NASA Astronauts Rescued by SpaceX Return to Earth After Nine-Month Ordeal
NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams splashed down safely in the Gulf of Mexico today, concluding a dramatic nine-month stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Originally scheduled for an eight-day mission in June 2024, the duo became stranded due to technical failures with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. After months of uncertainty, Elon Musk’s SpaceX stepped in with a successful rescue, bringing them home aboard the Crew-9 Dragon capsule alongside Crew-9 members Nick Hague and Aleksandr Gorbunov. Their return marks a triumphant end to a saga blending human endurance, engineering ingenuity, and political controversy.
*A Mission That Took an Unexpected Turn
Wilmore and Williams launched on June 5, 2024, for what was intended as a brief test flight of Boeing’s Starliner. However, thruster malfunctions and helium leaks rendered the spacecraft unsafe for their return, forcing NASA to send it back to Earth empty in September 2024. Stranded on the ISS, the astronauts adapted, contributing to station maintenance and conducting approximately 150 scientific experiments. They also participated in spacewalks, with Williams logging a notable 62 hours of extravehicular activity—ranking her second among U.S. astronauts for total spacewalk time.
*SpaceX Steps In for the Rescue
To bring them home, NASA turned to SpaceX. On March 14, 2025, the Crew-10 mission launched from Kennedy Space Center, docking with the ISS two days later to facilitate the Crew-9 team’s departure. After a 29-hour journey, the Dragon capsule splashed down off Pensacola, Florida, on March 18, 2025, at approximately 3:47 a.m. EDT. Recovery teams greeted the crew under moonlit skies, marking the end of their unexpectedly extended mission.
*Political Reactions and Public Attention
The prolonged ordeal sparked political debate. President Donald Trump criticized the Biden administration, alleging it had “abandoned” the astronauts for political reasons, pointing to Musk’s offer of an earlier rescue that was declined. NASA countered these claims, with Administrator Bill Nelson emphasizing safety and scheduling constraints, including the need to maintain ISS staffing. Post-splashdown, Wilmore avoided the controversy, stating, “We’re just happy to be back on solid ground,” while praising SpaceX’s reliability. Williams echoed this, saying, “The Dragon was a smooth ride—kudos to Elon’s team.”
The return had its light moments: footage showed Hague donning an alien mask to greet the Crew-10 arrivals, a playful nod to their extended cosmic stay. After splashdown, the astronauts underwent medical evaluations aboard the recovery ship before being helicoptered to shore, where they waved to cheering crowds.
*A Testament to Resilience
SpaceX’s success underscores its critical role in NASA’s crewed missions, while Boeing faces scrutiny over Starliner’s future. For Wilmore and Williams, the homecoming after 287 days in space highlights their resilience and the power of teamwork in overcoming adversity.
