By Blessing Nweke
After an incredible nine months in space, NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are gearing up for their long-awaited return to Earth. The pair, initially slated for an eight-day stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS), had their mission extended due to technical issues with the spacecraft they arrived on. Their return is now set aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule, alongside NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov.
The team will undock from the ISS at 05:05 GMT on Tuesday, with their planned splashdown off Florida’s coast at 21:57 GMT. However, this timing could change depending on weather conditions.
Their re-entry through Earth’s atmosphere will be an intense experience, with temperatures soaring up to 1600°C and astronauts enduring g-forces four times the strength of Earth’s gravity. Once slowed, four large parachutes will deploy, guiding the capsule to a gentle ocean landing.
Helen Sharman, Britain’s first astronaut, reassured the public that despite the challenging re-entry, the thrill of returning to Earth would be worth it. “The fresh air is the first thing that gets you,” she said.
Their journey began in June 2024, when they were part of Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft test flight. But after technical problems with the capsule, NASA had to extend its stay aboard the ISS until a new ride—a SpaceX capsule—became available. This extension led to an unexpected but productive mission, including groundbreaking spacewalks, with Suni Williams setting a new record for the most hours spent outside the station by a woman.
As the mission ends, both astronauts look forward to reuniting with family and readjusting to life on Earth after months of zero gravity.
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