Live Updates: Sunita Williams Set To Splash Down Off Florida’s Coast

NASA will resume the live coverage of the SpaceX Crew-9 – Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore, NASA’s Nick Hague, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov – return to Earth at 2:15 am IST. Indian-American astronaut Sunita Williams and American astronaut Butch Wilmore were stranded in space for nine months after their return was delayed due to technical problems in Boeing’s Starliner, which took them to space on June 5 last year.
NASA said the spacecraft will initiate a deorbit burn – the firing of engines to enable a spacecraft to enter the Earth’s atmosphere – at 2:41 am IST and the splash down will take place precisely 44 minutes later at 3:27 am off the Florida coast.

Astronauts Sunita William and Butch Wilmore will return home after their eight-day mission in the International Space Station turned into a nine-month ordeal when the Boeing Starliner – which was supposed to bring them back to Earth – faced issues. The astronauts will splash down at 3:27 near the Florida coast.
During a press conference earlier this month, Ms Williams said, “The hardest part is having the folks on the ground not know exactly when we’re coming back. It’s been a rollercoaster for them – probably more so than for us.”
The astronaut’s prolonged stay sparked controversy on Earth, with Musk claiming the astronauts were being left in space “for political reasons.” US President Donald Trump also echoed the sentiment, suggesting that the former Biden administration was deliberately delaying their return.

A havan was performed in Gujarat’s Jhulasan – the native village of astronaut Sunita Williams – praying for her safe return from the space. Ms Williams and Butch Wilmore will splach down in the ocean off the Florida coast at 3:27 am, ending their nine-month ordeal in space.

#WATCH | Mehsana, Gujarat | Havan is being performed in Jhulasan – the native village of NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, for her safe return to Earth.
Stranded in the International Space Station for 9 months, NASA’s Boeing Starliner astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore,… pic.twitter.com/vbWPlqVfAL

— ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2025

In a post on X, NASA said: “#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.” 

#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

— NASA (@NASA) March 18, 2025

Eight years before the Boeing Starliner suffered glitches, ensuring an extended stay on the International Space Station for nine months, NDTV had spoken to Sunita Williams and asked whether she thought flying on a privately built spacecraft could be risky. The Indian-origin astronaut, who had already begun collaborating with Boeing at the time, had said that while there were bumps and even a few heated discussions, she was confident that the spacecraft would be safe when people flew in it.

Speaking exclusively to NDTV during a visit to India in 2016, Ms Williams also spoke about being the first astronaut to have samosas on the International Space Station (ISS) and how she intended to carry an idol of Lord Ganesh, whom she called her “good-luck charm”, on her next spaceflight. Click here to read more.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh has called NASA astronaut Sunita Williams a “daughter of India”, as the world awaits her return along with Butch Wilmore, both of whom have spent nearly nine months on the International Space Station.

Singh said the country is “proud” of her and praying for her safe return.

“…She (Sunita Williams), being a daughter of India, has made the entire world proud…She has successfully accomplished the task that she was assigned to. While all of us pray for a safe return, we also feel proud of her…A very pleasant coincidence is the fact that today itself, Prime Minister Modi made a statement on Maha Kumbh in the Parliament and incidentally, Sunita also expressed her best wishes for the Kumbh…,” Singh told ANI.

The minister also referred to Sunita Williams’ Indian roots in Gujarat and highlighted that Indian space scientists are making waves internationally.

“There is a very deep connection between her and India and of course Gujarat, the state that she belongs to. This is also an indication of the fact that most of the space agencies outside India, including NASA, are now having Indian boys and girls leading most of their important missions…,” he said.

Kalpana Chawla, who would have turned 62 this year, was the first Indian woman to go to space.

Born in Karnal, Haryana, on March 17, 1962, Ms Chawla was fascinated by aeroplanes and space from a young age. Encouraged by her family, she pursued her passion by earning a bachelor’s degree in aeronautical engineering from Punjab Engineering College. She then moved to the United States, obtaining a Master’s degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Texas in 1984, followed by a PhD in the same subject from the University of Colorado in 1988.

Her academic excellence and determination took her to NASA in 1994. By 1997, she had achieved what no other Indian woman had before – she became an astronaut.

Kalpana Chawla went on two space missions that cemented her place in history.

Her first mission, STS-87 in 1997, was aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia, where she served as a mission specialist and robotic arm operator. This journey made her the first woman of Indian origin in space. 

Captain Sunita Williams, the Indian-origin American astronaut is getting ready for her next space mission, but this time, on a commercial space flight.

