NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams will be finally flying back to Earth after staying onboard the International Space Station (ISS) for more than nine months. The pair, who had initially been deployed on a quick seven-day stint onboard Boeing's Starliner capsule, experienced unscheduled delays amid propulsion system flaws and helium leak issues, which made the vessel unsafe for return.
NASA has now booked them safe passage home on a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, with the assistance of a second American astronaut and a Russian cosmonaut. NASA has been watching the weather very carefully, causing them to schedule their return in just a few minutes. Williams and Wilmore are scheduled to leave the ISS on Tuesday, March 18, and the Crew Dragon will splash down off Florida's coast around 5:57 PM EST (21:57 GMT).
The return will be covered live by NASA from the initial preparations of the hatch closure at 10:45 PM EST on March 17 (8:15 AM IST on March 18). The journey can be tracked through NASA TV, NASA's official website, and the agency's YouTube page. Social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook will also offer real-time updates.
This mission is a milestone in spaceflight as it highlights the partnership between NASA and private space firms. As Williams and Wilmore are about to return, space fans worldwide will be looking forward to witnessing this momentous occasion.