NEW DELHI: NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry "Butch" Wilmore have safely returned to Earth after an unintended nine-month mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS). On March 18, 2025, they departed the ISS aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, accompanied by NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov. The capsule successfully splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico near Tallahassee, Florida, after a 17-hour journey.

Williams and Wilmore's journey began on June 5, 2024, with the launch of Boeing's Starliner capsule, originally planned as an eight-day test flight. However, the two were unexpectedly stuck aboard the ISS for nine months due to technical malfunctions with their spacecraft, as the initially planned short test flight faced issues such as helium leaks and thruster malfunctions, making the Starliner unsafe for their return. 

After more than two months of investigation, NASA decided it was too risky to return Wilmore and Williams to Earth aboard Starliner. Instead, the Boeing spacecraft returned uncrewed on 7 September 2024, and the astronauts rode down on the SpaceX Crew-9 spacecraft on March 18, 2025.

During their prolonged mission, Williams and Wilmore continued to contribute to various experiments and maintenance tasks aboard the ISS. NASA decided it was unsafe for them to return using the malfunctioning Starliner, which was eventually sent back to Earth without a crew. Instead, the astronauts awaited the arrival of SpaceX's Crew-9 mission.

Despite the challenges, the astronauts made significant contributions to scientific research and station operations during their extended stay. It's a testament to their adaptability and dedication to advancing space exploration. Upon landing, both astronauts underwent medical evaluations and are now undergoing rehabilitation to readjust to Earth's gravity after their extended time in space.