After spending nearly eight months aboard the International Space Station, four astronauts have finally returned to Earth. Their extended stay was largely due to issues with Boeing’s new Starliner capsule and the disruptive effects of Hurricane Milton. On Friday morning, a SpaceX capsule safely parachuted into the Gulf of Mexico, just off the coast of Florida, following its undocking from the ISS earlier this week.
Originally, the crew—consisting of three Americans and one Russian—was scheduled to return two months ago. However, their homecoming faced delays after Boeing’s Starliner capsule returned to Earth empty in September due to safety concerns. The situation worsened when Hurricane Milton hit the area, followed by a further two weeks of challenging weather conditions, including high winds and rough seas.
What can you tell us about the challenges faced during their extended mission?
