NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore are set to return home after spending over nine months aboard the International Space Station (ISS), when they splash down off the coast of Florida on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, at approximately 5:57 PM ET. Initially launched on June 5, 2024, aboard Boeing's troubled Starliner spacecraft for what was meant to be just a week-long mission, this unexpected extended stay resulted from significant complications encountered with their shuttle.
Upon their arrival at the ISS, Williams and Wilmore faced immediate challenges, as five of Starliner’s thrusters failed during the spacecraft’s approach. After much deliberation and testing, NASA and Boeing determined Starliner was not suited for the return trip home and instead opted to bring the astronauts back aboard SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft, which has proven reliable for crew transport.
Indeed, after Starliner returned to Earth without crew members on September 7, 2024, NASA devised a plan to incorporate the astronauts back home on Crew Dragon. NASA had initially intended for Wilmore and Williams to be part of Crew-9, hosted by NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, who docked with the ISS on September 29, 2024.
For their return on March 18, live coverage of the Dragon hatch closure commenced on March 17, 2025, at 10:45 PM ET, with undocking expected to occur at 1:05 AM ET. A deorbit burn is scheduled for 5:11 PM the same day, preparing the spacecraft for landing shortly after. NASA conducted this expedition under tight scrutiny, especially following sensational claims made by various figures, including President Donald Trump, who suggested he had requested Elon Musk support to rescue the ‘abandoned’ astronauts.
Contrary to such claims, NASA clarified the astronauts were never 'stranded'. They consistently had access to various vehicles to facilitate their safe return and were comfortable with the extended mission, as Williams noted during one of her live communications from the ISS, emphasizing how much of her career has been shaped by unexpected circumstances.
Nick Hague also expressed his sentiments about their time on the ISS. He stated, “It’s been a privilege to call the Space Station home, to play my part in its 25-year legacy of doing research for humanity, and to work with colleagues, now friends, from around the globe. My spaceflight career, like most, is full of the unexpected.”
With launch vehicle difficulties arising on the Starliner and additional logistical complications associated with Crew-10's planned launch, the timeline for Williams and Wilmore's return was pushed back. Crew-10, managed by NASA and SpaceX, was launched on March 12, 2025, enabling the earlier return of the two astronauts.
Wilmore and Williams made history by holding the record for the largest deviation between planned and actual time spent on the ISS, clocking 287 days—nearly 36 times longer than their intended weeklong mission.
The upcoming splashdown, planned for earlier than initially negotiated due to favorable weather conditions, signifies not just the closure of their extended mission but also the importance of human adaptability and perseverance under challenging circumstances. Following medical checks after landing, both astronauts will be reunited with their families, likely welcoming the transition back to life on Earth after their unexpected space odyssey.
While the ordeal has drawn national attention and scrutiny surrounding operations and planning within NASA and its partner organizations, the return of Williams and Wilmore serves as a reminder of the dynamic nature of space travel and the importance of continuous improvement and response to challenges faced during such complex missions.
