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After nine months aboard the International Space Station, astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore are finally back on Earth.
SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule successfully splashed down in the ocean, just off the coast of Florida, near Tallahassee, shortly before 6 p.m. ET.
The four-strong crew of astronauts were all smiles and waves as they were stretchered off the capsule on the recovery ship on Tuesday, as per NASA and SpaceX standard procedure.
They were then due to be transported via helicopter to the Houston's Johnson Space Center for further medical assessment, before being reunited with their families.
What to Know:
- Commander Nick Hague was the first astronaut to disembark the space craft on Tuesday, followed by cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov, Williams and Wilmore.
- The Crew Dragon capsule detached from the ISS at 1:05 a.m. ET on Tuesday morning marking the beginning of the return flight.
- Deorbit began at at 5:11 p.m ET, and splashdown occurred at 5.57 p.m.
- Williams and Wilmore went up to the ISS in June, initially expecting a short stay but they experienced issues with Boeing's Starliner spacecraft. They agreed to stay on and help with scientific research until they could return aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule.
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Mar 18, 2025 at 07:00 PM EDT
After 286 days in space, Butch and Suni will be reunited with their families shortly
After 286 days in space, Barry 'Butch' Wilmore and Suni Williams are back on Earth and are set to be reunited with their families shortly.
The pair, alongside cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov and commander Nick Hague, will be checked out by NASA medical staff aboard the recovery ship before boarding a helicopter to Houston's space center where their loved ones will be waiting.
Mar 18, 2025 at 06:55 PM EDT
Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore are finally home
Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore are finally home after both exited the capsule.
All members of Crew 9 are now safely back on Earth, and being checked out by the NASA medical team.
Both Williams and Wilmore shared a happy wave to the recovery crew as they were helped out of the capsule, first Williams then Wilmore, and taken to the medical bay.
Mar 18, 2025 at 06:52 PM EDT
Cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov waves at recovery crew as he exits the capsule
First-time cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov has become the second crew member to leave the capsule.
Gorbunov slid down the exit slide, before being taken via stretcher to the medical bay.
The Russian engineer and cosmonaut looked cheerful as he smiles and waved at the recovery crew while being whisked away.
Mar 18, 2025 at 06:49 PM EDT
Commander Nick Hague is stretchered off the Dragon capsule
Commander Nick Hague has become the first Crew 9 astronaut to leave the Dragon capsule.
Hague was placed on a stretcher after leaving the space craft, and carried to the recovery ship's medical bay, as per standard NASA and SpaceX procedure.
Mar 18, 2025 at 06:44 PM EDT
Crew 9 smile and wave as they begin to disembark the space craft
The four astronauts who make up Crew 9 had big smiles and waved at the camera from their seats in the capsule, as they begin to disembarkation process.
Members of the recovery team have entered the space craft to assist the crew and the footrests have been lowered as they astronauts prepare to leave.
Mar 18, 2025 at 06:39 PM EDT
Dragon capsule side hatch is open
The Dragon capsule's side hatch is open as SpaceX and NASA's recovery team prepare to help crew members to disembark.
Mar 18, 2025 at 06:35 PM EDT
Space hatch will open in two minutes
The Dragon capsule space hatch, which has not opened since it took off in September, will open in two minutes, SpaceX engineer Kate Tice said.
Mar 18, 2025 at 06:33 PM EDT
What happens next?
Once the space craft has been hosed down and safely situated and secured, the Dragon capsule will be moved to the recovery platform, before the hatch will finally open and the astronauts can disembark.
Some of the astronauts, especially Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore who have been in space since June, may be a bit wobbly as they adjust to Earth gravity.
They crew members will be placed on stretchers, as per procedure, and they will be assessed by doctors.
After the medical checks, the astronauts will be flown via helicopter from the recovery ship to the Johnson Space Center in Houston for further medical testing.
They will likely reunite with their loved ones at the space center although NASA said the crew will typically remain at the center for a few days before they are cleared to return home.
