Wed Mar 19 00:47:00 UTC 2025: ## Extended Space Mission Ends with Successful Splashdown for Williams and Wilmore

**Cape Canaveral, FL –** Astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore returned to Earth early Wednesday morning, concluding a mission that lasted significantly longer than planned. The duo, along with American astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, splashed down off the coast of Florida at 3:27 am IST aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft.

Originally launched in June of last year for a short test flight aboard Boeing’s Starliner, the mission was extended when propulsion issues grounded the Starliner, leaving the crew stranded at the International Space Station (ISS) for over nine months. The astronauts undocked from the ISS at 10:35 am IST on Tuesday, beginning their 17-hour journey back to Earth. NASA confirmed the successful splashdown via Twitter, hailing the return of Crew-9.

The unexpected extended stay at the ISS presented unique challenges for the astronauts, including the potential for bone density loss and other health concerns associated with prolonged space travel. Their safe return marks a successful conclusion to a mission complicated by unforeseen circumstances.

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