With anticipation rising over the return of two U.S. astronauts stranded on the Worldwide House Station (ISS) for over 9 months, NASA confirmed on Sunday that they are going to head again to Earth on Tuesday, March 18, night (GMT).
Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams will return aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft, accompanied by one other American astronaut and a Russian cosmonaut, after the capsule efficiently docked on the ISS early Sunday.
Elon Musk just lately shared a video of NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore expressing their gratitude to former US President Donald Trump for aiding of their return after spending over 9 months stranded in house.
On Monday, Musk posted the clip on social media platform X, captioning it, “Stranded NASA astronauts thank Elon Musk and Trump.”
Within the 25-second video, Williams might be heard saying, “We’re coming again earlier than lengthy, so do not make these plans with out me. We’ll be again earlier than too lengthy.” Wilmore additionally conveyed his appreciation, stating, “All of us have the utmost respect for Mr. Musk and clearly respect and admiration for President of the USA Donald Trump. We respect them, we respect all what they do for us, human spaceflight for our nation, and we’re grateful for the positions they’re in.”
pic.twitter.com/aAkJRKsu1Q
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 16, 2025
The 2 astronauts initially launched into a 10-day mission to the Worldwide House Station (ISS) on June 5 aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. Nevertheless, as a consequence of propulsion points, the spacecraft was deemed unfit for his or her return, leaving them on the ISS far longer than anticipated.
NASA has now confirmed their return is scheduled for Tuesday night. Williams and Wilmore will journey again to Earth aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, alongside NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov.
.@NASA will present reside protection of Crew-9’s return to Earth from the @Space_Station, starting with @SpaceX Dragon hatch closure preparations at 10:45pm ET Monday, March 17.
Splashdown is slated for roughly 5:57pm Tuesday, March 18: https://t.co/yABLg20tKX pic.twitter.com/alujSplsHm
— NASA Industrial Crew (@Commercial_Crew) March 16, 2025
The SpaceX Crew Dragon’s arrival on the ISS is a part of NASA’s routine crew rotation mission. The Crew-10 Dragon capsule efficiently docked at 12:04 a.m. ET on Sunday, roughly 29 hours after launching from NASA’s Kennedy House Heart in Florida. Whereas initially supposed as an ordinary rotation flight, the mission took on added significance because it enabled Williams and Wilmore’s long-awaited return.
Former President Donald Trump had earlier addressed the astronauts’ prolonged keep throughout a speech on the Oval Workplace, stating, “We love you, and we’re coming as much as get you. You should not have been up there for therefore lengthy. Probably the most incompetent president in our historical past allowed this to occur to you, however this president will not let that occur. We’ll get you out. I’ve authorised Elon as a result of they have been left up there.”
Trump additionally made particular remarks about Sunita Williams, commenting on her look in zero gravity. “And I see the girl with the wild hair—a superb, strong head of hair she’s acquired. There is not any kidding, no video games along with her hair. However, you realize, there is a hazard up there, too. They may face failures, which might be very unhealthy. We have to get them out. So, I authorised Elon every week in the past,” he added.
Blaming the earlier administration for the delay, Trump said, “We’ve got two individuals up there that Biden and Kamala left behind.” He additional promised to personally welcome the astronauts upon their return, saying, “Once they come again, I am going to greet them. How about that?”
