Sunita Williams Homecoming Live Updates: Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, the two stranded astronauts of Nasa for over nine-months, finally take the fresh air of earth on March 19, at around 3:27 am. The splashdown of SpaceX's crew-9 that aboard Dragon, was successfully carried. NASA's recovery team helped the crew out of the dragon, a standard procedure from a long-duration mission.
2 prominent astronauts of NASA, Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, undocked from the International Space Station (ISS) in the early hours of Tuesday in IST time zone.
Both Williams and Wilmore made the headline after their Boeing's Starliner spacecraft which was supposed to return in a week-journey in June 2024, was stuck in space for over nine months due to technical issues. For nearly 300 days, Williams and Willmore have overstayed in the Starliner spacecraft.
Although, NASA has stated that the two astronauts were not technically stranded but have been actively working on the ISS during their overtime.
NASA and Elon Musk-backed SpaceX launched a mission to bring the two astronauts home. On March 15, the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft with NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov on NASA's SpaceX Crew-9 mission had launched the mission.
On March 16, the SpaceX CREW-10 members enter the space station and join the Exp 72 crew for a long-duration space research mission, as per the ISS.
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Mar 19, 2025, 7:14 am IST
Sunita Williams Live Updates: Astronaut Anne McClain Shares Coffee With Crew-9
This morning we shared coffee and “good mornings” with Crew-9, and tonight we are absolutely thrilled to see them safely back on Earth! Mission accomplished, Crew-9! pic.twitter.com/54kunWULrM
Astronaut Anne McClain said, "This morning we shared coffee and “good mornings” with Crew-9, and tonight we are absolutely thrilled to see them safely back on Earth! Mission accomplished, Crew-9!"
Mar 19, 2025, 7:14 am IST
Sunita Williams Homecoming Live Updates: SpaceX's owner Elon Musk Thanked POTUS For Crew-9 Mission
Congratulations to the @SpaceX and @NASA teams for another safe astronaut return!
World's richest man, Elon Musk said, "Congratulations to the SpaceX and NASA teams for another safe astronaut return!" He added. "Thank you to POTUS for prioritizing this mission!"
Mar 19, 2025, 6:34 am IST
Sunita Williams Return Live: Boeing Space Welcomes NASA Astronauts
Boeing Space said, "Welcome home to the Crew-9 astronauts — NASA’s Nick Hague, Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov. Your dedication and unwavering commitment to space exploration inspires us all."
Mar 19, 2025, 6:02 am IST
Sunita Williams Return Live: Crew-9 Mission Fourth Flight Of Dragon
The Crew-9 mission was the fourth flight of the Dragon spacecraft named Freedom. It also previously supported NASA’s SpaceX Crew-4, Axiom Mission 2, and Axiom Mission 3. The spacecraft will return to Florida for inspection and processing at SpaceX’s refurbishing facility at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, where teams will inspect the Dragon, analyze data on its performance, and begin processing for its next flight, NASA revealed.
Mar 19, 2025, 5:49 am IST
NASA Astronauts Returned: What The Crew-9 Contributed During Their Mission?
The American crew members conducted more than 150 unique scientific experiments and technology demonstrations between them, with over 900 hours of research. This research included investigations on plant growth and quality, as well as the potential of stem cell technology to address blood diseases, autoimmune disorders, and cancers. They also tested lighting systems to help astronauts maintain circadian rhythms, loaded the first wooden satellite for deployment, and took samples from the space station’s exterior to study whether microorganisms can survive in space, as per NASA.
Mar 19, 2025, 5:25 am IST
NASA Astronauts Return: Sunita Williams Holds This Record
Indian-origin NASA astronaut, Sunita Williams now holds the record for total spacewalking time by a female astronaut, with 62 hours and 6 minutes outside of station, and is fourth on the all-time spacewalk duration list.
Mar 19, 2025, 4:58 am IST
Sunita Williams Return Live Updates: When Will NASA Astronauts Meet Their Families?
NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Suni Williams, and Butch Wilmore, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, returned to Earth at 5:57 p.m. EDT. Teams aboard SpaceX recovery vessels retrieved the spacecraft and its crew. After returning to shore, the crew will fly to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston and reunite with their families, as per NASA's official statement.
