Sunita Williams’ homecoming: Why NASA astronauts’ return

After a prolonged stay at the ISS, Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore return to Earth via a SpaceX capsule, following delays caused by technical problems. Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, NASA astronauts are finally returning to Earth aboard a SpaceX capsule on Tuesday, wrapping up an unexpectedly prolonged mission that began with Boeing’s failed test flight over nine months ago.

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The duo bid farewell to the International Space Station or ISS, where they have been stationed since last spring, and departed alongside two other astronauts. Their capsule detached from the ISS before dawn, targeting a splashdown off the Florida coast by early evening, provided weather conditions remain favourable. NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, the other two members of Crew-9, joined Wilmore and Williams. Hague and Gorbunov flew to the ISS in September on a Crew Dragon craft with two empty seats.

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NASA Astronauts’ Return Delayed Due to Starliner and SpaceX Capsule Issues

Subsequent investigations revealed deformed Teflon seals in the thrusters, leading NASA to deem the spacecraft unsafe for their return. Delays in launching their replacement mission, SpaceX’s Crew-10, further extended the astronauts’ stay. This mission faced postponements, including a delay from March 12 to March 14, 2025, affecting the timeline for Williams and Wilmore’s return.

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