Washington, D.C.: NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore are finally preparing to return to Earth after an extended nine-month stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The duo initially traveled to the ISS in June 2024 for a scheduled eight-day mission, but technical issues with their return vehicle turned their short trip into a prolonged mission.
Williams and Wilmore had traveled to the ISS aboard Boeing’s Starliner capsule, which was later declared unfit for the return journey due to propulsion system malfunctions. Their unexpected delay prompted NASA to devise a contingency plan with the assistance of Elon Musk’s SpaceX. The company’s Crew Dragon capsule arrived at the ISS on Saturday night, setting the stage for a long-awaited return.
Mission Timeline and Landing Details
The astronauts are scheduled to undock from the ISS at 1:05 a.m. ET (10:35 a.m. IST) on Tuesday. The 17-hour journey will conclude with a planned splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico (renamed as the Gulf of America under the Trump administration) at 5:57 p.m. ET (3:27 a.m. IST, Wednesday). However, the final landing location may shift depending on weather conditions.
After the successful landing, the crew will be flown to NASA’s Johnson Space Center for routine post-mission medical evaluations. Extended space missions often expose astronauts to bone and muscle loss, radiation, vision impairment, and the psychological toll of isolation.
NASA initially scheduled the return for Wednesday night, but the departure was moved up due to forecasts of unfavorable weather later in the week.
Challenges and Historic Perspective
While the extended stay posed significant challenges, Williams and Wilmore remained resilient throughout the mission. They also participated in key scientific experiments and supported maintenance activities aboard the ISS.
Sunita Williams’ stay in space is remarkable but not record-breaking. The longest stay on the ISS still belongs to Frank Rubio, who spent 371 days in orbit in 2023. The world record for the longest continuous space mission stands at 437 days, set by Russia’s Valeri Polyakov aboard the Mir Space Station in 1994–95.
How to Watch the Return
NASA has confirmed that the return journey will be live-streamed on its official platforms. The broadcast will begin at 10:45 p.m. EST (9:15 a.m. IST) on Monday, covering the hatch closure and pre-launch procedures.
As Williams and Wilmore prepare to conclude their prolonged mission, their return will mark another milestone in NASA’s ongoing space exploration efforts.