Mar 19, 2025, 4:54 am IST
Sunita Williams Return Live Update: Welcome Home To Crew
Lori Garver, former NASA deputy administrator, tweeted saying, "Welcome home to the crew - especially wonderful to see my friend Sunita Williams with a smile. So many emotions (I'm leaking)! Thanks to NASA, SpaceX, Commercial Crew and all who made it happen. I hope Boeing Space and Starliner gets back in the rotation too!."
Mar 19, 2025, 4:51 am IST
Sunita Williams Return Live Update: Experts Congratulate SpaceX For Bringing Back NASA Astronauts
Dr. Buzz Aldrin, an Apollo XI Astronaut said, "Congratulations to SpaceX for bringing back NASA Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams following their unexpected, extended mission aboard the Space Station! These astronauts’ steady poise and professionalism over the last several months are to be commended. We’re glad to have you home!
Mar 19, 2025, 4:48 am IST
Sunita Williams Return Live Updates: Here Is The First Look Of Crew-9 Back On Earth
We're getting our first look at #Crew9 since their return to Earth! Recovery teams will now help the crew out of Dragon, a standard process for all crew members after returning from long-duration missions. pic.twitter.com/yD2KVUHSuq
"We're getting our first look at Crew9 since their return to Earth! Recovery teams will now help the crew out of Dragon, a standard process for all crew members after returning from long-duration missions."
Mar 19, 2025, 4:46 am IST
Sunita Williams Live Updates: What Is The Process To Exit Spacecraft After Splashdown
NASA said, the next process is of teams that will lift the craft onto the recovery ship and open the hatch, a process expected to take 30-60 minutes.
NASA confirmed that SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft's splashdown was a success. The crew-9 is now back on earth.
Mar 19, 2025, 2:55 am IST
Sunita Williams Live Updates: NASA confirms splashdown near Florida
NASA tweeted saying, Crew9's deorbit burn is underway. This eight-minute thruster fire will place SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft on a precise trajectory to its final splashdown site off the coast of Florida about 45 minutes from now.
Mar 19, 2025, 2:50 am IST
Sunita Williams Live Updates: Crew-9 Begins Final Decent To Earth
Tune in for a splashdown!@NASA_Astronauts Nick Hague, Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore, and cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov are returning to Earth in their @SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. #Crew9 splashdown is targeted for 5:57pm ET (2157 UTC). https://t.co/Yuat1FqZxw
NASA said: Nick Hague, Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore, and cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov are returning to Earth in their Dragon spacecraft. The splashdown of the Crew-9 is targeted for 5:57pm ET (2157 UTC). In IST, the splashdown is targeted at 3.27 AM on Wednesday.
Mar 19, 2025, 1:43 am IST
Sunita Williams Return Update: What Happens To Astronauts When They Return To Earth?
Once the astronaut returns to Earth, they are immediately forced to readjust again, back to Earth’s gravity, and can experience issues standing, stabilizing their gaze, walking, and turning. For their safety, returning astronauts are often placed in a chair immediately upon return to Earth, as per Baylor College Of Medicine. As per reports, Williams and Wilmore will be adjusted on stretchers to adjust to earths gravity.
Mar 19, 2025, 1:05 am IST
Sunita Williams Updates: Updates: Home Minister of Gujarat Says, "Sunita Has Redefined resilience"
Sky was never the limit for Sunita Williams!
From record-breaking spacewalks to growing lettuce in microgravity, #SunitaWilliams has redefined resilience during her 9-month stay aboard the ISS. pic.twitter.com/eWre6HmykF
Home Minister of Gujarat, Harsh Sanghavi said, "Sky was never the limit for Sunita Williams!" He added, "From record-breaking spacewalks to growing lettuce in microgravity, Sunita Williams has redefined resilience during her 9-month stay aboard the ISS."
Mar 19, 2025, 1:02 am IST
Sunita Williams Return Live Update: Will Crew-9 Splashdown In Gulf Of Mexico?
