NASA astronauts and a cosmonaut safely returned to Earth in a SpaceX capsule after a mission to the ISS.
Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore were originally supposed to be on a short test flight of Boeing's Starliner capsule, but their stay on the ISS was extended to nine months due to malfunctions.
Starliner experienced a series of problems after its launch, leading to concerns about the astronauts' safety.
Media and political speculation led to narratives that the astronauts were "stranded," which was inaccurate.
The ISS is designed as a safe haven for astronauts in case of spacecraft malfunctions, a standard NASA protocol.
NASA's adherence to safety protocols was sometimes criticized as weakness, especially during a launch scrub.
The mission highlighted the inherent risks of spaceflight and the importance of safety protocols.
Space agencies need to improve communication with the public to avoid misinformation and alleviate concerns.
The fact that veteran astronauts were selected to pilot the Starliner shows the amount of safety precautions that were in place.
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