Nasa astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have returned to Earth after a surprise nine-month stay in space. The two astronauts were left stranded on the International Space Station after expecting to take part in an eight-day mission when they blasted off on Boeing’s new Starliner crew capsule on June 5. Mr. Wilmore and Ms. Williams bid farewell to the International Space Station (ISS) - their home since last spring - departing aboard a SpaceX capsule along with NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov on Tuesday, March 18, 2025.
The astronauts’re turn came just short of 10 PM GMT after they had splashed down off the coast of Florida following a 17-hour journey back to Earth. Footage from inside the Crew Dragon spacecraft showed the crew smiling moments after parachutes were deployed as the capsule critically descended from the vastness of space. They had undocked from the ISS at 5:05 AM GMT earlier that same day.
Their return caps a protracted space mission fraught with technical troubles, forcing an unexpected extension of their original eight-day mission. After toiling onboard the ISS for what turned into a nine-month duration, they arrived as part of NASA's Crew-9 astronaut rotation and found themselves navigating a complex set of issues that led to Boeing’s confirmed troubles with the Starliner.
As they approached Earth at around 5:45 PM ET, the spacecraft decelerated from an orbital speed of approximately 17,000 miles per hour to a calm 17 miles per hour at splashdown. After landing, celebrations were momentarily tempered as they were welcomed by a pod of dolphins swimming past their capsule during recovery operations.
The issues with Starliner's propulsion systems threatened their safety during the mission, creating cascading delays which caused a NASA decision to shift their return to a SpaceX craft. The astronauts’ extended presence provided much-needed experience and continuity aboard the ISS, producing a sense of normalcy despite the delays.
U.S. President Donald Trump had vocally advocated for an earlier return for Wilmore and Williams, even suggesting they had been "virtually abandoned." The astronauts, however, firmly rebutted claims of being stranded. "We don’t feel abandoned, we don’t feel stuck, we don’t feel stranded," Wilmore said in an interview, emphasizing their readiness and commitment as trained astronauts.
The long wait not only challenged their preparation and resilience but served as an opportunity to further conduct extensive research in the low-gravity environment. The dynamic duo engaged with their fellow astronauts on scientific tasks while maintaining positive morale through various activities, including holiday celebrations.
Having each logged a staggering number of days aloft, Ms. Williams has now accumulated 608 career days in space, second only to Peggy Whitson, while Mr. Wilmore's endurance reflected his own robust history as an astronaut. As a point of reference, Frank Rubio holds the record with 371 days due to an unplanned coolant leak incident aboard a Russian spacecraft.
During their time aboard the ISS, Wilmore took his role in stride, stating, "That's what your nation’s human spaceflight program’s all about, planning for the unknown, unexpected contingencies. And we did that." Their planned U-turn came only when their replacements arrived on March 14, 2025, as part of NASA's Crew-10 mission, which briefly increased the ISS headcount to 11.
Both astronauts will partake in a health regimen at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston to ensure their well-being is in check post-mission before being reunited with their families. Living in space can significantly impact the human body—from muscle deterioration to vision impairment—raising questions about return protocols.
Post-splashdown, the astronauts were observed being carried out on stretchers, a standard safety measure that permits space travelers to readjust to Earth's gravity after long-duration missions. Experts highlighted that the inability to walk upon landing is due to the body's adaptations to weightlessness, complete with adjustments to their sensory vestibular system vital for balance.
Still, both Williams and Wilmore demonstrated resilience, stating through press opportunities that they were feeling strong and ready to tackle challenges posed by Earth’s gravity. Williams noted, "Been working out for the past nine months. We feel strong and ready to tackle Earth’s gravity." Their experience illustrates the complexities and unpredictability of space travel, serving as proof of the vigor and adaptability of the human spirit in unfamiliar territories.
Now back on solid ground, the astronauts will spend time in recuperation while their families eagerly await reunions, marking an organic culmination of their extraordinary journey. Wilmore's daughter had previously expressed the emotional strain of their extended absence, while Williams looked forward to tending to her dogs back home.
The broader implications of their mission further underscore the significance of international collaboration in space exploration led by agencies like NASA. As humanity pushes deeper into space, each astronaut's experience contributes to the collective understanding of living and working beyond our planet.
Their momentous return underscores the evolving landscape of space travel, highlighting the intricate interplay of technology, human determination, and resilience against a backdrop of unpredictability associated with human spaceflight.
The pioneering spirit of space exploration remains resilient, and as we continue to venture into the cosmos, the learnings from the missions like that of Wilmore and Williams will undeniably pave the way for future human endeavors beyond Earth.
