NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams returned to Earth after a nine-month mission aboard the ISS. Originally planned for eight days, their stay was extended due to technical issues with Boeing’s Starliner. They returned via SpaceX’s Crew-9 capsule, completing vital research and setting spacewalk records.
NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have finally returned to Earth after an unexpected nine-month mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Their journey, which was initially planned for just over a week, stretched into several months due to technical challenges.
They made their return aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule, landing safely in the ocean off the coast of Florida following a 17-hour descent. Alongside them were fellow crew members, NASA’s Nick Hague and Russia’s Aleksandr Gorbunov. After splashdown, the astronauts were assisted out of the capsule and taken for routine medical checks.
NASA officials, including Commercial Crew Program Manager Steve Stich, confirmed that the crew was in good health upon their return. Joel Montalbano, NASA’s deputy associate administrator for space operations, praised their resilience and adaptability during an extended mission.
Wilmore and Williams originally launched in June 2024 as part of the first crewed test of Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. However, persistent technical issues prevented the Starliner from being used for their return journey, forcing NASA to arrange an alternative ride home. The spacecraft was eventually sent back to Earth without a crew in September, leaving Wilmore and Williams aboard the ISS much longer than expected.
NASA later arranged for their return aboard SpaceX’s Crew-9 mission, which arrived at the ISS months later with two empty seats, allowing the astronauts to finally make their way back.
Despite the extended stay, the astronauts remained engaged in research and spacewalks. Suni Williams achieved a significant milestone by setting a new record for the most time spent outside the ISS by a female astronaut. The crew also embraced the holiday spirit in space, dressing up in festive gear and sending messages back to Earth during Christmas.
Following their return, the astronauts will undergo further medical evaluations at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. After months in orbit, they are now looking forward to reuniting with their families and catching up on missed moments.
NASA has hailed the mission as a success, emphasizing how the astronauts’ ability to adapt will contribute to future long-duration space missions.