Mar 18, 2025 at 06:26 PM EDT
Dragon capsule is successfully hoisted aboard recovery ship
The Dragon capsule has been successfully hoisted aboard the recovery ship as the four astronauts prepare to take their first steps on Earth in months.
Mar 18, 2025 at 06:22 PM EDT
Curious dolphins come to inspect the capsule
A pod of dolphins were spotted near by the capsule after its successful splashdown on Tuesday.
The curious sea creatures were seen swimming around the space craft amid the recovery operation.
Mar 18, 2025 at 06:12 PM EDT
Member of recovery team has climbed on top of capsule
A member of the Dragon recovery team has climbed on top of capsule as they carry out safety checks.
Once the safety checks have been completed, the capsule can be hoisted up on the recovery ship.
Mar 18, 2025 at 06:03 PM EDT
Recovery ships are enroute to the capsule
Recovery ships are enroute to the Dragon capsule after its successful splashdown.
The first fast ships are already arriving at the capsule to perform safety checks of the exterior and remove the parachutes.
It will be 30 minutes before the astronauts can begin to de-board.
Mar 18, 2025 at 06:01 PM EDT
‘What a ride’: Astronauts celebrate splashdown
Commander Nick Hague has celebrated a successful splashdown, telling mission control, "What a ride."
His comments came moments after the crew were welcomed home.
"On behalf of SpaceX, welcome home," mission control told the crew moments after landing.
Mar 18, 2025 at 05:57 PM EDT
Splashdown!
The Dragon capsule has successfully splashed down in the ocean, off the coast of Florida, near Tallahassee.
Mar 18, 2025 at 05:57 PM EDT
NASA high-altitude airplanes are capturing the capsule as it returns to earth
NASA high-altitude airplanes, WB-57s, are capturing the capsule as it returns to earth for the SpaceX and NASA livestreams.
Mar 18, 2025 at 05:54 PM EDT
Parachutes have deployed
The parachutes have deployed to slow down re-entry of Dragon Crew ahead of splashdown.
According to Kate Tice, the chute slows down the speed of the craft, from 350 mph to 119 mph.
Mar 18, 2025 at 05:47 PM EDT
Astronauts are prepping for splashdown
The four astronauts aboard Dragon Crew have put away their tablets, and they've tightened their safety straps in preparation for splashdown, according to SpaceX engineer Kate Tice.
They have also lowered the visors on their helmets as they prepare for the landing.
"Per their instructions, Crew 9 has now put away everything that is necessary in order to to begin their reentry," she said.
Mar 18, 2025 at 05:45 PM EDT
Space craft is entering the communications blackout period
The Dragon Crew is entering the communications blackout period.
The period, which will start momentarily, will last a few minutes before splashdown.
Mar 18, 2025 at 05:40 PM EDT
Astronaut Nick Hague said it’s ‘been a privilege’ to call ISS home
Astronaut Nick Hague said "it's been a privilege to call the International Space Station home" ahead of today's return trip home.
Hague, the Crew 9 commander, arrived at the station last September aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule along with cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov.
Hague and Gorbunov are returning home with Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore who have been on the ISS since last June due to issues with Boeing's Starliner capsule.
In a post on X, Hague said, he was privileged to "play my part in [the ISS'] 25-year legacy of doing research for humanity, and to work with colleagues, now friends, from around the globe. My spaceflight career, like most, is full of the unexpected."
Mar 18, 2025 at 05:34 PM EDT
What do astronauts need to do during splashdown?
The SpaceX Crew Dragon is mostly a self-driving spacecraft so the astronauts will not need to fly it themselves.
However, they will be closely monitoring the space craft's screens and capsule for any issues, to ensure everything is working as planned.
Mar 18, 2025 at 05:25 PM EDT
Deorbit is complete, Crew Dragon is now falling back to Earth
Crew Dragon has completed its deorbit burn.
The spacecraft, along with Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, are now falling back to Earth.
