NASA astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita “Suni” Williams have returned to Earth after an unexpected nine-month stay in space.
NASA and SpaceX successfully return ‘Butch’ and ‘Suni’ to Earth
The duo landed safely in the Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, concluding a mission that was originally planned to last just eight days.
Wilmore and Williams had launched in June 2024 as part of Boeing’s Starliner test flight, a mission intended to evaluate the new spacecraft’s capabilities.
However, technical issues with Starliner prevented its safe return, leading NASA to extend its stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
After months of troubleshooting, NASA opted to bring the astronauts home aboard SpaceX’s Crew-9 mission.
The capsule splashed down off the coast of Florida at 17:57 EDT (23:57 SAST) on Tuesday, surrounded by recovery teams. Spectators noted a unique sight as dolphins swam near the landing area. Shortly after landing, Wilmore and Williams smiled and waved as they were helped out of the capsule for medical evaluations.
According to NASA’s Commercial Crew Program manager, Steve Stich, the astronauts are in good health but will need time to adjust to Earth’s gravity after 286 days in space.
They are expected to reunite with their families in Houston after standard post-flight medical checks.
NASA reflects on a mission that ‘benefits the nation’
Despite the extended duration, NASA officials have praised Wilmore and Williams for their contributions to space research.
Joel Montalbano, NASA’s Deputy Associate Administrator for Space Operations, stated that the pair conducted 150 experiments and spent over 900 hours on research during their time aboard the ISS.
“This research included investigations on plant growth and quality, as well as the potential of stem cell technology to address blood diseases, autoimmune disorders, and cancers,” Montalbano explained.
NASA also confirmed that Williams performed two spacewalks, making her the female astronaut with the most cumulative spacewalking hours at 62 hours and 6 minutes.
NASA Acting Administrator Janet Petro acknowledged the astronauts’ patience and adaptability, stating that their extended mission highlights the importance of having multiple space vehicles available for crew transportation.
Boeing is currently working on resolving the issues with Starliner before its next planned flight.
With their return, NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 mission is officially complete.
Meanwhile, the Crew-10 team launched on 16 March 2025, has already begun its mission aboard the ISS.
“The goal of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program is safe, reliable, and cost-effective transportation to and from the space station and low Earth orbit,” NASA explained.
