The wait for the return of two American astronauts stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) for nearly nine months is finally over. NASA has confirmed that Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore will touch down on Earth on Tuesday, March 18 (GMT).
A SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft, which arrived at the ISS early Sunday, will bring them back, along with NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov.
Why Were They Stuck in Space?
Williams and Wilmore had originally traveled aboard the Boeing Starliner, which was being tested on its first crewed mission. However, due to propulsion issues, the spacecraft was deemed unfit for their return, forcing them to remain on the ISS since June last year.
Splashdown Timing & Location
NASA has scheduled the astronauts’ ocean splashdown off the Florida coast at 5:57 p.m. (Florida time) on Tuesday, March 18—equivalent to 3:27 a.m. IST on March 19. The initial return was planned for Wednesday but was moved earlier due to weather concerns.
“The updated return target continues to allow the space station crew members time to complete handover duties while providing operational flexibility ahead of less favorable weather conditions expected for later in the week,” said NASA.
.@NASA will provide live coverage of Crew-9’s return to Earth from the @Space_Station, beginning with @SpaceX Dragon hatch closure preparations at 10:45pm ET Monday, March 17.
— NASA Commercial Crew (@Commercial_Crew) March 16, 2025
Splashdown is slated for approximately 5:57pm Tuesday, March 18: https://t.co/yABLg20tKX pic.twitter.com/alujSplsHm
Live Streaming of the Event
NASA will provide live coverage of the SpaceX Crew Dragon’s return. The broadcast begins with hatch closure procedures at 10:45 p.m. EDT on March 17 (8:30 a.m. IST on March 18).
A Long & Unexpected Stay
Williams and Wilmore’s extended stay exceeded the standard six-month astronaut rotation but still falls short of records set in space history:
- 437 days: Russian cosmonaut Valeri Polyakov aboard the Mir space station.
- 371 days: NASA astronaut Frank Rubio in 2023.
Being away from family for such an unexpectedly long period caused concern and speculation. The astronauts even had to request additional clothing and personal care items since they hadn’t packed for such an extended stay.
Now, after nine months, their long journey is finally coming to an end.
