NASA Astronauts Finally Return Home – Why They Were Stuck & First Photos of Their Rescue

Two NASA astronauts have returned home after spending nearly 300 days in space during what was supposed to be a brief mission. Their extended stay followed a failed test flight and months of uncertainty about how and when they would return. Newly released photos show the moment they were finally rescued.

After an extended mission that drew attention both on Earth and in orbit, two NASA astronauts have finally completed their return home. Their journey, which began aboard a Boeing spacecraft, was disrupted by critical malfunctions that altered the mission’s course and duration.

As months passed, the delay raised questions, drew political commentary, and prompted public concern over the astronauts’ status. Now, following a high-profile recovery effort by SpaceX, the astronauts are back on Earth, and new images from their rescue offer a first look at how the mission came to an end.

A Short Mission Turns Into Months in Orbit

On June 5, 2024, NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams launched aboard Boeing’s Starliner capsule for what was intended to be a brief test flight to the International Space Station (ISS). The mission was planned to last just over a week, but unexpected technical issues began shortly after liftoff.

While en route to the space station, the Starliner capsule experienced a series of technical failures, including helium leaks and malfunctioning thrusters. Despite reaching the space station, the condition of the capsule raised safety concerns.

NASA and Boeing determined that returning the astronauts in the same vehicle was too risky. By September 2024, NASA decided to send the Starliner capsule back to Earth empty, leaving Wilmore and Williams aboard the station without a return vehicle.

With their spacecraft gone and no immediate return option, Wilmore and Williams transitioned from test pilots to full-time ISS crew, taking on new roles during their unexpected extended stay. Meanwhile, engineers worked to resolve the issues and explore alternative solutions for their return.

Astronauts Take on New Roles Aboard the ISS

With no safe way home, the astronauts, originally on a short-term mission, now faced an indefinite stay in orbit. Both had previous experience aboard the ISS and had refreshed their training before launch, allowing them to adapt smoothly to the demands of a prolonged mission.

During their extended stay, they took on a wide range of tasks, including scientific experiments, equipment maintenance, and spacewalks. Throughout nine missions, Williams spent a total of 62 hours outside the station, setting a record for the most time spent spacewalking by a female astronaut.

Three months into the mission, she was appointed commander of the space station, a role she held until March 2025. Who are the astronauts behind this historic mission, and what challenges did they face beyond the technical delays?

Who Are Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams?

Both Wilmore and Williams are retired Navy captains who became astronauts after decorated military careers. Wilmore, 62, is from Tennessee, where he played football in high school and college before joining the Navy, eventually completing 663 aircraft carrier landings.

Williams, 59, grew up in Needham, Massachusetts, and was a competitive swimmer and distance runner before serving in combat helicopter squadrons. NASA selected Williams as an astronaut in 1998 and Wilmore in 2000.

Each had completed two spaceflights, including long-duration missions aboard the ISS, prior to being chosen for the Starliner test flight. While they accepted the delays in their return, both acknowledged the personal toll.

Wilmore missed most of his younger daughter’s senior year of high school; his older daughter was attending college during his time in orbit. His wife, Deanna, managed their household in his absence. Williams, whose husband Mike cared for their two Labrador retrievers back home.

They stayed in contact with their families through internet calls from space. Williams remained in touch with her mother and husband, a retired federal marshal. Wilmore also maintained contact with his Baptist church, participating in prayer services and calling ailing members from orbit.

As months passed, NASA faced pressure to bring them home — but concerns over cost and station staffing shaped the agency’s decision to delay their return.

NASA Weighs Options, Public Pressure Grows

As the months passed, NASA worked with SpaceX to explore potential ways to bring Wilmore and Williams back earlier than planned. According to agency officials, SpaceX proposed several contingency options, including modifying existing missions or using alternative seating arrangements in the mid-deck of the Dragon capsule.

However, these options were ruled out early due to budget constraints and the importance of keeping a full crew aboard the ISS to support ongoing operations. NASA ultimately decided to make use of Wilmore and Williams’ presence aboard the station, integrating them into the long-term mission while planning a delayed but safe return.

The decision drew growing attention as the astronauts’ stay extended into early 2025. In late January 2025, the situation became a national topic after Donald Trump and Elon Musk addressed the delay in a joint televised interview.

Musk stated, “We are accelerating the return of the astronauts, which was postponed kind of to a ridiculous degree.” Trump added, “They got left in space,” attributing the delay to the Joe Biden administration. Musk also claimed the astronauts were left in space for “political reasons, which is not good.”

At the time of the interview, the replacement SpaceX capsule was not yet ready to fly. To speed up the process, SpaceX provided a previously used Dragon capsule, allowing the mission timeline to advance by several weeks.

Despite the political attention, Wilmore and Williams maintained a neutral public stance, expressing support for NASA’s decisions during their appearances from orbit.

The Rescue Mission Takes Shape

NASA and SpaceX agreed on a plan to return Wilmore and Williams aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule as part of the Crew-9 mission. This mission launched in September 2024, carrying astronaut Nick Hague, Russian cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov, and two empty seats reserved for the stranded astronauts.

At a NASA press briefing, agency officials explained that this solution allowed Wilmore and Williams to continue supporting the ISS mission while ensuring a safe and coordinated return.

