The world cheered as Crew-9 splashed down off the Florida coast, but for India, it was an especially proud moment. The nation had been eagerly awaiting and praying for the safe return of Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams, along with her crewmate Butch Wilmore. Here’s the hatch closure and splashdown timeline for Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore’s return according to Indian Standard Time (IST) on March 2025:
March 18, 2025
8:15 AM IST (10:45 PM EDT, March 17): Hatch closure preparations begin for the SpaceX Crew-9 Dragon spacecraft at the International Space Station (ISS).
8:45 AM IST (11:15 PM EDT, March 17): Hatch officially closes, securing the crew inside the Dragon spacecraft for their journey back to Earth.
10:35 AM IST (1:05 AM EDT): Dragon undocks from the ISS, starting the 17-hour return trip.
March 19, 2025
2:15 AM IST (4:45 PM EDT, March 18): NASA resumes live coverage of the return, leading up to the splashdown.
2:41 AM IST (5:11 PM EDT, March 18): Deorbit burn takes place, initiating the spacecraft’s reentry into Earth’s atmosphere.
3:27 AM IST (5:57 PM EDT, March 18): Splashdown occurs off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida, in the Gulf of Mexico, marking the successful end of their 286-day mission.
From 4:00 AM
All the astronauts were deboarded from the hatch into a stretchers for medical assistance.
Why ‘Stranded’ NASA Astronauts Might Need Stretchers After Their Return to Earth
NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore are finally set to return to Earth on Tuesday, March 18 (EST), after an unexpectedly long stay in space. Their mission, originally planned for just a few weeks, stretched to over nine months aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Now, the duo will make their long-awaited journey home inside a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, with their return set to end in a safe splashdown in Earth’s oceans.
As soon as their capsule is opened, the astronauts will likely be carried out and placed on stretchers—but not because of a medical emergency. Experts explain that this is a routine procedure for all returning astronauts, helping them adjust to gravity after months in space.
