After being stuck in the International Space Station (ISS) for over nine months, American astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore finally returned to Earth on March 18, 2025. The duo, who had originally been scheduled for an eight-day mission in June 2024, faced an extended stay due to issues with the Boeing Starliner spacecraft.
Their long-awaited splashdown occurred off the coast of Florida, with the Crew Dragon capsule from Elon Musk's SpaceX slowing its descent using powerful braking parachutes before landing in the Gulf of Mexico. According to NASA, the capsule successfully completed a 17-hour journey from the ISS to the shores of Florida.
Alongside Williams and Wilmore, the capsule carried Nick Hague, another American astronaut, and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov. The capsule was reportedly welcomed by a playful pod of dolphins that encircled the craft upon its arrival in the water.
"What an adventure!" exclaimed Nick Hague over radio communication after the landing, describing the joyful expressions on his companions' faces.
Following their recovery from the water, all four astronauts were placed on stretchers and greeted the cameras with enthusiastic gestures. Medical teams conducted initial examinations prior to airlifting them to Houston, Texas, where they were expected to undergo a 45-day rehabilitation program to adjust back to Earth’s gravity.
During their tenure aboard the ISS, which was originally projected to last only eight days, Williams and Wilmore participated in a variety of research experiments. They encountered numerous challenges during their lengthy wait to return as the ISS crew's rotation was delayed. NASA ultimately decided to send the Starliner spacecraft back empty, tasking SpaceX to facilitate their return.
In late September, SpaceX had sent only two crew members to the ISS instead of four, intentionally reserving seats for Williams and Wilmore for their return. Additional delays forced the pair to wait until mid-March 2025 for the arrival of the next crew rotation, marking an unusual turn of events for the astronauts.
While their prolonged stay aboard the ISS stirred public sympathy, it did not bring them any closer to breaking records for time spent in space. The current record still stands with Russian cosmonaut Valeri Polyakov, who spent over 400 days on the Mir station in the 1990s. More recently, American astronaut Frank Rubio logged 371 days in the ISS due to similar circumstances.
The circumstances surrounding Williams and Wilmore’s delay also sparked political controversy. Former President Donald Trump accused President Joe Biden of abandoning the astronauts, a claim he amplified via social media. Trump asserted that the issue was embarrassing for the current administration and criticized Biden for not responding promptly to the astronauts' plight.
Elon Musk, a close ally of Trump, suggested that he could have rescued the stranded astronauts long before their eventual return, a statement that added fuel to an already heated discussion in the space community. NASA officials reported that the astronauts never encountered any significant health issues during their extended stay, but acknowledged that the responsibility of monitoring their health lay squarely on the team managing the ISS.
Despite more than 280 days in space, both Williams and Wilmore expressed their readiness for the long journey home, likening the experience to an emotional roller coaster, especially for their families. Williams noted that the emotional toll was hardest on her loved ones who felt the strain of their extended absence.
Upon returning to Earth, the astronauts will not only need to adapt to gravity and the familiar routines of life but also cope with the physiological effects of their lengthy mission. Suni Williams indicated in early March how difficult it had been for their families back home, stating, "We had prepared to stay long, even if we only thought we would stay for very little."
However, they will face health assessments to gauge their bodily conditions after the extended period in microgravity, which could potentially alter their physical states in significant ways.
Ultimately, the 45-day rehabilitation program will help them re-acclimatize to their normal environment, ensuring their readiness for future missions or their return to everyday life.
