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NASA Astronauts Return to Earth After 286-Day Mission Caused by Starliner Failures

Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore are undergoing a 45-day recovery program after an unplanned extended stay on the ISS due to Boeing's spacecraft issues.

After landing in the water, Butch Wilmore, Alexander Gorbunov, Nick Hague and Sunita Williams sat in the SpaceX recovery ship Megan
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Overview

  • Williams and Wilmore returned on March 18, 2025, aboard SpaceX's Dragon Freedom, splashing down off Florida's coast after 286 days in space.
  • Their mission, originally planned as an eight-day Starliner test flight, was extended due to propulsion failures in Boeing's spacecraft.
  • NASA and SpaceX coordinated a modified Crew-9 mission to provide seats for their eventual return, with Crew-10 ensuring ISS operations before their departure.
  • The astronauts are now in a 45-day reconditioning program at NASA's Johnson Space Center to recover from muscle atrophy, balance issues, and cardiovascular strain caused by prolonged microgravity exposure.
  • Their extended mission highlighted the physical challenges of long-duration spaceflight, political disagreements over mission management, and significant scientific contributions aboard the ISS.