NASA has confirmed that astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who have been stuck aboard the International Space Station (ISS) for nine months, will finally return to Earth on Tuesday evening. They will be joined by NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft.
The space agency will stream live coverage of the Crew-9 mission’s return, starting Monday night at 10:45 p.m. EDT with hatch closure procedures. NASA and SpaceX convened on Sunday to evaluate splashdown conditions near Florida, ensuring a safe return for the astronauts. Mission managers are aiming for an early return on Tuesday, March 18, as weather conditions are expected to be ideal. However, they will continue to assess factors such as spacecraft readiness, sea conditions, and recovery team availability before confirming the precise landing site.
NASA emphasized that the updated return schedule allows for a smooth transition between ISS crew members while maintaining flexibility before unfavorable weather sets in later in the week. The mission’s success depends on multiple elements, including undocking preparations, equipment status, and safety measures for the returning team.
Meanwhile, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk confirmed that the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft recently docked with the ISS, carrying NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, JAXA astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov.
The urgency of Williams and Wilmore’s return has drawn political attention. On Friday, NASA and SpaceX launched a mission to bring them back, following pressure from former US President Donald Trump. He had urged Musk to accelerate the process, criticizing ex-President Joe Biden for allegedly neglecting the stranded astronauts.
The two astronauts initially arrived at the ISS in June 2024 aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft for what was meant to be a short mission. However, the spacecraft returned to Earth without them in September due to significant technical malfunctions. NASA and Boeing identified helium leaks and thruster issues on June 6, just as Starliner was approaching the ISS. These complications left Williams and Wilmore stuck in space far longer than intended, leading to the recent efforts to bring them home safely.