Ms Williams, a NASA veteran and a world record holding woman astronaut with seven space walks, says India is never far away from her heart, on earth or in space. She has been touring India trying to convince ISRO to partner with NASA on its human journey to Mars.

She prides on probably being the world’s only samosa eating astronaut and has also been holding classes for Indian students. In an exclusive interview to NDTV, Ms Willaims explains why she would like more Indian stuff in her space bunker.

“I love samosas and I had asked for some special things, this being one of them. My family was able to work with NASA to get clear packaging and they put samosas in there and it was a nice surprise,” Ms Williams said.

Residents of Sunita Williams’ ancestral village in Gujarat’s Mehsana district are gearing up for Diwali-like festivities to celebrate her scheduled return to Earth.

Jhulasan village, known as the ancestral home of Williams’ father, Deepak Pandya, is alive with excitement. Villagers have been praying for her safety, with many offering special prayers and lighting an Akhand Jyot (eternal flame) at the local temple of Goddess Dola Mata.

According to Williams’ cousin, Navin Pandya, a grand procession will be held in her honour, accompanied by prayer chanting and fireworks to create a festive atmosphere similar to Diwali and Holi.

The villagers are keen to invite her to her paternal village in future.

“The atmosphere here is festive, with everyone eagerly anticipating her return. We will definitely invite her to visit Jhulasan in the future. It would be an honour to have her among us in her ancestral village,” Pandya said.

Here are some of the experiments Crew 9 performed during their 9-month stay in space:

Micro-Algae For Generating Oxygen

Nick Hague worked on growing Arthrospira micro-algae on the ISS to help convert carbon dioxide into oxygen. These tiny algae perform photosynthesis, just like plants on Earth, helping keep the safe-to-breathe oxygen inside the spacecraft. It can also be treated as food when fresh food is not available during long-duration space missions. This experiment was led by the European Space Agency (ESA).

Improving Astronauts’ Health

Butch Wilmore installed the compact workout machine called European Enhanced Exploration Exercise Device (E4D) on ISS for testing. The modular device combines cycling, rowing, and resistance exercises to help astronauts stay fit during long space missions. Other than this, it is also designed to prevent bone and muscle loss and improve heart health on future missions.

Red Romaine Lettuce

As part of the Plant Habitat-07 experiment, astronauts on the ISS grew red romaine lettuce in the Advanced Plant Habitat. The study is about how different moisture levels affect the microbial communities in plants and water. The purpose of the study is to understand how less-than-ideal conditions affect plant growth. The findings will help scientists create more effective farming systems that would produce nutritious food for astronauts on upcoming space flights. Click here to read more.

As Sunita Williams is set to return home after nine months on the International Space Station, Dinesh Rawal, Sunita Williams cousin brother in Gujarat, expressed happiness and said she is the pride of the nation.

“Everyone in the family, including her mother, brother and sister, is happy that she is coming back home. Our entire family is delighted and eagerly awaits her return… We have started offering prayers and visited many temples for her safety… It is a huge day for us… She is the pride of the nation… We are doing a ‘Yagna’ for her return and will distribute sweets upon her return,” Rawal told ANI.

Reentering Earth’s atmosphere is one of the most intense phases of space travel. NASA explains that as a spacecraft plunges into the atmosphere, it encounters extreme conditions, including temperatures reaching up to 7,000 degrees Fahrenheit. The spacecraft must be engineered to withstand hypersonic speeds and an enormous slowdown before landing. From the astronaut’s perspective, the view from a window during reentry is nothing but a wall of fire.

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 (@DrJitendraSingh) March 18, 2025

According to retired NASA astronaut Cady Coleman, there is no special overtime salary for astronauts. Since they are federal employees, their time in space is treated just like any regular work trip on Earth. They continue to earn their regular pay, with NASA covering their food and living expenses on the ISS.

The only additional compensation they receive is a small daily stipend for incidentals – reportedly just $4 (Rs 347) per day, Ms Coleman told Washingtonian.

For reference, during her 159-day mission in 2010-11, Ms Coleman received a total of around $636 (over Rs 55,000) in extra pay. Using the same calculation, Ms Williams and Mr Wilmore – after spending over 287 days in space – will likely receive just $1,148 (approximately Rs 1 lakh) each in additional compensation.

NASA has maintained that the astronauts are not technically “stranded”, as they have been actively working on the ISS.

NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore are classified under the GS-15 pay grade, the highest level for federal employees under the General Schedule (GS) system. GS-15 government employees receive an annual base salary ranging between $125,133 – $162,672 (approximately Rs 1.08 crore – Rs 1.41 crore).

