NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita "Suni" Williams are set to conclude their unexpected nine-month journey aboard the International Space Station (ISS) following a mission initially slated to last only eight days. This mission took a significant turn after issues arose with their transport vehicle, Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, which was deemed unsafe for a manned trip home.
The two astronauts, who launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on June 5, 2024, were part of a test mission for the Starliner capsule, which was intended to demonstrate its capability to safely transport crew to and from the ISS. However, as Wilmore poignantly noted earlier this month, "We came prepared to stay long, even though we planned to stay short". This adaptability became key as they inevitably faced the challenges of an extended stay in microgravity.
Initially, NASA had planned for Wilmore and Williams to return after a brief eight-day mission, but leaks and propulsion issues with the Starliner forced a change in plans. By the end of August 2024, it was determined that it would be safer to return the Starliner empty, which it did on September 7, 2024. This left Wilmore and Williams on the ISS when it was expected they would be home by then.
During their time on the space station, the astronauts conducted various scientific research projects and performed maintenance alongside their fellow crew members. The ISS, a remarkable feat of international cooperation, has housed teams of astronauts continuously for nearly 25 years, functioning as a vital platform for scientific experimentation and diplomacy.
The return of crew to Earth will occur aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule. NASA’s contingency plan, activated after the Starliner's issues, has allowed the astronauts to fly back using this more reliable spacecraft. Wilmore, Williams, and two additional astronauts—NASA's Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov—are scheduled to undock from the ISS at 1:05 a.m. ET on March 18, 2025, beginning their 17-hour travel back home.
The Crew Dragon is expected to splash down in the Gulf of Mexico at around 5:57 p.m. ET the same day. Such a quick return comes courtesy of a recent improvement in weather conditions, leading NASA to expedite the return that was initially projected to occur a day later.
Throughout their mission aboard the ISS, Wilmore and Williams have made significant contributions to ongoing studies about the behavior of physical phenomena in space, including the flow of liquids and gases, while also working on biological research focused on extremophiles—tiny organisms capable of surviving extreme conditions. Notably, Williams also conducted two six-hour spacewalks for maintenance tasks.
According to many accounts, the unprecedented length of time spent in space for this particular mission has cemented its place in history, especially as Williams logs 286 days in space through multiple flights, considerably enhancing her impressive record, which includes being the first woman to run a marathon in space.
As they prepare for their return, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams exemplify the resilience and adaptability inherent to the humans tasked with venturing into the unknown. Their successful transition from a planned eight-day mission to a multi-month experience showcases the fundamental unpredictability of space travel—an element that is inherent in NASA's pursuit of exploration.
Wilmore and Williams are poised to arrive back on Earth to meet family and undergo post-mission medical checks at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, which is standard for returning astronauts. Their extraordinary narrative, marked by unprecedented challenges, will thus conclude, but not without contributing more deeply to our understanding of living and working in space.
With the planned splashdown off the coast of Florida marking the end of one significant chapter, it also signifies new beginnings for the astronauts as they aim to participate in more future expeditions, leading advancements in human spaceflight.
