(TheIndependentStar.com) – After being stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) for over nine months due to Boeing’s flawed spacecraft, American astronauts are finally coming home.
The crew includes NASA astronauts Sunita “Suni” Williams, Barry “Butch” Wilmore, Nick Hague, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov. They undocked from the ISS today aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule.
This development brings an end to what was supposed to be a brief mission but turned into an extended stay after President Donald Trump stepped in to speed up their return.
The astronauts began their 17-hour journey back to Earth when the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft successfully separated from the International Space Station.
Splashdown is expected today off the Florida coast at nearly 6:00 p.m. Eastern time.
Initially planned as a short mission using Boeing’s troubled Starliner capsule, the astronauts found themselves stranded in space when that vehicle developed several technical problems.
The situation drew attention from President Trump, who urged SpaceX to speed up efforts to bring the American heroes home rather than leaving them in orbit indefinitely.
Williams and Wilmore launched in June aboard Boeing’s Starliner for what was supposed to be an eight-day test flight.
However, helium leaks and thruster failures in the capsule forced NASA to send them home on SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft instead.
The mission’s extension meant Williams set a record for the most time spent spacewalking by a female astronaut, with 62 hours over nine spacewalks.
“I’d like to say it was a privilege to call space home. To live and work and be a part of a mission and a team that spans the globe in cooperation for the benefit of humanity,” Crew-9 commander Hague said.
The situation has highlighted the stark contrast between American companies handling space missions.
While Elon Musk’s SpaceX continues to deliver reliable service for NASA, Boeing’s struggling Starliner program faces an uncertain future after its embarrassing performance.
Industry experts now doubt whether Starliner will fly again before 2025, if at all.
During their extended stay, the astronauts missed significant family events, with Wilmore missing his daughter’s high school graduation and starting college.
NASA is closely monitoring the return journey. The entire splashdown operation will be broadcast live on the NASA+ streaming service.
After landing in the waters off Florida’s coast, the astronauts will be transported to NASA facilities in Houston where they will finally reunite with their families after their unexpectedly prolonged mission.
This incident has renewed questions about government contracts with Boeing, which has faced numerous quality control issues in recent years across both its space and aviation divisions.
Meanwhile, SpaceX continues to demonstrate superior reliability and innovation in fulfilling its NASA commitments.
Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are now wearing SpaceX Spacesuits as they return to Earth aboard Crew-9’s Dragon spacecraft. They began their mission to space on Starliner, wearing Boeing Spacesuits.
This will be their fourth different type of spacecraft to fly on.… pic.twitter.com/9AWKUCv9xR
— Moshe (@MosheDe_) March 18, 2025
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