NASA advances astronaut return by two weeks amid spacecraft delays

On February 6, 2025, NASA announced an expedited plan to return astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to Earth from the International Space Station. Originally scheduled for an early April return, the new timeline suggests their return could happen as soon as March 19, 2025. This decision was made necessary due to delays in the approval of a new Crew Dragon vehicle intended for a separate mission. The astronauts had been awaiting their return on the ISS for a significantly extended period, which was reported to last between eight to thirty days. The space agency had initially planned for Wilmore and Williams to return on a Starliner spacecraft, but following propulsion issues, it restructured the plan in favor of a SpaceX Dragon vehicle due to safety concerns. Under the revised plan, NASA is coordinating with SpaceX to expedite the readiness of the C210 vehicle, known as Endurance. This spacecraft had previously completed the Crew-7 mission and was due to participate in the upcoming private Axiom-4 mission later in spring. To accommodate the return of Wilmore and Williams, schedules for the missions are being adjusted, which may cause a delay for Axiom-4. The choice to advance the return date by two weeks reflects a strategic response to supply constraints on the ISS, as the crew's food and water supplies were nearing critical levels. The delays also signify a critical juncture in NASA's ongoing relationship with SpaceX, highlighting the intricate planning involved in maintaining effective operations at the ISS while also supporting commercial space endeavors.