Rahul Somvanshi
After an extended 286-day mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS), NASA astronauts Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore, Nick Hague, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov safely splashed down in their SpaceX Dragon capsule off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida on March 18, 2025.
The touchdown at 5:57 p.m. EDT marked the conclusion of what was originally planned as an eight-day Boeing Starliner test flight for Williams and Wilmore, but transformed into a nine-month stay in orbit due to technical complications.
Mission Extension: From Days to Months
Williams and Wilmore launched aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft on June 5, 2024, expecting to return after approximately one week. However, propulsion problems and helium leaks in the spacecraft prompted NASA to make the decision to return Starliner to Earth without a crew.
“This has been nine months in the making, and I couldn’t be prouder of our team’s versatility, our team’s ability to adapt and really build for the future of human spaceflight,” said NASA’s commercial crew program manager during a press conference held at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, following the successful splashdown of the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule carrying astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore. “It was great to watch Nick, Suni, Butch, Alexander come out of Dragon, smile and wave as they came out of the vehicle,” he added.
During their extended stay, Williams and Wilmore were integrated into the space station’s Expedition 71/72 crew and returned with Crew-9 aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft named Freedom. The crew of four undocked from the station at 1:05 a.m. on Tuesday before beginning their journey home.
NASA and SpaceX made a strategic decision to bring the crew home a day earlier than initially planned to take advantage of ideal weather conditions off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida. As Bill Spetch from NASA explained, “It was actually to our advantage to go work that shorter handover and get them home quicker hitting the weather data that we had today and not leave it up to how the weather was going to behave days and days from now.”
Record-Setting Mission Statistics
The mission yielded impressive numbers:
- Williams and Wilmore traveled 121,347,491 miles during their mission
- They spent 286 days in space (278 days longer than anticipated)
- They completed 4,576 orbits around Earth
- Hague and Gorbunov traveled 72,553,920 miles during their 171-day mission
With this mission, Williams has now logged 608 days in space over her three flights, making her second among U.S. astronauts for cumulative time in space. She also holds the record for total spacewalking time by a female astronaut with 62 hours and 6 minutes.
Wilmore has accumulated 464 days in space over his three missions, while Hague now has 374 days across two missions. This was the first spaceflight for Gorbunov.
Scientific Achievements and Spacewalks
The extended mission allowed for substantial scientific output:
- The American crew members conducted more than 150 unique experiments
- They logged over 900 hours of research time
- Williams performed two spacewalks, one with Wilmore and another with Hague
- Their research included investigations on plant growth, stem cell technology for addressing blood diseases, and lighting systems to help maintain circadian rhythms
As NASA acting Administrator Janet Petro noted: “We are thrilled to have Suni, Butch, Nick, and Aleksandr home after their months-long mission conducting vital science, technology demonstrations, and maintenance aboard the International Space Station.”
Physiological Challenges of Extended Spaceflight
The extended duration in microgravity presents significant physiological challenges for returning astronauts. Following splashdown, Williams and Wilmore were seen smiling and waving but were assisted out of the capsule on stretchers as a precautionary measure.
Steve Stich mentioned that upon return from space, the human body faces challenges, particularly with the inner ear. ” You feel disoriented, you may feel dizzy and may have trouble getting up,” he explained.
British astronaut Tim Peake explained the physical state of returning long-duration astronauts: “There might be some nausea, dizziness and vertigo, and your bones and your muscles are getting used to that loading [of Earth’s gravity] as you stand up and walk around. Your balance is having to kind of regain and [you’re having to] get a sense of where you are.”
Similar Posts
Musculoskeletal Changes
Without the constant pull of gravity, astronauts experience:
- Muscle atrophy, particularly in the back, neck, calves, and thighs
- Bone mineral density loss at a rate of 1-1.5% per month
- Research published in 2022 showed that some astronauts did not fully recover bone mineral density even a year after returning to Earth
Cardiovascular and Vision Effects
Other physiological changes include:
- Fluid redistribution toward the head, causing facial puffiness
- Changes to the eyes and vision, known as Spaceflight Associated Neuro-Ocular Syndrome (SANS)
- Potential lasting vision impairment requiring corrective lenses
Recovery Timeline and Protocol
Upon return, the astronauts were transported to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston for comprehensive health checks. These include:
- Laboratory investigations
- Physical examinations
- Sensorimotor assessments
- Ocular and cardiovascular evaluations
They will undergo NASA’s standard 45-day post-mission rehabilitation program, which involves:
- Initial phase: Regaining strength, flexibility, and walking ability
- Second phase: Proprioceptive exercises for balance and coordination
- Final phase: Functional development to return to optimal physical performance
“There is a sequence of exercises that they do to try to regain the physical strength over a number of weeks. It is a standard protocol they go through post landing to recover,” Steve told the press.
Astronauts returning from extended missions in microgravity environments often face significant physical challenges as their bodies readjust to Earth’s gravity. Dr. Douglas Chang, associate professor of orthopedic surgery at UC San Diego Health, has noted that the paraspinal muscles, which support the spine, can weaken during prolonged spaceflight. This weakening may contribute to the back pain commonly reported by astronauts upon their return. “Further studies will be needed to clarify the effects on disc height, and determine whether they contribute to the increase in body height during space missions, and to the increased risk of herniated discs” he added.
