NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have returned to Earth after a nine-month mission on the International Space Station (ISS), landing in a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule on Tuesday following prolonged delays due to technical failures on Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft.
The pair, who launched in June aboard Starliner for what was meant to be an eight-day test mission, became stranded on the ISS after propulsion issues grounded their return. NASA ultimately decided they would return as part of the agency’s routine crew rotation schedule, using SpaceX’s capsule instead of the troubled Boeing craft.
On Tuesday morning, Wilmore and Williams undocked from the ISS at 1:05 a.m. ET (0505 GMT) alongside two other astronauts. Their spacecraft, part of NASA’s Crew-9 mission, re-entered Earth's atmosphere around 5:45 p.m. ET before safely splashing down off Florida’s Gulf Coast ten minutes later.
"What a ride," Crew-9 commander Nick Hague said upon landing. "I see a capsule full of grins, ear to ear."
NASA’s recovery team hoisted the spacecraft out of the water and transported the astronauts to shore, where they will undergo medical evaluations at Johnson Space Center in Houston before reuniting with their families.
The extended mission caught the attention of U.S. President Donald Trump, who called for an earlier return and accused the previous administration of "abandoning" the astronauts in space—claims made without evidence. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, a close ally of Trump, echoed the call for their return.
Boeing’s Starliner, originally designed to compete with SpaceX’s Crew Dragon, now faces an uncertain future after the spacecraft’s technical issues forced NASA to rely solely on SpaceX for human spaceflight missions.
During their 286 days in orbit—far longer than the average six-month ISS mission—Wilmore and Williams conducted scientific research, station maintenance, and spacewalks. Williams, marking her third spaceflight, has now spent 608 days in space, the second most for any U.S. astronaut after Peggy Whitson’s 675 days.
NASA delayed their return to Earth until their replacements from Crew-10 arrived last Friday to maintain station staffing levels.
Williams, speaking before departure, said she was eager to return home. "It's been a roller coaster for [my family], probably more so than for us," she said, looking forward to reuniting with her two dogs.
Iran said on Saturday that it has officially received a new nuclear deal proposal from U.S. President Donald Trump, delivered by Oman during a diplomatic visit to Tehran.
Hamas said on Saturday it had officially responded to a ceasefire plan put forward by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, who represents President Donald Trump in Middle East diplomacy. The group said its reply includes a key demand: a complete end to the war.
Saudi Arabia and Qatar will provide joint financial support for Syrian state employees, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan announced during a visit to Damascus, as regional efforts to support Syria’s reconstruction gain momentum.
China has strongly criticised French President Emmanuel Macron's remarks linking Ukraine and Taiwan, calling them a “double standard” and insisting the two issues are not comparable.
Magnus Carlsen suffered a shock defeat to China’s Wei Yi at Norway Chess 2025, just two days after beating world champion D Gukesh.
Iran said on Saturday that it has officially received a new nuclear deal proposal from U.S. President Donald Trump, delivered by Oman during a diplomatic visit to Tehran.
A confidential IAEA report reveals Iran conducted secret nuclear activities using undeclared material at several sites, raising serious non-compliance concerns.
Hamas said on Saturday it had officially responded to a ceasefire plan put forward by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, who represents President Donald Trump in Middle East diplomacy. The group said its reply includes a key demand: a complete end to the war.
The US Supreme Court has ruled that the Trump administration can temporarily end legal protections for more than 500000 migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, exposing them to possible deportation.
A massive glacial landslide in southern Switzerland has buried the village of Blatten, formed a dangerous lake by blocking the River Lonza, and raised fears of flooding downstream as emergency crews monitor the situation.
On May 28, the inauguration ceremony of Lachin International Airport was held.
A car drove into crowds of Liverpool fans celebrating the club’s Premier League title in the city centre on Monday evening, injuring dozens including 4 children. A 53-year-old man believed to be the driver was arrested at the scene.
EU ministers have greenlit a massive €150 billion defense investment fund—dubbed the Security Action for Europe (SAFE)—as the bloc ramps up its military readiness in response to Russia’s aggression and growing uncertainty over U.S. security guarantees.
Brazil’s economy is expected to have regained momentum in the first quarter of 2025, driven by a surge in household spending and private investment, according to a Reuters poll of economists conducted from May 21–26.
An international academic conference titled "Islamophobia: Exposing Prejudice and Destroying Stigma" has officially opened in the capital of Azerbaijan, bringing together global scholars, experts, and policymakers to address the rise and consequences of anti-Muslim discrimination.
A confidential IAEA report reveals Iran conducted secret nuclear activities using undeclared material at several sites, raising serious non-compliance concerns.
The US Supreme Court has ruled that the Trump administration can temporarily end legal protections for more than 500000 migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, exposing them to possible deportation.
A massive glacial landslide in southern Switzerland has buried the village of Blatten, formed a dangerous lake by blocking the River Lonza, and raised fears of flooding downstream as emergency crews monitor the situation.
China has strongly criticised French President Emmanuel Macron's remarks linking Ukraine and Taiwan, calling them a “double standard” and insisting the two issues are not comparable.
Magnus Carlsen suffered a shock defeat to China’s Wei Yi at Norway Chess 2025, just two days after beating world champion D Gukesh.
Iran said on Saturday that it has officially received a new nuclear deal proposal from U.S. President Donald Trump, delivered by Oman during a diplomatic visit to Tehran.
A confidential IAEA report reveals Iran conducted secret nuclear activities using undeclared material at several sites, raising serious non-compliance concerns.
Hamas said on Saturday it had officially responded to a ceasefire plan put forward by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, who represents President Donald Trump in Middle East diplomacy. The group said its reply includes a key demand: a complete end to the war.
The US Supreme Court has ruled that the Trump administration can temporarily end legal protections for more than 500000 migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, exposing them to possible deportation.
A massive glacial landslide in southern Switzerland has buried the village of Blatten, formed a dangerous lake by blocking the River Lonza, and raised fears of flooding downstream as emergency crews monitor the situation.
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