NASA Astronauts Finally Return After Nine Months Stranded in Space

• Mar 18, 2025

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are finally heading back to Earth after spending more than nine months in space due to delays caused by a failed Boeing test flight. The two were initially expected to return within weeks but ended up staying at the International Space Station (ISS) for much longer than planned.

On Tuesday, Wilmore and Williams, along with NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov, departed from the ISS aboard a SpaceX capsule. Their return journey is expected to end with a splashdown off the Florida coast, depending on weather conditions.

Unplanned Extended Stay in Space

The astronauts originally launched on June 5, 2024, aboard Boeing’s new Starliner crew capsule, but multiple issues forced NASA to send the spacecraft back to Earth without them. As a result, they had to remain at the ISS until a SpaceX capsule was available to bring them home. The delays pushed their return date to February 2025, and additional technical issues added another month to their stay.

NASA fast-tracked their departure once their replacements arrived at the station on Sunday. Given the uncertain weather conditions, the agency decided to send them home earlier than expected. As the capsule left the ISS, NASA’s Anne McClain radioed a farewell message, saying, “We’ll miss you, but have a great journey home.”

Adapting to a Long Space Mission

Though their mission was much longer than expected, Wilmore and Williams quickly adjusted, becoming full-time crew members at the ISS. They conducted experiments, helped maintain equipment, and even performed spacewalks. Williams, who previously spent time on the station, became commander three months into their stay and held the position until earlier this month.

During her time in space, Williams also set a record for the most time spent on spacewalks by a female astronaut, logging 62 hours over nine walks.

Political Attention and Personal Sacrifices

Their delayed return even caught the attention of former U.S. President Donald Trump, who urged SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to speed up the process. However, NASA emphasized that safety was always the priority in planning their return.

Despite their extended stay, Wilmore and Williams remained professional and avoided assigning blame. However, they acknowledged that the unexpected delay was hard on their families. Wilmore, 62, missed much of his daughter’s senior year in high school, while Williams, 59, stayed in touch with her mother only through video calls from space.

Now, after more than nine months in orbit, the two astronauts are finally on their way back to Earth for a long-awaited reunion with their loved ones.