How to watch ‘stranded’ NASA astronauts journey back to home as they return to Earth today
The two stranded astronauts on board the International Space Station are set to return to Earth within a matter of hours, and you can watch the livestream event as they take their first steps on solid ground in nearly a year.
Sunita Williams and Barry 'Butch' Wilmore have been stuck on the International Space Station (ISS) since June 2024 after their Boeing Starliner ship experienced a range of issues.
However, now that Elon Musk’s SpaceX craft has successfully docked on the ISS, we can all expect the two astronauts to come home soon.
As everyone has been eagerly waiting for updates on their journey, it was announced that you can actually watch their decent into Earth’s atmosphere and onto the ground via a livestream.
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Why were the NASA astronauts were stranded in space?
Williams and were forced to take refuge in the ISS while waiting for help to come after their broken craft was picked up and returned to Earth without them, as it was deemed unsafe for travel.
Having only initially meant to have been in space for eight days, the astronauts have been up there nearly a year there, living off rations and updating the public during broadcasted interviews as they waited for instructions.
According to the BBC, a number of issues have plagued their original craft, including fuel and helium leaks, and five dead manoeuvring thrusters, which all affected the spacecraft's expendable propulsion system.
Essentially, the craft would not have been able to have pushed itself away from the ISS and towards Earth, and that’s not something you’d want to be contained within.
How did SpaceX get involved?
While several return missions were planned and cancelled by NASA in the weeks that followed, the firm made the decisions to reach out to SpaceX for help.
However, as a date was being conjured to collect and return Wilmore and Williams, one of the astronauts agreed with a claim that President Donald Trump made about Elon Musk’s attempt to bring them back down to Earth via his SpaceX craft.
The US President stated that former President Joe Biden stalled the rescue mission by rejecting Musk’s help, as he wrote on Truth Social, on January 28: "I have just asked Elon Musk and @SpaceX to ‘go get’ the 2 brave astronauts who have been virtually abandoned in space by the Biden administration."
He added: "They have been waiting for many months on @Space Station. Elon will soon be on his way. Hopefully, all will be safe. Good luck Elon!!!"
Before Trump posted, Musk alleged that the Biden Administration as being to blame for the pair being stranded for so long, writing on X: "The @POTUS has asked @SpaceX to bring home the 2 astronauts stranded on the @Space_Station as soon as possible. We will do so. Terrible that the Biden administration left them there so long."
This tweet came just after Musk’s SpaceX company launched a Crew Dragon capsule, aimed to rescue the pair in September, but after it arrived at the Space Station, NASA stalled its return until March 19.
When are Williams and Wilmore coming back to Earth?
Thankfully, the Mail reported that NASA has brought forward SpaceX's rescue mission, and Wilmore and Williams will be retuning to Earth tomorrow (18 March) after the Crew-10 astronauts arrive at the ISS to take over.
However, the pair will have remained in space for a staggering 287 days, which means their health will be closely monitored as they readjust to life on Earth.
How can you watch the livestream?
Williams and Wilmore will be alongside NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov during their final stages of the descent, which will all be livestreamed via NASA TV and a new streaming service called NASA+.
After they all touch down, you’ll see the splashdown and crew recovery, followed by a press conference.
If you want to have the link ready and waiting, click here: NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 Re-Entry and Splashdown | NASA+
Topics: Donald Trump, Elon Musk, Nasa, Space, News
Britt Jones