Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore's epic space journey ends: Homecoming after 9 months!

NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore will separate from the International Space Station (ISS) on Tuesday, ending their extraordinary nine-month journey into space. In June last year, Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore went on an eight-day space trip aboard the Boeing Starliner. But due to a technical fault in the vehicle, the journey was extended. 

Returning from the SpaceX Dragon spaceship 

Williams, Wilmore and two other crew members are returning from the SpaceX Dragon spaceship. The astronauts have been on the ISS since June last year, when the Boeing Starliner spacecraft, its first manned mission, developed technical problems and its return trip was postponed. Starliner's propulsion problems necessitated an alternative plan, which resulted in her being inducted into the Crew-9 mission. 

When did it happen? 

• June 2024: Williams and Wilmore took off on 5 June 2024 aboard Boeing's Starliner, which was planned for 8 days on the ISS. However, shortly after arrival, engineers discovered helium leaks and malfunctions in the propulsion system in the Starliner, making it vulnerable to their return.
• August 2024: NASA acknowledges the delay and begins planning an alternative return via a SpaceX mission scheduled for early 2025.
• September 2024: Starliner returned to Earth without astronauts, leaving the docking port free for other spacecraft. The decision was made to ensure the operational efficiency of the ISS while awaiting a safe return option for Williams and Wilmore.

Astronauts participated in more than 150 scientific experiments

During their long stay, the astronauts participated in more than 150 scientific experiments and made significant contributions to the ongoing research in space. She was eventually included in the SpaceX Crew-9 mission for the return trip. The Crew-10 mission, which arrived at the ISS on March 17. The crew facilitated the crew exchange necessary for Williams and Wilmore's departure.

Williams and Wilmore's return journey

Williams and Wilmore will board the SpaceX Crew Dragon spaceship, along with astronauts Nick Hague and Alexander Gorbunov. The four astronauts will land on the coast of Florida at 3:27 am on March 19 after a 17-hour journey and re-enter the Earth's atmosphere. This is an important milestone in their journey, as they are ready to face the challenges of readjustment to Earth's gravity after spending nearly nine months in space.