NASA Astronaut Sunita Williams to Return to Earth After Nine-Month Space Mission

March 17, 2025 – NASA astronaut Sunita Williams and her crewmate Barry “Butch” Wilmore are set to return to Earth on March 18, 2025, after an extended nine-month mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The astronauts, who launched aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, will finally complete their unexpected long-duration stay in space.

Mission Return Details

The astronauts are scheduled to undock from the ISS aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule at 1:05 a.m. ET (11:35 a.m. IST). Their journey back to Earth will conclude with a splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico at 5:57 p.m. ET (4:27 a.m. IST on March 19).

Why the Extended Stay?

Williams and Wilmore originally launched for a short-duration test flight of Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft in mid-2024. However, due to technical issues with the vehicle, their return was delayed, forcing them to integrate into NASA’s Crew-9 mission on the ISS.

During their extended stay, the astronauts participated in critical scientific experiments, spacewalks, and maintenance operations that contributed to NASA’s long-term space exploration objectives.

NASA’s Live Coverage

NASA will provide live coverage of the departure and landing on its official platforms, allowing space enthusiasts to follow the astronauts’ journey back home in real time.

This return marks another historic moment in Sunita Williams’ illustrious space career. Having already logged more than 300 days in space across multiple missions, she remains one of the most accomplished female astronauts in NASA’s history.

Stay tuned for updates as Williams and Wilmore make their highly anticipated return to Earth! 🚀🌍