NASA Acting Administrator Janet Petro praised the achievement, emphasising its importance in strengthening American leadership in space and fostering growth in the national space economy.

Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore have completed over 900 hours of research involving 150 scientific experiments and technology demonstrations during their extended stay on the orbiting laboratory.

Astronauts Sunita Williams, who grew up in Needham, and Butch Wilmore have been living on the space station since June after the Boeing Starliner capsule they arrived on experienced issues while docking.