After spending over nine months aboard the International Space Station (ISS), NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore are finally, on Tuesday, on their way back to Earth. 

Their return journey is taking place aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, following a prolonged stay that stemmed from technical issues with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft.

Williams and Wilmore originally launched in June 2024 for what was meant to be an eight-day test mission of Boeing’s Starliner capsule. However, unexpected technical failures led NASA to make the decision to leave them on the ISS and return the Starliner to Earth without passengers. This meant the astronauts had to wait for an alternative ride home—an opportunity that arose when two seats became available on a SpaceX Dragon capsule.

Now, after months of integration into the ISS crew, the two astronauts are returning alongside NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov. Hague and Gorbunov arrived at the ISS in September 2024 as part of SpaceX’s Crew-9 mission, which initially launched with only two astronauts instead of the planned four. This adjustment allowed Williams and Wilmore to secure seats on the return trip.

For Gorbunov, this marks his first journey into space, while Hague previously spent 203 days aboard the ISS in 2019.

The journey back to Earth is expected to take nearly 17 hours, culminating in a splashdown just before 22:00 GMT. The return process follows a precise timeline:

05:05 GMT – The SpaceX Dragon capsule undocks from the ISS.

21:11 GMT – The capsule performs a deorbit burn, using its rockets to slow down and re-enter Earth’s atmosphere.

21:57 GMT – Splashdown in the ocean.

Re-entry will be a dramatic experience. The capsule will endure extreme temperatures of up to 1,600°C, requiring its heat shield to protect the astronauts from the intense heat. As the spacecraft plunges through the atmosphere, it will experience rapid deceleration, subjecting the crew to forces nearly four times Earth’s gravity.

Finally, four large parachutes will deploy, slowing the capsule enough for a controlled ocean landing. Though the final descent will be jolting, it ensures a safe and relatively gentle splashdown.

Astronauts typically spend about six months aboard the ISS, but Williams and Wilmore have now been in space for more than nine. This extended stay has physical consequences, as the human body undergoes significant changes in a microgravity environment.

Despite daily exercise routines, astronauts lose bone density and muscle mass due to prolonged weightlessness. The absence of gravity also affects blood circulation, leading to fluid shifts that can impact eyesight. Additionally, astronauts are exposed to higher levels of radiation, which poses long-term health risks.

NASA closely monitors astronauts throughout their missions and after their return. While most of these physical changes are reversible, the process of re-adapting to Earth’s gravity takes time.

Because Williams and Wilmore had initially expected to return after just over a week, they packed light. Williams brought a card game, which she initially doubted would work in zero gravity—though the crew did manage to play. Wilmore carried a gold ring featuring sentimental naval aviator pilot wings, a reminder of his career. Hague, meanwhile, brought sheet music, adding a personal touch to his time aboard the station.

Despite the unexpected delay, astronauts on the ISS received regular deliveries of food, water, clothes, and oxygen, ensuring they had necessary supplies.

For the astronauts, the return to Earth will be both thrilling and relieving. British astronaut Helen Sharman, who returned from space aboard a Soyuz capsule in 1991, described the experience as intense but exhilarating.

“They’re experienced astronauts, but they will feel fantastic to be back on Earth. The fresh air is the first thing that gets you,” she said.

After months of floating in microgravity, the simple pleasures of Earth—standing upright, feeling the wind, and walking on solid ground—will be a welcome change.

Melissa Enoch

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