Two NASA astronauts will return from the International Space Station (ISS) sooner than expected, thanks to a capsule swap by SpaceX. The astronauts, Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, are now slated to return in mid-March, rather than late March or April as previously planned. They have been on the ISS for over eight months, following delays due to technical issues with Boeing's Starliner spacecraft.

To facilitate the astronauts' earlier return, NASA has decided to utilize a previously flown SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, named Endeavor, for the upcoming Crew-10 mission. This decision addresses production delays of a new capsule and moves the Crew-10 launch date to March 12, 2025, from the earlier target of March 25. The adjustment aims to reduce the extended duration of Williams and Wilmore's mission.

The Crew-10 mission will carry a four-member team to the ISS. The crew includes NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, JAXA astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov. Their arrival will allow Williams and Wilmore, along with their colleagues Nick Hague and Aleksandr Gorbunov, to return to Earth after a brief handover period.

Williams and Wilmore's mission was initially planned as a short-term assignment. However, technical problems with Boeing's Starliner capsule, including propulsion issues and propellant leaks, led to significant delays. These challenges extended their stay on the ISS to over eight months.

Steve Stich, Manager of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, commented on the situation: "Human spaceflight is full of unexpected challenges. Our operational flexibility is enabled by the tremendous partnership between NASA and SpaceX and the agility SpaceX continues to demonstrate to safely meet the agency’s emerging needs."

Source: Economic Times