NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) for over nine months, are set to return to Earth on Tuesday evening aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon. The duo, joined by NASA’s Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, will splash down off Florida’s coast at 5:57 p.m. EDT (3:30 a.m. IST, March 19), NASA confirmed Sunday.

Williams and Wilmore launched in June 2024 aboard Boeing’s Starliner for its first crewed test flight, intended as a brief mission. However, propulsion issues rendered the spacecraft unsafe for their return, leaving them on the ISS. The Crew Dragon, arriving early Sunday, will now bring them home, with NASA adjusting the schedule from Wednesday to avoid worsening weather later in the week.

“The updated return allows time for handover duties while ensuring operational flexibility,” NASA stated. Live coverage begins Monday at 10:45 p.m. EDT with hatch closure preparations. Their extended stay, far beyond the typical six-month rotation, drew widespread attention, though it falls short of US (371 days) and world (437 days) space endurance records.

The ordeal, sparked by Starliner’s failure, required extra supplies for the astronauts, who packed for a short trip. Their return marks the end of a challenging chapter, spotlighting both NASA’s resilience and the risks of spaceflight. Williams, of Indian heritage, and Wilmore will reunite with families after an unexpected 280-day mission, underscoring the unpredictability of pioneering space exploration.