Sunita Williams rescue: Why Elon Musk has only two days to stop a space disaster
Sunita Williams rescue: Why Elon Musk has only two days to stop a space disaster
Produced by: Manoj Kumar
Stranded Heroes
Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore were sent for 8 days — now, after 284 days in space, their long-awaited rescue is finally in motion.
Delayed Return
Technical failures in Boeing’s Starliner left two astronauts marooned on the ISS for months—now, a SpaceX Dragon will bring them home.
Capsule Switch
Originally launched on Boeing’s Starliner, Williams and Wilmore will now return to Earth in a SpaceX Dragon capsule—swapping rides in a high-stakes space rescue.
Short Handover
To save food and secure a return window, NASA slashed the usual 5-day ISS handover to just 2 days—tight timing for a critical crew swap.
Political Orbit
Elon Musk claims political drama delayed the astronauts’ rescue—sparking debate over whether space missions are now caught in Earth’s political games.
Epic Stay
What was supposed to be a week-long trip has turned into nearly a year in orbit—one of the longest unintended spaceflights in NASA history.
Starliner Fallout
With Starliner grounded by leaks and thruster failures, questions loom over Boeing’s future in space—and SpaceX steps up as NASA’s go-to savior.
Dragon Lifeline
SpaceX’s reliable Dragon capsule, originally docked for another mission, is now the only way home for NASA’s stranded astronauts.
Weather Watch
Even as the return plan solidifies, Earth’s weather still holds the final say—undocking depends on perfect splashdown conditions by March 16.
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