NASA has confirmed that astronaut Sunita Williams and her fellow crew members will return to Earth on March 18 (GMT), marking the end of an unexpectedly extended mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The space agency announced that their ocean splashdown is scheduled off the coast of Florida.
Long awaited return after technical delays
Williams, along with fellow American astronaut Butch Wilmore, has been on the ISS since June last year. Their return was delayed due to propulsion issues with the Boeing Starliner spacecraft, which was originally meant to bring them back. Instead, they will be travelling home aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule.
Joining them on the journey back to Earth will be NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov. The Dragon spacecraft successfully docked with the ISS on Sunday in preparation for the return trip.
NASA moves up splashdown time
NASA initially planned their return for Wednesday but has now advanced it to Tuesday, March 18, at approximately 5:57 pm Florida time (3:27 am IST, March 19). The adjustment accounts for operational flexibility and potential weather changes later in the week.
Live broadcast of the return
NASA has announced that it will provide live coverage of the crew’s return, starting with hatch closure preparations at 10:45 pm EDT on Monday, March 17 (8:30 am IST, March 18). The entire process, including undocking and splashdown, will be streamed for public viewing.
Nine months in space, a tough Challenge
Wilmore and Williams’ mission, initially expected to last only a few days, stretched into nine months due to technical setbacks. While their stay exceeded the usual 6 month astronaut rotation, it did not surpass the US spaceflight record of 371 days set by NASA astronaut Frank Rubio in 2023, nor the world record of 437 days held by Russian cosmonaut Valeri Polyakov aboard the Mir space station.
The prolonged mission required NASA to send additional clothing and supplies to sustain the astronauts. Their extended stay also sparked public curiosity and speculation, as their unexpected delay kept them away from their families far longer than planned.
Now, with their return finally set in motion, the mission is nearing its conclusion, bringing relief to both the crew and their loved ones.
