NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams finally returned to Earth after an extended mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Originally set for an eight-day test, their journey stretched to nine months due to technical failures with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft.
Wilmore and Williams departed the ISS early Tuesday aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon, alongside two other astronauts from NASA’s Crew-9 mission. Their capsule undocked at 1:05 a.m. ET (0505 GMT), embarking on a 17-hour trip before splashing down off Florida’s coast at 5:57 p.m. ET. NASA officials described conditions for the landing as “pristine.”
The unexpected extension of their mission resulted from propulsion system issues with Starliner, delaying their return indefinitely. NASA ultimately decided they would return aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon as part of routine astronaut rotation. Their replacements, arriving with Crew-10 last Friday, ensured proper staffing levels aboard the ISS.
The prolonged stay sparked political debates, with President Trump accusing the Biden administration of neglecting the astronauts. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk also called for their early return. However, Wilmore dismissed political concerns, emphasizing NASA’s priority on contingency planning.
During their extended mission, the astronauts conducted scientific research, maintenance, and spacewalks outside the ISS. Upon landing, Wilmore and Williams will be transported to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston for health evaluations before reuniting with their families.
With 286 days in space, this was Williams' third spaceflight, bringing her career total to 608 days—second only to Peggy Whitson among U.S. astronauts. The ISS remains a key hub for global scientific research, orbiting 254 miles (409 km) above Earth for over 25 years. Williams, eager to return home, said she was most excited to see her family and dogs after the long and unexpected journey.