NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams return to Earth after nine unplanned months in space

Williams and Wilmore safely splash down after an extended mission

NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore have returned to Earth after spending 286 days aboard the International Space Station (ISS) due to the failure of Boeing’s Starliner capsule, which was originally meant to bring them home.

The two astronauts, who were only scheduled to stay in space for eight days, departed the ISS early Tuesday morning (March 18, 2025) and safely splashed down in the Gulf of America off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida, at 5:57 PM EDT. Their return was facilitated by SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule, which completed a 17-hour journey back to Earth.

Why were they stranded in space?

Williams and Wilmore, both veteran astronauts, had traveled to the ISS on June 6, 2024, aboard Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner, the company’s first crewed test flight under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. However, the spacecraft developed multiple technical failures, including:

• Helium leaks
• A malfunctioning thruster that helps control re-entry
• Failure of four additional thrusters upon arrival at the ISS

Although engineers were able to restore four of the five failed thrusters, NASA deemed  Starliner unsafe for human travel and sent it back to Earth empty in September 2024, forcing Williams and Wilmore to extend their mission.

How did they return to Earth?

NASA decided to bring Wilmore and Williams back on SpaceX’s Crew Dragon, but an earlier return would have left only one US astronaut on the ISS, affecting both research activities and emergency response capabilities.

Their return was delayed until Crew-10, carrying NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Russian astronaut Kirill Peskov, arrived at the ISS on March 16, 2025, ensuring proper rotation of the station’s crew.

Return journey timeline

• March 17, 2025 (10:45 PM ET) – Hatch closure preparations began
• March 18, 2025 (1:05 AM ET) – SpaceX Crew Dragon undocked from the ISS
• March 18, 2025 (5:57 PM ET) – Splashdown off Florida’s coast

NASA live-streamed the departure and return journey, with SpaceX recovery teams securing the capsule before hoisting it onto the recovery ship. The astronauts underwent medical checks before being flown to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.

How did they survive in space for so long?

Despite their unexpected stay, Williams and Wilmore remained in good health. They followed a strict exercise routine, regularly using treadmills and resistance machines to maintain bone and muscle strength. The ISS received regular resupply missions carrying food, water, and oxygen.

In January 2025, the duo even conducted a spacewalk together, demonstrating their adaptability despite the extended mission.

During the Christmas season, they celebrated with a festive dinner, enjoying smoked oysters, crab, duck foie gras, cranberry sauce, Atlantic lobster, and smoked salmon. They also maintained contact with their families through emails and phone calls.

Williams reassured the public in a November interview, stating:

“We don’t feel abandoned, we don’t feel stuck, we don’t feel stranded… People who are worried about us, really, don’t worry about us… We’re a happy crew up here.”

Previous cases of astronauts stuck in space

Williams and Wilmore are not the first astronauts to experience an extended space stay due to unforeseen circumstances.

• Frank Rubio (2022-2023) – Spent 371 days on the ISS, the longest U.S. spaceflight, after a Soyuz capsule leak delayed his return.
• Sergei Krikalev (1991-1992) – Stranded in orbit for 311 days aboard the Mir space station due to the Soviet Union’s collapse.

NASA and SpaceX briefing on the mission

NASA and SpaceX will host a media news conference at 7:30 PM EDT to discuss the mission and splashdown, featuring:

• Joel Montalbano – Deputy Associate Administrator, NASA’s Space Operations Mission Directorate
• Steve Stich – Manager, NASA’s Commercial Crew Program
• Bill Spetch – Operations Integration Manager, NASA’s ISS Program
• Sarah Walker – Director, Dragon Mission Management, SpaceX

The briefing will be streamed live on NASA+, accessible across multiple platforms.

What’s next for Boeing’s Starliner?

Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft remains grounded, with engineers at White Sands, New Mexico, working to resolve the technical failures that occurred during its maiden crewed flight.

Aviation Week reports that Starliner is unlikely to fly again in 2025, though Boeing remains committed to certifying the spacecraft for future missions under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.

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