When And Where Will Sunita Williams And Butch Wilmore’s Crew-9 Return To Earth? – All Details Inside News24 –

The world is eagerly awaiting the return of renowned astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore from space to Earth. The NASA astronauts have been stranded in space for nine months during their mission. NASA has now released a detailed plan and time schedule for their return aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft. Both the astronauts will be splashing down off Florida’s coast. They will be back to earth on March 18 2025. According to the NASA website, NASA will provide live coverage of the agency’s SpaceX Crew-9 return to Earth from the International Space Station, beginning with Dragon spacecraft hatch closure preparations at 10:45 p.m. EDT Monday, March 17.

Where Will The Splashdown Happen?

NASA said in a statement on Sunday evening that it had moved forward the astronauts’ anticipated ocean splashdown off the Florida coast to approximately 5:57 pm Tuesday EDT (3:27 am IST, Wednesday). It was initially slated for no sooner than Wednesday. According to NASA’s website, the Crew-9 team will splash down off Florida’s coast.

On Sunday, NASA and SpaceX met to assess weather conditions and the splashdown site for the Crew-9 mission’s return from the International Space Station. Mission managers are now targeting an earlier return opportunity on the evening of Tuesday, March 18, due to favorable weather conditions. This updated timeline ensures that space station crew members have adequate time to complete handover duties while maintaining operational flexibility before unfavorable weather sets in later in the week.

NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Suni Williams, and Butch Wilmore, along with Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, are currently on an extended scientific mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

When they return to Earth, they will bring back time-sensitive research, which likely includes experiments or data that need to be analyzed quickly before results degrade or change due to Earth’s conditions.

Preparations At NASA

Mission managers are keeping a close eye on the weather, as Dragon’s undocking depends on several key factors—including the spacecraft’s readiness, the recovery team’s preparedness, and sea conditions. Since these elements can change, NASA and SpaceX will finalize the exact splashdown location as the Crew-9 return date approaches.

Schedule And Other Details

Monday, March 17

10:45 p.m. – Hatch closing coverage begins on NASA+

Tuesday, March 18

12:45 a.m. – Undocking coverage begins on NASA+

1:05 a.m. – Undocking

Following the conclusion of undocking coverage, NASA will switch to audio only

Pending weather conditions at the splashdown sites, continuous coverage will resume on March 18 on NASA+ prior to the start of deorbit burn.

4:45 p.m. – Return coverage begins on NASA+

5:11 p.m. – Deorbit burn (time is approximate)

5:57 p.m. – Splashdown (time is approximate)

7:30 p.m. – Return-to-Earth media conference on NASA+

The History

NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry ‘Butch’ Wilmore, who have been stranded in space for nine months, are set to return splash down off Florida’s coast soon aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon. A joint mission by NASA and Elon Musk’s SpaceX, Crew Dragon-10, has set out for the International Space Station to bring them back.

Challenges They Might Face After Landing

Bone Density And Muscle Loss
Spending months in space takes a serious toll on the human body. Without Earth’s gravity providing resistance, astronauts experience significant bone density loss and muscle atrophy- Various International experts suggest. According to NASA, this weakening can lead to long-term health risks if not properly managed. That’s why astronauts follow strict exercise routines in space and undergo extensive rehabilitation upon their return to rebuild their strength and prevent complications.

Reduced Heart Muscle
Spending extended periods in space doesn’t just weaken muscles and bones—it also affects the heart. Research from NASA and other space agencies shows that astronauts’ heart muscles can shrink and lose strength during long missions. For Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, this means their hearts might not be as efficient at pumping blood when they return to Earth. As a result, they may experience fatigue, dizziness, or difficulty adjusting to standing and walking. Recovery will involve careful monitoring, exercise, and time to regain their cardiovascular strength.