NEW DELHI: Astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who have been stranded at the International Space Station (ISS) for over nine months, have finally begun their return journey to Earth. According to NASA, the two astronauts undocked from the ISS at 10:35 am IST on Tuesday, embarking on a 17-hour trip back home. The four-member crew aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft is preparing for splashdown off the coast of Florida at 3:57 am IST on Wednesday. NASA initially scheduled their return for Wednesday, but due to unfavorable weather conditions later in the week, the agency moved up the timeline.
Williams and Wilmore originally launched to the ISS in June last year on what was meant to be a brief test mission for Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. The trip was initially planned as a days-long roundtrip to evaluate Starliner’s first crewed flight, but due to propulsion problems, the spacecraft was deemed unsafe for their return. As a result, Starliner returned to Earth empty, leaving the astronauts stuck aboard the ISS for months.
After 286 days in space, Williams and Wilmore will be flown to their crew quarters at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, United States. They will undergo several days of health assessments, as per standard astronaut return protocols. Only after receiving medical clearance from NASA flight surgeons will they be allowed to return home.
Upon landing, Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore will not simply step out of the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule. Instead, they will be carried out on stretchers—not due to injury, but because of the physical toll of prolonged space travel.
Extended exposure to microgravity weakens the human body, and sudden re-exposure to Earth’s gravity can cause dizziness, loss of balance, and even collapse. Without gravity for months, astronauts lose muscle strength, experience bone density reduction, and suffer from vestibular disorientation, affecting their balance and coordination.
Notably, Astronauts returning from long missions often struggle to stand, walk, and maintain stability. Some also experience dizziness, nausea, and blurred vision, along with a temporary condition known as “baby feet,” where the thick soles of their feet soften due to lack of pressure in space.
Even though astronauts exercise daily in space to mitigate muscle atrophy and bone loss, their bodies still
To ensure their safety upon landing, astronauts are immediately placed in chairs or stretchers to prevent fainting or injuries caused by instability. NASA’s medical teams will closely monitor their condition and help them gradually regain strength through rehabilitation programs.
Moreover, One of the most common issues astronauts face upon returning to Earth is “space motion sickness,” a condition similar to seasickness or nausea on a wild amusement park ride. In microgravity, the inner ear’s balance system stops working the way it does on Earth. When astronauts suddenly experience gravity again, the brain struggles to readjust, leading to dizziness, nausea, and instability.
This is the primary reason Williams and Wilmore will be carried out on stretchers—even if they feel fine. The physical toll of their extended stay in space requires them to relearn basic movements, like standing, walking, and turning, which takes several weeks of rehabilitation to fully recover.
As Sunita Williams prepares for her return to Earth, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his best wishes to the astronaut. In a heartfelt message, PM Modi praised Williams for her extraordinary journey in space and her significant contributions to space exploration.
“India is praying for your health and success,” PM Modi wrote in his message to Williams, recognizing her dedication and achievements in advancing human spaceflight.
The Prime Minister’s message comes as Williams and her Crew-9 colleagues prepare for their SpaceX Dragon capsule splashdown after a 17-hour journey back to Earth.