Sunita Williams departs ISS for Earth: How and where she will land, when and where to watch

Nasa astronaut Sunita Williams, along with her crew members Butch Wilmore, Nick Hague, and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, have departed for Earth. They will return to Earth on Tuesday after spending nine months in space. Their return was originally scheduled for Wednesday but was moved up due to concerns over weather conditions.

Nasa advanced the return after evaluating weather and ocean conditions, ensuring a safe landing for the astronauts. The crew had originally planned for a short seven-day mission aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. However, technical issues, including propulsion problems and helium leaks, made the spacecraft unsafe for their return. As a result, their stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS) was extended.
How will Sunita Williams return?
The crew will return to Earth aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, which arrived at the ISS on Sunday. Nasa had launched the Crew-10 mission on Friday, March 15, 2025, using a Falcon 9 rocket to transport the replacement crew to the ISS. This allowed Williams and her team to use the returning Crew Dragon for their journey back to Earth.

When will she return?
The return process began on Monday evening when the Crew Dragon’s hatch was closed. The spacecraft then undocked from the ISS and began its journey back to Earth, leading up to the scheduled ocean splashdown on Tuesday, 5:57 PM EDT (21:57 GMT).
Where will she land?
The planned splashdown is scheduled off the coast of Florida. After landing, Williams and the crew will be transported to Nasa’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. There, they will undergo medical evaluations, post-mission debriefings, and recovery protocols to help them readjust to Earth’s gravity.

Where to watch the return journey?
Nasa has announced that the return journey will be broadcast live, allowing the public to witness the long-awaited homecoming. The undocking on Monday and the splashdown on Tuesday can be watched on Nasa’s official YouTube channel.

What happens after the return?
Even after returning to Earth, the astronauts face a long period of recovery. Living in zero gravity for nine months causes muscle atrophy in their legs, making it difficult to walk in Earth’s gravity, requiring weeks or even months of rehabilitation to regain full strength. Their bodies, having adapted to weightlessness, will take time to function normally in Earth’s conditions again.
On Monday, Elon Musk shared a video of the astronauts thanking him and US president Donald Trump for their support. In the video, Williams reassured her followers, saying, "We are coming back before long, so don't make those plans without me. We'll be back before too long."