SpaceX Rescues NASA Astronauts After Grueling Nine-Month ISS Stranding, Now Homebound
NASA Astronauts Return Home After 9-Month Space Stranding
(Images: SpaceX Dragon capsule undocking, astronauts waving goodbye, new crew arrival)
NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore are finally headed home after a grueling nine-month stay on the International Space Station (ISS). Originally scheduled for an eight-day mission, technical failures with their Boeing Starliner spacecraft forced repeated delays. On Tuesday, they undocked from the ISS at 1:05 AM ET aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon “Freedom” alongside NASA’s Nick Hague and Russia’s Aleksandr Gorbunov, aiming for a Florida splashdown at 5:57 PM ET.
A Bittersweet Farewell
“Crew nine is going home,” announced Hague during the livestreamed departure, reflecting on their extended mission. The astronauts, visible via NASA’s broadcast, blew kisses to cameras as hatches sealed. A brief scare arose when specks of dust were found on the capsule’s seals, but crews swiftly resolved the issue. Forecasts promised ideal weather for their 17-hour descent.
(Image: Astronauts strapped into Dragon seats, waving during undocking)
Political Firestorm and Delays
The mission became politically charged after SpaceX CEO Elon Musk claimed the Biden administration rejected his offer to retrieve the crew last year, allegedly to avoid boosting Donald Trump’s election prospects. Trump had previously accused the White House of abandoning the astronauts. NASA denied political interference, citing ongoing collaboration with SpaceX on contingency plans since July 2025.
Rehabilitation Ahead
Upon landing, Williams and Wilmore will face immediate medical evaluations and require stretchers due to muscle atrophy from prolonged microgravity. Doctors estimate up to six weeks of rehab to regain mobility and strength. The duo completed 4,500 Earth orbits during their 286-day stay—still far short of the 371-day space endurance record.
(Image: Recovery teams preparing for ocean splashdown)
New Crew Takes Over
Replacing them are Crew-10 members Anne McClain, Nichole Ayers (NASA), Takuya Onishi (Japan), and Kirill Pesko (Russia), who arrived days earlier. NASA shortened the usual five-day handover to conserve resources and prioritize departure windows. The new team will manage ISS operations for six months.
Starliner’s Troubled Legacy
Boeing’s Starliner, plagued by thruster failures and helium leaks during its June 2025 launch, remains docked at the ISS for further testing. NASA has not announced a return date for the spacecraft, delaying its certification for routine crewed missions.
(Image: Boeing Starliner docked at ISS)
As the astronauts reenter Earth’s atmosphere, their journey underscores the challenges of space exploration and the resilience required to overcome unforeseen trials. NASA will host a post-splashdown briefing, though Williams and Wilmore are unlikely to attend due to their medical recovery.
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