Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams Return Home After Extended Space Mission

Mon Oct 20 2025 07:21:47 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Nasa astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams conclude their historic nine-month space expedition with a successful return to Earth via a SpaceX capsule, overcoming numerous challenges along the way.

After a record-setting nine-month stay on the International Space Station, astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have successfully returned to Earth, thanks to a last-minute SpaceX flight. Their unexpected extended mission allowed them to conduct vital research and embrace a unique holiday environment in space, highlighting the resilience of space exploration.

Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, NASA astronauts, have triumphantly returned to Earth after an extended mission in space lasting nine months, significantly longer than initially planned. Their homecoming, marked by a dramatic re-entry aboard a SpaceX capsule, concluded with a safe splashdown off the Florida coast, accompanied by playful dolphins. Upon retrieval, the astronauts expressed joy and relief while being assisted out of the craft alongside fellow space travelers, Nick Hague and cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov.

NASA's Commercial Crew Program manager, Steve Stich, praised the crew's resilience during a news conference post-landing. Originally scheduled for an eight-day mission, Butch and Suni's journey was prolonged due to technical difficulties experienced by the spacecraft used to reach the International Space Station (ISS). As a result, the astronauts were compelled to stay onboard much longer than expected, leading to a duration that notably tested their endurance.

Joel Montalbano, deputy associate administrator of NASA’s Space Operations Mission Directorate, expressed gratitude for the astronauts' adaptability and acknowledged SpaceX's partnership. The journey back lasted 17 hours, and the astronauts generally followed standard post-mission protocols before being reunited with families, especially looking forward to catching up on missed holiday celebrations.

The unique saga that began in June 2024 saw Butch and Suni participating in the inaugural crewed test flight of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft. However, complications with the craft during their mission prompted a strategic shift to a SpaceX vehicle for their recovery. The new spacecraft had been slated for a six-month mission, thus extending the crew's tenure in low Earth orbit.

While onboard the ISS, the astronauts engaged in various experiments and spacewalks, which included Suni setting a new record for the most hours spent outside the station by a female astronaut. They even innovatively celebrated Christmas in space by donning festive hats to send cheerful messages back to Earth.

Now back, Butch and Suni will head to the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, for medical evaluations, as long-duration stays in space can lead to physical challenges such as bone density loss and altered blood circulation. British astronaut Tim Peake highlighted the importance of rigorous exercise to mitigate these effects. Although both astronauts maintained mental readiness for their extended stay, the longing for home remains strong, as Suni expressed her excitement to reconnect with family, dogs, and the ocean.