NASA Announces Early Return for Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore to Earth

NASA has announced a change in plans for its Crew-10 mission, opting to replace the originally intended astronaut capsule with a previously flown SpaceX Crew Dragon. This decision aims to expedite the return of Starliner astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore to Earth earlier than initially expected.

Last month, former U.S. President Donald Trump urged Elon Musk to ensure the swift return of Sunita and Butch, emphasizing the need to bring them back "as soon as possible."

In a move to accelerate upcoming crew rotation missions to and from the International Space Station (ISS), NASA has now rescheduled the Crew-10 launch. Initially planned for March 25, the mission is now set to lift off on March 12, pending final mission readiness checks and the agency's certification of flight readiness.

Following the successful arrival of Crew-10 at the ISS, the Crew-9 team will carry out a handover process before returning to Earth, NASA confirmed.

The agency also stated that instead of deploying a newly manufactured Crew Dragon capsule—whose production has experienced delays—mission planners have chosen to utilize an existing spacecraft named 'Endurance.' Preparations for Endurance’s upcoming flight include refurbishment, integration of its trunk section, fueling, and transportation to SpaceX’s hangar at Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where it will be paired with a Falcon 9 rocket.

Williams and Wilmore initially traveled to the ISS aboard Boeing’s Starliner capsule in June 2024. However, the spacecraft encountered multiple technical issues, including a helium leak, leading to an extended stay for the astronauts. Since their arrival, Sunita Williams has been actively managing operations aboard the ISS.

Their return to Earth remains contingent upon the arrival of the four-member Crew-10 team, which will ensure that ISS operations continue seamlessly with a full staff complement.