The Crew Dragon had already jettisoned its trunk, the bottom part of the craft that holds its solar panels, as was no longer needed, and closed the nose cone ahead of re-entry.
The astronauts were protected from the blazing heat of re-entry by the space craft's heat shield.
Mar 18, 2025 at 05:20 PM EDT
Astronauts will splashdown in under an hour
NASA Astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore will splashdown in less than an hour.
Crew Dragon is expected to splashdown off the coast of Florida near Tallahassee at 5.57 p.m. ET.
Mar 18, 2025 at 05:18 PM EDT
SpaceX graphic shows how Crew Dragon will land
A new graphic from SpaceX shows how Crew Dragon will splashdown off the coast of Florida in under an hour.
Mar 18, 2025 at 05:17 PM EDT
Deorbit burn has begun
The deorbit burn, which will drop the spacecraft on a path back into the atmosphere, has begun.
The burn began at at 5:11 p.m. ET and will last about seven and a half minutes.
Mar 18, 2025 at 04:53 PM EDT
Mission control says weather at splashdown site looks good
Mission control said that the weather at the splashdown site off the coast of Florida was looking favorable ahead of this afternoon's landing.
In an audio update, mission control were also heard saying that the Crew Dragon's systems were performing well.
With less than two hours before splash down, the ship that will meet the spacecraft is ready to go.
Mar 18, 2025 at 04:40 PM EDT
Butch and Suni have donned their spacesuits
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Astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore have put on their spacesuits ahead of reentry.
The NASA astronauts, who have been on the International Space Station since last summer, are headed back to Earth and are bound for splashdown in less than two hours.
Mar 18, 2025 at 04:29 PM EDT
Crew Dragon perform a burn to dump unneeded propellant
The Crew Dragon has performed a burn to dump unneeded propellant.
The next event to the crew must perform is the deorbit burn which will drop the spacecraft on a path back into the atmosphere,
Mar 18, 2025 at 03:59 PM EDT
NASA astronauts return to Houston amid protests against DOGE cuts
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NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Butch Wilmore, and Suni Williams are returning to Houston's Johnson Space Center after a day of protests outside the facility.
On Monday, hundreds of demonstrators, including NASA engineers and federal workers, gathered to express their opposition to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a program spearheaded by SpaceX CEO Elon Musk.
The protest was organized by the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), which has criticized the cuts to federal employment and spending under DOGE. The union is encouraging federal workers to reach out to Congress, asserting that the changes made by the department have already caused significant disruptions, despite DOGE only being in place for a short time.
Mar 18, 2025 at 03:37 PM EDT
NASA shares impressive stats from Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams’ time on the ISS
NASA recently shared remarkable statistics highlighting the nine months spent by astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams aboard the International Space Station. During their mission, the pair spent a total of 286 days in orbit, with 285 of those days on the ISS itself.
Over the course of their stay, they completed 4,576 orbits of Earth and traveled a staggering 121,347,491 miles. Throughout their mission, Williams and Wilmore witnessed eight spacecraft, carrying either crew or cargo, come and go from the space station.
Mar 18, 2025 at 03:04 PM EDT
Video of Butch Wilmore expressing gratitude to Trump and Musk shared on X
In a video posted on Elon Musk's X account, astronaut Butch Wilmore thanks both President Trump and Musk for their support of human spaceflight. "We appreciate them," Wilmore says in the clip. "We appreciate all that they do for us, for human spaceflight for our nation."
The video does not include his response to a question from a reporter about whether politics influenced NASA's mission extension, where Wilmore said, "From my standpoint, politics has not played into this at all."
Mar 18, 2025 at 02:36 PM EDT
NASA and Firefly Aerospace recap Blue Ghost Mission 1 lunar landing
NASA and Firefly Aerospace recently provided an update on the success of Blue Ghost Mission 1, which successfully landed on the Moon on March 2.
The lander is part of NASA's efforts to advance lunar exploration and long-term presence on the Moon.
