Sunita Williams Finally Returning To Earth—Landing Time, Location, And Live Stream Details Inside

Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, two experienced NASA astronauts, are preparing to return to Earth after spending nine months at the International Space Station (ISS). Their mission was originally planned for just eight days, but technical issues with their spacecraft led to an extended stay, according to a report by Hindustan Times (HT).

Why Was Their Return Delayed?

Williams and Wilmore arrived at the ISS in June last year aboard Boeing's Starliner capsule. However, problems with the spacecraft's propulsion system meant it was deemed unsafe for their return. As a result, NASA developed a contingency plan with assistance from SpaceX, the space company owned by billionaire Elon Musk.

SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule was sent to the ISS and successfully docked on Saturday night to bring the astronauts back home. The mission has been described as a "rescue operation" for the stranded duo, affectionately known as "Butch and Suni."

When Will They Return?

Williams and Wilmore will be joined by astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov on their journey back to Earth. Their departure from the ISS is scheduled for 1:05 am ET (10:35 am IST). The trip will take around 17 hours, with the crew expected to land in the Gulf of Mexico at 5:57 pm ET on Tuesday (3:27 am IST on Wednesday). The precise landing site will depend on weather conditions.

After landing, the astronauts will be taken to NASA's Johnson Space Center for routine medical checks. Long stays in space expose astronauts to health risks such as muscle and bone loss, radiation exposure, and vision problems. They also face psychological challenges due to isolation from Earth.

NASA initially planned their return for Wednesday night but postponed it due to unfavourable weather conditions expected later in the week.

Where To Watch The Return?

NASA will broadcast the return journey live. Coverage will begin at around 10:45 pm EST on Monday, showing preparations for the hatch closure and departure from the ISS.

Meanwhile, the replacement crew for the ISS is receiving a full handover before Williams and Wilmore leave the station.

Longest Space Missions In History

While the nine-month stay is significantly longer than planned, it does not break any records. The longest stay in space by an American astronaut is held by Frank Rubio, who spent 371 days aboard the ISS in 2023. The world record for the longest continuous space mission remains with Russia's Valeri Polyakov, who lived on the Mir Space Station for 437 days between 1994 and 1995.