Two NASA astronauts have successfully departed the International Space Station (ISS) and are en route back to Earth after being "stranded" for over nine months. Sunita Williams and Barry "Butch" Wilmore had originally planned to complete a week-long mission that began in June 2024; however, complications arose following the failure of Boeing's Starliner capsule, which was intended to bring them back.

This evening, the astronauts, aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule, undocked from the ISS at 1:05 AM ET (5:05 AM GMT). The spacecraft is anticipated to splash down off the coast of Florida at around 6 PM ET, depending on the weather conditions.

Initially, Williams and Wilmore were to assess the Starliner capsule's docking and operational capabilities, but due to technical setbacks and safety concerns, they became permanent crew members on the ISS while waiting for resolution. NASA opted to send the Starliner capsule back empty in September, leading to their extended mission.

In an affectionate farewell, NASA astronaut Anne McClain remarked, "We’ll miss you, but have a great journey home," as the capsule departed the space station. Alongside them are fellow astronauts Nicholas Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov.

Hague expressed gratitude for the opportunity to call the space station home and highlighted the collaborative effort of international partners for the betterment of humanity. They were all dressed in re-entry suits, sharing laughter and camaraderie before sealing themselves inside the capsule for final checks.

Since their arrival, the astronauts have become collateral in a political tug-of-war. Elon Musk, the founder of SpaceX and a supporter of Donald Trump, claimed without evidence that the astronauts were "abandoned" by the Biden administration. This assertion led to a whirlwind of media attention and confusion about their situation. Wilmore did acknowledge Musk’s assertion that he offered to bring them home last year but ultimately admitted to having no clear information on the matter.

Moreover, the ongoing debate escalated into public disputes, as Musk clashed with Danish astronaut Andreas Mogensen, who challenged Musk’s claims and emphasized that their return had been scheduled for months. Tension also intensified between Musk and Arizona Senator Mark Kelly, who criticized Musk's handling of NASA contracts and space budgets.

As the astronauts make their way home, many eyes will be on the future of Boeing's Starliner. After facing multiple failures, including thruster malfunctions, engineers are currently assessing the spacecraft in New Mexico to determine the root of the issues encountered during its inaugural crewed flight. The spotlight is not only on the astronauts’ safe return but also on the ongoing developments in NASA's commercial crew program and how it will adapt moving forward.

Fans of space exploration can catch the final stages of the descent, including splashdown and recovery, live on NASA TV and its newly launched streaming platform, NASA+.