NASA astronaut Sunita Williams and her crew are set to return to Earth on March 19, 2025, after spending over nine months in space due to delays with the Boeing Starliner spacecraft. Their SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule will bring them home, marking the end of a mission that extended far beyond its original schedule.

NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore will return to Earth on Tuesday, March 18, 2025 (EST) aboard SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft. The splashdown is scheduled for 5:57 PM (Wednesday, March 19, 2025, 4:27 AM IST) off the coast of Florida.

The return was initially planned nine months ago, but technical failures with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft caused multiple delays, leaving the astronauts stranded in space. Finally, US President Donald Trump assigned SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, to complete the mission and safely bring them home.

NASA has confirmed that it will live-stream the entire return journey, beginning with hatch closure preparations at 10:45 PM (Tuesday, March 18, 9:15 AM IST). The coverage will include the undocking, re-entry process, and splashdown.

1. Splashdown in the Atlantic

The SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft, carrying Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore, Nick Hague, and Aleksandr Gorbunov, is scheduled to splash down at approximately 5:57 PM (Wednesday, March 19, 2025, 4:27 AM IST). The landing site has been carefully chosen based on favorable weather and sea conditions, ensuring a smooth and safe recovery process.

2. Immediate Recovery Operations

As soon as the spacecraft lands in the ocean, SpaceX recovery teams will spring into action. Specialized ships equipped with cranes and medical facilities will move toward the capsule. Divers will secure the spacecraft, ensuring its stability before attaching it to the recovery vessel. This step is crucial to prevent the capsule from drifting and to ensure a safe extraction process.

3. Crew Extraction from the Spacecraft

Once the Crew Dragon capsule is hoisted onto the recovery ship, the hatch will be opened, and the astronauts will be carefully assisted out. Medical personnel will be present, as astronauts often experience dizziness, muscle weakness, and disorientation due to the sudden reintroduction of Earth’s gravity after months in microgravity.

4. Initial Health Check-Ups at Sea

Before heading to the mainland, the astronauts will undergo preliminary medical evaluations on the recovery ship. These tests will assess their immediate physical condition and check for any potential health concerns caused by prolonged space travel, such as muscle loss, vision changes, and fluid shifts in the body.

5. Transport to NASA's Kennedy Space Center

After their initial medical assessments, the crew will be transported via helicopter or boat to NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This facility is equipped with advanced medical and debriefing centers, where astronauts will undergo further tests and mission evaluations.

6. Comprehensive Medical Examinations

At Kennedy Space Center, the astronauts will receive detailed medical check-ups to assess the impact of their extended stay in space. These tests will focus on:

Muscle and bone density loss due to long-term exposure to microgravity

Vision changes caused by fluid shifts in the body

Cognitive and psychological assessments to evaluate the mental impact of space travel

7. Debriefing and Mission Analysis

Within 24 to 48 hours after their return, NASA will begin debriefing sessions with the astronauts. These discussions will focus on:

Challenges faced during their prolonged stay on the ISS

Scientific experiments conducted and their results

Operational feedback to improve future space missions

The information gathered will help NASA refine space travel protocols, ensuring smoother missions for future astronauts heading to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.

8. Rehabilitation and Recovery

After spending nearly a year in space, astronauts need time to adjust back to Earth’s environment. The recovery process includes:

Physical therapy to regain muscle strength

Reconditioning exercises to help them walk normally again

Psychological support to assist with reintegration into everyday life

This rehabilitation phase is crucial, as prolonged exposure to microgravity weakens bones, muscles, and balance systems, requiring astronauts to gradually rebuild their strength.

The journey home for Sunita Williams and her crew is one of resilience, endurance, and scientific achievement. Originally planned as a short-term mission, their stay in space was extended due to technical issues with Boeing's Starliner spacecraft. With SpaceX stepping in to bring them back, this return marks an important milestone in human spaceflight and commercial space partnerships.

As we welcome these astronauts home, their experiences will shape future space exploration, paving the way for longer missions to the Moon and Mars while helping scientists understand how the human body adapts to space for extended periods.

(Girish Linganna is an award-winning Science Writer and a Defence, Aerospace & Political Analyst based in Bengaluru. He is also the Director of ADD Engineering Components India Pvt. Ltd., a subsidiary of ADD Engineering GmbH, Germany. He can be reached at: girishlinganna@gmail.com ).