Astronauts Begin Their Return Journey
Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore are finally on their way back to Earth after spending over nine months on the International Space Station (ISS). The spacecraft carrying them undocked from the ISS at 12:05 am (EST) and began its journey home. NASA shared a video showing the spacecraft detaching from the space station, and the return journey is expected to take another 17 hours.
The SpaceX Mission
❤️🚀🚀❤️
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 16, 2025
pic.twitter.com/aAkJRKsu1Q
Elon Musk’s SpaceX launched the Dragon spacecraft on top of a Falcon 9 rocket to bring back the two astronauts. This comes after President Donald Trump criticized the Biden administration for leaving them stranded. Williams and Wilmore had originally flown to the ISS on June 5 last year for what was supposed to be an eight-day mission aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. However, the Starliner faced propulsion issues and was deemed unfit for flight, returning uncrewed in September.
NASA Reassigns Astronauts to SpaceX’s Crew-9 Mission
LIVE: #Crew9 and their @SpaceX Dragon spacecraft are departing the @Space_Station and starting their journey back to Earth. Undocking is scheduled for 1:05am ET (0505 UTC). https://t.co/OUp4n98WeE
— NASA (@NASA) March 18, 2025
Due to the uncertainty around their return, NASA reassigned Williams and Wilmore to SpaceX’s Crew-9 mission. A Dragon spacecraft was launched in September with a two-person crew instead of the usual four to make room for the stranded astronauts. After multiple delays, another Dragon spacecraft with a relief crew docked at the ISS on Sunday. Now, the undocking is complete, and the spacecraft has started its journey back to Earth with four astronauts on board: Williams, Wilmore, NASA’s Nick Hague, and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov.
A Message Before Departure
Before the spacecraft closed its hatch on Tuesday, Nick Hague shared a message for those staying behind at the ISS: “We’ll be waiting for you. Crew-9 is going home.” Reports indicate that the astronauts have changed into comfortable clothes for the journey, instead of wearing their space suits.
Return to Earth and Recovery Process
The spacecraft is set to land off the Florida coast around 10:57 pm (EST) on Wednesday, following a 17-hour journey. It will deploy its parachutes before splashing down in the ocean. A recovery vessel will be dispatched to retrieve the astronauts from the capsule.
Williams’ and Wilmore’s extended stay of nine months in space is notable. The mission was supposed to last only a few days but became one of the longest for U.S. astronauts. The current record for the longest space stay is held by Frank Rubio, who spent 371 days in space in 2023, followed by Russian cosmonaut Valeri Polyakov, who stayed in space for 437 days aboard the Mir Space Station.
Challenges of Long Space Missions
Experts have pointed out the health challenges faced by astronauts during long stays in space, including muscle and bone loss and fluid shifts. The extended duration of Williams’ and Wilmore’s mission drew global attention, with many praising their “unbelievable resilience” in handling the difficult circumstances.
Recovery After Nine Months in Space
After returning to Earth, the astronauts will undergo a long recovery process. Living in zero gravity for an extended period causes muscle atrophy in their legs, making it difficult to walk in Earth’s gravity. It will take weeks or even months for them to regain full strength.
Gratitude and Reassurance from Williams
On Monday, Elon Musk shared a video where the astronauts expressed their gratitude towards him and President Trump for their support. In the video, Williams reassured her followers, saying, “We are coming back before long, so don’t make your plans without me. We’ll be back soon.”
Also read: American Tourist Faces Deportation After Shocking Wombat Video Goes Viral.
