Two NASA astronauts, Sunita “Suni” Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore, have finally returned to Earth after spending nine months on the International Space Station (ISS). Their mission was originally supposed to last only eight days, but due to problems with their spacecraft, their stay was extended much longer than planned.
Williams and Wilmore left Earth in June 2024 on a spacecraft called Boeing Starliner. This mission was a test flight to see if the Starliner could safely transport astronauts to the ISS. However, during their journey, the spacecraft had several issues, including helium leaks and problems with the thrusters used for steering. Although engineers were able to fix some of these issues, NASA decided it was too risky for the astronauts to return on the Starliner. Instead, the astronauts had to stay on the ISS until another spacecraft was available to bring them home.
To bring them back, NASA used a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule named Dragon Freedom, which had been docked at the ISS since September 2024. On Tuesday, March 18, 2025, the Crew Dragon capsule carrying Williams, Wilmore, and two other astronauts, Nick Hague from NASA and Aleksandr Gorbunov from Russia, left the ISS at 1:05 a.m. ET and began its 17-hour trip back to Earth.
The astronauts safely landed in the ocean near Tallahassee, Florida, at 5:57 p.m. ET. After landing, ground crews worked quickly to pull the capsule onto a recovery ship. It was a sunny, warm day, about 78 degrees Fahrenheit, and dolphins were even seen swimming around the capsule as it floated in the water.
When they came out of the capsule, the astronauts appeared happy and healthy. NASA manager Steve Stich said, “They all looked very healthy. They all looked like they were feeling about normal for the landing and recovery phase, where their body is trying to re-adapt.”
Wilmore explained in an interview, “It’s work. It’s fun. It’s been trying at times, no doubt. But ‘stranded’? No. ‘Stuck’? No. ‘Abandoned’? No.”
During their unexpected extended stay, Williams and Wilmore performed important scientific research, including experiments to see if Earth’s microbes could survive in space. They also studied how weightlessness affects tiny organisms that might help produce food and medicine.
Because their mission was longer than expected, they initially lacked personal items, including clothes. NASA later sent up extra clothes and supplies on a cargo ship.
During their time in space, the astronauts witnessed significant events on Earth. Wilmore saw Hurricane Beryl hit Houston and damage his own home. They also observed smoke from wildfires in Los Angeles. Wilmore mentioned missing important family milestones like his younger daughter’s senior year of high school.
By the end of their mission, Williams and Wilmore had traveled about 121 million miles and orbited Earth 4,576 times. Williams set a record with a total of 62 hours spent on spacewalks, the most ever by a female astronaut.
The astronauts will spend a short time at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston before reuniting with their families.
This article is based on the following articles:
https://abcnews.go.com/US/nasa-astronauts-begin-17-hour-journey-splashdown-off/story?id=119900615
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/17/science/nasa-astronauts-return-splashdown.html
Background Information
International Space Station (ISS)
The International Space Station is a large spacecraft orbiting Earth about 250 miles above the planet’s surface. It serves as a space environment research laboratory. Scientists use the ISS to conduct experiments in biology, physics, astronomy, meteorology, and other fields. Different countries, including the United States, Russia, Japan, Canada, and members of the European Space Agency, have contributed to building and operating the ISS.
NASA
NASA, or the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, is the United States government agency responsible for exploring space and conducting research about Earth’s atmosphere and space science. NASA conducts missions involving astronauts to explore space, conduct scientific research, and test new technologies.
SpaceX
SpaceX is a private aerospace company founded by Elon Musk. It builds rockets and spacecraft designed to carry humans and cargo into space. SpaceX developed the Crew Dragon capsule, a spacecraft capable of transporting astronauts safely between Earth and the ISS.
Boeing Starliner
The Boeing Starliner is another spacecraft designed to transport astronauts to the ISS. It was developed by Boeing as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, which encourages private companies to build spacecraft for missions close to Earth. However, the Starliner has encountered technical problems during its test flights.
Gravity and Weightlessness
On Earth, gravity keeps us firmly on the ground. In space, astronauts experience weightlessness or microgravity. Without gravity, astronauts float freely and must exercise regularly to keep their muscles and bones healthy, since lack of gravity can weaken the body.
Spacewalks
Spacewalks are activities where astronauts leave their spacecraft to work outside in the vacuum of space. During spacewalks, astronauts wear special suits to protect them from extreme temperatures, provide oxygen, and maintain communication with their spacecraft.
Splashdown
A splashdown is when a spacecraft lands in the ocean. After re-entering Earth’s atmosphere, spacecraft slow down significantly using parachutes, allowing them to gently land in water. This landing method has been historically used by many spacecraft, including the early Apollo missions to the Moon.
Re-entry
Re-entry is when a spacecraft returns to Earth and enters Earth’s atmosphere. During re-entry, spacecraft encounter extremely high temperatures, up to 3,500 degrees Fahrenheit, caused by friction with the air. Spacecraft are designed with heat shields to withstand these conditions and protect the astronauts inside.
Cargo Ships
Robotic cargo ships are automated spacecraft used to deliver supplies and equipment to the ISS. These ships are crucial for maintaining life and scientific research on the ISS, regularly providing food, water, scientific experiments, and personal items for astronauts.
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