NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have finally embarked on their long-awaited return to Earth, marking the conclusion of their lengthy mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS). After nine months of unexpected delays, the astronauts undocked from the ISS at 1:05 AM ET on March 18, 2025, and began their 17-hour trip back home.
The crew, which also included fellow astronauts Nick Hague and Aleksandr Gorbunov as part of NASA's Crew-9 rotation, is scheduled to splash down off Florida's coast at 5:57 PM ET on the same day. Their mission, initially planned as a brief eight-day test flight, has turned out to be one of the longer stays on the ISS due to technical complications with Boeing's Starliner spacecraft.
Wilmore and Williams launched as Starliner's first crew back in June, but issues with the propulsion system prompted cascading delays, leading NASA to decide on their return via SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule instead. This shift reflects both NASA's contingency planning and the challenges facing Boeing's spacecraft development.
The mission has garnered significant public interest, even catching the attention of former U.S. President Donald Trump, who has commented on the astronauts' extended stay, alleging without evidence political motivations for their protracted mission. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk also called for their return sooner, emphasizing the urgency surrounding their situation.
The astronauts' mission, which lasted longer than the usual six-month ISS stints, will see Wilmore logging 286 days in space, bringing Williams’ total to 608 days, making her the second-most traveled U.S. astronaut after Peggy Whitson.
Wilmore expressed the challenges faced during their extended mission, saying, "We came prepared to stay long, even though we planned to stay short." He dismissed political influences on their extended presence, insisting it was part of planning for unforeseen contingencies. During their time aboard the ISS, Wilmore and Williams have been engaged in scientific research and maintenance tasks, including completing two six-hour spacewalks for repairs during their stay.
The ISS, situated approximately 409 kilometers above Earth, continues to act as a pivotal hub for international scientific collaboration and research. Wilmore noted the collaborative atmosphere aboard the station and reflected on the efforts for human spaceflight, stating, "That's what your nation's human space flight program's all about, planning for unknown, unexpected contingencies, and we did just fine with it."
With the arrival of the Crew-10 astronauts on March 14, there was finally sufficient staffing on the station to allow Wilmore and Williams to begin preparations for their return. The Crew-10 mission brought additional personnel to the ISS, reportedly boosting its count to 11 crew members temporarily.
Williams eagerly anticipated her return, sharing her excitement to reunite with family and pets. She said, "It's been a roller coaster for them, probably a little bit more so than for us."
The planned splashdown will conclude nearly a year’s worth of mission planning and execution, which began with their Starliner launch, initially meant to test the spacecraft's capabilities. The unforeseen complications of the Starliner experience have raised questions about Boeing’s future involvement with NASA's commercial crew program.
The astronauts are set for health checks upon their return to the Johnson Space Center, adhering to routine protocols for returning astronauts. Following their health evaluations, they will be permitted to go home to their families after their extensive journeys.
Overall, the return of Wilmore and Williams is not just about coming home — it's about the triumph of human perseverance and the ever-adaptive nature of space exploration.
