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FAQs About Sunita Williams And Butch Wilmore Space Mission:  Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore’s space mission has become historic due to unexpected challenges. On June 5, 2024, they departed on Boeing's Starliner for a 10-day trip to the ISS. They had to stay for more than nine months, though, due to technical difficulties with the spacecraft, which made it one of the longest unplanned stays in space.

Despite this, they continued to conduct scientific experiments and support ISS operations. To replace them, NASA and SpaceX have launched the Crew-10 mission, which is getting ready to land on Earth shortly. Many concerns regarding long-duration space missions, future spacecraft dependability, and space travel safety have been brought up by this mission.

In this article, we answer the top 10 must-know FAQs about their journey, the challenges they faced, and what happens next as they prepare to return home. Let’s explore their incredible space adventure!

1. Who are Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore?

FAQs about Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore space mission,Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore (Image: X)

Sunita Williams is an Indian-American astronaut who is well-known for her spaceflight records, while Butch Wilmore is a seasoned NASA astronaut and former U.S. Navy pilot. 

2. Why were Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore on the International Space Station (ISS)?

On June 5, 2024, Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore boarded Boeing's Starliner spacecraft for what was supposed to be a standard 10-day trip to the International Space Station. 

3. Why was their mission extended beyond the planned duration?

They unexpectedly extended their stay on the ISS after technical problems with the Starliner spacecraft made it unsafe for them to return.

4. How long have they been on the ISS?

Sunita Williams and Wilmore have been on the ISS for more than nine months as of March 17, 2025, which is a lot longer than their 10-day initial plan.

5. What have they been doing during this extended mission?

Both astronauts have continued to be active during their extended stay, performing more than 150 experiments and advancing the ISS's microgravity research.

6. How are they returning to Earth?

To bring Williams and Wilmore home, NASA and SpaceX launched the Crew-10 mission to the ISS. A SpaceX Dragon capsule that has already docked at the station on 16 March 2025 and is expected to carry them back.

7. When is their return scheduled?

The precise date of their return is dependent on favourable conditions and is set for no earlier than March 19, 2025.

8. Who are the Crew-10 astronauts replacing them?

The Crew-10 mission includes NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, JAXA astronaut Takuya Onishi and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov. 

9. How did the Crew-10 arrival impact Williams and Wilmore?

Crew-10's arrival made it easier to rotate personnel, which allowed Williams and Wilmore to get ready to return to Earth following the lengthy mission.

10. What challenges did they face during their extended stay?

FAQs about Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore space mission 2Crew 10 and Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore (Image: X)

Long-term space travel can cause health problems like vision problems and muscle atrophy. Both astronauts, however, are still in good health and spirits.

11. How has this mission impacted future space travel plans?

The difficulties encountered during this mission underscore the significance of dependable spacecraft for missions involving crews and could impact future cooperation and spacecraft advancement.

 

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