SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule

• NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore returned to Earth aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule after an unexpectedly extended 9-month stay in space due to Boeing’s Starliner technical issues.

Mission Details

• Launch: June 5, 2024, aboard Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner (first crewed test flight).
• Planned Duration: 8 days; extended to 286 days due to technical issues.
• Return: March 18, 2025, via SpaceX Crew Dragon.

Achievements of Sunita Williams

• Most Spacewalks by a Female Astronaut: 9 spacewalks totaling 62 hours.
• Cumulative Space Time: Over 500 days across three missions.
• First Female ISS Commander (2024-25).
• Longest Unplanned Stay in Space for NASA astronauts (286 days), providing crucial data on long-duration spaceflight.

About Boeing’s Starliner (CST-100):Crewed space capsule, partially reusable.

Modules:

• Crew Module – Accommodates astronauts.
• Service Module – Provides power, propulsion, life support.

Mission Objective:

• Test Starliner’s performance with astronauts onboard.
• Dock with ISS and return after ~10 days.

Significance

• Highlights challenges in commercial space missions.
• Provides critical data for future long-duration space travel.
• Reinforces SpaceX’s reliability over Boeing for crewed missions.