Breaking News: NASA’s Crew-9 astronauts finally returning home after nine months on ISS

Two National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), astronauts have been stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) since June 2024.

They were part of Boeing’s Starliner test mission, initially planned to last only ten days.

Earlier, Diaspora Digital Media (DDM), reported that technical issues forced NASA to extend their stay for more than nine months.

The two stranded astronauts, Sunita Williams and Barry Butch Wilmore are now returning aboard SpaceX’s Dragon capsule.

The spacecraft was undocked from the ISS at 1:05 a.m. on March 18, 2025.

It is expected to splash down off the coast of Florida at approximately 6:00 p.m. today.

NASA officials will confirm the exact location based on weather conditions.

Other crew members on board include astronaut Nicholas Hague and cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov.

Williams and Wilmore initially traveled to ISS to evaluate Starliner’s performance.

Starliner faced technical failures, leading NASA to send it back to Earth empty in September.

As a result, both astronauts had to remain on the ISS and join the station’s crew.

NASA reassigned two other astronauts who were initially scheduled to take their place.

NASA’s Anne McClain bid farewell as the capsule undocked from the station.

“We’ll miss you, but have a great journey home,” she said from 418km above the Pacific.

Inside the capsule, Hague announced, “Crew-9 is going home.”

A NASA official described the journey back as a “trip downhill.”

Hague expressed gratitude for the opportunity to work aboard the ISS.

He emphasized the mission’s contribution to space exploration and humanity’s progress.

NASA expects favorable weather conditions for a smooth splashdown.

The astronauts wore full re-entry suits, boots, and helmets during departure preparations.

Live footage showed them laughing and hugging their colleagues before sealing the capsule.

Final pressure, communication, and seal tests lasted for about two hours.

Their extended stay on the ISS became a subject of political controversy.

Elon Musk claimed they were abandoned by the Biden administration.

Donald Trump tried to portray their return as a rescue mission ordered by the White House.

Wilmore previously stated Musk’s claim about offering them a ride home was absolutely factual.

However, he admitted he had no details on how that offer was handled.

In February, Wilmore clarified that they never felt stranded or abandoned.

He urged people to change the narrative to prepared and committed.

Musk later clashed with astronaut Andreas Mogensen, who challenged his claims.

Mogensen pointed out that the Crew-9 return had been scheduled since September.

The Crew-9 return sequence includes a deorbit burn before re-entering Earth’s atmosphere.

NASA will broadcast the splashdown and recovery live on NASA TV and NASA+.

After the landing, a press conference will be held with NASA and SpaceX officials.

Boeing’s Starliner program remains in an uncertain state.

Engineers are still investigating issues that plagued its first crewed flight.

Problems included thruster malfunctions and small helium leaks.

Reports suggest Starliner may not fly again in 2025.

Boeing remains confident in Starliner and is working toward flight readiness certification.

NASA continues evaluating options for future crewed spaceflights.

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