Ken Bowersox, associate administrator and Space Operations Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington, and Bill Gerstenmaier, Vice President of Build and Flight Reliability at SpaceX, were present during the briefing.

They noted, “It was our pleasure to figure out a creative way to support NASA and to keep the mission of the space station — pushing science and commercializing space — at the forefront for this nation to keep us a leader in space.”

With the arrival of the Crew-9 team at the ISS in early March 2025, final preparations were made for the astronauts’ departure. The plan included a pre-dawn undocking and a splashdown near the Florida coast, pending favorable weather conditions.

Departure, Splashdown, and First Images Released

On March 11, 2025, Wilmore, Williams, Hague, and Gorbunov departed the International Space Station aboard SpaceX’s Dragon capsule. The spacecraft undocked at 1 a.m. Eastern, beginning the journey home nearly 300 days after Wilmore and Williams had first arrived.

Splashdown was scheduled for 6 p.m. off the Florida coast, pending favorable weather. NASA authorized their early departure after reviewing the week’s uncertain weather forecast, aiming to ensure a safe return window.

The moment took place approximately 260 miles above the Pacific Ocean, marking the final leg of a mission that had drawn worldwide attention.

Shortly after splashdown, the first photos of the astronauts were released, showing Wilmore and Williams aboard the SpaceX recovery ship. These images, capturing their safe return after months in space, quickly circulated online and prompted a wave of public responses.

Many expressed relief and support, with one user writing, “Prayers for your safe return.” Others reacted with frustration over the delays, including a comment that read, “This is disgraceful. These two astronauts should sue when they get back to earth [sic].”

Some viewers speculated about the astronauts’ close working relationship, noting, “They will make a great couple they seem to get along very well.” The overall sentiment was one of urgency and concern, with several simply stating, “Get them home.”

More About the Astronauts and Their Return to Earth

On March 18, 2025, as the SpaceX Dragon capsule splashed down, the crew was greeted by a pod of dolphins swimming up to them. NASA’s Johnson Space Center shared a video on X, calling the mammals “the unplanned welcome crew!”

The space center added, “Crew-9 had some surprise visitors after splashing down this afternoon.” The dolphins swam around the fast boat team assigned to secure the capsule, making the landing even more special.

Besides their safe landing, one question on people’s minds might be whether the astronauts earned overtime since their mission was unexpectedly extended. The answer is no. A publication revealed that they are paid like other federal employees on business trips.

They receive their normal salaries with no overtime, while NASA covers transportation, lodging, and food expenses. Cady Coleman, a retired astronaut, explained, “There is some small amount of money per day for incidentals that they end up being legally obligated to pay you.”

Coleman recalled receiving around $4 daily. When asked whether the astronauts, as federal employees, had received the OPM deferred resignation memorandum while in space, a NASA spokesperson had no immediate answer, stating, “I am checking. Hope to have an answer by your deadline tomorrow.”

The Deferred Resignation Program (DRP) is a voluntary program that grants eligible employees an eight-month paid transition period through September 30, 2025. During this time, they are generally not expected to work and are exempt from in-person duties. The DRP was established by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).

Seeing before-and-after images of Williams following her return, netizens had plenty to say. One person commented, “Be honest just the hair ! Her face looks younger! If she dyed her hair she will be look better! [sic]”

Another person thought, “Other than her hair, she actually looks better.” Relating to her situation, one netizen stated, “I would go grey too from stress if I was stuck in space,” while someone else joked, “They got her looking like she wasn’t able to brush Rapunzels hair.”

Life After Orbit and Starliner’s Uncertain Future

With their mission complete, Wilmore and Williams looked forward to reuniting with their families and returning to routines on Earth. Wilmore, who serves as an elder at his Baptist church, said he was eager to return to in-person ministry and to enjoy simple pleasures like the smell of fresh-cut grass.

While in orbit, he stayed connected with his congregation through prayer services and phone calls, using the space station’s internet capabilities. Williams planned to take long walks with her two Labrador retrievers and to swim in the ocean.

Throughout her time in space, she maintained contact with her husband, Mike, a retired federal marshal, and her mother, whom she said worried about her during the mission.

NASA officials stated that no special medical protocols were required for the astronauts, as several others have spent even longer in space without complications.

As for Boeing’s Starliner capsule, its future remains uncertain. After helium leaks and thruster malfunctions cut short its crewed mission in 2024, the spacecraft was returned to Earth without its passengers, and investigations into the technical issues are still underway.

There is no confirmed timeline for when Starliner will carry astronauts again, either for crewed missions or cargo. NASA continues to stand by its decision to partner with two US companies — Boeing and SpaceX — for astronaut transport.

This approach is intended to provide redundancy and flexibility until the International Space Station is retired in 2030, after which NASA plans to transition to privately operated space stations.

A Mission Redefined by Setbacks, Solutions, and Safe Return

Wilmore and Williams’ extended mission highlighted both the challenges and complexities of modern spaceflight. What began as a short test flight evolved into a high-profile operation involving technical setbacks, shifting plans, and intense public focus.

Their safe return marked the end of a mission that tested the flexibility of NASA’s partnerships and the resilience of its astronauts. As attention turns to the outcome of Boeing’s Starliner investigation, their experience serves as a reminder of the uncertainties still present in human space exploration.