Sunita Williams Set to Return to Earth in March After Over Eight Months on ISS
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NASA astronaut Sunita Williams is preparing to return to Earth in March after spending more than eight months aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Serving as the ISS commander, Williams has played a crucial role in ongoing space missions and research. Her return is scheduled for March 19, following the arrival of Crew-10, which will take over station operations after launching from Earth on March 12. The transition will involve a week-long handover period to ensure a smooth shift in responsibilities.
Williams and fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore initially traveled to the ISS aboard Boeing’s Starliner capsule, which has since encountered technical issues. However, their return will be aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft. Reports indicate that former President Donald Trump personally requested SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to expedite their return, though NASA has not confirmed whether this influenced the scheduling.
The Crew-10 mission’s success may also impact future private spaceflights, including Axiom’s planned Crew Dragon missions involving astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary. With NASA investing heavily in SpaceX’s Crew Dragon under its Commercial Crew Program, this return mission highlights the growing role of private space companies in shaping the future of human spaceflight.
