How Did Sunita Williams Return to Earth?
Sunita Williams returned to Earth aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, which undocked from the International Space Station (ISS) at 1:05 AM ET (05:05 GMT) on Tuesday. After a carefully planned descent, the capsule is expected to splash into the Atlantic Ocean just before 6 PM ET (22:00 GMT). The spacecraft deployed parachutes to slow down before making a safe landing, with NASA teams on-site for recovery and post-mission health evaluations.
![The two are returning to Earth on board SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule [File: NASA Handout via AFP]](https://theinfoloop.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/The-two-astraonauts-who-got-stuck-inspace-are-now-coming-back-to-earth.webp)
Who are the two astronauts who were stuck in space?
The two astronauts who were stuck in space were Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore. They remained aboard the International Space Station (ISS) for nearly 10 months, longer than expected, due to delays in their return mission. Their safe return to Earth was completed in 2025 aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule.
Why did they get stuck?
Williams and Wilmore found themselves stuck in space due to unexpected technical issues with the spacecraft that was supposed to bring them home.
Their journey to the ISS began with Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner, a spacecraft designed for NASA’s Commercial Crew Program—an initiative aimed at developing private spacecraft to transport astronauts to and from the space station. By handing over these missions to private companies, NASA planned to shift its focus toward deep-space exploration, including the Artemis missions to the Moon and future human missions to Mars.
However, things didn’t go as smoothly as planned.
During their 25-hour flight to the ISS, the Starliner experienced helium leaks and a malfunctioning thruster, which is crucial for controlling reentry. When they finally arrived at the station on June 6, four more thrusters failed, delaying the docking process.
Although engineers managed to restore four out of five failed thrusters, NASA decided that the spacecraft wasn’t safe enough for a crewed return. Instead, the Starliner was sent back to Earth empty, leaving Williams and Wilmore temporarily stranded aboard the ISS.
In August 2024, NASA came up with a backup plan—bringing them home on a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule. This particular capsule, Crew Dragon-9, had been docked at the ISS since September 29, 2024. However, an immediate return wasn’t an option. If Williams and Wilmore left, only one U.S. astronaut would have remained on the station, which would have impacted ongoing research and emergency response capabilities.
Now, with their replacement crew (Crew-10) safely aboard the ISS, Williams and Wilmore finally began their journey back to Earth. Their return marks the end of an unexpectedly extended mission and the beginning of new lessons for future
How Did They Survive in Space for So Long?
Even though their stay was unexpectedly extended, Williams and Wilmore stayed in good health and high spirits—even managing to conduct a spacewalk together in January!
Life aboard the International Space Station (ISS) follows a well-structured routine that keeps astronauts both physically and mentally fit. They follow a strict workout schedule that includes running on a treadmill and using resistance machines to keep their bones and muscles strong in microgravity.
Food, water, and oxygen were never a concern. NASA, along with private companies, regularly sent cargo missions to the ISS, ensuring the crew had everything they needed. In fact, over Christmas, Williams and Wilmore even got to enjoy a festive dinner with some special treats—smoked oysters, crab, duck foie gras, cranberry sauce, Atlantic lobster, and smoked salmon, as reported by The Times in London.
Staying away from loved ones for so long isn’t easy, but thanks to modern technology, they stayed connected with their families through emails and phone calls.
In an interview with NBC’s Lester Holt in November, Williams reassured everyone back home that they were doing just fine.
“We’re feeling good, working out, eating right,” she said.
She even added, “People who are worried about us, really, don’t worry about us … We’re a happy crew up here.”
Their resilience and ability to adapt to life in space for such an extended period show just how well astronauts are trained to handle challenges—even when things don’t go according to plan!