Sunita Williams Earth Return Live Update: Astronauts Exit Dragon Capsule After Splashdown | Highlights

"Congratulations to SpaceX and NASA teams for another safe astronaut return! Thank you to POTUS for prioritizing this mission," Musk wrote on X. ,

Congratulations to the @SpaceX and @NASA teams for another safe astronaut return!

Thank you to @POTUS for prioritizing this mission! https://t.co/KknFDbh59s, — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 18, 2025

The White House’s official X account posted, “PROMISE MADE, PROMISE KEPT: President Trump pledged to rescue the astronauts stranded in space for nine months. Today, they safely splashed down in the Gulf of America, thanks to @ElonMusk, @SpaceX, and @Nasa!” Meanwhile Donald Trump also shared a video on X of the splashdown with the caption, “USA! More winning.”,

PROMISE MADE, PROMISE KEPT: President Trump pledged to rescue the astronauts stranded in space for nine months.

Today, they safely splashed down in the Gulf of America, thanks to @ElonMusk, @SpaceX, and @NASA! pic.twitter.com/r01hVWAC8S, — The White House (@WhiteHouse) March 18, 2025

NASA and SpaceX have kicked off the highly anticipated post-splashdown press conference following the successful return of Crew-9. Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams, along with fellow crew members Butch Wilmore, Nick Hague, and Aleksandr Gorbunov, safely splashed down off the coast of Florida after an extended stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS). ,

People in Jhulasan, Gujarat, the native village of NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, celebrated her successful return to Earth with joy and fireworks.,

#WATCH | Mehsana, Gujarat | People express joy and burst firecrackers in Jhulasan - the native village of NASA astronaut Sunita Williams after the successful Splashdown of SpaceX Dragon spacecraft carrying Crew-9 at Tallahassee, Florida

NASA's astronauts Sunita Williams and… pic.twitter.com/fKs9EVnPSf, — ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2025

Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams has safely exited the SpaceX Dragon capsule after completing a nine-month mission in space. ,

#WATCH | Being stranded at the International Space Station for 9 months, Sunita Williams is back on Earth with a smile

Today, NASA's SpaceX Crew-9 - astronauts Nick Hague, Butch Wilmore, Sunita Williams, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov returned to Earth after the… pic.twitter.com/mdZIQTG4SN, — ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2025

The unplanned welcome crew!

Crew-9 had some surprise visitors after splashing down this afternoon.🐬 pic.twitter.com/yuOxtTsSLV, — NASA's Johnson Space Center (@NASA_Johnson) March 18, 2025

The Dragon spacecraft has been successfully retrieved by the recovery vessel, and the four astronauts onboard are preparing to exit with assistance from the recovery team.

Following a successful splashdown at 3:27 AM IST, the Crew-9 astronauts received a warm welcome from the control centre. Final safety checks are now underway, with just over 10 minutes remaining before the recovery crew assists them out of the capsule. All systems are functioning normally. 

Crew-9 astronauts were greeted warmly by the control centre with the message: "Nick, Alec, Butch, Suni – on behalf of SpaceX, welcome home.",

Splashdown of Dragon confirmed – welcome back to Earth, Nick, Suni, Butch, and Aleks! pic.twitter.com/M4RZ6UYsQ2, — SpaceX (@SpaceX) March 18, 2025

NASA's Dragon spacecraft splashes down safely. Watch Video ,

EPIC! Astronauts Barry "Butch" Wilmore and Sunita Williams safely splash down on the Gulf of America after being stranded in space!

Thank you @elonmusk🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/oZ2yI5FOkf, — Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) March 18, 2025

The Dragon spacecraft is now aligned with its splashdown trajectory and has entered Earth's atmosphere. As it encounters intense plasma buildup during re-entry, a temporary communication blackout is expected; however, once it clears this phase, the spacecraft will autonomously re-establish contact with SpaceX.,

The Dragon spacecraft has begun its final phase of re-entry after receiving the de-orbit command from SpaceX. Trunk jettison and capsule separation will occur shortly, exposing the heat shield for atmospheric re-entry. Live visuals from inside the spacecraft have also been received.,

The Dragon spacecraft is autonomously preparing for re-entry, with trunk separation expected soon. NASA has confirmed optimal weather conditions for splashdown, and recovery teams are ready off Florida’s Gulf Coast. Live visuals from inside the capsule have also been received.

Sunita Williams and her crewmates have woken up and are preparing for splashdown. The Crew Dragon has completed a burn to dump excess propellant, with the crucial deorbit burn less than an hour away. This manoeuvre will set the spacecraft on its reentry path. After splashing down off Florida’s Gulf Coast, recovery teams will retrieve the capsule and assist the astronauts in exiting.

