Stranded NASA Astronauts Await March 19 Return as ISS Handover Nears

Williams and Wilmore Address Concerns, Emphasize Readiness Amid Political Controversy

NASA Confirms Astronauts Will Return Earlier Than Planned After Extended Stay on ISS

NASA Astronauts Reaffirm Commitment to Mission Despite Delays

NASA astronauts Sunita Williams (59) and Butch Wilmore (62), who have been aboard the International Space Station (ISS) since June 2024, have addressed concerns about their prolonged stay, stating that they do not feel abandoned or stranded despite widespread speculation and political controversy.

Speaking from space on Thursday, Williams and Wilmore assured the public that they are prepared and committed to their mission. While acknowledging their need to return home, they emphasized the importance of maintaining the regular ISS astronaut rotation cycle, which requires the arrival of a new crew before they can depart.

"We don’t feel abandoned. We don’t feel stuck. We don’t feel stranded," Wilmore told CNN. "I understand why others may think that. But we come prepared. If you'll help us change the rhetoric, help us change the narrative, let's change it to 'prepared and committed.'"

NASA Schedules Early Return Amid Political Pressure

NASA has now scheduled Williams and Wilmore’s return for March 19, 2025—two weeks earlier than initially planned. The decision follows growing concerns regarding their extended mission and political pressure from former U.S. President Donald Trump, who accused the Biden administration of abandoning the astronauts.

On January 28, Trump publicly called on SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to assist in retrieving the stranded astronauts, stating:

"I have just asked Elon Musk and SpaceX to 'go get' the two brave astronauts who have been virtually abandoned by the Biden administration. They have been waiting many months on [the] Space Station. Elon will soon be on his way. Hopefully, all will be safe. Good luck Elon!!!"

Musk responded on X (formerly Twitter), confirming SpaceX’s involvement in the rescue plan and criticizing the Biden administration for the delay.

"Terrible that the Biden administration left them there so long," Musk wrote.

However, Wilmore appeared to push back against this narrative, reiterating that while their stay had been longer than expected, it was part of standard NASA procedures rather than neglect.

Boeing’s Starliner Failure Led to Unexpected Stay

Williams and Wilmore’s extended mission stems from technical failures with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, which was initially set to return them to Earth after just eight days.

The astronauts launched aboard Starliner on June 5, 2024, but soon encountered multiple technical issues that prevented the spacecraft from making a safe return. After a series of tests, NASA declared Starliner unfit for human transport, ultimately sending the spacecraft back to Earth without passengers in September 2024.

With no backup return vehicle available at the time, the astronauts had to integrate into the existing Crew 9 mission and await the arrival of Crew 10 before they could return home.

SpaceX Steps In: Endurance Capsule to Bring Astronauts Home

NASA had originally planned to launch Crew 10 aboard a brand-new SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule in February 2025, but delays in SpaceX’s construction and testing of the new vehicle forced an adjustment.

To expedite Williams and Wilmore’s return, SpaceX agreed to use an existing Crew Dragon capsule named "Endurance," which has previously flown three missions. The updated schedule is as follows:

March 12, 2025 – Crew 10 launches aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon Endurance
March 13, 2025 – Crew 10 docks with the ISS and begins a week-long handover
March 19, 2025 – Williams and Wilmore return to Earth aboard Endurance

The Importance of the ISS Handover Process

Williams and Wilmore cannot leave the ISS until Crew 10 arrives, as the handover process involves briefing the new crew on ongoing scientific experiments, station maintenance, and safety protocols.

Crew 10 will include:

• Anne McClain (NASA, USA)
• Nichole Ayers (NASA, USA)
• Takuya Onishi (JAXA, Japan)
• Kirill Peskov (Roscosmos, Russia)

This new team will take over ISS operations for the next six months.

Wilmore stressed the importance of this transition, explaining that disrupting the standard crew rotation could have long-term consequences for space operations.

"We need to come back and keep the normal cycle going," Wilmore stated. "We would never expect to come back early unless it was a medical emergency or something really critical."

A Mission Extended But Not Forgotten

By the time Williams and Wilmore return, their stay on the ISS will have exceeded the usual six-month mission by two months. However, it won’t break the record for the longest continuous mission, which was set by NASA astronaut Frank Rubio in 2023 when he spent 371 days in space after his return vehicle suffered a coolant leak.

Rubio’s extended stay resulted in weakened leg muscles, making it difficult for him to walk upon his return. NASA will be closely monitoring Williams and Wilmore for any potential health effects from their prolonged time in microgravity.