'Butch' Wilmore and 'Suni' Williams with Crew-9 to splashdown off Florida

NASA astronauts Barry "Butch" Wilmore and Sunita Williams are returning home with Crew-9 after an unexpectedly extended nine-month mission aboard the International Space Station, which was initially intended to last only eight days. The mission was prolonged due to multiple issues encountered with the spacecraft, which required additional time in orbit. At 1:05 a. m. ET, the crew undocked from the ISS and is set for a splashdown in the Gulf of America off Florida's coast at approximately 5:57 p.

m. ET. They are traveling in the Dragon capsule, named Freedom, which operates autonomously but allows for manual control if needed. NASA has been closely monitoring weather conditions to ensure a safe landing, and the astronauts are expected to experience a thrilling descent as the capsule slows from orbital speed to a soft landing. The mission marks a significant achievement for NASA and its collaboration with SpaceX.

The successful splashdown will conclude a critical phase in human spaceflight as NASA continues to develop commercial space travel capabilities. The event will be covered live across various platforms, allowing the public to witness this historic moment.