NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore are finally making preparations to return to Earth after being on board the International Space Station (ISS) for more than nine months. Their return was postponed, but with the successful launch of a replacement crew last week, the Crew-9 team is now ready to return home.
When Will Sunita Williams Return to Earth?
Sunita Williams joined by NASA astronauts Nick Hague and Butch Wilmore, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov is concluding a long-duration mission on the ISS. The crew is returning on March 18, 2025, at about 6:00 PM EDT (March 19, 3:30 AM IST).
They’re on their way! #Crew9 undocked from the @Space_Station at 1:05am ET (0505 UTC). Reentry and splashdown coverage begins on X, YouTube, and NASA+ at 4:45pm ET (2145 UTC) this evening. pic.twitter.com/W3jcoEdjDG
— NASA (@NASA) March 18, 2025
Crew-9’s Full Return Schedule
The journey back home will take about 42 hours, from March 17 through March 19, 2025. Below is the itinerary of Crew-9’s journey back home:
Monday, March 17, 2025
10:45 PM EDT (March 18, 8:15 AM IST) – Closing of the hatch on the SpaceX Dragon “Freedom.”
Tuesday, March 18, 2025
1:05 AM EDT (March 18, 10:35 AM IST) – Undocking from the ISS.
5:11 PM EDT (March 19, 2:41 AM IST) – Deorbit burn (estimated time).
5:57 PM EDT (March 19, 3:27 AM IST) – Splashdown near Florida coast.
NASA will give ongoing coverage of the return trip, including hatch closure, undocking, deorbit burn, and splashdown. Space fans can receive live updates through NASA’s on-demand streaming service, NASA+.
Events after Splashdown
Once they have landed successfully in the ocean, the Crew-9 astronauts will receive medical checks and initial debriefing. NASA is hosting a Return-to-Earth media conference at 7:30 PM EDT (March 19, 6:00 AM IST).
Sunita Williams has been a part of several space missions and keeps inspiring future generations. Her return safely will be another achievement in her illustrious career as a NASA astronaut.
