NASA Confirms Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore’s Homecoming Date on March 18

US astronaut Sunita Williams is finally making her way back to Earth, After more than nine months on the International Space Station, Alongside fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore, she will make a splash off the US coast on Tuesday night. The SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft reached the ISS early on Sunday.

After experiencing propulsion problems with the Boeing Starliner spacecraft they were testing during its first crewed voyage, the pair has been stuck on the ISS since June. Williams and Wilmore were left waiting for a different solution after the spacecraft was judged unsuitable for their return.

By around 5:57 p.m. on Tuesday, 2157 GMT, it was ready for the astronauts’ expected landing off the coast of Florida, according to the report. But originally, it was scheduled for Wednesday.

“The updated return target continues to allow the space station crew members time to complete handover duties while providing operational flexibility ahead of less favorable weather conditions expected for later in the week,” the US space agency said.

Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov and NASA astronaut Nick Hague are both scheduled to return to Earth.

As NASA and SpaceX collaborate to guarantee the Crew-9 astronauts’ safe return to Earth, this will be a significant milestone.

Live coverage of NASA’s operations (IST)

March 18, Tuesday

Hatch closing coverage on NASA+ starts at 8:15 a.m.

March 19, Wednesday

10:15 am: NASA+ starts to cover the undocking.

Undocking at 10:35 a.m.

NASA will transition to audio-only coverage after undocking.

Continuous coverage will continue prior to the deorbit burn, contingent on weather circumstances.

Return coverage on NASA+ starts at 3:15 a.m.

Deorbit burn (approximate) at 3:41 am

Splashdown at 4:27 am (approximate)

Return-to-Earth media conference on NASA+ at 6:00 a.m.