NASA is set to begin its live broadcast as the return flight carrying astronaut Sunita Williams prepares for reentry. Williams, along with fellow astronaut Barry Wilmore, is returning aboard the Boeing Starliner after spending months aboard the International Space Station (ISS). ,

Sunita Williams’ cousin, Dinesh Rawal, organised a ‘Yagna’ in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, praying for her safe return to Earth. Williams, along with fellow astronaut Barry Wilmore and two others, has undocked from the ISS after being stranded for nine months. ,

#WATCH | Dinesh Rawal, Sunita Williams' cousin brother organised 'Yagna' in Gujarat's Ahmedabad, earlier today, for her safe return to Earth.

Stranded in the International Space Station for 9 months, NASA's Boeing Starliner astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore, along… pic.twitter.com/HusGGCsQAF, — ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2025

As she prepares for re-entry, Williams reflects on life in space and the adjustments she will need to make once she steps back onto solid ground. During a recent interaction with US Army Coast Guards, Williams shared insights into her daily life in microgravity and the high-energy demands of working in space.,

During an appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast, tech billionaire Elon Musk made a startling claim that the Biden administration intentionally delayed the return of NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore from the International Space Station (ISS) for political reasons.

Read the full story here. 

As the world eagerly awaits her splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico, let’s take a look back at her extraordinary journey through a collection of stunning images from space. 

SEE PICS

NASA has shared a map detailing the reentry path of SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft as it brings Crew-9 astronauts, including Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, back to Earth. While spotting the capsule during daylight may be challenging, space enthusiasts can use the map to track its journey home.,

#Crew9 will be difficult to spot in the daytime as it reenters Earth's atmosphere, but if you want to keep an eye out for @SpaceX's Dragon as it heads home today, we have the map for you. pic.twitter.com/dGmSWXbOyv, — NASA (@NASA) March 18, 2025

Residents of NASA astronaut Sunita Williams' ancestral village in Gujarat eagerly await her safe return to Earth and have planned Diwali-like celebrations to mark the occasion on Wednesday morning, PTI reported.,

NASA will provide live coverage of the SpaceX Crew-9 return from the IS. After assessing weather conditions, NASA and SpaceX decided on an earlier return opportunity on March 18 due to favourable forecasts. ,

Prayers are being held at the Dola Mata Temple in Jhulasan, NASA astronaut Sunita Williams' native village, for her safe return to Earth. Williams, along with other astronauts, is finally heading home after spending over nine months on the International Space Station.,

#WATCH | Mehsana, Gujarat: Prayers are being offered at the Dola Mata Temple in Jhulasan, the native village of NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, for her safe return to Earth.

NASA astronaut Sunita Williams along with other astronauts begin their homecoming to Earth after being… pic.twitter.com/xhf1QBwMu8, — ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2025

Union Minister Jitendra Singh called NASA astronaut Sunita Williams a "daughter of India" as the world awaits her return along with Butch Wilmore after nearly nine months on the International Space Station. He expressed pride in her achievements and prayed for her safe return. 

"She (Sunita Williams), being a daughter of India, has made the entire world proud...She has successfully accomplished the task that she was assigned to. While all of us pray for a safe return, we also feel proud of her...," Singh told ANI.,

#WATCH | Delhi | On PM Modi's letter to NASA Astronaut Sunita Williams, Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh says, "...She (Sunita Williams) being a daughter of India has made the entire world proud. She's returning after more than 600 days, which is a record of sorts and has… pic.twitter.com/wsOIfuB8DQ, — ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2025

Sunita Williams, in a press conference on Sunday, revealed what she will miss the most about space. On being asked about her experience in space during a press conference from the space station, Williams said, "everything", reported the Economic Times. She stated that living there for a longer period of time has given them a unique perspective.

Read full story

NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who launched for what was meant to be an eight-day mission, have now spent over nine months on the International Space Station (ISS) due to persistent technical glitches. As they prepare to return to Earth aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft no earlier than March 19, interest has sparked around what their prolonged orbital stint will earn them financially.

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Once the spacecraft splashes into the water, a SpaceX recovery team will retrieve it, allowing Williams and Wilmore to step out and breathe Earth's air for the first time in nine months. The Crew-9 mission is scheduled to land off the coast of Florida at approximately 5:57 PM on March 18. 31 minutes ago.

Sunita Williams has logged at least 285 days in space, a feat that underscores her endurance as an astronaut. However, the journey has been far from simple for her and fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore, marked by challenges that tested their resilience and skill. The human body was not built for spaceflight, with its microgravity conditions, exposure to high-energy radiation and other issues. As a result, trekking beyond the Earth's confines causes many physiological changes that affect an astronaut's health.

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Williams looks forward to long walks with her dogs and an ocean swim. Several other astronauts have spent even longer in space so no special precautions should be needed for these two once they're back, according to NASA.

“Every astronaut that launches into space, we teach them don't think about when you're coming home. Think about how well your mission's going and if you're lucky, you might get to stay longer,” NASA's space operations mission chief and former astronaut Ken Bowersox said last week.

As NASA astronaut Sunita Williams prepares to return to Earth from the International Space Station (ISS), Prime Minister Narendra Modi voiced his admiration for the ‘daughter of India’ on Tuesday. “Though you are thousands of miles away, you are always near to our hearts,” PM Modi wrote in a warm and personal letter addressed to Sunita Williams.

