Two Boeing Starliner astronauts left on the International Space Station have returned to Earth, finishing the Odyssey and transforming the planned eight-day trip into space for over nine and a half years.
NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Snie Williams arrived at Starliner last June as part of a flight test for their crew, but instead returned to the SpaceX crew Dragon, splattering into the calm waters under the blue sky off Florida’s Gulf Coast near Tallahassee at 5:577pm
The extended, unexpected period of stay has even spurred attention and commentary around the world, as President Donald Trump argued that he would be brought home earlier this year. But throughout, NASA has refused to call them “stuck,” claiming that time in space is an astronaut’s dream.
Dragon splashdown confirmed – return to Earth, Nick, Suni, Butch and Alek! pic.twitter.com/m4rz6uysq2
– SpaceX (@Spacex) March 18, 2025
Eventually, the duo became part of the Crew 9 mission and left the station with Commander Nick Hague and Los Cosmos astronaut Alexander Golbunov.
“On behalf of Nick, Alex, Butch, Suni and SpaceX, we’re welcome,” said the SpaceX mission control moment after a picture-perfect splashdown.
“What a great ride. You can see the capsule full of smiles from ear to ear,” said the four residents who left the spaceship and were able to breathe the first fresh air in a few months before the capsule got on the recovery container.
The side hatch was opened within 50 minutes of the touchdown and staff were on hand for a standard medical check-up to help all four passengers enter the Gurneys. The first out was The Hague flashed a smile, and then a thumbs up before he escaped, followed by Golbunov, Williams and finally Willmore.
The spacecraft was not blocked at 1:05am Tuesday. At the last hour, the dragon suffered a burn in the eye, slowing from 17,500 mph during that time. That last drop of parachute assistance to the surface was a mild 15 mph.
“On behalf of the crew, on behalf of the 9, I would like to say it’s a privilege to call the station home, live and work, be a part of our mission and become a team working together to work together for the benefit of humanity,” The Hague said the spacecraft had inched away from the station. “We know that the station is a great hand. We look forward to what you guys are trying to achieve. We are waiting for you. Crew 9 will be back home.”
NASA’s Am McLain, commander of Crew 10 mission, arrived at the station two days ago, opened the door to the exit of Crew 9 to confirm the safe departure of the spacecraft.
“Crew, 9, a safe journey. It was a lifelong honor to cross your path here on the space station,” she said. “Your service is highly appreciated and we will miss you, but there is an amazing journey home.”
Astronaut Onysia, a member of the 10 crew member, will take over the station’s command next month, saying, “I wish I could spend more time with you, but those who love you are waiting for you, those who love you are.
Williams and Wilmore spent 286 days in space, while The Hague and Golbunov spent 171 days in space.
Boeing’s Starliner was launched by Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on June 5, 2024 and docked to the Space Station a day later. Starliner’s first human spaceflight came more than four years after SpaceX achieved the same feat as its crew dragons.
However, Starliner suffered from a thruster failure and a helium leak during the flight, and ultimately chose to keep Williams and Wilmore safe at the station, rather than NASA getting on the ship home.
Starliner safely returned home, but passengers remained at the station, becoming part of the crew of Expedition 72, and officially became part of the crew-9 after the crew’s Dragon Freedom arrived.
This completes Williams and Wilmore’s third space trip, each of which had previously flew to the space station both in the Space Shuttle and in the Russian Soyuz spacecraft. The duo’s flights on four different spacecraft coincides with feats achieved only by John Young of Orlando, who flew to the Space Shuttle, Gemini, Apollo Command Module and Apollo Lner Module spacecraft.
The light-character of the Starliner duo became political buzz after Elon Musk and President Trump cried out that they had kept the Biden administration at the station instead of sending rescue missions.
It was amplified when SpaceX could no longer prepare its new crew dragon spacecraft in time for what appears to be a February flight to the station for its crew 10.
Faced with even more delays, SpaceX and NASA chose to switch to Dragon Endurance for the crew, allowing flights to the space station earlier this week, pushing up plans for several weeks for the return of crew 9.
9 A 1/2 month stay is not one of the longest stays by NASA astronauts. The title was sent to Frank Rubio, who spent 371 days in space, but his stay was also due to a spaceship issue when he had to wait for a replacement Soyuz rocket to arrive at the station before he could fly home.
Original release: March 18, 2025, 4:47pm EDT
