By The Sampadak Express
After spending more than nine months aboard the International Space Station (ISS), U.S. astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore will finally return to Earth on Tuesday, March 18. NASA confirmed the return, which is set to occur in the evening, marking the end of an unexpectedly extended mission for the astronauts.
The duo, alongside NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, will return to Earth aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, which arrived at the ISS on Sunday. This mission will bring an end to the astronauts’ extended stay, initially meant to be a few days, but prolonged due to issues with the Boeing Starliner spacecraft that was intended to return them to Earth.
Adjusted Splashdown Time
NASA has confirmed that the splashdown of the Crew Dragon capsule will occur off the coast of Florida at approximately 5:57 PM EDT on Tuesday, March 18 (3:27 AM IST, March 19). The original plan had been for the return to happen no sooner than Wednesday, but it was moved up to provide more flexibility for the crew and to avoid unfavorable weather conditions expected later in the week.
According to NASA, the adjustment in the return schedule allows the astronauts to complete their handover duties aboard the ISS while ensuring the safety of their journey back home.
Live Coverage of Return
NASA will provide live coverage of the SpaceX Crew-9 mission’s return, beginning with the Dragon spacecraft hatch closure preparations on Monday, March 17, at 10:45 PM EDT (around 8:30 AM IST on March 18). The live broadcast will offer a first-hand view of the astronauts’ journey back to Earth.
The extended stay of Williams and Wilmore aboard the ISS has drawn significant attention, as their mission was originally planned to last only six months but was extended due to the issues with the Starliner spacecraft. While the duo has spent much longer than typical ISS rotations, it falls short of the U.S. space record of 371 days, set by NASA astronaut Frank Rubio in 2023, and the world record of 437 days, held by Russian cosmonaut Valeri Polyakov aboard the Mir space station.
Despite the unforeseen delay, both astronauts had to make adjustments for their extended stay, including receiving additional clothing and personal care supplies to cope with the longer-than-expected mission. The return marks the end of a challenging but historic journey for both astronauts, who are now set to reunite with their families and return to life on Earth.
