March 16, 2025 – After an unexpected nine-month stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS), NASA astronauts Sunita “Suni” Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore are finally on track to return to Earth. The pair arrived at the ISS last June for what was supposed to be an eight-day mission.
However, when their scheduled return spacecraft was deemed unsafe, their stay was prolonged, forcing them to adjust to the weightless life in orbit far longer than originally anticipated.
SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, carrying Crew-10 astronauts, successfully docked with the ISS early Friday morning (March 14). This historic flight, launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, marked a crucial step in bringing Williams and Wilmore home. The spacecraft arrived at the station at 12:04 a.m. EDT, while the ISS was flying approximately 260 miles above the Atlantic Ocean.
NASA’s latest update shared that the hatches between the Dragon and the station were opened at 1:35 a.m. EDT, allowing the Crew-10 astronauts to join their fellow space explorers. Anne McClain, Nichole Ayers, Takuya Onishi from Japan’s JAXA, and Kirill Peskov from Russia’s Roscosmos were warmly welcomed by the Expedition 72 crew, which includes the stranded astronauts Williams and Wilmore, along with other members of the international crew aboard the space station.
A Joyful Reunion in Space
The arrival of Crew-10 was met with visible excitement from the astronauts aboard the ISS. McClain expressed the joy of the journey, stating, “Crew-10 has had a great journey up here, and I cannot tell you the immense joy of our crew when we looked out the window and saw the space station for the first time. That is such an amazing journey.”
Williams, who has spent an extended amount of time in space, remarked, “It was a wonderful day. Great to see our friends arrive.”
The arrival of Crew-10 marks a pivotal moment not just for the astronauts, but for space exploration. While the mission’s primary focus is to bring Williams and Wilmore back to Earth, the crew will also conduct research during their time aboard the ISS, further preparing humanity for missions beyond low-Earth orbit.
Preparing for Return to Earth
SpaceX’s mission is designed to ensure a safe return for the two NASA astronauts, with a two-day handover period before they make their journey home. The timing of their return, however, will depend on weather conditions and safety assessments.
Dana Weigel, the ISS program manager, emphasized that weather must cooperate for a safe re-entry. “We’ll take our time over that if it is not favorable,” Weigel said.
As Williams and Wilmore prepare to come back after an unexpected extended stay, the mission signifies not just a return to Earth for the astronauts, but a major step in space exploration and international cooperation.
Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting and historic journey.