A Bell, A 'Key', And A Legacy: How Sunita Williams’ ISS Command Came To A Close
Russian cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin has taken command of the International Space Station from NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, who along with astronaut Butch Wilmore is set to return to Earth this month.
Russian cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin has officially taken command of the International Space Station (ISS) from NASA astronaut Sunita Williams. This transition occurs as part of the standard rotational leadership structure aboard the ISS, ensuring smooth operations as new missions arrive and departing crews prepare for their return journey to Earth.
Williams' tenure as commander saw critical preparations for the arrival of the SpaceX Crew-10 mission, which is scheduled to launch aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 7:48 pm EST on March 12 (5:18 am IST, March 13). This mission, carrying four astronauts aboard a previously flown Dragon capsule named Endurance, will pave the way for Williams and her fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore to depart the ISS alongside the Crew-9 team.
'You Are Leaving The Station Iin Good Hands...We Will Miss You'
The ceremonial handover between NASA's Williams and Roscosmos' Ovchinin, took place aboard the station, with Williams expressing her gratitude to her team, mission control centres, and the engineers who supported her mission. She acknowledged the efforts of fellow astronauts and ground support teams, emphasising the collaborative spirit that drives space exploration.
"...it's a huge undertaking and a huge thank you specifically for Butch and I to be joined into this International Space Station crew. I know that was a lot of trust, and a lot of willingness to let us not only be part of the crew but also lead the crew, so we are absolutely thankful for that opportunity and hopefully we did you proud," Williams said as she handed over a symbolic key to the new commander, and Wilmore rang a ceremonial bell as is the norm.
Ovchinin started his acceptance speech in Russian, saying March 7 was a special day for them as it marked the 65th anniversary of the formation of the Russian cosmonaut corps. Switching to English, he added: "Very soon, you (Willams, Wilmore, and other Crew-9 members) will leave station...it was great flying, walking, relaxing together. I wish you good luck, normal descent, soft landing, and all the best. Don't worry, you are leaving the station in good hands. We will miss you."
Thanking everyone for joining the ceremony, Sunita Williams said they would celebrate the occasion with a cake, noting that they are "always ready" for all situations aboard the station.
Recent geopolitical tensions on Earth have not impacted the international partnership for space research between NASA and Roscosmos, with seamless transitions of leadership ensuring continuity in station operations. Ovchinin, now at the helm, will oversee daily activities and ongoing experiments until the next leadership transition.
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How Are Sunita Williams And Butch Wilmore Returning To Earth?
Williams and Wilmore’s long-anticipated return to Earth will be set in motion once the Crew-10 team arrives at the ISS. A few days of handover activities will take place before the departing astronauts board the SpaceX Dragon capsule, which has been docked at the outpost since September. NASA is yet to announce an official return date for Crew-9, though Wilmore previously suggested that their journey home could take place as early as March 19.
The return of Williams and Wilmore will mark the culmination of a mission timeline that NASA laid out months ago, contrary to claims by former President Donald Trump that he had personally "authorised" SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to retrieve the astronauts.
The Crew 9 mission, the ninth under NASA's commercial crew program, was the first rotation mission to launch with fewer than four astronauts. The Dragon spacecraft carried only NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov travelled, leaving two seats vacant for Williams and Wilmore, who will occupy them on the way back.
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