U.S.
US astronauts stranded on ISS returning home on SpaceX capsule
By Craig Nigrelli (Anchor), Brock Koller (Senior Producer), Shea Taylor (Producer), Kaleb Gillespie (Video Editor)
- NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore return to Earth after nine months on the ISS due to Boeing’s Starliner technical failures. They departed on a SpaceX Dragon capsule with two other crew members.
- The astronauts conducted pressure, communication and seal tests before departure, with NASA expecting optimal weather conditions for splashdown.
- Boeing’s Starliner program faces uncertainty, with reports suggesting it won’t fly again in 2025 due to ongoing technical issues.
Full Story
Two NASA astronauts who spent nine months aboard the International Space Station (ISS) due to technical failures with Boeing’s Starliner capsule are finally returning to Earth.
Sunita Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore, originally set for a brief 10-day mission, were unable to leave the ISS as planned in June 2024. Their mission extended as NASA and Boeing worked to resolve Starliner’s issues.
Media Landscape
See how news outlets across the political spectrum are covering this story. Learn more
Left 28%
Center 38%
Right 34%
Bias Summary
- NASA’s astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, are returning to Earth after nine months in space aboard a SpaceX capsule.
- They left the International Space Station, their home since last spring, ensuring a timely return due to an uncertain weather forecast.
- Wilmore and Williams, both retired Navy captains, expressed that they enjoyed their time in space, reminiscent of their military experiences.
- No summary available because of a lack of coverage.
- NASA Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams departed the International Space Station aboard a SpaceX capsule after a nine-month mission.
- They faced numerous delays, including issues with the SpaceX capsule, which pushed their return beyond the planned schedule.
- Williams set a record with 62 hours over nine spacewalks, the most for female astronauts in a career.
- Wilmore and Williams expressed their determination to support NASA’s decisions and looked forward to reuniting with their families after the flight.
Bias Comparison
Media outlets on the left
emphasize the significance of the astronauts’ prolonged mission and the political implications surrounding their return, particularly highlighting President Donald Trump’s involvement.
Media outlets on the right
present the logistical challenges and experiences of Wilmore and Williams, framing their return as a moment of personal anticipation without political conside.
Report an issue with this comparison
Bias Distribution
Far
Left
Left
+0
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Untracked Bias
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250 other sources covering this story
Total News Sources
250
Leaning Left
35
Center
47
Leaning Right
42
Last Updated
23 hours ago
Bias Distribution Powered by Ground News™
Two days after Crew-10 arrived at the @Space_Station, Dragon and Crew-9 are set to depart on Tuesday, March 18 → https://t.co/ZZEmGU8Aar pic.twitter.com/Qrpd1Rq40j
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) March 17, 2025
NASA and Boeing opted to send the spacecraft back to Earth without a crew in September, extending Williams and Wilmore’s stay. NASA reassigned them as ISS crew members, replacing the astronauts originally scheduled for the station.
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How are they returning to Earth?
A SpaceX Dragon capsule carrying Williams, Wilmore, American astronaut Nicholas Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov undocked from the ISS at 1:05 a.m. ET.
Dragon separation confirmed! pic.twitter.com/xjToQWAsLm
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) March 18, 2025
After a 17-hour descent, the spacecraft is set to splash down off the Florida coast. NASA is assessing weather conditions to determine the exact location.
NASA officials expect optimal weather conditions for the return.
Before departure, the astronauts conducted pressure, communication and seal tests inside the capsule.
Did political debates impact the mission?
The extended mission became a subject of political debate, particularly involving SpaceX founder Elon Musk and President Donald Trump.
Musk, without evidence, claimed the Biden administration “abandoned” Williams and Wilmore. Trump suggested that the White House order a special rescue for their return.
The astronauts addressed the claims.
Wilmore previously told CNN, “We don’t feel abandoned, we don’t feel stuck, we don’t feel stranded.” He preferred the narrative of being “prepared and committed” rather than stranded.
However, he confirmed Musk’s statement that SpaceX had offered to bring them home, though he was unaware of the specifics.
