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The two are returning to Earth on board SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule [File: NASA Handout via AFP]
NASA astronauts Sunita “Suni” Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore have safely returned to Earth after spending more than nine months aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Their extended stay was due to technical issues with their original spacecraft, Boeing’s Starliner, which caused delays and forced the astronauts to remain in space longer than planned. Here’s everything you need to know about their return.
The two astronauts, 59-year-old Sunita Williams and 62-year-old Barry Wilmore, are seasoned NASA veterans. Williams, a retired U.S. Navy officer, joined NASA in 1998 and has spent 322 days in space. She previously held the record for the most spacewalks by a female astronaut until 2017 when Peggy Whitson surpassed her. Wilmore’s first spaceflight was in 2009 aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis. He has logged 178 days in space and has served as both flight engineer and commander on previous ISS missions.
Williams and Wilmore were originally scheduled to return to Earth in a Boeing Starliner spacecraft after a brief mission. However, the Starliner experienced multiple technical malfunctions during its flight to the ISS, including thruster failures and helium leaks. Due to these issues, NASA deemed the spacecraft unsafe for their return. With no safe way to return on the Starliner, NASA decided to have the astronauts stay aboard the ISS for an extended period. In August 2024, NASA arranged for them to return aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, which had been docked at the ISS since September 2024.
Their return began late on Monday, with hatch closure preparations at 10:45 p.m. ET (02:45 GMT). The SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule undocked from the ISS at 1:05 a.m. ET (05:05 GMT) on Tuesday and splashed down off the coast of Florida just before 6 p.m. ET (22:00 GMT). The journey home took 17 hours, and NASA livestreamed their departure and return.
Williams and Wilmore had been aboard the ISS since June 2024, spending over nine months in space. Originally, their mission was only supposed to last eight days, but the technical delays extended their stay well beyond the typical six-month rotation for astronauts aboard the ISS.
Despite the prolonged mission, both astronauts remained in good health and continued their work on the ISS, including a spacewalk in January 2025. Life on the station involves a mix of scientific research, exercise, and leisure activities. The astronauts maintained their physical fitness through regular workouts on the treadmill and resistance machines, and their nutritional needs were met through periodic resupply missions. During the holiday season, they even enjoyed a festive meal that included smoked oysters, lobster, and foie gras. Additionally, they stayed in touch with their families through email and phone calls.
The delay was caused by technical difficulties with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, which was initially intended to bring the astronauts home. After a series of malfunctions during its flight to the ISS, including failed thrusters and a helium leak, NASA decided it would be too risky to use the Starliner for the return journey. The astronauts were then forced to wait for an opportunity to return on a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, which only became available after Crew-10, a new group of astronauts, arrived on the ISS in late March 2025.
The return of Williams and Wilmore highlights the challenges of human space exploration, especially when relying on commercial spacecraft for transporting astronauts. It also serves as a reminder of the technical difficulties that can arise during space missions, and the adaptability required to ensure astronaut safety. The astronauts’ extended stay also underscores the crucial role of international collaboration in space exploration, as well as NASA’s ongoing mission to focus on deep-space exploration and future human missions to the Moon and Mars.
