Astronauts Sunita “Suni” Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore have concluded their nine-month mission on the International Space Station (ISS) and safely returned to Earth. Their extended stay was a result of unforeseen issues with the Boeing Starliner spacecraft, including leaks and thruster problems, which led to a prolonged period on the ISS.

The astronauts landed in the Gulf of Mexico aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule at 5:57 p.m. ET on Tuesday, marking the end of a 17-hour journey from the ISS. This event brings to a close an unusual chapter in recent spaceflight history, characterized by the challenges faced by Boeing’s Starliner and the controversy surrounding their return, which was politicized by SpaceX CEO Elon Musk.

Williams and Wilmore initially launched to the ISS in June 2024 as part of a critical mission for Boeing, aiming to compete with SpaceX in sending astronauts to the ISS and potentially beyond. Boeing, along with SpaceX, secured a contract with NASA in 2014 for this purpose. However, while SpaceX successfully conducted its first crewed flight with the Crew Dragon spacecraft in 2020, Boeing’s Starliner project faced significant delays and cost overruns.

The June 2024 flight was intended to be a turning point for Boeing, but the Starliner experienced issues before docking with the ISS. After the astronauts boarded, NASA and Boeing conducted tests, ultimately deciding to return the Starliner to Earth without its crew. NASA then collaborated with SpaceX to arrange the astronauts’ return, deciding to wait until early 2025 to avoid understaffing the ISS.

In recent months, Musk claimed, without providing evidence, that he had offered to bring the astronauts back earlier, suggesting that former President Joe Biden declined this offer for political reasons related to his rival, Donald Trump. However, NASA’s former administrator and deputy administrator under Biden have denied knowledge of such an offer, and senior White House officials have also stated they were unaware of any proposal.

Williams and Wilmore’s return to Earth marks a significant milestone, ending a prolonged and complicated mission. Their safe landing concludes a chapter in space exploration history marked by both technological challenges and political controversy.

For more information, you can watch the team’s return to Earth on the SpaceX website, which provides a detailed account of their mission and journey back.