For their extended 9-month stay on the ISS, Ms Williams and Mr Wilmore will earn a prorated salary between $93,850 – $122,004 (approximately Rs 81 lakh – Rs 1.05 crore).

Including the $1,148 (around Rs 1 lakh) in incidental pay, their total earnings for the mission is expected to be $94,998 – $123,152 (approximately Rs 82 lakh – Rs 1.06 crore).

Selected as an astronaut by NASA in July 2000, Butch Wilmore reported for training in August 2000. Following the completion of two years of training and evaluation, he was assigned technical duties representing the Astronaut Office on all propulsion systems issues including the space shuttle main engines, solid rocket motor, external tank, and also led the astronaut support team that traveled to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Florida, in support of launch and landing operations.

Wilmore completed his first flight as pilot on STS-129 where he logged more than 259 hours (11 days) in space.

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams launched aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft on June 5, 2024 for its first crewed flight, arriving at the space station on June 6. Following the agency’s decision to return Starliner uncrewed, the duo stayed back for over nine months as part of the Expedition 71/72 crew. Their returning journey began today at 10:35 am.

After living and working aboard the orbiting laboratory, NASA Astronauts
Nick Hague, Butch Wilmore, and Sunita Williams, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov successfully undocked from the space station
at 10:35 am. Watch the undocking.

They’re on their way! #Crew9 undocked from the @Space_Station at 1:05am ET (0505 UTC). Reentry and splashdown coverage begins on X, YouTube, and NASA+ at 4:45pm ET (2145 UTC) this evening. pic.twitter.com/W3jcoEdjDG

— NASA (@NASA) March 18, 2025

The undocking process is completed. NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 members Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore, Nick Hague, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov have begun their return journey to home.

Sunita (Suni) L Williams was selected as an astronaut by NASA in 1998 and is a veteran of two space missions, Expeditions 14/15 (December 9, 2006 to June 22, 2007) and 32/33 (July 14 to November 18, 2012).

As a member of the Expedition 14 crew, Williams served as Flight Engineer. While onboard, she established a world record for females with four spacewalks totaling 29 hours and 17 minutes. 

In June 2024, NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore launched aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft for its first crewed flight, arriving at the space station on June 6. Following the agency’s decision to return Starliner uncrewed, the duo stayed back and worked aboard the space station as part of the Expedition 71/72 crew.

The duo along with NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov began their return journey today.

Astronaut Nick Hague, one of the four members of NASA’s Crew-9 set to return to Earth on Wednesday early morning, feels privileged to be a part of the space station and research for humanity.

“It’s been a privilege to call the space station
home, to play my part in its 25-year legacy of doing research for humanity, and to work with colleagues, now friends, from around the globe. My spaceflight career, like most, is full of the unexpected,” he wrote.

It’s been a privilege to call the @Space_Station home, to play my part in its 25-year legacy of doing research for humanity, and to work with colleagues, now friends, from around the globe. My spaceflight career, like most, is full of the unexpected. pic.twitter.com/80jJ0Zn1sM

— Nick Hague (@AstroHague) March 17, 2025

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 members pose together for a portrait inside the vestibule between the International Space Station and the SpaceX Dragon crew spacecraft. Clockwise from left, are NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore, Nick Hague, and Sunita Williams, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov.

For Crew-9 return, NASA’s live operations coverage following hatch closing is as follows (subject to change based on real-time operations):

Wednesday, March 19

10:15 am – Undocking coverage begins on NASA+

10:35 am – Undocking

2:41 am – Deorbit burn (time is approximate)

3:27 am – Splashdown (time is approximate)

The SpaceX
Dragon spacecraft’s hatch was closed at 11:05pm ET (8:35 am IST) today. Next, the crew-9 will undock from the station at 1:05am (10:35 am IST) on Tuesday.

In picture, the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft carrying four SpaceX Crew-9 members is docked to the Harmony module’s space-facing port on the International Space Station.
 

NASA Astronauts Nick Hague, Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore, and cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov are packing up and closing the hatches as Crew-9 prepares to depart from the Space Station. Crew-9 is scheduled to return to Earth on Tuesday, March 18 (local time).

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 (@NASA) March 18, 2025

Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore are scheduled to undock from the ISS at 10:35 am IST to begin a 17-hour trip back to Earth, the NASA said.

Astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who have been stuck at the International Space Station (ISS) for more than nine months, will begin their return journey today.