Sunita Williams and her fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore are making a swift return to Earth, with NASA confirming their splashdown for Monday, March 18th, at 5:57 PM ET. This accelerated timeline, a day ahead of schedule, is due to a window of ideal weather conditions off Florida's coast.
A thorough weather assessment by NASA and SpaceX officials determined that Monday evening offers the most favorable conditions for the crew's safe return. The astronauts, stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) since June, will be riding a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, accompanied by NASA's Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov.
Their extended nine-month stay, far surpassing the typical six-month ISS rotation, was an unexpected turn of events. Originally embarking on a brief mission via Boeing's Starliner, technical complications with the spacecraft forced NASA to reroute it unmanned, leaving Williams and Wilmore in orbit.
NASA ensured the crew's comfort during their extended stay, delivering additional supplies to the ISS. Now, after a prolonged period in space, they're set to return home.
Space enthusiasts can witness the Crew Dragon's journey live, with NASA broadcasting the return process, starting with hatch closure preparations on Monday evening. Get ready for a thrilling homecoming!