Using the orbit data from yesterday and the announced Dragon burn times and delta-Vs, I estimated the reentry trajectory for Crew-9 across the Gulf of Mexico, in good agreement with the NASA graphic I posted earlier pic.twitter.com/pzUAcKsQX5
Astronomer commentor Jonathan McDowell said, "using the orbit data from yesterday and the announced Dragon burn times and delta-Vs, I estimated the reentry trajectory for Crew-9 across the Gulf of Mexico, in good agreement with the NASA graphic I posted earlier."
Mar 19, 2025, 12:04 am IST
NASA Live Updates: How Challenging It Is To Re-Enter In Earth From Space?
According to the Federal Aviation Administration FAQs, returning from space, astronauts face a similar challenge. Earth’s atmosphere presents to them a dense, fluid medium, which, at orbital velocities, is not all that different from a lake’s surface. They must plan to hit the atmosphere at the precise angle and speed for a safe landing. If they hit too steeply or too fast, they risk making a big “splash,” which would mean a fiery end. If their impact is too shallow, they may literally skip off the atmosphere and back into the cold of space. This subtle dance between fire and ice is the science of atmospheric re-entry. Another limitation during re-entry is heating. The fiery trail of a meteor streaking across the night sky shows that re-entry can get hot! This intense heat is a result of friction between the speeding meteor and the air.
Mar 18, 2025, 11:27 pm IST
Sunita Williams Live Updates: What Are Salaries Of NASA Astronauts?
Both Williams and Willmore astronauts are part of the GS-15 pay grade, which is the highest level of package for federal employees. The General Schedule (GS) is the predominant pay scale within the United States civil service. About 71% of federal employees are under GS. However, the pay package varies from grade level under GS. From the minimum base salary of 5,133 to the maximum base salary of 2,672, Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore could be earning between Rs 1.08 crore to Rs 1.41 crore under GS-15 grade.
Mar 18, 2025, 10:47 pm IST
Sunita Williams Live Updates: How Astronauts Health Is Impacted After Returning From Space?
In the void of space, astronauts are confronted with numerous health challenges due to the unique conditions of microgravity and cosmic radiation. These factors lead to significant bodily changes, impacting everything from their musculoskeletal system to their vision. One of the most pressing concerns is the loss of bone density and muscle strength. In the absence of Earth's gravity, astronauts' muscles do not need to support their body weight, leading to atrophy. Similarly, bones lose density, a condition akin to osteoporosis, due to decreased mechanical stress. Despite rigorous exercise protocols implemented by NASA aboard the International Space Station (ISS) to counteract these effects, astronauts still exhibit signs of bone depletion upon their return to Earth. Additionally, astronauts often face challenges with their balance once they come back to Earth. The adjustment from the microgravity of space to Earth's gravitational pull affects their vestibular system, which plays a critical role in maintaining balance. This re-adaptation process can lead to dizziness and coordination issues as they readjust to terrestrial conditions.
Mar 18, 2025, 10:18 pm IST
Sunita Williams Live Updates: Crew-9 Will Be Difficult To Spot
#Crew9 will be difficult to spot in the daytime as it reenters Earth's atmosphere, but if you want to keep an eye out for @SpaceX's Dragon as it heads home today, we have the map for you. pic.twitter.com/dGmSWXbOyv
In its latest update, NASA said, Crew-9 will be difficult to spot in the daytime as it reenters Earth's atmosphere, but if you want to keep an eye out for SpaceX's Dragon "as it heads home today, we have the map for you."
Mar 18, 2025, 9:22 pm IST
Sunita Williams Live Update: Ancestral Village In Gujarat To Welcome Sunita With Fireworks
While born in USA, Sunita's ancestral village resides in the Mehsana district of Gujarat. This village is planning to light-up the skies with fireworks just like Diwali festival to celebrate her return to earth after nine-months overstay. Not just that, villagers of Jhulasan village, which is the ancestral home of Sunita's father Deepak Pandya, has been offering special prayers for her safety. As per reports, the Jhulasan villages have lightened an eternal flame "Akhand Jyoti' at their local temple of Goddess Dola Mata.
