Sunita Williams Homecoming Live Updates: Stranded Astronaut’s Return Journey Begins

By R Anil Kumar

INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION. Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, the two astronauts stuck at the International Space Station for more than nine months, begin their return journey.

Sunita Williams Homecoming Live Updates:

Astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who are stuck at the International Space Station (ISS) for more than nine months, began their return journey today, March 18. According to NASA, Williams and Wilmore undocked from the ISS at 10:35 am IST and set on a 17-hour trip back to Earth.

The spacecraft, Elon Musk-led SpaceX’s Dragon, will splash down off the coast of the American state of Florida around 3:27 am IST Wednesday, March 19.

The two astronauts flew to the orbital lab in June last year, on what was supposed to be a days-long roundtrip to test out Boeing’s Starliner on its first crewed flight. However, the spaceship developed propulsion problems and was deemed unfit to fly them back and instead returned empty.

Here Are Live Updates on Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore’s Homecoming:

Christmas, Elections, Gardening; How Sunita Williams Kept Busy in Space

All About Crew-9: NASA Astronaut Butch Wilmore

Selected as an astronaut by NASA in July 2000, Butch Wilmore reported for training in August 2000. Following the completion of two years of training and evaluation, he was assigned technical duties representing the Astronaut Office on all propulsion systems issues including the space shuttle main engines, solid rocket motor, external tank, and also led the astronaut support team that travelled to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Florida, in support of launch and landing operations.

Wilmore completed his first flight as pilot on STS-129 where he logged more than 259 hours (11 days) in space.

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams launched aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft on June 5, 2024 for its first crewed flight, arriving at the space station on June 6. Following the agency’s decision to return Starliner uncrewed, the duo stayed back for over nine months as part of the Expedition 71/72 crew. Their returning journey began today, March 18, at 10:35 am.

The Crew-9 Undocked from the Space Station

After living and working aboard the orbiting laboratory, NASA Astronauts Nick Hague, Butch Wilmore, and Sunita Williams, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov successfully undocked from the space station at 10:35 am. Watch the undocking.

Sunita Williams’ Homecoming: Journey Back to Earth Begins

The undocking process is completed at 10.35 am IST. NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 members Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore, Nick Hague, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov have begun their return journey to home.

All About Crew-9: NASA Astronaut Sunita Williams

Sunita (Suni) L Williams was selected as an astronaut by NASA in 1998 and is a veteran of two space missions, Expeditions 14/15 (December 9, 2006 to June 22, 2007) and 32/33 (July 14 to November 18, 2012).

As a member of the Expedition 14 crew, Williams served as Flight Engineer. While onboard, she established a world record for females with four spacewalks totaling 29 hours and 17 minutes.

In June 2024, NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore launched aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft for its first crewed flight, arriving at the space station on June 6. Following the agency’s decision to return Starliner uncrewed, the duo stayed back and worked aboard the space station as part of the Expedition 71/72 crew.

The duo along with NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov began their return journey today, March 18.

DEPARTING CREW 9 FOR FINAL PHOTO

“Privilege To Call Space Station Home”: Astronaut Nick Hague Ahead of Returning to Earth

Astronaut Nick Hague, one of the four members of NASA’s Crew-9 set to return to Earth on Wednesday early morning, feels privileged to be a part of the space station and research for humanity.

“It’s been a privilege to call the space station home, to play my part in its 25-year legacy of doing research for humanity, and to work with colleagues, now friends, from around the globe. My spaceflight career, like most, is full of the unexpected,” he wrote.

NASA’s Crew-9 Is All Smiles

NASA’s Crew-9 Return Schedule

For Crew-9 return, NASA’s live operations coverage following hatch closing is as follows (subject to change based on real-time operations):

Wednesday, March 19

10:15 am – Undocking coverage begins on NASA+

10:35 am – Undocking

2:41 am – Deorbit burn (time is approximate)

3:27 am – Splashdown (time is approximate)

ASTRONAUTS DEPARTURE AS IT HAPPENED…

SpaceX Dragon Spacecraft’s Hatch Closes

The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft’s hatch was closed at 11:05pm ET (8:35 am IST) today. Next, March 18, the crew-9 will undock from the station at 1:05am (10:35 am IST) on Tuesday, March 18.

March 18, 2025 09:03 (IST)

Crew-9 Including Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore Prepare to Depart From Space Station

NASA Astronauts Nick Hague, Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore, and cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov are packing up and closing the hatches as Crew-9 prepares to depart from the Space Station. Crew-9 is scheduled to return to Earth on Tuesday, March 18 (local time).

March 18, 2025 08:48 (IST)

Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore to Undock At 10:35 am

Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore are scheduled to undock from the ISS at 10:35 am IST to begin a 17-hour trip back to Earth, the NASA said.

(Images Source: NASA)