Pic Credit: NASA
NASA's Crew-9 mission astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore finally landed on Earth safely. The duo embarked on a journey to the International Space Station (ISS) on June 5, 2024, in a Boeing Starliner spacecraft. Although the journey was planned for only eight days, technical issues delayed it for over nine months.
Ekanki Vishnoi unfolds all facts related to the Crew-9 space mission with the timeline. Read all the details of this trending news to get an insight into Sunita Williams' accomplishments.
Important Facts About NASA's Crew-9 Mission
- Sunita Williams was the Commander of the ISS for the Crew-9 Mission.
- Williams was accompanied by Butch Wilmore in this mission.
- They stayed in space for 286 days.
- They orbited Earth 4,576 times and travelled 121 million miles (195 million km).
- Williams and Wilmore conducted 900 hours of Scientific Research.
- They performed 150 scientific experiments.
- Sunita Williams created a record of 62 hours and nine minutes of spacewalks.
- SpaceX Dragon Freedom Spacecraft brought back Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore to Earth accompanied by Nick Hague and Aleksandr Grebyonkin.
- Astronauts embarked on a 17-hour journey back to Earth in the Dragon Freedom capsule.
- Sunita Williams became the American astronaut with the second-longest combined time in space (608 days), first being Peggy Whitson (675 days).
Rescue Mission Back To Earth
To bring Williams and Wilmore back to Earth, NASA had decided to utilise Elon Musk's SpaceX capsule, which was the next scheduled flight.
Instead of four astronauts, only two astronauts, Nick Hague and Aleksandr Grebyonkin, were sent to ISS in late September with two spare seats. They were on a six-month mission, which means Williams and Wilmore had to extend their stay.
All four astronauts successfully returned from the ISS in SpaceX's Dragon Freedom spacecraft, which splashed down off the Florida coast at around 5:57 pm Eastern Time (ET) on March 18, 2025. The SpaceX capsule parachuted over the Gulf of Mexico in the Panhandle region, off the coast of Florida's Tallahassee. The trending news has become viral on social media.
Crew Exchange
Before Williams and Wilmore returned to Earth, NASA's Crew-10 mission successfully docked with the ISS for a smooth crew exchange. The mission includes Flight Engineers Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers from NASA, Krill Peskov of Roscosmos and Takuya Onishi of JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency).
Timeline Of NASA's Crew-9 Mission
Date | Details |
June 5, 2024 | Boeing Starliner Spacecraft launched taking Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore to ISS |
June 6, 2024 | Reached ISS |
July 2024 | Technical issues were detected due to a helium leak in the propulsion system & thruster malfunctions |
August 2024 | NASA extended the Mission |
Early September 2024 | The faulty Boeing Starliner spacecraft reached Earth empty, landed in the desert of New Mexico |
Late September 2024 | Nick Hague and Aleksandr Grebyonkin reached ISS in SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule as part of a six-month mission |
March 17, 2025 | Crew-10 reached ISS to take over operations |
March 18, 2025 | Williams and Wilmore, along with Hague and Grebyonkin landed on Earth in SpaceX's Dragon Freedom spacecraft, which splashed down off the Florida coast |
Accomplishments During This Space Mission
Sunita Williams became the American astronaut with the second-longest combined time in space (608 days combined days of her three visits to the ISS). Peggy Whitson, former chief of NASA's astronaut office, spent 675 days over four space missions.
Service and Maintenance Of ISS
One of the major goals of the space mission was to maintain and service the International Space Station. Sunita Williams performed repairs, cleaned it and replaced outdated hardware. This was required to ensure the ISS remained operational.
Sunita Williams 62 hours of Spacewalks
During the mission, NASA astronaut Sunita Williams created a record of 62 hours and nine minutes of spacewalks. She took nine trips outside the ISS to conduct maintenance activities and scientific experiments. Her name is etched in the history of space exploration.
900 hours of Scientific Research
"Williams and Wilmore conducted 900 hours of research, including 150 experiments," Joel Montalbano, deputy associate administrator of NASA's Space Operations Mission Directorate, said in a press conference.
The duo studied the impact of microgravity on biological systems.
Another noteworthy experiment is the study on how fluid systems respond to microgravity conditions in space.
They also tested the European Enhanced Exploration Exercise Device (E4D), which can help maintain astronauts' health in space. The device combines resistance exercises, rowing and cycling.
They also contributed to creating innovative technologies like fuel cells and water recovery. To study how plants would respond to conditions in space, they also grew red romaine lettuce aboard the ISS.
Another crucial research conducted was on BioNutrients to study how useful bacteria can be utilised to create healthy nutrients for astronauts. The BioNutrients project could help in the generation of a vitamin and mineral-rich diet for astronauts embarking on space journeys.
Bhagavad Gita in Space
Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams carries a copy of the Bhagavad Gita, a Ganesha idol and samosas with her during her space missions. The trending space news has become viral on all social media platforms as an old video of Williams is doing the rounds.
Nutrition and Fitness
To minimise health damage, both astronauts used to workout for two hours every day in space. They took pre-packaged and vacuum-sealed meals such as pasta, stews and soups. As a source of protein, they ate tuna, roasted chicken and shrimp. They drank recycled water purified from urine and sweat.
Health Hazards
Sunita Williams' weak body and white hair resulted from their prolonged stay in space. Williams and Wilmore faced health hazards due to exposure to radiation, microgravity and pressure shifts on their bodies.
According to NASA, astronauts lose around one per cent of bone density each month due to microgravity.
They will go through a 45-day rehabilitation program at NASA's Johnson Space Center. Their health would be monitored, and bone loss, neurological impacts, muscle atrophy, vision problems and other health issues will be taken care of.
