ISTANBUL

Two NASA astronauts and their crewmates began their long-awaited return to Earth early Tuesday after spending more than nine months aboard the International Space Station (ISS), far longer than originally planned.

NASA announced that astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams undocked from the ISS at 1.05 a.m. local time (0505GMT) aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule, along with NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov. The journey back home is expected to take approximately 17 hours before splashdown.

Wilmore and Williams were sent to the ISS in June 2024 as part of Boeing’s first crewed test flight of its Starliner spacecraft, a mission that was initially intended to last only a few days. However, technical issues with Starliner extended their stay indefinitely, keeping them aboard the station for more than 280 days.

Despite the delays, NASA integrated them into Expedition 72, allowing them to contribute to research, maintenance, and spacewalks. Williams set a new record for cumulative spacewalking time by a female astronaut.

A four-person replacement crew arrived at the ISS on Sunday, marking the final steps before Wilmore and Williams’ departure.

Their delayed return has also sparked political debate, with US President Donald Trump accusing the Biden administration of neglecting the astronauts.