Mar 18, 2025 at 02:13 PM EDT
What we know about Sunita Williams, NASA astronaut returning to Earth
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NASA astronauts Sunita "Suni" Williams and Butch Wilmore are finally expected to come home on Tuesday, March 18, after an unexpectedly prolonged mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
Initially scheduled for just over a week, their time in orbit was extended to more than nine months due to technical issues with Boeing's Starliner spacecraft.
Wilmore and Williams are expected to return aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, marking the end of an eventful mission that underscores the challenges and resilience required in human spaceflight.
Read the full story by Kate Nalepinski on Newsweek.
Mar 18, 2025 at 01:56 PM EDT
As stranded astronauts return, SpaceX’s victory is Boeing’s embarrassment
As NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams hurtle toward Earth, with a splashdown expected off the coast of Florida just before 6 p.m. ET Tuesday, the biggest winner in their ordeal will be none other than Elon Musk. The biggest loser: Boeing.
What was meant to be a short stay for the pair at the International Space Station (ISS) turned into an unexpected nine-month mission. Their intended ride home, the Boeing Starliner capsule that delivered them to the ISS last June, was sidelined due to multiple technical failures, leaving them waiting for a backup plan. That backup came, at long last, courtesy of Musk's SpaceX.
Starliner, plagued by thruster malfunctions and helium leaks once it docked at the ISS, not only extended their sojourn but also handed Musk a golden opportunity to showcase his company's dominant position in American spaceflight.
Read in full from Jesus Mesa on Newsweek.
Mar 18, 2025 at 01:00 PM EDT
About Sunita Williams
Sunita Williams, a decorated U.S. Navy test pilot and veteran astronaut, has a distinguished career in both military service and space exploration.
Born in Ohio and raised in Needham, Massachusetts, Williams became a Naval aviator in 1989, supporting combat missions during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Provide Comfort in the Persian Gulf. She also led a detachment for Hurricane Andrew relief efforts in Miami in 1992. Williams later trained as a rotary aircraft test pilot before being selected by NASA in 1998 while deployed on the USS Saipan.
Williams has flown two missions to the International Space Station (ISS), logging 322 days in space. She also spent nine days in an underwater habitat as part of NASA's training. Throughout her career, she worked closely with Russia's space agency on the ISS program, enhancing international collaboration.
Currently residing in Texas with her husband, Michael J. Williams, and their dogs, Williams enjoys working on houses, cars, and airplanes in her free time.
Mar 18, 2025 at 12:53 PM EDT
Four common challenges of returning to Earth gravity
While Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore will no doubt be delighted to reunite with their loved ones and a return to normalcy, they will face some challenges after an extended stay in zero gravity.
The four major problems that affect returning astronauts are;
- Muscle deterioration
- Bone density loss
- Fluid redistribution
- Disorientation due to gravity changes
Mar 18, 2025 at 12:45 PM EDT
Barry ‘Butch’ Wilmore’s journey from fighter pilot to astronaut
Barry "Butch" Wilmore, a retired U.S. Navy captain and accomplished fighter pilot, has logged over 8,000 flight hours, completed 663 carrier landings, and flown 21 combat missions during Operation Desert Storm. Before joining NASA in 2000, he served as a flight instructor at Edwards Air Force Base.
Originally from Tennessee, Wilmore now lives in Texas with his wife, Deanna, and their daughters, Daryn and Logan. Motivated by his strong faith, he often references Bible verses about resilience and strength.
Wilmore has flown two NASA missions: an 11-day mission aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis in 2009 and a 167-day stay on the International Space Station from 2014 to 2015.
Mar 18, 2025 at 12:26 PM EDT
NASA shares map to track Crew-9 Dragon’s return to Earth
NASA announced that Crew-9's Dragon capsule will be difficult to spot during its daytime reentry into Earth's atmosphere but provided a map for enthusiasts wanting to track its journey home.
The Dragon, operated by SpaceX, is set to return after nearly six months aboard the International Space Station. The map allows viewers to monitor the spacecraft's path as it reenters the atmosphere and heads toward splashdown.
