Stranded American Astronauts at the International Space Station Set to Return to Earth After Nine Months

19th March 2025

5 minutes read

Stranded American Astronauts at the International Space Station Set to Return to Earth After Nine Months

The United States space agency NASA has officially announced that two American astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams, who have been stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) for over nine months, are finally set to return to Earth. This Tuesday, they will begin their journey back aboard the Crew Dragon spacecraft developed by SpaceX, marking the end of an unprecedented situation in the history of NASA’s manned space missions.

Their mission, initially scheduled to last only a few days, was extended far beyond the planned timeline due to serious anomalies discovered in their original spacecraft, Boeing’s Starliner. This unexpected event forced the astronauts to remain in orbit for over 270 days, much longer than initially anticipated.

As their return finally approaches, the event raises numerous questions about the reliability of the Starliner program, the risks associated with long-duration space missions, and the psychological and physical impacts of an extended stay in microgravity.

A mission that was supposed to be short but lasted for nine months

Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams launched to space on June 6 aboard the Starliner spacecraft, a capsule developed by Boeing as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. This flight marked a key moment for Boeing, as it was the first crewed mission of their spacecraft following years of delays and technical issues.

The primary objective of their mission was simple: test the Starliner’s performance in real-world conditions, conduct a series of checks, and return to Earth after only a few days. However, as soon as they arrived at the ISS, several anomalies were detected in the spacecraft, compromising their safe return.

Among the most concerning problems was a helium leak affecting the Starliner‘s thrusters, a crucial component for maneuvering and ensuring a controlled re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere. Additionally, malfunctions were reported in the propulsion system, making the spacecraft unable to re-enter the atmosphere safely.

In response to these failures, NASA made the cautious decision not to use the Starliner for the astronauts’ return, opting to leave the capsule empty and wait for another option to become available. This decision led to an unexpected extension of Wilmore and Williams’ mission, forcing them to remain aboard the ISS far longer than planned.

Who are the astronauts involved?

Barry “Butch” Wilmore

Butch Wilmore, 61, is a US Navy captain and experienced test pilot. He was selected by NASA in 2000 and has previously participated in multiple space missions, including a 167-day stay aboard the ISS in 2014-2015. Trained as an engineer, he has extensive expertise in flight systems and space technologies, which proved invaluable during this extended mission.

Wilmore played a key role in evaluating the technical issues of Starliner and worked closely with engineers on the ground to diagnose and resolve the spacecraft’s problems.

Sunita Williams

Sunita Williams, 58, is a former commander of the ISS and holds several records for spacewalks performed by a female astronaut. Selected by NASA in 1998, she has spent more than 322 days in space prior to this mission.

An accomplished military helicopter pilot and aeronautical engineer, Williams used her expertise to oversee maintenance operations and support scientific missions aboard the ISS during the nine months.

Why did the Starliner fail?

The Starliner program, which was meant to provide an alternative to SpaceX’s Crew Dragon, has been plagued by a series of issues from the outset.

Launched in response to the retirement of the US space shuttle fleet in 2011, NASA’s Commercial Crew Program selected both Boeing and SpaceX to develop spacecraft capable of carrying astronauts to the ISS.

While Crew Dragon succeeded in its first crewed missions in 2020 and is now used regularly, Starliner has faced repeated setbacks and failures:

In 2019, its first uncrewed test flight failed to reach the ISS due to a software issue.
In 2022, a second uncrewed test flight revealed several technical anomalies.
In 2023, NASA delayed its first crewed test flight after structural issues were discovered with the capsule’s parachutes and electrical wiring.

This latest failure in their crewed mission has raised further concerns about the future viability of the Starliner program, which was intended to be an alternative to SpaceX for transporting astronauts.

A return under close surveillance

NASA confirmed that the Crew Dragon spacecraft, which will bring the astronauts back to Earth, is scheduled to land off the coast of Florida on Tuesday at 5:57 PM Eastern Time (9:57 PM GMT).

Recovery teams, consisting of NASA and SpaceX personnel, will be mobilized to retrieve the crew as soon as they splash down. A full medical evaluation will be conducted to assess the astronauts’ health after their prolonged stay in microgravity.

What are the effects of a long stay in space?

Spending nine months in microgravity can have significant effects on the human body, including:

Loss of muscle and bone mass: The absence of gravity leads to a decrease in bone density and muscle mass, necessitating a rehabilitation program upon return to Earth.
Cardiovascular changes: The heart operates differently in zero gravity, which can affect blood pressure and circulation.
Impact on the immune system: Astronauts exposed to the space environment for long periods experience alterations to their immune system, increasing their susceptibility to infections.

The data collected from Wilmore and Williams will be invaluable for future space missions, especially those to Mars, where astronauts will have to endure long months on an interplanetary voyage.

A precedent in the history of space exploration

Although their extended stay was exceptional, Wilmore and Williams do not hold the record for the longest human spaceflight. That record belongs to Russian cosmonaut Valeri Poliakov, who spent 437 consecutive days aboard the Mir space station between 1994 and 1995.

Nonetheless, their mission highlights the challenges of long-duration crewed flights and the necessity of having multiple reliable vehicles for crew rotation to ensure safety.

The return of Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams marks the end of a challenging chapter for NASA and Boeing. This extended mission has allowed for the identification of flaws in the Starliner program, while also offering valuable insight into the effects of prolonged space missions.

The future of Starliner remains uncertain, but this mission serves as a reminder that space exploration is an adventure fraught with unexpected challenges, where the adaptability and resilience of astronauts are essential.