After spending 570 days in space, Indian-origin NASA astronaut Sunita Williams to return on March 19

Hyderabad: After spending nine months aboard the International Space Station (ISS), NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore are finally returning to Earth. Their replacements, Crew-10, successfully docked at the ISS on March 16.

Following a two-day handover between Crew-9 and Crew-10, Crew-9 is scheduled to depart and return to Earth on March 19.

Crew-10 Arrival and Mission

The Crew-10 team launched aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 7:03 PM ET on March 14. The crew consists of NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, along with Takuya Onishi from Japan and Kirill Peskov from Russia. Their mission is set to last approximately six months, during which they will conduct scientific research, perform maintenance, and engage in educational outreach.

Crew-9’s Delayed Return

Williams and Wilmore, members of Crew-9, have been aboard the ISS since June 2024. Initially, their mission was planned for just eight days, but technical issues with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft led to an extended stay.

The Starliner, launched on June 5, 2024, for its first crewed test flight, successfully docked at the ISS. However, multiple helium propulsion system leaks and thrust issues forced NASA and Boeing to conduct further tests, significantly delaying their return.

Sunita Williams’ Spaceflight Record

With this mission, Sunita Williams will have spent approximately 570 days in space, making her the second most experienced U.S. astronaut. She now ranks just behind Peggy Whitson, who holds the U.S. record with 675 days across four missions.

Williams has previously completed two long-duration missions on the ISS, further solidifying her status as one of NASA’s most seasoned astronauts.

Live Coverage of Crew-9’s Return

NASA has announced that it will provide live coverage of Crew-9’s return from the ISS, starting with SpaceX Dragon hatch closure preparations at 10:45 PM ET on Monday, March 17.

Wilmore and Williams, along with NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, are set to make their long-awaited journey back to Earth on March 19.