A SpaceX capsule arrived at the International Space Station on Sunday, bringing two new astronauts to replace Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams who have been stranded since June, according to AP.
The Dragon capsule, launched on Saturday, was carrying NASA’s Nick Hague and Russian astronaut Alexander Gorbunov.
They were welcomed by the outgoing crew, Wilmore and Williams, who expressed relief at the arrival of their replacements.
The decision to switch Wilmore and Williams to SpaceX was prompted by safety concerns regarding the Boeing Starliner capsule.
NASA deemed the thruster failures and helium leaks observed during Starliner’s first crewed test flight too serious to risk sending the astronauts home in it. As a result, the Starliner capsule returned to Earth empty earlier this month, raising alarms about Starliner’s ongoing issues.
The Dragon capsule docked successfully 426 kilometers above Botswana, ensuring a smooth transition for the astronauts aboard the space station.
Wilmore and Williams’ return mission has now been extended to over eight months, far longer than the week-long duration they had originally planned.
Upon arrival, Hague expressed excitement, stating, “Coming through the hatch and seeing all the smiles… I know it’s going to be an amazing expedition.”
NASA typically replaces its station crews every six months, and SpaceX has been providing transport to the ISS since its first crewed flight in 2020.
In contrast, Boeing’s Starliner has faced numerous delays and issues, leading to NASA’s decision to rely more on SpaceX for crew transportation.
NASA’s associate Administrator Jim Free emphasized the ongoing evaluation of Boeing, saying, “We’re a long way from saying, ‘Hey, we’re writing off Boeing.’”
The arrival of Hague and Gorbunov means the four astronauts currently aboard the ISS, who have been there since March, will return to Earth in just over a week. As the crew transitions, their shared experiences in orbit continue to foster international collaboration in space exploration and research.
This change will bring the station’s crew size back down to the normal seven, following an extended stay caused by Starliner-related challenges.
Despite the successful launch, SpaceX reported that the rocket’s upper stage veered off course, prompting a pause in Falcon launches for a thorough investigation. The aeronautics company is committed to identifying and resolving the issues before resuming operations, ensuring the safety and reliability of future missions.