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What is the future of Boeing’s Starliner?
The return of Williams and Wilmore brought renewed attention to the future of Boeing’s Starliner program.
The spacecraft, developed under NASA’s commercial crew program, experienced multiple issues during its first crewed test flight, including thruster malfunctions and helium leaks.
Starliner is unlikely to fly again in 2025, according to reports from Aviation Week. However, Boeing remains committed to resolving the technical problems and earning a new flight readiness certification.
NASA will broadcast the final stages of the descent, including splashdown and crew recovery, on NASA TV and the agency’s new streaming service, NASA+.
A press conference will follow to provide further details on the mission and the status of Starliner’s future flights.
Tags: astronaut, Boeing, International Space Station, NASA, Space Command, Space Technology, SpaceX, U.S. Space Force
[craig nigrelli]
THIS MORNING, THEY ARE HOMEWARD BOUND. AFTER NINE MONTHS IN SPACE, AMERICAN ASTRONAUTS BUTCH WILMORE AND SUNI WILLIAMS ARE NOW ABOARD a SPACEX CAPSULE THAT DEPARTED FROM THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION OVERNIGHT, AND IS HEADED BACK TO THE U-S.
WILMORE AND WILLIAMS HAD BEEN AT THE I-S-S FOR WHAT WAS EXPECTED TO BE Approximately a weeklong mission — BUT TURNED INTO A VERY LONG ORDEAL. THEY ARRIVED IN JUNE ABOARD THE NEW BOEING STARLINER CREW CAPSULE. BUT DIFFICULTIES WITH THE STARLINER FORCED NASA TO BRING IT BACK, UNMANNED, WHILE THE TWO ASTRONAUTS REMAINED IN SPACE. A FEBRUARY RETURN THEN WAS POSTPONED AS THERE WERE ISSUES WITH THE SPACEX CAPSULE.
PRESIDENT TRUMP THEN URGED ELON MUSK TO SPEED THINGS ALONG. MUSK’S SPACEX SENT UP A USED CAPSULE THAT DOCKED ON SUNDAY AND PICKED UP WILMORE AND WILLIAMS, ALONG WITH TWO OTHER ASTRONAUTS.
THE CAPSULE IS SET TO SPLASH DOWN OFF THE FLORIDA COAST, AROUND 6 PM EASTERN.
One more note — Thanks to her extended time in space — With 62 hours over nine spacewalks, Williams set a new record: the most time spacewalking by a female astronaut.
Media Landscape
See how news outlets across the political spectrum are covering this story. Learn more
Left 28%
Center 38%
Right 34%
Bias Summary
- NASA’s astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, are returning to Earth after nine months in space aboard a SpaceX capsule.
- They left the International Space Station, their home since last spring, ensuring a timely return due to an uncertain weather forecast.
- Wilmore and Williams, both retired Navy captains, expressed that they enjoyed their time in space, reminiscent of their military experiences.
- No summary available because of a lack of coverage.
- NASA Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams departed the International Space Station aboard a SpaceX capsule after a nine-month mission.
- They faced numerous delays, including issues with the SpaceX capsule, which pushed their return beyond the planned schedule.
- Williams set a record with 62 hours over nine spacewalks, the most for female astronauts in a career.
- Wilmore and Williams expressed their determination to support NASA’s decisions and looked forward to reuniting with their families after the flight.
Bias Comparison
Media outlets on the left
emphasize the significance of the astronauts’ prolonged mission and the political implications surrounding their return, particularly highlighting President Donald Trump’s involvement.
Media outlets on the right
present the logistical challenges and experiences of Wilmore and Williams, framing their return as a moment of personal anticipation without political conside.
Report an issue with this comparison
Bias Distribution
Far
Left
Left
+0
Click to close
Click to close
Click to close
Click to close
Click to close
Untracked Bias
Click to close
250 other sources covering this story
Total News Sources
250
Leaning Left
35
Center
47
Leaning Right
42
Last Updated
23 hours ago
Bias Distribution Powered by Ground News™
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