Astronauts Return Home After Extended Nine-Month Mission on International Space Station

 NASA astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita “Suni” Williams have returned to Earth after an unexpected nine-month mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS). 

Originally launched in June 2024 aboard Boeing’s Starliner for a planned one-week test flight, technical issues with the spacecraft necessitated an extended stay on the ISS. The astronauts adapted to the prolonged mission by conducting scientific experiments, performing maintenance tasks, and participating in spacewalks. ​

The astronauts departed the ISS aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, undocking at 1:05 a.m. ET on March 18, 2025. The capsule is scheduled to splash down off the coast of Florida around 5:57 p.m. ET the same day. ​

During their mission, both astronauts contributed significantly to the ISS’s objectives:​

• Sunita Williams: Set a new record for the most spacewalking hours accumulated by a female astronaut. ​

• Barry “Butch” Wilmore: Played a crucial role in various scientific research and maintenance activities.​

Upon return, Wilmore and Williams will undergo medical evaluations at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston before reuniting with their families.