March 19, 2025, 03:00 AM PDT – NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams are returning to Earth in a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule on March 18, 2025, after nearly nine months on the International Space Station (ISS). Their extended stay, caused by Boeing Starliner issues, ends with a splashdown off Florida, as reported by news outlets.
Here’s the story: Wilmore and Williams launched to the ISS in June 2024 on Boeing’s Starliner for a week-long test, but technical problems stranded them, per The New York Post. NASA decided to bring them home on SpaceX’s Crew Dragon, as noted by The Guardian. They undocked from the ISS at 1:05 a.m. EDT with astronauts Nick Hague and Aleksandr Gorbunov, according to Reuters. The capsule is set to land in the Gulf of Mexico, as reported by Space.com.
Their mission stretched far beyond the planned week due to Starliner’s helium leaks and thruster failures, per AP News. NASA opted for SpaceX’s reliable Crew Dragon in August 2024, avoiding further risks, as noted by The Washington Post. The return date was moved to March 18 to use favorable weather, per Space.com.
This event underscores challenges with Boeing’s Starliner program, which faced delays and technical issues, as reported by The Daily Mail. It also highlights SpaceX’s critical role in NASA missions, with its Crew Dragon proving dependable. The astronauts’ long stay tested their resilience, and their return brings relief to NASA and their families, as shown in BBC News footage of the mission.
What’s next? This return is a milestone for space travel, but it raises questions about Boeing’s Starliner. I’ll follow updates to see how this affects future NASA missions and partnerships with private companies.
