Astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore are now nearing their long-awaited return to Earth after departing the International Space Station (ISS) this morning aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft. The duo had spent nine months aboard the orbital laboratory, a mission extended far beyond its original timeline due to unforeseen technical challenges that left them temporarily “stranded.” NASA confirmed the undocking of the Crew-9 spacecraft at 10:35 AM IST, releasing footage of the vehicle gracefully separating from the ISS. The capsule is now on route to Earth, with its splashdown expected in approximately 17 hours, marking the conclusion of a marathon mission that tested both human endurance and spacecraft resilience
Time and date conformed?
Sunita Williams Return LIVE: NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore are scheduled to undock from the ISS at 1:05 am EDT on Tuesday (March 18).
What next after they reach(home) Earth?
After 286 days in space, astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore are set to return to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, where they will transition to post-mission protocols. Following their arrival, they will undergo a multi-day regimen of medical evaluations and rehabilitation—standard procedure for astronauts readapting to Earth’s gravity after prolonged missions. Only after NASA flight surgeons certify their health and recovery progress will they be cleared to reunite with their families and resume life on solid ground. This structured reintegration ensures their long-term well-being following the physical and psychological demands of nearly 10 months in orbit. see live update
After nine unplanned months in space Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams return to Earth
Is Sunita Williams half Indian?
Birthdate: September 19, 1965, in Euclid, Ohio, USA. Family Background: Her father, Deepak Pandya, was from Gujarat, India, and her mother, Ursuline Bonnie Pandya, was of Slovene origin. She considers Needham, Massachusetts, as her hometown.
What is Sunita Williams’ salary?
For the prolonged mission, their prorated earnings will be between $93,850 and $122,004 (Rs 81 lakh to Rs 1.05 crore).