Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore: The Astronauts Returning to Earth with Nick Hague and Aleksandr Gorbunov
The Anticipated Homecoming
NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore are finally coming back to Earth after being stranded in space for months. Their journey home will be accompanied by NASA’s Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov.
- Launched in June 2024 for an eight-day mission
- Stranded at the International Space Station (ISS) due to propulsion issues
- Now on their way home with Hague and Gorbunov
The Voyage Back to Earth
A Dragon spacecraft was sent to the ISS in September 2024 with a two-member crew instead of the usual four. After much delay, the spacecraft finally docked at the ISS on March 16. The undocking is now complete, and the spacecraft is making its way back to Earth with four astronauts: Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore, Nick Hague, and Aleksandr Gorbunov.
NASA’s Nick Hague
Selected as a NASA astronaut in 2013, Colonel Nick Hague holds a Bachelor of Science in Astronautical Engineering from the United States Air Force Academy and a Master of Science in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from MIT. He completed his astronaut candidate training in July 2015.
- First mission to the ISS in 2018 was aborted
- Second mission to the ISS as commander of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 mission
- Sent to the ISS to bring Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore back to Earth
Roscosmos Cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov
Aleksandr Vladimirovish Gorbunov is a Russian cosmonaut and aerospace engineer. A native of Zheleznogorsk, he has an engineering degree from the Moscow Aviation Institute. This is Gorbunov’s first space flight.
The four astronauts are expected to land at the Florida coast, USA, around 3:27 AM IST on March 19 (Wednesday) after a 17-hour journey.