Mar 18, 2025 at 12:12 PM EDT
Elon Musk on stranded astronauts
Elon Musk commented on the delay in rescuing two stranded NASA astronauts, Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who were trapped aboard the International Space Station (ISS) for months.
Musk suggested that political concerns were a factor in the delay, saying, "The Biden White House did not want to have someone who was pro-Trump rescuing astronauts from space right before the election."
Mar 18, 2025 at 12:04 PM EDT
Why does NASA prefer splashdowns to landing on the ground?
NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore are preparing for their splashdown landing off the coast of Florida.
The space agency typically aims for splashdowns, meaning a spacecraft lands in water, mostly the ocean, using parachutes to slow its descent/
Splashdowns are seen as a much safer landing option, providing shock absorption, and aiming for the ocean means a returning space craft is less likely to accidentally hit a populated area.
Mar 18, 2025 at 11:48 AM EDT
British astronaut Tim Peake shares health risks of extended space missions
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British astronaut Tim Peake has shed light on the hidden health risks astronauts face after prolonged stays in space, offering a glimpse into the potential challenges awaiting NASA's stranded crew members. NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who were initially supposed to stay in space for only eight days, have spent nearly nine months aboard the International Space Station (ISS) due to technical issues. They began their journey back to Earth on March 17, 2024.
Peake, who was the first British ESA astronaut to journey to the ISS, shared insights on the long-term health effects of spaceflight. Despite strict fitness routines to counter muscle atrophy and brittle bones, astronauts face several challenges upon their return to Earth. Peake revealed that prolonged exposure to space can negatively impact astronauts' skin, eyesight, and even lead to blood clots, The Mirror reported.
One of the more concerning risks is the high level of radiation astronauts are exposed to, which, according to Peake, is equivalent to receiving eight chest X-rays daily. The full effects of this radiation exposure are still being studied, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the long-term health consequences of space missions.
Mar 18, 2025 at 11:38 AM EDT
Jitendra Singh calls Sunita Williams ‘daughter of India’ ahead of return
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Union Minister Jitendra Singh praised NASA astronaut Sunita Williams as a "daughter of India" on Tuesday as the world anticipates her return from the International Space Station.
Along with fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore, Williams has spent nearly nine months in space.
Singh expressed the nation's pride in Williams' achievements, noting that her successful mission has made the world proud. He added that India is praying for her safe return.
Mar 18, 2025 at 11:30 AM EDT
Ex-NASA chief contradicts Elon Musk claim, says he never discussed a rescue mission with SpaceX
Bill Nelson, who served as NASA administrator during the Biden administration, said he never discussed a rescue mission to bring home Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore with Elon Musk or SpaceX.
Musk and Donald Trump have claimed that the Biden administration refused an offer from SpaceX to rescue the stranded astronauts.
Nelson added that he had never received any instruction or pressure from the administration to extend the astronauts' stay on the space station after problems with their Boeing Starliner spacecraft.
"On the basis that there was no contact with NASA, there was no political consideration from NASA's point of view," Nelson told the New York Times/
Mar 18, 2025 at 11:16 AM EDT
Astronauts awake and receiving splashdown update
The astronauts are now awake and in communication with mission control, which provided them with an update on the plans for the day ahead of their splashdown.
The event is approximately seven hours away, marking the final leg of their journey back to Earth.
The crew remains in good spirits and ready for the upcoming procedures as they prepare for their return after an extended mission in space.
Mar 18, 2025 at 10:56 AM EDT
Other astronauts who have had prolonged space stays
In May 1991, Russian cosmonaut Sergei Krikalev launched to the Soviet Union's Mir space station, only for the country to disband while he was in orbit. As a result, Krikalev was asked to extend his mission by nearly five months. He spent a total of 313 days in space, earning the nickname "the last Soviet citizen," and returned to Earth on March 25, 1992.
In 2003, three astronauts—Ken Bowersox, Donald Pettit, and Nikolai Budarin—were forced to extend their stay at the ISS by three months after the tragic Columbia disaster grounded NASA's space shuttle flights. The astronauts eventually returned to Earth in May 2003 after over five months in space.
