NASA Astronauts Return to Earth After Nine-Month ISS Stranding

Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore faced physical and psychological challenges during their extended mission caused by Boeing's Starliner failures.

The astronauts returned safely on March 18, 2025, aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon, landing off the coast of Florida after a 17-hour journey.
Originally scheduled for an eight-day mission, their stay extended to over nine months due to propulsion failures on Boeing's Starliner spacecraft.
Prolonged weightlessness caused significant health impacts, including muscle atrophy, bone density loss, vision problems, and heightened radiation exposure risks.
NASA opted to return the Starliner to Earth empty and coordinated with SpaceX to facilitate the astronauts' return, modifying Crew Dragon for the mission.
Williams and Wilmore are now undergoing medical evaluations and will begin months of rehabilitation to recover from the effects of extended space travel.