Sunita Williams' Earth Return: NASA Announces Splashdown Time & Live Viewing Details

NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore are finally preparing to return to Earth after spending more than nine months aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Their mission, originally planned for just seven days, was unexpectedly extended due to technical issues with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft.

Why Was Their Return Delayed?

Williams and Wilmore launched aboard Boeing’s Starliner in June 2024 as part of the spacecraft’s first crewed mission. However, propulsion failures and helium leaks made the Starliner unsafe for their return, forcing NASA to postpone their journey home while exploring alternative solutions. By September 2024, NASA determined that the spacecraft could not safely bring them back, leading to a months-long wait for a new return plan.

NASA’s New Plan: SpaceX Crew Dragon Return

NASA, in collaboration with SpaceX, has now scheduled their return aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule. The astronauts will be joined by an additional American astronaut and a Russian cosmonaut for the journey back to Earth. The return date was initially set for Wednesday, but mission managers opted for an earlier landing on Tuesday, March 18, due to more favorable weather conditions.

When and Where Will They Land?

Departure from ISS: Tuesday, March 18, 2025

Splashdown Time: 5:57 PM EST (21:57 GMT)

Landing Location: Off the coast of Florida

NASA’s decision to move up their return aims to ensure a smoother reentry and avoid potential weather disruptions later in the week.

How to Watch the Return Live

NASA will provide live coverage of the astronauts’ journey back to Earth. Viewers can watch the event on:

NASA TV

NASA’s official website

NASA’s YouTube channel

Live coverage begins on Monday, March 17, at 10:45 PM EST and will include:

Hatch closure preparations

Undocking procedures

Reentry updates

Live footage of the splashdown

SpaceX Crew-10 Mission: Bringing Williams & Wilmore Home

To facilitate their return, NASA launched the SpaceX Crew-10 mission on March 15, 2025, using a Falcon 9 rocket carrying a Crew Dragon capsule. The spacecraft successfully docked with the ISS on March 17, bringing four new astronauts to replace Williams and Wilmore:

Anne McClain (NASA)

Nichole Ayers (NASA)

Takuya Onishi (JAXA - Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency)

Kirill Peskov (Roscosmos - Russia’s Space Agency)

How Long Did Williams & Wilmore Stay in Space?

Planned Duration: 7 days

Actual Duration: Over 9 months

While their extended stay was unexpected, they did not break the U.S. record for the longest time in space.

U.S. Record: Frank Rubio (371 consecutive days in space, 2023)

World Record: Valeri Polyakov (437 days aboard Mir Space Station, 1994-1995)

What Happens After Their Return?

Once back on Earth, Williams and Wilmore will be transported to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, where they will undergo:

Medical evaluations to assess their physical condition after prolonged space exposure

Post-mission debriefings to provide insights on their extended stay

Recovery protocols to help them readjust to Earth’s gravity

Their safe return will mark the successful completion of yet another significant space mission, showcasing NASA and SpaceX’s growing collaboration in human spaceflight.

Stay tuned for live updates on their journey home!