NASA UPDATES: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) confirmed that astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore will return to Earth in late March 2025. Their trip was originally planned for earlier, but it got delayed due to scheduling changes and technical issues. The new team, Crew-10, will take their place on the International Space Station (ISS) and is set to launch on March 12, 2025, at 7:48 PM Eastern Time. Williams and Wilmore, who are part of Crew-9, are expected to leave about a week later, unless weather or other issues cause further delays.
New Crew Arrives Before Williams Leaves
Crew-10’s arrival will make sure the ISS stays fully staffed. The new crew includes NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov, and Japan’s Takuya Onishi. Once they reach the ISS, they will spend a week learning from Crew-9 before Williams and Wilmore return home.
Switching From Boeing’s Starliner to SpaceX’s Crew Dragon
Williams and Wilmore originally traveled to the ISS in June 2024 on Boeing’s Starliner capsule. Their mission was only supposed to last 10 days, but due to ongoing technical problems with Starliner, they have been in space for over eight months. To ensure a safe return, NASA decided to bring them back using SpaceX’s Crew Dragon instead.
"Space travel always comes with unexpected challenges," said Steve Stich, head of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. He also praised SpaceX for quickly adjusting the crew rotation plan. The Crew Dragon will carefully re-enter Earth’s atmosphere and land in either the Atlantic Ocean or the Gulf of Mexico, where teams will be ready to pick them up.
Important Work During Their Extended Stay
Even though they were in space longer than expected, Williams and Wilmore stayed busy. They conducted important scientific research, tested equipment, and practiced re-entry simulations using special software to prepare for their return.
Political and Operational Factors Behind NASA’s Decision
There was also political pressure surrounding their return. Former U.S. President Donald Trump publicly urged SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to bring them back "as soon as possible." However, NASA stuck to its plan and confirmed that the return would happen "as soon as practical" according to their schedule.
What This Means for Future Space Missions
NASA’s decision to switch from Starliner to Crew Dragon shows how important it is to have reliable spacecraft for astronaut transport. SpaceX developed Crew Dragon with nearly $3 billion in funding from NASA’s Commercial Crew Program and continues to be a major player in space travel. The return of Crew-9 will also impact upcoming missions, including a future Axiom spaceflight carrying astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary.
Even though space travel comes with challenges and delays, safety is always NASA’s top priority. As Williams and Wilmore prepare to return home, their extended stay is a reminder of both the risks and incredible achievements of space exploration.