would return home in a Dragon Spacex Crew-9 spacecraft once the crew reached the ISS.
Spacex Crew-9 will finally decoup Returning to Earth at night.
Here is a timeline of the Starliner mission:
Astronauts of the Boeing Crew Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams flight test pose for a portrait inside the lobby between the front port in the Harmony module of the International Space Station and the Starliner of Boeing spacecraft on June 13, 2024.
NASA through AP, files
April 2, 2024
NASA officials say Destination date for the first flight test of the Boeing Starliner crew It is not before May 6.
May 6, 2024
Starliner’s first attempt is Scrubber after a problem with an oxygen valve It is located in the rocket that launches the spacecraft in orbit.
May 7, 2024
NASA, Boeing and United Lanzing Alliance Starliner Rocket – Let’s say they are pointing to a Release date not before May 10.
May 14, 2024
The authorities say that a new pressure regulation valve has been successfully replaced and tested, and that the New Starliner launching target The date will not be before May 21.
May 23, 2024
NASA announces a new launch date of Target Starliner on June 1. A launch date for May 25 had been established, but a small helium leak was discovered in the service module, which contains support systems and instruments to operate a spacecraft.
June 1, 2024
Officials SCRUB Starliner release Only a few minutes before takeoff because a computer launch sequencer is not loaded correctly. A June 2 support date is Also canceled.
June 2, 2024
NASA and Boeing officials say they are aimed at a launch date on June 5 For Starliner.
June 5, 2024
After several delays, Starliner is launched, taking off at 10:52 am et from the Capeover Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Wilmore and Williams are scheduled to return to Earth aboard Starliner on June 14.
The Boeing Starliner capsule on an ATLAS V Range rises from the launch platform at the Space launch Complex 41 in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on June 5, 2024, carrying NASA Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to the International Space Station.
Chris O’Meara/AP, files
June 6, 2024
Starliner successfully accumulates the ISS after the helium was leaked and a propellant problem threatened to delay the coupling.
June 11, 2024
NASA says that Starliner has five “small” helium leaks and that the ISS mission of astronauts will run until June 18, waiting for the preparation of the climate and that of Starliner to return them home.
June 14, 2024
NASA and BOEING announce that they are heading on June 22 For Starliner’s return, he returns to Earth.
June 18, 2024
POT delays the return of astronauts until June 26 While the team solves some of Starliner’s problems, including helium leaks and propeller failures.
June 21, 2024
The return date of astronauts is canceled again Due to conflicts with previously planned space walks. Mission officials continue to review Starliner data.
June 28, 2024
NASA and Boeing officials say During a press conference That additional test is being carried out in the spacecraft propulsion system before Starliner may be decoupling.
July 10, 2024
Wilmore and Williams say they feel “safe” that Starliner can take them home safely.
August 7, 2024
During a press conference, NASA officials say Wilmore and Williams can have to return home in a spacecraft that is not Starliner.
Astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, both Expedition 71 flight engineers, make pizza aboard the galley of the International Space Station located within the Unity module, on September 9, 2024.
NASA through AP, files
August 24, 2024
NASA officials confirm that astronauts will have to return home in a different spacecraft in 2025 and that Starliner will return to Earth however.
August 29, 2024
NASA and Boeing officials say They will proceed with disapacited Starliner Not before the night of September 6.
September 7, 2024
Star line Land without career In White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico.
September 13, 2024
During a press conference, Wilmore and Williams say they don’t feel “disappointed” not returning to Boeing Starliner or the delay in their mission.
March 12, 2025
NASA’s Spacex Crew-10 mission is canceled less than 45 minutes before takeoff due to a hydraulic system problem.
NASA’s Dragon Spacex Dragon Dragon spacecraft in a Falcon 9 rocket, which will transport NASA’s crew-10, is docked in the Kennedy Space Center 39A launch complex as part of its launch preparations at the Kennedy Kennedy Space Center in NASA, in Titusville, Fla., March 12, 2025.
Cristóbal Herrera -ulavich/EPA through Shuttersock
March 14, 2025
Mission members of the crew-10 launch successfully Aboard a Spacex Dragon spacecraft of the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
March 16, 2025
The crew-10 successfully documented in the ISS, bringing four new astronauts to work in the floating laboratory and establishing the return to the earth by Wilmore and Williams, as well as another NASA astronaut and a Russian cosmonaut.
ABC News faith, Abubey, Matthew Glasser, Leah Sarnoff and Gina Sunseri, contributed to this report.