In 2022, astronaut Frank Rubio was expected to stay on the ISS for six months but ended up staying for a record-breaking 371 days. His return was delayed due to a coolant leak in the Russian spacecraft designated to bring him home, making his mission the longest single spaceflight for a U.S. astronaut.
Mar 18, 2025 at 10:38 AM EDT
Timeline of Wilmore and Williams’ space mission: Part 2
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January 29, 2025: A week into his second term, President Donald Trump publicly asks SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to quickly retrieve Wilmore and Williams from the ISS, accusing former President Joe Biden of "virtually abandoning" them. Musk agrees to the request, promising to bring them home "as soon as possible," raising concerns about potential White House interference in NASA's operation.
January 30: NASA affirms its original plan to bring Wilmore and Williams home on Crew-10, despite Trump's request.
February 11: After public urging from Trump and Musk, NASA alters its return plan, replacing the delayed Crew Dragon capsule with one that has flown three times before. The Crew-10 launch is rescheduled from March 26 to March 12.
March 4: Amid growing questions about political influence, Wilmore states in a space-to-ground news conference that he believes politics did not affect NASA's decision to extend their mission. He explains that astronauts are always prepared for extended missions.
March 12: A launchpad issue delays Crew-10's launch by two days, pushing back Wilmore and Williams' journey home.
March 14: Crew-10 launches toward the ISS, bringing Wilmore and Williams closer to their return.
March 16: Crew-10 arrives at the ISS, where it is greeted by seven astronauts, including Wilmore and Williams.
March 18: Wilmore and Williams, along with NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, undock from the ISS and begin a 17-hour journey back to Earth.
Mar 18, 2025 at 10:26 AM EDT
Timeline of Wilmore and Williams’ space mission: Part 1
June 2022: Wilmore and Williams are selected as the first crew aboard Boeing's Starliner after several delays and technical setbacks.
June 5, 2024: Wilmore and Williams launch aboard Starliner, marking the spacecraft's first crewed mission after multiple delays caused by issues with its propulsion system and a helium leak. Their mission is initially scheduled to last eight days.
June 6: Starliner crew arrives at the space station after a 27-hour flight, despite failures of five thrusters, marking another challenge for the spacecraft's development.
June 11: NASA delays their return to Earth to June 18, citing continued investigations into propulsion issues and helium leaks.
June 21: NASA delays their return again, with no specific date provided.
June 26: A third delay raises concerns about Starliner's technical issues and whether SpaceX's Crew Dragon might be called to bring them back.
June 27: An old Russian satellite breaks into debris near the ISS, prompting all astronauts to prepare for emergency evacuation. Despite Starliner's ongoing issues, Wilmore and Williams are able to return to their spacecraft safely.
June 28: NASA's decision on their return remains unclear, as testing continues on Starliner's propulsion systems to determine when it will be safe for their return.
July 21: Wilmore and Williams reach 45 days on the ISS, surpassing the spacecraft's approved maximum duration.
August 7: After technical investigations, Boeing and NASA discuss the severity of Starliner's problems, with concerns mounting about its safety.
August 24: NASA decides to bring them back aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule during a scheduled astronaut rotation mission, Crew-9, with their return expected in February 2025.
September 6: Starliner returns to Earth without astronauts, landing safely at White Sands Missile Range after NASA deems the spacecraft unsafe for crewed flight.
September 29: Crew-9 launches with two astronauts to the ISS, leaving two seats empty for Wilmore and Williams' eventual return.
December 17: NASA delays Crew-10's launch, planned for February, until late March due to delays in SpaceX's production of a new Crew Dragon capsule.
Mar 18, 2025 at 10:08 AM EDT
Williams and Wilmore prepared for extended stay on space station
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When astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore were asked to extend their stay on the International Space Station from eight days to several months, they were undeterred. Speaking to reporters last September, both expressed positivity about the unexpected change in plans.
