NASA astronaut Sunita Williams and Crew-9 have successfully made their way back to Earth following an unplanned 9-month mission on the International Space Station. What was originally intended to be a 10-day stay concluded with a triumphant splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico on March 19, 2025.
Sunita Williams' Nine-Month Journey in Space: A Chronological Overview
June 5, 2024: Starliner Takes Off: Williams and Wilmore embarked on their journey aboard Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, which was launched atop an Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The objective of this mission was to validate Starliner for human spaceflight, positioning it as a rival to SpaceX's Crew Dragon in transporting astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS).
June 6, 2024: Starliner Docks with the ISS After Thruster Malfunctions:
The capsule successfully arrived at the International Space Station; however, five out of its 28 thrusters malfunctioned, which postponed the docking procedure. Engineers managed to restore functionality to four of the thrusters, enabling the Starliner to achieve docking on its second attempt.
June 18, 2024: First Return Delay Announced
NASA has delayed the crew's return to June 26 in order to examine issues related to the thrusters and a helium leak. Nevertheless, further technical complications have emerged, resulting in an even later return date.
July 2, 2024: NASA Extends Mission Beyond 45-Day Limit
The original mission was intended to last a maximum of 45 days; however, NASA determined that the spacecraft was sufficiently stable to extend its time in orbit while addressing the issues related to the thruster and helium leak.
August 24, 2024: NASA Announces Starliner Will Return Without Crew
NASA and Boeing have determined that the Starliner will make an uncrewed return to Earth, while astronauts Williams and Wilmore will stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS) until February 2025. They will subsequently return using SpaceX’s Crew-9 Dragon capsule.
September 7, 2024: Starliner Lands Uncrewed in New Mexico
Following several postponements, the Starliner capsule achieved a successful landing without any astronauts on board, prompting additional inquiries regarding its dependability for upcoming missions.
September 22, 2024: Sunita Williams Takes Command of the ISS
Williams took charge of the ISS, joining the ranks of the few women to helm an expedition on the station.
September 28, 2024: Crew-9 Launches to ISS with Seats Reserved for Williams and Wilmore
NASA initiated the Crew-9 mission using SpaceX’s Crew Dragon, guaranteeing that two seats were allocated for Williams and Wilmore for their return journey.
November 12, 2024: Sunita Williams Addresses Health Concerns
Following media conjecture regarding her health, Williams assured the public of her excellent physical condition, emphasizing her commitment to a nutritious diet and regular exercise regimen.
January 30, 2025: Williams Sets Spacewalk Record
Williams established a new record for the longest duration of spacewalks by a female astronaut, amassing a total of 62 hours and 6 minutes outside the International Space Station after successfully detaching a malfunctioning communications unit.
February 11, 2025: NASA Moves Up Crew-9 Return Date
NASA has revealed that Crew-9 will be returning sooner than anticipated in mid-March, as SpaceX opted to utilize a previously flown Crew Dragon capsule rather than awaiting the arrival of a new one.
March 14, 2025: Crew-10 Launches to Replace Crew-9
Crew-10 was successfully launched from Kennedy Space Center, paving the way for the return journey of Crew-9.
March 18, 2025: Crew-9 Departs from the ISS
Dragon Freedom has undocked from the International Space Station following the closure of its hatch at 8:45 AM IST. NASA has initiated live coverage of Crew-9's return as the capsule departs from the station. Crew-9 is now on a 17-hour trajectory back to Earth, performing system checks in preparation for re-entry.
March 19, 2025: Successful Splashdown and Recovery
2:41 AM IST – The deorbit burn initiates, reducing the capsule's speed for re-entry.
3:14 AM IST – A temporary loss of communication takes place as a result of intense atmospheric heating.
3:24 AM IST – The parachutes are deployed, decelerating the capsule in preparation for splashdown.
3:27 AM IST – Splashdown is confirmed in the Gulf of Mexico, near the coast of Florida.
Following the splashdown, personnel at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston focused on assisting the astronauts in readjusting to Earth's gravitational forces. The crew will undergo initial medical evaluations aboard the rescue vessel, with continued monitoring scheduled for the subsequent days and weeks. Later today, the Crew-9 team will be transported to NASA's facilities in Houston for additional medical assessments.
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