Returning to Earth after 9 months in space, aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule on March 19th. Undocking scheduled for March 18th, landing at 3:27 AM.
Sunita Williams: Veteran NASA astronaut Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore are finally set to return to Earth from the International Space Station (ISS). The world awaits their return, marking the culmination of their nine-month-long space mission.
Return via SpaceX Dragon Capsule
Sunita Williams and Wilmore, along with two other Crew-9 members, will return to Earth aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. The spacecraft will undock from the ISS at 10:35 AM IST on March 18th and splash down in the ocean at 3:27 AM IST on March 19th.
Sunita Williams' Return Timeline (IST)
March 18th, 8:15 AM – Hatch closure
March 18th, 10:35 AM – Undocking from ISS
March 19th, 2:41 AM – De-orbit burn
March 19th, 3:27 AM – Splashdown
March 19th, 5:00 AM – NASA press conference
How the Mission Plan Changed
June 2024:
Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore launched to the ISS on June 5th, 2024, via the Starliner capsule. Their space journey was initially planned for a shorter duration, but technical issues extended the mission.
August 2024:
While aboard the ISS, engineers detected a helium leak and malfunction in the Starliner's propulsion system, rendering it unsafe for return. Subsequently, NASA devised a plan for a safe return using SpaceX.
September 2024:
The Starliner capsule was returned to Earth without a crew, freeing up docking ports on the ISS for other spacecraft. The mission continued on the ISS while awaiting Sunita Williams and Wilmore's return.
NASA's Full Preparedness
The NASA mission management team is monitoring weather and sea conditions, as the Dragon capsule's undocking depends on various factors including spacecraft status, recovery team readiness, and maritime safety. NASA and SpaceX will ensure the optimal splashdown location for Crew-9's return.
SpaceX Dragon Capsule
- NASA has selected the SpaceX Dragon Crew Capsule to bring Sunita Williams and other astronauts back.
- This capsule has been launched 49 times, with 44 trips to the ISS.
- With 29 successful reflights, it is among the most reliable spacecraft ever developed.
