NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, along with Butch Wilmore, Nick Hague, and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, have begun their long-awaited journey back to Earth after an extended nine-month stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
The crew successfully undocked from the ISS at 10:35 am IST on Tuesday, commencing a 17-hour trip back to Earth. Their landing is scheduled to take place in the Gulf of Mexico at approximately 3:27 am IST on Wednesday, though the final location will depend on local weather conditions.
Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore originally travelled to the ISS in June last year for what was intended to be an eight-day mission. However, they were forced to extend their stay due to technical issues with Boeing’s Starliner capsule. NASA, with assistance from SpaceX, devised a contingency plan for their return.
The two astronauts were the first crew to test Boeing’s Starliner, but the spacecraft developed propulsion issues, preventing its scheduled return. The faulty capsule eventually returned to Earth last September, while Williams and Wilmore remained at the ISS.
During their extended mission, Williams and Wilmore completed 286 days in space, orbiting the Earth more than 4,500 times and covering over 121 million miles. Their mission involved conducting vital research, carrying out maintenance tasks, and supporting ongoing experiments aboard the ISS.
Ahead of their departure, the crew handed over their responsibilities to the replacement team, ensuring a smooth transition for the continued operation of the space station.
Upon their return to Earth, the astronauts will undergo NASA’s standard 45-day post-mission rehabilitation programme to help them recover from the physical effects of prolonged spaceflight.
NASA had initially planned the return for Wednesday night but postponed it due to unfavourable weather conditions expected later in the week. The decision to bring them back earlier was based on safety assessments and real-time meteorological data.
Their return has gained significant attention, with both US President Donald Trump and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk commenting on their prolonged stay. Without providing any evidence, they have sought to blame former President Joe Biden for the delays in their return.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, meanwhile, expressed his prayers for the safe return of Sunita Williams and her crew, acknowledging their contributions to space exploration.
NASA is providing live coverage of the return journey, with real-time updates on the descent and splashdown process. Once they land, the astronauts will undergo medical evaluations and debriefings before resuming normal activities on Earth.
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