NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who have been stranded in space for nine months are set to return to Earth aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft. The highly anticipated splashdown is scheduled to take place off the coast of Florida on March 18, 2025, at approximately 5:57 p.m. EDT (3:27 a.m. IST, Wednesday)
NASA and SpaceX made the decision to move up the astronauts’ return timeline after assessing favourable weather conditions at the splashdown site. Originally, their return was scheduled for no earlier than Wednesday, but mission managers determined that Tuesday evening would provide optimal conditions for a safe landing. This revised schedule allows the astronauts to complete necessary handover procedures aboard the International Space Station (ISS) while ensuring operational flexibility before any adverse weather conditions set in later in the week.
Williams and Wilmore have been part of an extended scientific mission aboard the ISS, along with NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov. As they return to Earth, the crew will bring back crucial time-sensitive research that requires immediate analysis to preserve the integrity of experimental results.
NASA will provide live coverage of the Crew-9 return mission, beginning with the Dragon spacecraft hatch closure preparations at 10:45 p.m. EDT on Monday, March 17. Mission managers continue to closely monitor weather patterns, sea conditions, and spacecraft readiness before finalizing the exact splashdown location.
Schedule of Landing by NASA
Monday, March 17
10.45 pm – Hatch closing coverage begins on NASA+
Tuesday, March 18
12.45 am – Undocking coverage begins on NASA+
1.05 am – Undocking
Following the conclusion of undocking coverage, NASA will switch to audio only
Pending weather conditions at the splashdown sites, continuous coverage will resume on March 18 on NASA+ prior to the start of deorbit burn.
4.45 pm – Return coverage begins on NASA+
5.11 pm – Deorbit burn (time is approximate)
5.57 pm– Splashdown (time is approximate)
7.30 pm – Return-to-Earth media conference on NASA+
Physical Challenges of Extended Space Missions
Spending prolonged periods in space presents significant challenges to the human body. In the absence of Earth’s gravity, Williams and Wilmore would experience bone density loss, muscle atrophy, and cardiovascular changes. NASA experts emphasize that these conditions could pose long-term health risks if not properly managed.
One major concern is the impact on the heart. Studies from NASA and other space agencies have shown that prolonged space travel can cause the heart muscle to shrink and weaken, making it less efficient at pumping blood. This could lead to fatigue, dizziness, and difficulty adjusting to Earth’s gravity upon return. To counteract these effects, astronauts follow strict exercise routines while in space and undergo extensive rehabilitation upon their return to restore muscle strength and cardiovascular function.
The world eagerly awaits their safe landing and the valuable scientific insights they bring back from their extended stay aboard the ISS.