Unique Mission Context and Notable Developments
An unexpected highlight of the splashdown was captured on video feeds: a pod of dolphins surrounded the spacecraft as it floated in the Gulf, described by some as an “honorary part of the recovery team.”
Sarah Walker (SpaceX) mentioned: “I just hope the California coast can bring as many dolphins as we saw during today’s operation. That was really fun to see.”
“Really calm seas. You could see the dolphins swimming around the capsule which was incredible,” said steve.
The mission took a political turn in late January when President Donald Trump asked SpaceX founder Elon Musk to accelerate the astronauts’ return, contributing to SpaceX substituting a used capsule to expedite the process.
After splashdown, Musk offered congratulations via X, while NASA’s Joel Montalbano stated that the space agency was already exploring various return options when Trump made his request.
Research Gaps and Future Implications
Despite extensive knowledge gained from human spaceflight, significant gaps remain in understanding the long-term effects of space travel:
- Limited knowledge about effects on lung function
- Uncertainty around the precise biological mechanisms of space radiation damage
- Ongoing research into how microgravity impacts mitochondria, the powerhouses of cells
- Incomplete understanding of cognitive and neurological effects of extended spaceflight
These knowledge gaps are critical as NASA plans for longer missions to the Moon and Mars.
Long-Duration Spaceflight Records
Williams and Wilmore’s mission, while extended, is not the longest in human spaceflight:
- Russian cosmonaut Valeri Polyakov holds the record with 437 continuous days aboard Mir
- NASA’s Frank Rubio holds the record for longest single ISS mission at 371 days
- Peggy Whitson holds the U.S. record for most cumulative time in space at 665 days
Future of Commercial Crew Program
NASA’s Commercial Crew Program continues with SpaceX planning to launch the next crew as early as July 2025. NASA will decide by summer whether the subsequent crew will fly with SpaceX or Boeing, as Starliner remains under engineering investigation.
The successful return of Crew-9 represents another milestone in NASA’s partnership with commercial providers, supporting the agency’s goal of maintaining human presence in low Earth orbit while developing capabilities for deep space exploration.
FAQs About NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 Return
How long were the astronauts in space?
Astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore spent 286 days (about 9 months) in space, which was 278 days longer than planned! They were originally scheduled for just an 8-day test mission on Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. Their crewmates Nick Hague and Aleksandr Gorbunov spent 171 days on their planned long-duration mission.
Why did Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore stay in space so much longer than planned?
They were originally sent to space on Boeing’s new Starliner spacecraft for a short test flight. When the spacecraft experienced propulsion problems and helium leaks, NASA decided it wasn’t safe to bring them back in that vehicle. They stayed on the ISS until they could return on a SpaceX Dragon capsule with the Crew-9 mission instead.
What happens to astronauts’ bodies after being in space for so long?
After long stays in space, astronauts typically experience dizziness, balance issues, and muscle weakness when returning to Earth’s gravity. Their bones lose 1-1.5% mineral density each month in space, and muscles in their back, neck, calves, and thighs weaken. Their bodies also need to readjust to normal fluid distribution, as fluids shift upward in microgravity, causing facial puffiness in space.
How do astronauts recover after returning from space?
NASA has a standard 45-day rehabilitation program for returning astronauts. It starts with regaining basic strength, flexibility, and walking ability, then progresses to exercises that improve balance and coordination. The final phase focuses on returning to optimal physical performance. Full recovery, especially for bone density, can take months or even longer.
What scientific work did the astronauts accomplish during their extended mission?
The crew conducted more than 150 unique experiments and logged over 900 hours of research time. Their studies included plant growth in space, stem cell technology for addressing blood diseases, and testing lighting systems to help maintain astronauts’ circadian rhythms. Williams also conducted two spacewalks, setting a record for the most spacewalking time by a female astronaut.
Is this the longest anyone has ever stayed in space?
No. While impressive, this 286-day mission isn’t the record. Russian cosmonaut Valeri Polyakov holds the record for the longest continuous spaceflight at 437 days aboard the Mir space station. NASA astronaut Frank Rubio holds the record for the longest single ISS mission at 371 days, and Peggy Whitson holds the U.S. record for most cumulative time in space at 665 days across all her missions.
What was unusual about this splashdown?
This splashdown had two notable features: First, a pod of dolphins was spotted swimming around the capsule as it floated in the Gulf of Mexico, which NASA and SpaceX officials described as “incredible” to witness. Second, it was the final Dragon recovery on the East Coast of the United States – future Dragon recoveries will take place off the West Coast.
What’s next for NASA’s Commercial Crew Program?
SpaceX plans to launch the next crew (Crew-11) as early as July 2025. Meanwhile, NASA continues to work with Boeing to address the Starliner spacecraft issues. NASA will decide by summer whether the subsequent crew will fly with SpaceX or Boeing. Having two different spacecraft capable of carrying astronauts gives NASA valuable flexibility for future missions.
Test Your Space Knowledge: How Long Could You Survive in Space?