Mar 18, 2025, 9:08 pm IST
SpaceX Crew-9 Live: Why Sunita Williams Was Stuck In Space?
Both Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore were expected to return to earth with their Boeing Starliner in June 2024. However, due to litany of technical issues, their stay in the International Space Station (ISS) extended to more than 9 months compared to their original 8-days journey that began on June 5 last year. The Boeing Starliner faced issues like helium leaks, malfunctioning of thrusters and other technical glitches.
Mar 18, 2025, 7:59 pm IST
Sunita Williams Homecoming Live: Who Are The Crew-9 Members?
At 11:05 p.m. EDT on March 17, the crew closed the hatch between the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft and the International Space Station in preparation for undocking and the return of NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Suni Williams, and Butch Wilmore, along with Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, to Earth.
Mar 18, 2025, 5:52 pm IST
NASA Live Updates: What Is SpaceX's Dragon Spacecraft?
The Dragon spacecraft is capable of carrying up to 7 passengers to and from Earth orbit, and beyond. It is the only spacecraft currently flying that is capable of returning significant amounts of cargo to Earth, and is the first private spacecraft to take humans to the space station, as per SpaceX website.
Mar 18, 2025, 5:31 pm IST
NASA Live Updates: Sunita Williams Message To President Trump, Musk
Elon Musk tweeted through his X handler a message from both NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore to him and the 47th President of USA. The astronauts thanked both Musk and Trump for their efforts. Sunita said, "We're coming back before long, so you know, don't make all those plans without me." While Wilmore said, "Tell you about the outset, we have all the utmost respect for Mr Musk and obviously respect and admiration for our President of United States Donald Trump. We appreciate them, and all that they do for us or human spaceflight for our nation. And we are thankful for the positions they are in."
Mar 18, 2025, 3:23 pm IST
Sunita Williams Return Live: PM Modi's Letter To Indian-origin Astronaut
As the whole world waits, with abated breath, for the safe return of Sunita Williams, this is how PM Sh @narendramodi expressed his concern for this daughter of India. “Even though you are thousands of miles away, you remain close to our hearts,” says PM Sh Narendra Modi’s… pic.twitter.com/MpsEyxAOU9
Dr Jitendra Singh, Minister of Science and Technology and Minister of Earth Sciences revealed that PM Modi expressed concern for Sunita Williams when she was stranded in ISS for over nine months. He shared a letter that PM Modi wrote to Sunita on March 1. He also said, a few days ago, PM Modi met Massimino at an event and requested that this letter from him and the people of India must reach her. Wishing her strength and a safe return, the PM reaffirmed India’s deep bond with its illustrious daughter. Sunita, in turn, touched by the gesture, expressed her gratitude to PM Modi and India. Read The Letter Here!
Mar 18, 2025, 2:29 pm IST
Sunita Williams Homecoming Live: When Will Crew-9 Re-Enter And Splashdown On Earth?
NASA has through its X handler said that the re-entry and splashdown coverage begins on X, YouTube, and NASA+ at 4:45pm ET (2145 UTC) this evening. This will be 2:15 Am on Wednesday, in Indian Standard Time (IST). Re-entry means the return of the spacecraft in the Earth's atmosphere, while splashdown is referred to as water-based landing which will be carried by the crew.
Mar 18, 2025, 2:25 pm IST
Sunita Williams Return Live Updates: Astronauts Undocked ISS
Crew-9 has undocked from International Space Station (ISS) at around 1:05 AM ET (0505 UTC) which is at 10:35 Am Tuesday, in Indian Standard Time (IST).
Mar 18, 2025, 1:53 pm IST
Sunita Williams Homecoming Live Updates: Crew-9 With Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore To Return On March 18
LIVE: @NASA_Astronauts Nick Hague, Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore, and cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov are packing up and closing the hatches as #Crew9 prepares to depart from the @Space_Station. Crew-9 is scheduled to return to Earth on Tuesday, March 18. https://t.co/TpRlvLBVU1
NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore, and cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov packed p and closed the hatches as NASA-SpaceX Crew-9 departed ISS. The Crew-9 is expected to return to Earth on Tuesday, March 18. Watch Here!
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