NASA Astronauts Return to Earth After 9 Months stuck in Space

This image taken from video released by SpaceX shows dolphins swimming near a SpaceX capsule, Tuesday, March 18, 2025, after landing off the coast of Florida with NASA astronauts Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore and Nick Hague, and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov. (SpaceX via AP)

NASA astronauts Sunita “Suni” Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore returned to Earth on Tuesday evening after an additional nine months aboard the International Space Station. Their return, alongside Crew-9 mission members Nick Hague and Russian Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, took place aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, which splashed down off the coast of Florida.

The crew undocked from the space station at 1:05 a.m. EDT and re-entered Earth’s atmosphere at approximately 5:10 p.m. The spacecraft successfully landed in Gulf Coast waters by 5:57 p.m. The re-entry phase posed significant risks, as it is considered one of the most dangerous aspects of space travel.

This image taken from video provided by SpaceX shows NASA's Butch Wilmore being helped after exiting the SpaceX capsule, Tuesday, March 18, 2025. (SpaceX via AP)

Reflecting on the mission, Hague shared his thoughts on social media, expressing gratitude for his time aboard the station. He acknowledged the significance of contributing to the station’s 25-year legacy of research and collaboration. Hague and Gorbunov had been on the space station since September, while Williams and Wilmore faced an extended stay due to issues with their Boeing Starliner spacecraft. The Starliner, initially intended to bring them back, was sent back to Earth without passengers last fall due to a technical malfunction.

The prolonged mission resulted in months of delays, even after Hague and Gorbunov arrived with a capsule containing two empty seats. The successful launch of Crew-10 astronauts over the weekend cleared the way for Williams and Wilmore’s return. Despite concerns over their extended stay, the astronauts consistently rejected the notion that they were stranded. They emphasized that test flights come with inherent risks and uncertainties.

This image taken from video provided by SpaceX shows NASA's Suni Williams being helped after exiting the SpaceX capsule, Tuesday, March 18, 2025. (SpaceX via AP)

The situation has drawn political commentary, with President Donald Trump attributing the delay to the Biden administration, alleging mismanagement of the mission. He asserted that the administration neglected the astronauts and called for a resolution after what was originally planned as an eight-day mission extended into eight months. However, Williams and Wilmore have remained firm in their stance that they never felt abandoned or stranded, reinforcing their trust in NASA’s commitment to safety and procedural rigor.