NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry "Butch" Wilmore have returned safely to Earth following an unplanned 286-day mission on the International Space Station (ISS).Their crewed mission, which was originally scheduled as an eight-day flight test, was extended by technical problems with Boeing's Starliner spacecraft.
The astronauts flew in June 2024 to flight-test the Starliner. Issues with the propulsion systems, however, forced NASA to retain them longer on the ISS, postponing their return. Williams and Wilmore adjusted by performing scientific experiments and station maintenance. Williams performed two six-hour spacewalks, including one with Wilmore, which greatly helped ISS maintenance.
In order to facilitate their return, NASA collaborated with SpaceX. A Crew Dragon capsule carrying a replacement crew docked at the ISS, and Williams and Wilmore got on board to return home. The capsule undocked after midnight on Tuesday, embarking on a 17-hour trip back to Earth.
The spacecraft entered Earth's atmosphere at about 5:45 p.m. ET, slowing from about 17,000 miles per hour to a soft 17 miles per hour before splashing down in the Gulf of Mexico, roughly 50 miles off Florida's Gulf Coast, under clear blue skies.
The crew was picked up and taken to NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston for routine health checks after the landing. They will spend a number of days undergoing rehab to readjust to the gravity on Earth before getting reunited with their families.
The extended mission caused attention from the top government levels. President Donald Trump, who was inaugurated in January, had demanded an accelerated return of the astronauts, claiming that the former administration "abandoned" them aboard the ISS for political reasons. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, a close friend of Trump, was also of the same opinion.
After the successful return, the White House said, "PROMISE MADE, PROMISE KEPT: President Trump promised to save the nine months-stuck astronauts. Today, they splashed down safely in the Gulf of America thanks to Elon Musk, SpaceX, and NASA!"
Indian-origin astronaut Williams was invited by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to India on her return.Her Indian village welcomed her triumphant splashdown as a celebratory reception for the famous astronaut.
This mission also underscores the uncertainty and risk of human space travel, calling forth the flexibility and resilience of astronauts in the face of the unexpected.
