From an 8-day space sojourn to an unexpected 9-month stay in ISS! How did Sunita endure it?

NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore will conclude an extraordinary mission that saw them spend an unplanned nine months aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Their return to Earth on March 18 will mark the end of a journey that began with the Boeing Starliner launch in June 2024. 

Also Read: When Sunita William joined NASA: A dream took flight!

The Boeing Starliner launch and the initial mission 

On June 5, 2024 Williams and Wilmore launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force station aboard Boeing’s Starliner capsule for its first crewed test flight. The mission was initially planned for eight days aiming to test the spacecraft’s capabilities for future crewed missions. 

Technical issues and extended stay 

Shortly after arrival at the ISS, technical issues with the Starliner emerged, including helium leaks and propulsion system malfunctions, rendering the spacecraft  unsafe for their return journey. By September 2024, NASA decided to bring the Starliner back to Earth without the crew to free up the docking port for other spacecraft, effectively stranding Williams and Wilmore on the ISS. 

Transition to SpaceX Crew-10 

To facilitate their return, NASA coordinated with SpaceX, resulting in the Crew-10 mission. Launched from Kennedy Space Center on March 14, 2025,  Crew-10 delivered astronauts Anne McClain, Nichole Ayers, Takuya Onishi, and Kirill Peskov to the ISS. This crew relieved Williams and Wilmore, allowing them to prepare for their journey home.

Return to Earth

On March 18, 2025  Williams and Wilmore will be returning from the ISS aboard SpaceX's Dragon capsule, named Freedom. The capsule will initiate its return journey, culminating in a splashdown off the Florida coast at 5:57 p.m. Eastern Time (ET), marking the end of their extended mission.