NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore have safely returned to Earth after an unexpected nine-month stay in space. Their SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, Freedom, splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico near Tallahassee at 5:57 PM ET on Tuesday (3:27 AM IST, Wednesday), marking the end of a mission filled with unforeseen challenges.
Originally launched in June 2023 aboard Boeing’s Starliner for an eight-day test mission to the International Space Station (ISS), the duo’s plans were derailed by propulsion system malfunctions. With Starliner forced to return unmanned, Williams and Wilmore were left aboard the ISS, awaiting an alternative ride home.
NASA opted to integrate the astronauts into SpaceX’s Crew-9 mission, which arrived at the ISS in September. To accommodate them, the Crew-9 team was reduced from four to two astronauts. Despite being dubbed “stranded astronauts,” NASA clarified that emergency evacuation plans were always available if necessary.
During their return, the Crew Dragon capsule endured re-entry temperatures of up to 3,000°F (1,650°C) before deploying parachutes for a controlled descent. A recovery team will transport the crew to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, where they will undergo a 45-day rehabilitation program to readjust to Earth’s gravity after their extended microgravity exposure.
Their prolonged stay and the dramatic circumstances surrounding their mission have captivated global audiences, making Williams and Wilmore household names. While other astronauts have spent longer durations in space, few have faced such uncertainty about their return, cementing their journey as one of the most memorable in recent space exploration history.
