Particle.news
Download on the App Store
157 ARTICLES
·
last mo.

NASA Astronauts Return to Earth After Nine-Month ISS Mission

Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams completed an unplanned extended stay, returning aboard SpaceX's Dragon capsule after Boeing's Starliner failed to bring them back.

Image
NASA astronaut Suni Williams gives a thumbs-up after being helped out of a SpaceX capsule onboard the SpaceX recovery ship Megan after landing in the water off the coast of Tallahassee, Fla., Tuesday, March 18, 2025.
Butch Wilmore (L) and Sunita Williams (R) are returning to Earth after being stuck at the space station for more than nine months.
A Crew Dragon spacecraft splashes down off the Florida coast March 18 to conclude the Crew-9 mission.

Overview

  • Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams returned to Earth on March 18, 2025, after spending 286 days aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
  • Their mission, originally planned as an eight-day test flight on Boeing's Starliner, was prolonged due to propulsion malfunctions and safety concerns with the spacecraft.
  • SpaceX's Dragon capsule facilitated their safe return, marking another success for NASA's Commercial Crew Program and highlighting SpaceX's reliability.
  • During their extended stay, the astronauts conducted experiments, performed maintenance, and participated in spacewalks, contributing significantly to ISS operations.
  • Wilmore and Williams are now undergoing medical evaluations and a 45-day rehabilitation program to readjust to Earth's gravity after their prolonged time in microgravity.