Wilmore and Williams flew to the orbital lab in June final yr, on what was alleged to be a days-long roundtrip to check out Boeing’s Starliner on its first crewed flight.
However the spaceship developed propulsion issues and was deemed unfit to fly them again, as a substitute returning empty.
Ex-Navy pilots Wilmore and Williams, 62 and 59 respectively, have been reassigned to the NASA-SpaceX Crew-9 mission, which noticed a Dragon spacecraft fly to the ISS final September with a staff of two, quite than the same old 4, to make room for the “stranded” pair.
Then, early on Sunday, a aid staff known as Crew-10 docked with the station, their arrival met with broad smiles and hugs as they floated by means of the hatch.
Crew-10’s arrival cleared the way in which for Wilmore and Williams to depart, together with Hague and Gorbunov.
After massive hugs from the crew remaining on the ISS, the quartet entered the capsule and closed its hatch on Tuesday.
“Colleagues and pricey pals who stay on the station … we’ll be ready for you. Crew-9 goes residence”, Hague stated.