Space missions have become longer over the years as scientists study how the human body adapts to life beyond Earth. Several astronauts have pushed the boundaries of endurance and technology by spending more than a year in space on a single mission. After spending 437 days on board the Mir space station, Russian cosmonaut Valeri Polyakov now holds the record for the longest spaceflight. Most recently, NASA astronaut Frank Rubio became the longest-duration American astronaut on a single mission after spending 371 days in space.

Read full story here

Over her 9-month stint on the International Space Station, Sunita Williams mastered the art of adapting to an unexpectedly prolonged mission. Reflecting on her time aboard the ISS alongside Butch Wilmore, she highlighted its profound rewards: “…everything. This is our third trip to the ISS-- we helped build it, and now we’re witnessing its growth. Living here offers a rare vantage point, not just through the window, of course, but in tackling challenges. I want to hold onto that spark of inspiration and insight when I go, so I’ve got to find a way to capture it,” she shared.

How astronauts recover after returning to Earth depends in large part on mission duration. For short-duration missions of a few days in low-Earth orbit, about 95% of the biological damage sustained appears to be reversed upon return. For astronauts who spend months aboard the International Space Station, or ISS, recovery appears proportional to their time in space. Many physiological systems gradually return to normal. But some issues persist.

Unlike on Earth, where the atmosphere and planetary magnetic field provide a shield from space radiation, astronauts are exposed to high-energy radiation permeating the cosmos. This can lead to DNA damage, increased cancer risk, neurodegenerative effects, cardiovascular issues and immune system dysregulation.
Earth's magnetosphere - the region of space dominated by the planetary magnetic field - provides some protection for astronauts in missions in low-Earth orbit. But astronauts traveling beyond that - such as on missions to the moon or Mars- would experience much higher radiation doses.

The human body was not built for spaceflight, with its microgravity conditions, exposure to high-energy radiation and other issues. As a result, trekking beyond the Earth's confines causes many physiological changes that affect an astronaut's health. The issue gained new currency with the March mission to return astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to Earth after they were stranded on the International Space Station for nine months.

Read full story here

Sunita Williams, a trailblazing astronaut of Indian descent, has added another chapter to her storied career with her return on NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 mission. With over 321 days logged in space from prior expeditions, she’s no stranger to the cosmos. What sets this mission apart is its unplanned twist: Williams was initially slated to come back on Boeing’s Starliner, but when technical glitches prompted NASA to return that spacecraft empty, she hitched a ride with Crew-9 instead. This detour turned her trip home into an extraordinary tale of adaptability and resilience, cementing her legacy in space exploration.

Upon splashing down, Wilmore and Williams will have logged 286 days in space - longer than the average six-month ISS mission length, but far short of US record holder Frank Rubio.

His continuous 371 days in space ending in 2023 was the unexpected result of a coolant leak on a Russian spacecraft. Williams, capping her third spaceflight, will have tallied 608 cumulative days in space, the second most for any US astronaut after Peggy Whitson's 675 days. Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko set the world record last year at 878 cumulative days.

The ISS, about 254 miles (409 km) in altitude, is a football field-sized research lab that has been housed continuously by international crews of astronauts for nearly 25 years, a key platform of science diplomacy managed primarily by the US and Russia.

At 1:05 AM ET (0505 UTC), Crew-9, aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, successfully undocked from the International Space Station (ISS), marking the start of their journey back to Earth. The crew, including NASA astronauts Sunita Williams, Nick Hague, Butch Wilmore, and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, are now en route for reentry. The spacecraft is expected to make its splashdown later today. Reentry and splashdown coverage will begin at 4:45 PM ET (2145 UTC), streamed live on X, YouTube, and NASA+. This marks the culmination of their historic mission aboard the ISS and their safe return to Earth.,

They're on their way! #Crew9 undocked from the @Space_Station at 1:05am ET (0505 UTC). Reentry and splashdown coverage begins on X, YouTube, and NASA+ at 4:45pm ET (2145 UTC) this evening. pic.twitter.com/W3jcoEdjDG, — NASA (@NASA) March 18, 2025

The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, transporting NASA’s Crew-9 astronauts — Sunita Williams, Nick Hague, Butch Wilmore, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov — has successfully undocked from the International Space Station (ISS). This marks the start of its 17-hour journey back to Earth.

Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams were barely known outside space circles when they strapped in for what was supposed to be a quick test flight of Boeing’s Starliner capsule last June. Nine months later, they’ve captured the world’s attention — and hearts — as NASA’s stuck astronauts.

NASA will be live-streaming the Dragon's return, as part of its joint programme with SpaceX, called NASA's SpaceX Crew 9 mission.

WATCH LIVE HERE:,

LIVE: #Crew9 and their @SpaceX Dragon spacecraft are departing the @Space_Station and starting their journey back to Earth. Undocking is scheduled for 1:05am ET (0505 UTC). https://t.co/OUp4n98WeE, — NASA (@NASA) March 18, 2025