NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have safely returned to Earth after an unexpectedly prolonged mission, marking the conclusion of a nine-month stay in space that was initially planned to last just over a week.
The two astronauts launched aboard Boeing’s Starliner in June for what was meant to be an eight-day test mission. However, critical propulsion system failures forced repeated delays, ultimately leading NASA to integrate them into its regular crew rotation aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Their extended stay became a highly publicized event, drawing global attention and political scrutiny to the ongoing challenges with Boeing’s Starliner program.
On Tuesday, Wilmore and Williams, along with two other astronauts, departed the ISS aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon as part of NASA’s Crew-9 astronaut rotation mission. They undocked at 1:05 a.m. ET (0505 GMT) and began their 17-hour journey back to Earth. The capsule re-entered the atmosphere at high velocity before deploying its heat shields and parachutes, ensuring a controlled descent. At 5:57 p.m. ET, under clear skies, they safely splashed down approximately 50 miles off Florida’s Gulf Coast.
“What a ride,” NASA astronaut and Crew-9 mission commander Nick Hague remarked after landing. “I see a capsule full of grins, ear to ear.”
Following their return, the astronauts will undergo standard health evaluations at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston before reuniting with their families.
“They will get some well-deserved time off, well-deserved time with their families,” said Steve Stich, NASA’s Commercial Crew Program chief. “It’s been a long time for them.”
The prolonged mission also drew the attention of U.S. President Donald Trump, who, upon taking office in January, called for their expedited return. He accused the previous administration—without providing evidence—of delaying their retrieval for political reasons. In response, NASA accelerated the Crew-9 replacement mission by deploying a ready SpaceX capsule and streamlining safety protocols.
Trump told Fox News on Tuesday that Wilmore and Williams would visit the Oval Office once they had recovered from their mission. However, during his time aboard the ISS, Wilmore had stated that he did not believe political factors influenced NASA’s decision to extend their stay.
