CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are on their way home after spending nearly nine months aboard the International Space Station (ISS) on what was initially slated to be just eight days. Their extended stay has captivated public interest, culminating in their much-anticipated return aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule.
On March 18, 2025, Wilmore and Williams undocked from the ISS at 1:05 AM Eastern Time, marking the start of their return flight. They are expected to splash down off the Florida coast later the same evening, after logging 286 days of spaceflight, bringing Williams' total time spent in space to 608 days—making her the second-most experienced American astronaut after Peggy Whitson.
Originally launched on June 5, 2024, aboard Boeing's Starliner capsule, the astronauts were tasked with a test mission. Complications arose when helium leaked from the capsule and thrusters malfunctioned, forcing NASA to reevaluate their return timeline. After several delays, they were scheduled to return with SpaceX, rather than using the Starliner, which had to return empty after engineers deemed it unsafe to operate with crew.
Both astronauts come with impressive backgrounds. Wilmore, 62, played college football before joining the Navy, where he logged 663 aircraft carrier landings. Williams, 59, from Needham, Massachusetts, is also a Navy veteran and has over 3,000 hours of flight experience across 30 different aircraft. Both were selected as NASA astronauts—Williams in 1998 and Wilmore in 2000.
Despite the unexpected extension of their mission, both Wilmore and Williams embraced the experience. "Absolutely not. Never entered my mind," said Wilmore when asked if he felt let down about the extended stay. Williams echoed similar sentiments, describing space as "my happy place." They enjoyed contributing to scientific research on the ISS, taking the challenges of their extended mission in stride.
Their return was also caught up in political discussions; President Donald Trump and SpaceX founder Elon Musk made headlines when they suggested the Biden Administration was to blame for the astronauts' lengthy stay. NASA officials defended their decision to stick with planned flight schedules, targeting a February 2025 return, but complications with the replacement crew delayed their plans. Alongside the political discourse, there was appreciation for Wilmore and Williams' professionalism. Ken Bowersox, NASA's space operations mission chief and former astronaut, praised the astronauts, noting, "It's great to see how much people care about our astronauts. They are professional, devoted, committed, really outstanding."
Now, as Wilmore and Williams return home, they look forward to reuniting with family and returning to their normal lives. Wilmore is eager to resume face-to-face ministry with his church congregation and to breathe in the scent of fresh-cut grass. Meanwhile, Williams is excited about long walks with her dogs and splashing in the ocean, adding a personal touch to their storied missions.
NASA has confirmed all systems functioned as planned for the return flight, and the weather is favorable for splashdown. This latest mission not only highlighted the advancements of NASA’s commercial crew program but also showcased the endurance and spirit of the astronauts involved. Following their arrival, it will be encouraging to see how their experiences will influence future expeditions beyond Earth.
With their return, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams set to close the chapter on what turned out to be one of the most massive unexpected adventures for both of them. Their time aboard the ISS will serve as both inspiration and pivotal learning for NASA's continuing exploration efforts as they aim for future journeys to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
