By: Daily News Web Desk
WASHINGTON, D.C. – NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore have finally returned to Earth after an unexpectedly prolonged mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Initially scheduled for an eight-day stay, the duo spent an astonishing 286 days—over nine months—before making their way back.
The delay stemmed from repeated technical failures in the Boeing Starliner spacecraft that transported them to orbit in June. The vehicle suffered helium leaks and engine malfunctions, prompting weeks of troubleshooting. While Boeing downplayed the issues, NASA ultimately intervened, opting to bring the astronauts home aboard a SpaceX capsule instead.
The extended mission fueled political and media debates, with figures like former President Donald Trump and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk claiming the astronauts had been “abandoned”—a characterization Williams and Wilmore firmly rejected.
Despite the challenges, the astronauts adapted to their extended stay, conducting spacewalks and contributing over 900 hours to scientific research in microgravity. While their prolonged mission was unusual, it was not record-breaking—NASA’s Frank Rubio still holds the longest U.S. spaceflight at 371 days.
Lunar Exploration Advances with Historic Mission
Meanwhile, progress continues in lunar exploration. Firefly Aerospace’s robotic lander, Blue Ghost, successfully completed a 14-day mission near the Moon’s south pole, carrying 10 NASA research instruments. The mission was hailed as the first “fully successful” commercial moon landing, providing crucial data for future human exploration. Before shutting down, the lander transmitted 120 gigabytes of data and left a parting message, entering “Monument Mode” to observe humanity’s progress in space.
Breakthrough Discoveries in Space Science
Beyond NASA’s missions, astronomers have made significant discoveries about our universe. A recent study confirmed that four planets orbit Barnard’s Star, one of the closest stars to Earth. While these exoplanets are likely too hot to support life, the findings provide valuable insights into planetary systems beyond our solar system.
Additionally, groundbreaking research using the James Webb Space Telescope has detected oxygen and heavy elements in the most distant confirmed galaxy ever observed. This suggests galaxies in the early universe evolved far more rapidly than previously thought, forming stars at an accelerated rate.
Supernovas and Mass Extinctions: A Cosmic Connection?
A separate study has proposed a link between ancient supernovas and Earth’s mass extinctions. Researchers suggest that powerful stellar explosions occurring within the past 500 million years may have stripped away the planet’s ozone layer, triggering major biological crises. While the theory is still under investigation, scientists are searching for traces of rare elements in ancient rocks as potential evidence.
