NASA has officially announced the long-awaited return of astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who have been stranded aboard the International Space Station (ISS) for over nine months due to technical malfunctions in their Boeing Starliner spacecraft. Their journey back to Earth is now set for early Wednesday morning.
Originally intended as a short 10-day mission, Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore’s stay aboard the ISS was unexpectedly extended after their spacecraft experienced propulsion issues, preventing a safe return. NASA has now scheduled their return aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon, which successfully docked at the ISS on Sunday. Joining them for the journey back will be NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov.
NASA has confirmed that the crew is expected to splash down in the ocean near the Florida coast at approximately 5:57 PM ET on Tuesday (2157 GMT and 3:27 AM IST on March 19). The return was originally planned for Wednesday but was moved up due to anticipated unfavorable weather conditions later in the week. NASA stated that the revised schedule allows sufficient time for the ISS crew to complete necessary handover procedures while ensuring a safe return window.
This mission was initially part of NASA’s routine crew rotation program, but it became an urgent priority as the Starliner’s failures left Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore without a viable return option. The arrival of the SpaceX Crew Dragon provided the solution to bring them back safely.
Ahead of their return, SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk shared a video featuring Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore expressing gratitude for their upcoming journey back to Earth. In the 25-second clip, Sunita Williams assured everyone, saying, “We are coming back before long, so don’t make plans without me. We’ll be back before too long.” Butch Wilmore also extended his appreciation, thanking Musk and former U.S. President Donald Trump for their support in ensuring their return. “All of us have the utmost respect for Mr. Musk and obviously admiration for President Trump. We appreciate them, we appreciate all that they do for us, for human spaceflight, and for our nation.”
Trump had previously commented on the astronauts’ prolonged stay, attributing the situation to the Biden administration. In an Oval Office address, he stated, “We love you, and we’re coming up to get you. You shouldn’t have been up there for so long. The most incompetent president in our history allowed this to happen to you, but this president won’t let that happen. We’re going to get you out.”
Trump also made remarks about Sunita Williams, specifically mentioning her hair in zero gravity, calling it “a good, solid head of hair.” He further emphasized the dangers astronauts face in space and reiterated his commitment to their safe return, stating, “They could face failures, which would be very bad. We’ve got to get them out. So, I authorized Elon a week ago.”
As Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore prepare for their long-overdue return, Trump has promised to personally welcome them upon arrival. “When they come back, I’ll greet them. How about that?” he said.
With their return now imminent, the mission marks the end of an unexpectedly extended stay for Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, as NASA, Boeing, and SpaceX work together to ensure their safe journey home.
