• Source:JND
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NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 mission, currently operating from the International Space Station, is facing delays in its return to Earth due to adverse weather conditions near the splashdown zones in Florida. The astronauts associated with the Space Crew-8 mission are still in the ISS, where other astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore are stranded. 

The SpaceX Crew-8 mission is a stepping stone toward the upcoming Crew-9 mission, which aims to bring NASA astronaut Sunita Williams back to Earth before February 2025. 

The SpaceX Crew-9 mission was launched for the safe return of Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore stranded aboard the International Space Station (ISS) after Boeing’s spacecraft failed to return them earlier this month due to safety concerns. The mission is reportedly carrying two astronauts instead of four to bring both stranded members of NASA back to Earth. 

Meanwhile, NASA and SpaceX are consistently monitoring the status of the Crew 8 mission. The crew of the mission includes Matthew Dominick, Mike Barratt, Jeanette Epps (all from NASA), and Alexander Grebenkin from Roscosmos. 

Despite the delay, the crew is currently continuing their daily activities aboard the ISS, including exercise routines and housekeeping tasks. Crew-8's return to Earth was initially scheduled for October 7, but the looming threat of Hurricane Milton forced NASA and SpaceX to delay the mission's undocking by nearly a week. 

When Will Sunita Williams Return To Earth

Earlier in June this year, NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore were launched aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft for an eight-day mission. However, they encountered technical difficulties that prevented their return. 

Earlier, astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov successfully reached the International Space Station (ISS) aboard the Dragon spacecraft, launched via a Falcon-9 rocket, which had two spare seats available for Williams and Wilmore. It is expected that Williams will return to Earth on the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft in February 2025.