After an extended 286 days in space, two stranded astronauts are finally preparing for their return to Earth. Sunita ‘Suni’ Williams and Barry ‘Butch’ Wilmore were originally scheduled to spend only eight days aboard the International Space Station (ISS) during a mission that began in June 2024. However, technical malfunctions with the Boeing Starliner delayed their return, resulting in an extended stay of over nine months in space.
NASA had initially planned for their return in February, but delays due to issues with a rocket clamp arm pushed their mission further behind schedule. Then, on March 12, a final attempt to launch a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft from Kennedy Space Center was called off at the last minute due to a hydraulic issue with the launch tower.
❤️🚀🚀❤️
pic.twitter.com/aAkJRKsu1Q— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 16, 2025
Finally, on March 16, Crew-10 successfully arrived at the ISS aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, where they were warmly welcomed by their crewmate, Nick Hague. As preparations for their homeward journey began, Williams and Wilmore took a moment to send a message of gratitude to Elon Musk and former President Donald Trump on social media, thanking them for their roles in their long-awaited return.
“We’re coming back before long, so don’t make all those plans without me,” Williams said, with Musk reposting the video and adding heart and rocket emojis. Trump also shared the video on his social media platform, Truth Social, expressing his respect for both Musk and Williams and Wilmore.
“All of us have the utmost respect for Mr. [Elon] Musk and obviously respect and admiration for our president of the United States, Donald Trump,” Wilmore said. “We appreciate them and everything they do for human spaceflight and our nation.”
Amidst political tensions, including Musk’s accusations against the Biden administration and Trump’s statements calling the delay an example of “incompetence,” the astronauts are finally set to return home. Trump had even gone so far as to declare, “We love you and we’re coming up to get you and you shouldn’t have been up there so long. The most incompetent president in our history has allowed that to happen to you… I’ve authorized Elon Musk to go and get them, and he’s prepared to do so.”
With Crew-10 now on board, they will take over operations on the ISS, relieving Williams, Wilmore, and Crew-9 astronauts Nick Hague and Aleksandr Gorbunov. The new team, which includes Commander Anne McClain, pilot Nichole Ayers, JAXA astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov, will spend the next six months on the station.
Assuming no further delays, NASA anticipates that Williams and Wilmore’s return journey will begin on March 18 at 1:05 am, with their capsule expected to splash down off the Florida coast at 5:57 pm. However, adjusting to life back on Earth after such a long period in space will present its own set of challenges.
