NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams returned safely to Earth on March 18, 2025 (March 19 in India) after an incredible nine-month journey in space, which was prolonged due to delays in the Boeing Starliner Crew Flight Test (CFT) mission. Their SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, known as Freedom, splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico near Tallahassee, Florida, concluding a mission that attracted worldwide attention.
NASA Astronauts’ Return: A Detailed Overview
1. Background of the Mission
NASA’s Crew Flight Test (CFT) was all about putting Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft through its paces for future astronaut missions.
• The Starliner took off on a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida.
• Initially, the plan was for a 10-day visit to the International Space Station (ISS).
• But due to some technical hiccups, the mission ended up lasting over nine months.
2. Starliner’s Malfunctions and Delays
The mission was plagued by technical issues, leading to multiple delays:
• On June 6, 2024, Starliner encountered some thruster issues that pushed back its docking with the ISS. Thankfully, four out of the five malfunctioning thrusters were fixed, paving the way for a successful second docking attempt.
• By June 18, 2024, NASA decided to delay Starliner’s return to look into helium leaks and other technical problems.
• On July 2, 2024, NASA chose to extend the mission past the initial 45-day mark to take a closer look at how Starliner was performing.
• Finally, on August 24, 2024, NASA revealed that Starliner would be returning to Earth without any astronauts on board due to safety worries.
3. Decision to Return via SpaceX Crew Dragon
Since Starliner was deemed unsafe for astronaut transport, NASA decided to bring Wilmore and Williams back using Crew-9’s SpaceX Dragon capsule:
- August 30, 2024: NASA adjusted Crew-9’s manifest to reserve two seats for Wilmore and Williams.
- September 22, 2024: Sunita Williams took over as Commander of the ISS, following the departure of Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko.
- September 28, 2024: Crew-9 launched aboard SpaceX Falcon 9, with Nick Hague (NASA) and Aleksandr Gorbunov (Roscosmos), ensuring return seats for Wilmore and Williams.
4. Extended Stay and Activities in Space
During their extended stay, Williams and Wilmore continued science experiments and spacewalks:
- November 12, 2024: Williams confirmed she was physically fit despite her extended stay in microgravity.
- January 30, 2025: Williams conducted a 5.5-hour spacewalk with Wilmore, setting a record for the most cumulative EVA time by a female astronaut.
- February 11, 2025: NASA accelerated Crew-10’s launch using a flight-proven SpaceX Dragon capsule, Endurance, to facilitate Crew-9’s return.
5. The Final Return Journey
- March 14, 2025: Crew-10 launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, allowing Crew-9’s departure.
- March 18, 2025 (March 19 in India):
- Crew-9’s Dragon capsule, Freedom, undocked from the ISS at 1:05 a.m. EDT.
- 5:57 p.m. (2157 GMT): The capsule safely splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico.
- Astronauts emerged smiling and waving before heading for routine medical checks.
