(TheRedAlertNews.com) – In a development of massive importance, NASA astronauts have finally welcomed their replacements at the International Space Station (ISS) after an unexpectedly prolonged mission.
See the tweet below!
Thanks to SpaceX, the relief arrived, providing much-needed operational continuity at the ISS.
A SpaceX crew capsule docked at the ISS, carrying replacements for stranded NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams.
The capsule launched from Kennedy Space Center and docked at the station’s Harmony module.
The newcomers hail from the U.S., Japan, and Russia, forming a diverse team ready to carry on vital space operations.
Wilmore and Williams, whose original mission was supposed to last only a week, found themselves in space much longer due to complications with the Boeing Starliner capsule.
NASA returned the Starliner empty after encountering helium leaks and thruster malfunctions, forcing the astronauts to wait for a SpaceX capsule.
The new Crew-10, consisting of Anne McClain, Nichole Ayers, Takuya Onishi, and Kirill Peskov, was ecstatic at the sight of the ISS.
“I cannot tell you the immense joy of our crew when we looked out the window and we saw the space station for the first time,” said McClain.
Following a 1 hour and 45 minutes of safety checks, the hatch finally opened, allowing the new crew to meet their predecessors.
The rendezvous not only marked the welcoming of fresh astronauts but also a transition for Wilmore and Williams, who have been conducting scientific research and maintenance duties.
Sunita Williams will soon return to Earth after spending approximately 570 days in space, making her the second most experienced U.S. astronaut.
She and Wilmore are slated to begin their journey back home later this week, weather permitting.
Former NASA astronaut Leroy Chiao described the mission as smooth, emphasizing the thorough process needed for the capsule’s docking.
“This is not like the movies…it’s going to take a while to do all the leak checks,” Chiao stated.
“It was a wonderful day. Great to see our friends arrive,” Williams expressed, highlighting the joy and relief felt at the arrival of the new team.
The new team will take over, ensuring continuous scientific work and global cooperation at the ISS.
Their arrival brings new energy and potential, promising to uphold the station’s mission as a beacon of human achievement and exploration.
Just over a day after blasting off, a SpaceX crew capsule arrived at the International Space Station on Sunday, delivering the replacements for NASA’s two stuck astronauts. https://t.co/m33viHVooa
— euronews (@euronews) March 16, 2025
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