Sunita Williams Breaks Silence on Abandonment Claims as NASA Sets Return Date!

Astronaut Sunita Williams dismissed claims of being “abandoned” in space, reassuring that she and her crewmate Butch Wilmore are safe aboard the ISS. NASA has set March 19 as their updated return date, moving it up by two weeks due to Crew-10’s delayed launch. Their return was initially postponed due to technical issues with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft.

CONTENTS:

• Sunita Williams Dismisses Claims of Being “Abandoned” in Space as NASA Confirms March Return
• NASA Sets March 19 Return Date for Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore Amid Crew-10 Delays

Sunita Williams Breaks Silence on Abandonment Claims as NASA Sets Return Date!

Sunita Williams Dismisses Claims of Being “Abandoned” in Space as NASA Confirms March Return

Sunita Williams Breaks Silence on Abandonment Despite NASA delaying the departure date by about two weeks from the previously announced timeline, astronaut Sunita Williams has reassured that she and her crewmate Barry “Butch” Wilmore are not “abandoned” in space. This statement counters former U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim that the two astronauts have been “virtually abandoned in space by the Biden administration.” Trump even urged SpaceX founder Elon Musk to “go get” the two astronauts.

In an interview with CBS Evening News, Williams dismissed these concerns, stating, “I don’t think I’m abandoned. I don’t think we’re stuck up here.” She emphasized that they have sufficient food, clothing, and a contingency plan in case of emergencies aboard the International Space Station (ISS). She added that their mission aligns with NASA’s goal of conducting world-class scientific research, which she considers an honor.

NASA is currently finalizing plans to return Williams and Wilmore to Earth alongside their space station crewmates, Crew 9 commander Nick Hague and cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov, around March 19. This updated schedule shortens their extended stay by about two weeks from the previously expected late March or April timeline. Williams and Wilmore have been in space for over nine months, despite their mission initially being planned as a weeklong test flight aboard Boeing’s Starliner capsule.

During her extended mission, Williams has been actively contributing to the ISS’s operations. She recently conducted a spacewalk alongside NASA’s Nick Hague, performing vital maintenance and inspecting the SpaceX capsule that will bring her home in the spring. NASA also shared an “ultimate selfie” of Williams taken during her ninth spacewalk on January 30, 2025, when the ISS was orbiting 423 km above the Pacific Ocean.

Her latest spacewalk, which lasted 5.5 hours, involved removing hardware from the station’s exterior and collecting surface material samples near life support system vents for research on microorganisms in space. This analysis will provide crucial insights for future Moon and Mars missions. Williams has now set a record for the most cumulative spacewalking time by a female astronaut, surpassing Peggy Whitson’s 60-hour, 21-minute record with a new total of 62 hours, 6 minutes.

Originally scheduled for an eight-day mission, Williams and Wilmore have been aboard the ISS since June 2024 due to technical issues with Boeing’s Starliner, including leaks and malfunctioning thrusters. While NASA initially planned for their return via SpaceX in February, delays have pushed their return to March 2025. Despite the prolonged stay, both astronauts have continued their scheduled tasks without interruption.

NASA Sets March 19 Return Date for Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore Amid Crew-10 Delays

Sunita Williams Breaks Silence on Abandonment NASA has announced an updated return date for astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, now targeting March 19, moving their departure up by about two weeks from the previously planned timeline. This decision follows adjustments in the launch schedule for SpaceX’s Crew-10 mission, according to a report by the Daily Mail.

Williams and Wilmore are set to return aboard the SpaceX Crew-9 capsule, which has been docked at the International Space Station (ISS) since September 29. However, NASA protocols require Crew-9 to remain at the station until Crew-10 arrives, ensuring a proper handover period to maintain operational continuity. Initially, Crew-10 was scheduled to launch in February, but technical issues with the Dragon capsule intended for the mission caused delays, pushing the launch to March. To accommodate this, NASA reallocated a different Dragon capsule for Crew-10, allowing for an earlier launch and enabling Crew-9, along with Williams and Wilmore, to return sooner than expected.

Williams and Wilmore originally launched on June 5, 2024, as part of Boeing’s Starliner Crew Flight Test—the spacecraft’s first crewed mission. However, their return was delayed multiple times due to propulsion system malfunctions and helium leaks detected during flight, preventing a safe return on the Starliner.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump recently claimed the two astronauts had been “virtually abandoned” in space and called on SpaceX founder Elon Musk to rescue them. However, NASA has consistently stated that Williams and Wilmore are not stranded, and their return has always been planned as part of Crew-9’s departure.