NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore are finally returning to Earth after spending over nine months aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The duo, who were initially expected to stay for a short-duration mission, remained in space due to technical issues with their Boeing Starliner spacecraft. They are now making their way back aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, ‘Freedom’, which is set to splash down off the coast of Florida on Wednesday early morning IST.
When and Where to Watch Sunita Williams’ Splashdown
The SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule ‘Freedom’ carrying Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore, fellow American astronaut Nick Hague, and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov is expected to splash down near Tallahassee, Florida, around 5:57 PM EDT (21:57 GMT, 3:27 AM IST on Wednesday, March 20).
NASA had initially scheduled their return for Wednesday but decided to bring it forward by a day due to unfavorable weather conditions later in the week.
For space enthusiasts, NASA is live-streaming the astronauts’ return journey, with coverage starting at 10:45 PM EST on Monday (9:15 AM IST Tuesday). The event can be watched on NASA’s official YouTube channel and website.
Recovery and Rehabilitation After Landing
Once the capsule splashes down, a recovery team will retrieve the astronauts from the ocean, after which they will be flown to Houston for medical evaluations and a 45-day rehabilitation program to help them adjust to Earth’s gravity after their extended stay in space.
Were Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore Really ‘Stranded’?
Williams and Wilmore’s mission was initially planned for a much shorter duration, but due to helium leaks and propulsion issues in their Boeing Starliner spacecraft, they remained aboard the ISS for 286 days—far exceeding the standard six-month ISS rotation.
While some reports referred to them as “stranded astronauts”, NASA dismissed these claims, stating that the duo could have been evacuated in an emergency situation if needed.
How Their Stay Compares to Other Space Missions
Their 286-day mission is now among the longest US spaceflights but ranks sixth in single-mission duration records for NASA astronauts. The longest US spaceflight record is 371 days, set by Frank Rubio in 2023.
However, the world record for the longest single spaceflight is held by Russian cosmonaut Valeri Polyakov, who spent 437 consecutive days aboard the Mir space station.
Conclusion
With Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore’s return, NASA successfully concludes another challenging yet historic mission. Their experience will provide valuable insights for future long-duration spaceflights, particularly as NASA prepares for its ambitious Artemis missions to the Moon and beyond.
Sources By Agencies
