NASA astronaut Sunita Williams is finally preparing to return to Earth after an unplanned nine-month stay in space. Originally intended to be an eight-day mission, her journey stretched unexpectedly due to technical difficulties with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft.

Williams, along with fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore, embarked on the mission in June last year aboard Boeing’s new Starliner capsule. This marked the spacecraft’s first crewed flight. However, technical malfunctions surfaced upon their arrival at the International Space Station (ISS), prompting NASA to deem the capsule unfit for their return. Consequently, the agency opted to send the spacecraft back without any passengers, leaving Williams and Wilmore in space indefinitely.

NASA confirms return schedule

With multiple delays over the months, NASA had to wait for a safe alternative. Now, with the upcoming launch of SpaceX’s Crew-10 mission on 12 March, their replacements will finally arrive at the ISS. The returning astronauts, including Williams, are scheduled to depart on 19 March in an older SpaceX capsule.

Emotional and mental challenges of prolonged space stay

Speaking during a press conference, Williams reflected on the challenges of an extended mission. She described the experience as “an emotional rollercoaster,” emphasizing the difficulty of being away from family for such an extended period.

While the ISS provides astronauts with an extraordinary perspective of Earth and space, the psychological toll of isolation and uncertainty has been a significant challenge. Williams’ return will mark the end of an unexpectedly long and complex mission, highlighting both the rewards and difficulties of human spaceflight.

After spending more than eight months aboard the International Space Station, NASA astronaut Sunita Williams is preparing to wrap up her extended mission in March.

In an exclusive interview with international media conducted from space, astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore shared that the Crew-10 mission is scheduled to launch from Earth on March 12. After the launch, they will dock at the ISS for a six-month stay.

Once Crew-10 arrives, Williams and Wilmore will transition their responsibilities to the new Space Station Commander, marking a significant moment in their mission. Sunita Williams currently holds the role of commander of the space lab.

Following a week of handover activities, the two astronauts will return to Earth aboard the Dragon spacecraft that brought Crew-10 up. They are slated to undock on March 19.

“We’re on track for Crew-10 to launch on March 12, complete the handover, and then we’ll head back home on March 19,” explained Butch Wilmore during his chat with the media house.

The return of Wilmore and Williams, who made their journey to the ISS in Boeing’s Starliner capsule last summer, relies on the arrival of Crew-10 to ensure the ISS maintains its usual American crew levels.

This decision comes in light of President Donald Trump’s recent request to SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to expedite the return of Wilmore and Williams, reflecting a desire to conclude their mission more quickly, even though plans had been established back in 2024.

In the wake of Trump’s plea, NASA reiterated its commitment to bringing home the astronauts “as soon as practical,” but did not clarify whether the switch to the Crew-10 capsule was part of that effort.

Steve Stich, head of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, remarked that human spaceflight presents many unexpected challenges, commending SpaceX for its adaptability and responsiveness.

The timeline for Crew-10 is also expected to influence Axiom’s planned Crew Dragon mission, which will transport government astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary. Axiom, situated in Houston and dedicated to facilitating private and government astronaut missions using Crew Dragon, has yet to respond to inquiries about the situation.

SpaceX has developed its Crew Dragon spacecraft with about $3 billion in funding from NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, which aims to foster a vibrant private market for spaceflight while reducing costs.

In a significant announcement, India is set to embark on its ambitious Chandrayaan-4 mission, which aims to retrieve samples of lunar rocks and return them to Earth by the year 2027. The revelation came from Union Minister of Science and Technology, Jitendra Singh on Thursday.

The forthcoming mission will utilize the advanced heavy-lift LVM-3 rocket, with at least two launches planned to transport five components of the Chandrayaan-4 mission. These components will be assembled in orbit before embarking on their journey to the moon. “The Chandrayaan-4 mission aims to collect samples from the moon’s surface and bring them back to the Earth,” Singh stated.

In addition to the lunar mission, the minister also shared updates on India’s other major space initiatives. The Gaganyaan mission, which is set to successfully send Indian astronauts into low Earth orbit, is scheduled for launch in 2026. Following that, in the same year, the country will initiate Samudrayaan, a groundbreaking mission that involves sending three scientists in a submersible to explore the ocean’s depths, reaching up to 6,000 meters below the surface.

Singh noted the significance of these missions, stating that they coincide with India’s progress toward becoming a leader in scientific exploration. He recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighting the Samudrayaan mission during his Independence Day address, emphasizing its potential to uncover valuable resources such as critical minerals, rare metals, and undiscovered marine biodiversity.

This year is also pivotal for the Gaganyaan project, as it will witness its first uncrewed mission featuring a robot named ‘Vyommitra’. Singh remarked on the tremendous growth seen in India’s space sector over the past decade, noting that it considerably expanded its infrastructure and investment levels. He pointed out that while the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) was founded in 1969, the establishment of the first launch pad was not completed until 1993, with a second facility added only in 2004.

Now, efforts are underway to construct a third launch pad and develop an additional site in the Tuticorin district of Tamil Nadu, designed to facilitate the launch of small satellites.

Currently, India’s space economy is valued at approximately $44 billion over the next ten years. Singh credited recent reforms that opened up the space sector to private investment for fostering innovation and enhancing international collaborations.

“With new infrastructure, increased private participation, and record-breaking investments, India is poised for even greater achievements in the years to come,” the minister concluded, highlighting the country’s aspirations to solidify its status as a global space powerhouse.