Stranded US Astronauts Begin Return to Earth After Nine-Month ISS Stay

NASA's Suni Williams and Barry Wilmore, originally set for a week-long mission, are returning aboard SpaceX's 'Crew Dragon' capsule after delays caused by a Boeing 'Starliner' malfunction.

Suni Williams and Barry Wilmore were stranded on the ISS for over nine months due to technical issues with Boeing's 'Starliner' spacecraft.
The astronauts, along with Nick Hague and Alexander Gorbunow, are en route to Earth aboard SpaceX's 'Crew Dragon' capsule, expected to land off Florida's coast.
Williams and Wilmore were initially scheduled for a brief ISS mission in June 2024 but remained aboard after NASA deemed the 'Starliner' unsafe for their return.
The 'Crew Dragon' mission was adjusted to reserve two seats for Williams and Wilmore, enabling their safe return.
The newly arrived 'Crew 10,' comprising astronauts from the US, Japan, and Russia, has taken over ISS operations, ensuring continuity of its mission.