Mr. Wilmore said he would miss his family but never felt let down, stating, "Absolutely not. Never entered my mind." Williams, who described space as "my happy place," echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the enjoyment of being in orbit.
Although the extended stay was a surprise, both astronauts had been prepared for such contingencies. They launched in June on a test flight for the Boeing Starliner spacecraft, which had never carried people before. As part of their training, they had learned to handle extended missions, just in case. NASA, always cautious, had already planned for the possibility of long-duration stays.
Mar 18, 2025 at 09:52 AM EDT
Reason why Suni and Butch switched space taxis
Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will break tradition by returning to Earth in SpaceX's Dragon capsule, despite having launched aboard Boeing's Starliner. Typically, astronauts return in the same spacecraft they launched in, but due to delays, they will be using a different vehicle.
Both Wilmore and Williams have extensive flight experience, with previous missions aboard NASA's space shuttle and Russia's Soyuz capsule. While the Starliner and Dragon capsules are both autonomous, they are capable of manual control if necessary. During their time aboard the Starliner, Wilmore and Williams were in charge as test pilots. For their return, fellow astronaut Nick Hague, who launched aboard the Dragon last September, will be in command.
Mar 18, 2025 at 09:41 AM EDT
Wilmore and Williams caught in political storm over delayed return
Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams became the center of a political storm when President Donald Trump and SpaceX founder Elon Musk announced in January that they would accelerate their return from space, blaming the Biden administration for keeping them there too long.
NASA officials defended their decision to wait for the next scheduled SpaceX flight, targeting a February return. However, delays on Earth with the astronauts' replacements, caused by battery work on a new SpaceX capsule, pushed things back. To speed up the process, SpaceX switched capsules, bringing the two astronauts home in the capsule that has been in space since last fall.
NASA's Ken Bowersox praised Wilmore and Williams, calling them "professional, devoted, committed, really outstanding," and expressing gratitude for the public's concern about the astronauts.
Mar 18, 2025 at 09:30 AM EDT
Wilmore and Williams look forward to reuniting with loved ones and returning to normal life
After months aboard the International Space Station, astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are eager to reunite with their families and return to their routines. Wilmore, an elder in his Baptist church, is excited to resume face-to-face ministry and enjoy the scent of fresh-cut grass. He kept in touch with his congregation during his time in space, participating in prayer services and calling ailing members via the station's internet phone.
Williams, on the other hand, is looking forward to long walks with her dogs and an ocean swim. Despite their extended time in space, NASA confirms that no special precautions will be needed for either astronaut upon their return.
As former astronaut Ken Bowersox explained, NASA trains astronauts to focus on their mission rather than when they'll come home, though an extended stay is always a possibility.
Mar 18, 2025 at 09:17 AM EDT
About Wilmore and Williams ahead of arrival
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Test pilots Butch Wilmore, 62, and Suni Williams, 59, both came to NASA via the Navy. Wilmore, a Tennessee native, played football before joining the Navy and racking up 663 aircraft carrier landings. Williams, from Needham, Massachusetts, excelled in swimming and distance running before serving in combat helicopter squadrons.
NASA selected Williams as an astronaut in 1998, followed by Wilmore in 2000. Both astronauts had completed two spaceflights, including long stints at the space station, before joining Starliner's first crew.
While they accepted delays in their homecoming, both astronauts shared the challenges faced by their families. Wilmore's wife, Deanna, managed their household, with their oldest daughter in college and their youngest in high school. Williams' husband, Mike, cared for their two Labrador retrievers while her mother worried from home.
Mar 18, 2025 at 09:04 AM EDT
NASA reports spacecraft systems ready for splashdown
NASA has confirmed that all systems for the spacecraft are functioning as planned, and weather conditions are favorable for a smooth splashdown on Tuesday.
To ensure the astronauts' safety, the decision was made to bring the return flight forward to tonight. The goal is to land the capsule in calm waters, reducing any risk during the final stages of the mission.
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