NASA confirms Sunita Williams’ Earth splashdown: Date, time, and where to watch

NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore are finally set to return to Earth after spending more than nine months aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Initially scheduled for an eight-day mission in June 2023, their stay was extended due to propulsion issues with the Boeing Starliner spacecraft.

When is the splashdown?

According to NASA’s latest announcement, the duo will return aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule on Tuesday, March 18. The splashdown is scheduled for 5:57 p.m. EST (3:27 a.m. IST, March 19) off the coast of Florida, near the Kennedy Space Center. The landing site will be finalised closer to the event based on weather conditions.

Originally set for Wednesday, NASA moved up the return due to "less favourable weather conditions expected for later in the week."

Where to watch Sunita Williams’ return live

NASA has confirmed that it will live-stream the return journey. Coverage will begin on Monday, March 17, at 10:45 p.m. EDT (8:30 a.m. IST, March 18) with hatch closure preparations. Enthusiasts can watch the live broadcast on NASA+, and it will also be available through their official website, mobile app, and various social media platforms.

The long-awaited return

The return of Williams and Wilmore follows the arrival of the replacement crew on Sunday. The SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft successfully docked at the ISS at 9:34 a.m. IST, carrying a NASA astronaut and a Russian cosmonaut. Williams and Wilmore, along with NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, will now make their journey home.

The two astronauts’ extended stay, though longer than planned, does not surpass the U.S. record for the longest mission in space. That title belongs to NASA astronaut Frank Rubio, who spent 371 days in orbit in 2023. The world record remains with Russian cosmonaut Valeri Polyakov, who spent 437 days aboard the Mir Space Station between 1994 and 1995.