NASA astronaut Sunita Williams is set to return to Earth along with fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore after spending over nine months aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Their extended mission, initially planned for just eight days, was prolonged due to propulsion issues with the Boeing Starliner. NASA has now confirmed the official date and time for their return, along with live coverage details for space enthusiasts worldwide.
NASA has scheduled the splashdown for Williams and Wilmore on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, at 5:57 PM EST (3:27 AM IST on March 19, 2025). The astronauts will return aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, which will land off the coast of Florida. Due to unfavorable weather conditions later in the week, NASA advanced its return schedule.
For those interested in watching the event live, NASA will provide real-time coverage starting from 10:45 PM EST on Monday, March 17 (8:15 AM IST on Tuesday, March 18). The coverage will begin with hatch closure preparations and continue through the splashdown and recovery operations.
Crew Members Returning with Sunita Williams
Along with Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, two additional astronauts will return to Earth:
Nick Hague (NASA astronaut)
Aleksandr Gorbunov (Roscosmos cosmonaut)
Before departing, Williams and Wilmore will oversee the handover process to the replacement crew that recently arrived at the ISS aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft.
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