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NASA Astronauts Return to Earth After Nine-Month Space Mission

Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore safely splash down in a SpaceX Dragon capsule, concluding an extended stay caused by Boeing Starliner issues.

NASA astronaut Sunita Williams shows her thumb as she safely returned to Earth with her colleagues after an unexpected 286-day mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS), in Florida on Wednesday.
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Overview

  • Astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore returned to Earth on March 18, 2025, after a nine-month mission that exceeded their planned eight-day stay on the ISS.
  • Their extended stay was due to propulsion problems with Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, which was deemed unsafe for their return and sent back to Earth uncrewed.
  • NASA reassigned the astronauts to SpaceX's Crew-9 mission, and they returned aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule, which successfully splashed down off the coast of Florida.
  • During their time on the ISS, the astronauts contributed to scientific research, maintenance, and spacewalks, including Williams setting a record for career spacewalking time among female astronauts.
  • The mission became politically contentious, with President Trump criticizing the Biden administration's handling of the delays, though NASA emphasized safety and contingency planning throughout.