Sunita Williams’ 9-month space mission nears end with ISS crew swap and Falcon 9 landing |

NASA astronaut Sunita Williams and her crewmate Butch Wilmore are finally set to return to Earth after spending nine months aboard the International Space Station (ISS)—a mission that was originally planned to be much shorter. Their return has been made possible by the launch of SpaceX Crew-10, which lifted off from Kennedy Space Center on Friday night as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. The newly launched crew will replace the current astronauts, ensuring a smooth transition before Williams and Wilmore head back home.

Originally, Williams and Wilmore traveled to the ISS aboard Boeing’s Starliner capsule in June 2024 for what was supposed to be a short-duration test flight. However, technical malfunctions, including helium leaks and thruster failures, delayed their return for months. NASA later decided to bring them back on a SpaceX Dragon capsule instead. Their long-awaited return marks a significant step in resolving the ongoing challenges with the Starliner spacecraft while ensuring the safety of astronauts in future missions.

SpaceX Crew-10 launches successfully as Falcon 9 lands precisely at Cape Canaveral

The SpaceX Crew-10 mission launched successfully aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The crew consists of:

Their journey to the ISS is expected to take nearly 24 hours, with docking scheduled for late Saturday night. The arrival of the new team will enable Wilmore and Williams to transfer command and hand over operational responsibilities before their departure.
Following the launch, Falcon 9’s first stage successfully completed its descent and made a precise landing at SpaceX’s Landing Zone 1 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. This successful booster recovery is another milestone in SpaceX’s reusable rocket program, which aims to reduce costs and improve efficiency in space missions. The booster’s smooth landing highlights the reliability of SpaceX’s launch technology, making future crewed missions more sustainable.

Challenges faced by Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore

Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore’s mission was originally designed as a short test flight for Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. However, shortly after docking at the ISS, engineers detected multiple technical issues, including:

Due to these challenges, NASA decided not to risk an immediate return using Starliner. Instead, they opted to wait for the next available SpaceX mission to bring them back safely.
Further complications arose in December 2024, when the planned SpaceX return mission faced battery issues in a newly built Dragon capsule. To speed up the process, NASA chose to use a refurbished Dragon capsule instead, ensuring Williams and Wilmore could return as soon as possible.

Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore’s extended stay on the ISS

Despite the unexpected delays, Williams and Wilmore remained active on the ISS, contributing to critical maintenance and scientific research. Their key activities included:

During this time, Sunita Williams also achieved a significant milestone—becoming the female astronaut with the most spacewalking hours in history.

Upcoming return and splashdown

NASA has scheduled Williams and Wilmore’s return for next week, with their undocking from the ISS dependent on weather conditions. Their journey home will involve:

Once they return, Williams and Wilmore will undergo medical evaluations and post-mission debriefings to assess the impact of their extended spaceflight on human physiology.

Significance of Crew-10 mission

The Crew-10 launch and the return of Williams and Wilmore highlight several key developments in space exploration: