NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have finally returned to Earth after spending nine months aboard the International Space Station (ISS)—far longer than their planned week-long stay. The delay was caused by technical issues with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, forcing NASA to use SpaceX’s Crew Dragon for their return.
Wilmore and Williams, both retired U.S. Navy test pilots, departed the ISS early Tuesday morning, along with two other astronauts. Their Crew Dragon capsule undocked at 1:05 a.m. ET (0505 GMT), beginning a 17-hour journey to Earth. Splashdown off Florida’s coast is scheduled for 5:57 p.m. ET.
A Mission Marked by Delays and Uncertainty
As the Crew Dragon slowly pulled away, mission commander Nick Hague announced, “Crew-9 is going home.” He described the descent as “the trip downhill.” Hague expressed gratitude for the opportunity to live and work on the ISS, emphasizing its global mission for humanity’s benefit.
Wilmore and Williams’ extended stay was never part of the original plan. They launched in June 2023 aboard Boeing’s Starliner for a crucial eight-day test flight. However, propulsion system malfunctions and other technical issues delayed their return indefinitely. NASA eventually decided to return them on a SpaceX capsule instead of Starliner, raising concerns about Boeing’s spacecraft reliability.
Political Reactions and Public Attention
The prolonged mission caught political attention. After taking office in January, Donald Trump called for their immediate return, accusing Joe Biden of delaying it for political reasons—a claim with no supporting evidence.
Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, echoed Trump’s call for an earlier return. He emphasized that Crew Dragon is currently the only operational U.S. spacecraft capable of carrying astronauts. Boeing’s Starliner program, initially meant to compete with SpaceX, now faces an uncertain future.
Health Risks After Long-Term Spaceflight
Upon splashdown, NASA will transport Wilmore and Williams to the Johnson Space Center in Houston for post-mission health checks. Extended time in space can cause muscle loss, bone density reduction, and potential vision problems.
They spent 286 days in space, exceeding the six-month standard ISS mission, though far short of Frank Rubio’s 371-day U.S. record.
For Suni Williams, this was her third spaceflight, increasing her total time in space to 608 days—the second-highest for a U.S. astronaut. Peggy Whitson still holds the U.S. record with 675 days in orbit. Globally, Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko leads with 878 days in space.
Waiting for a Replacement Crew
Wilmore and Williams could not return earlier because NASA had to maintain ISS staffing levels. They had to wait until Crew-10 arrived to take their place.
The Crew-10 team docked on Friday night, briefly increasing the ISS population to 11 astronauts.
Wilmore dismissed any political motivations for the delay. “We came prepared for a long stay, even though we planned for a short one,” he said. “This is what spaceflight is about—adapting to the unknown.“
Contributions During Their Extended Stay
Despite the delays, Wilmore and Williams continued conducting research and station maintenance. Williams completed two six-hour spacewalks, one alongside Wilmore, for essential ISS repairs.
Orbiting 254 miles (409 km) above Earth, the ISS has housed international astronauts for nearly 25 years. It serves as a global research hub, with U.S. and Russian space agencies managing key operations.
Williams looked forward to returning home, especially to her family and two dogs. “It’s been harder for them than for us,” she admitted.
Boeing’s Starliner Faces Uncertain Future
NASA’s decision to switch Wilmore and Williams to SpaceX raises serious concerns about Boeing’s Starliner program.
Originally developed under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, Starliner was meant to compete with SpaceX’s Crew Dragon. However, multiple delays, technical failures, and now an aborted return flight put its future in question.
NASA has not confirmed whether Starliner will proceed with future crewed missions or if SpaceX will remain its sole crew transport provider.
As Wilmore and Williams prepare for re-entry, their mission underscores the challenges of human spaceflight and the importance of contingency planning.
“We planned for the unexpected, and we adapted,” Wilmore emphasized.
