Sunita Williams' Homecoming Confirmed: SpaceX Crew Dragon Set For Splashdown

Sunita Willaims and Butch Wilmore Set to Return to Earth Aboard SpaceX Crew Dragon

Date: March 17, 2025
Time: 5:57 PM ET (21:57 GMT)
Location: Off the Florida Coast

After nine months in space, Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore are finally set to return to Earth aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon. The duo had been stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) since June 2024 due to propulsion issues with Boeing's Starliner spacecraft.

Also Read: Sunita Williams' 9-Month ISS Stay: Here's How Much NASA is Likely to Pay Her-No Extra Overtime And Daily Stipend of $4

Key Highlights:

Williams & Wilmore to Return After 9-Month Stay
Splashdown Off Florida Coast Scheduled for Tuesday Evening
NASA Astronaut Nick Hague & Roscosmos Cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov Also Returning
Live Broadcast Begins Monday Night with Hatch Closure
Delayed Mission Due to Starliner Technical Failures

Also Read: SpaceX Crew Dragon Enters ISS: Stranded Astronauts Sunita Williams & Butch Wilmore Hug Them, Thank Musk & Trump

Why Were They Stuck?

The Boeing Starliner was supposed to bring them back after an 8-day mission but was declared unfit to fly due to propulsion system malfunctions.
NASA & Boeing opted for a SpaceX Crew Dragon rescue mission instead.
Their 9-month stay is longer than standard ISS rotations (6 months) but shorter than the US record (371 days by Frank Rubio).

Also Read: Sunita Williams' ISS Mission: Spacewalks, Research, and a Record-Breaking Stay

What’s Next?

Monday Night: Hatch closure preparations begin (Live NASA Broadcast)
Tuesday: Crew Dragon undocks from ISS
Tuesday Evening: Splashdown in the Atlantic Ocean off Florida
Post-Landing: Recovery teams will retrieve the astronauts and return them safely to Houston.

This marks yet another major win for SpaceX, proving Crew Dragon’s reliability in ferrying astronauts safely. Welcome home, Sunita Williams & crew!