NASA Outlines Return Strategy for Astronauts Wilmore and Williams After 9-Month Space Mission Extension

NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore returned to Earth on June 18 after a nine-month stay aboard the International Space Station—far longer than their planned eight-day mission. The duo, alongside crewmates Nick Hague and cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, splashed down safely in SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule off Florida’s coast, greeted by dolphins and recovery teams. Despite their prolonged stay, Williams and Wilmore emerged smiling, ready to begin post-flight recovery.

Williams and Wilmore exit the SpaceX capsule after 286 days in space. (Photos: Daily Mail)

The astronauts’ return marked the end of an unexpectedly extended mission due to technical issues with their original spacecraft, Boeing’s Starliner. After splashdown, they underwent immediate medical checks before flying to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston for rehabilitation. Doctors will monitor their adaptation to Earth’s gravity over the next 45 days, including daily physical therapy to rebuild muscle mass lost in microgravity.

The astronauts initially expected an eight-day mission. (Photo: Daily Mail)

Life After Space

Williams and Wilmore will spend time with family in Massachusetts and Tennessee, respectively, following medical clearance. NASA confirms their health will be tracked long-term, common for astronauts post-long missions. Though their ISS stay set a U.S. endurance record, both are veterans of spaceflight—Williams, a former Navy test pilot, has over 322 days in orbit across two missions, while Wilmore logged 178 days before this trip.

NASA’s Artemis 2 crew (L-R: Wiseman, Glover, Koch, Hansen). (Photo: NASA)

Starliner Setbacks and Artemis Ambitions

The astronauts’ delayed return stemmed from persistent problems with Boeing’s Starliner, including propulsion leaks and thruster malfunctions. NASA now plans to review Starliner’s viability for future crewed missions. Meanwhile, the agency is focusing on its Artemis program, aiming to return humans to the Moon by 2027. Artemis 2, a crewed lunar flyby, is slated for 2026, with Artemis 3 targeting a historic lunar landing. Williams and Wilmore haven’t been named to upcoming crews but remain key figures in NASA’s astronaut corps.

Despite political accusations about their extended stay, Wilmore insisted NASA’s decisions were technical, not partisan. The agency emphasized that crew safety dictated the timeline. A post-mission press conference is expected in coming weeks, wrapping up a chapter in one of NASA’s most challenging ISS deployments.