USA: After nearly nine months aboard the International Space Station (ISS), Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams and her crewmate Butch Wilmore are finally set to return to Earth. NASA announced that their journey back aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft will conclude with a splashdown in the waters off the Florida coast at 3:27 AM IST on Wednesday.
Return Timeline (IST):
- Tuesday, 8:15 AM – Crew Dragon hatch closure.
- Tuesday, 10:15 AM – Separation from ISS.
- Wednesday, 2:41 AM – Engine ignition for re-entry.
- Wednesday, 3:27 AM – Splashdown in the Atlantic Ocean near Florida.
- Post-Landing: Rescue teams will retrieve the spacecraft, and the astronauts will be transferred to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston for medical evaluations.
NASA will broadcast the entire return process live, starting at 8:15 AM IST on Tuesday.
A Delayed Return
Sunita Williams and Wilmore originally traveled to the ISS aboard Boeing’s Starliner on June 5, 2024. Initially planned for a one-week mission, their return was repeatedly delayed due to technical issues with the Starliner. As a result, they remained on the ISS for almost nine months until a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft was sent to bring them back.
NASA scientists are closely monitoring the return journey, ensuring a safe descent through Earth’s atmosphere. The astronauts have already completed final preparations and taken farewell photos aboard the ISS.
