SpaceX Capsule Returns NASA Astronauts After 9 Months Aboard ISS

Americans Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are safely brought home after 286 days in space.

Caleb Revill

Wednesday, March 19, 2025 at 02:09 PM ET

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Edited By:

Kimberly Johnson

Following splashdown, the four space explorers were video recorded in what was described as “a capsule full of grins” during NASA’s livestream of the recovery. [Credit: NASA/Keegan Barber]

Key Takeaways:

SpaceX's Dragon Freedom capsule successfully returned astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, along with Nick Hague and Aleksandr Gorbunov, to Earth after a safe splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico.
Astronauts Wilmore and Williams had an extended stay of 286 days aboard the ISS due to their original Boeing Starliner spacecraft encountering helium leaks and thruster malfunctions during its test flight.
This mission marked SpaceX bringing home astronauts who were initially part of Boeing's Starliner mission, ensuring their safe return after the Starliner's issues.

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SpaceX’s Dragon Freedom capsule safely splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday evening, bringing astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams home after the two spent 286 days in space aboard the International Space Station.

The two were joined by Crew-9 NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, who were also aboard the ISS during Wilmore and Williams’ stay.