Lost in Space? Not Anymore! SpaceX Brings Astronauts Home After Extended Mission

NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore, left, Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, second from left, and NASA astronauts Nick Hague, second from right, and Suni Williams, right, are all smiles as they wait to exit a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft on March 18, 2025. NASA/Keegan Barber

Yesterday, two NASA astronauts finally returned to Earth after an unexpected nine-month stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Sunita Williams and Barry "Butch" Wilmore splashed down safely in the Gulf of America near Tallahassee, Florida aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule.

What Happened?

The two astronauts originally launched on Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft in June 2024, but technical issues, including helium leaks and thruster malfunctions, made it unsafe for their return trip. Instead of risking it, NASA and Boeing made the call to keep them at the ISS until a safe option was available. That safe option ended up being SpaceX's Crew Dragon, which has a strong track record of successfully ferrying astronauts to and from space.

How They Fixed It

NASA and Boeing spent months diagnosing the Starliner’s problems while the astronauts continued their work aboard the ISS. Eventually, rather than attempt risky mid-mission repairs, NASA decided to bring them home using a proven spacecraft. SpaceX’s Crew Dragon, which has completed multiple successful ISS missions, was prepped for the journey.

The astronauts boarded the Dragon capsule on March 18, undocked from the ISS, and began their descent toward Earth. After a fiery reentry through Earth’s atmosphere, the capsule deployed parachutes and splashed down gently in the Gulf of America, where rescue teams retrieved them.

What Was It Like for the Astronauts?

Returning from space is no easy ride. As the capsule re-enters Earth’s atmosphere at over 17,000 miles per hour, astronauts experience intense G-forces, rattling vibrations, and temperatures exceeding 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit outside the spacecraft. The parachute deployment slows the capsule down for a much gentler ocean landing, but even then, the impact with the water can feel like a car crash.

Despite this, Wilmore and Williams were seen smiling and waving as they were pulled from the capsule. After nine months in microgravity, they will now undergo weeks of rehabilitation to help their bodies readjust to Earth’s gravity.

NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov land in a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft in the water off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida on March 18, 2025. Hague, Gorbunov, Williams, and Wilmore returned from a long-duration science expedition aboard the International Space Station. Credit: NASA/Keegan Barber

How Weather Affects Space Missions

Weather plays a huge role in both launching and landing space missions:

🚀 Launch Weather – Rockets heading to the ISS must avoid high winds, lightning, and rough seas, which can cause delays or even launch scrubs. Thunderstorms are a major concern in Florida, where SpaceX and NASA launch from the Kennedy Space Center.

🌎 Landing Weather – Splashdown sites are chosen based on wind speed, waves, and visibility. If conditions are too rough, NASA will delay reentry or select a different landing location to ensure the safety of astronauts and recovery teams.

Yesterday’s weather in the Gulf of America was ideal for splashdown—calm seas and clear skies made for a smooth landing.

Now back on Earth, the astronauts will be debriefed and share their experiences, but one thing is certain, after spending nearly a year in space, they are happy to be home.