NASA Astronauts Stranded on ISS for Nine Months Prepare for Return via SpaceX Mission

Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore's extended stay follows Boeing Starliner issues; SpaceX Crew-10 set to facilitate their return.

NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore have been on the International Space Station for nine months, far exceeding their planned eight-day mission due to technical issues with the Boeing Starliner spacecraft.
The astronauts are scheduled to return to Earth as part of the SpaceX Crew-9 mission, following the arrival of the Crew-10 team on March 13, pending weather and technical checks.
Crew-10, consisting of astronauts from NASA, Roscosmos, and JAXA, will launch aboard the SpaceX Dragon Endurance on March 12, marking the next phase of the ISS crew rotation.
The prolonged stay of Williams and Wilmore highlighted the challenges of spacecraft reliability and the complexity of ISS operations, including supply chain adjustments and resource management.
The incident has sparked discussions about the future of commercial spaceflight, with Boeing's Starliner facing delays and NASA reevaluating its certification timeline for the spacecraft.