Astronaut Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore are finally on their way back to Earth after spending over nine months in space. NASA confirmed that the spacecraft carrying them successfully undocked from the International Space Station (ISS), marking the beginning of their return journey.

The Crew Dragon spacecraft, launched by SpaceX atop a Falcon 9 rocket, detached from the ISS at 10:35 AM (IST). NASA also shared a video of the moment, showcasing the long-awaited departure.

Nine-month delay after Boeing Starliner failure

Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore initially traveled to the ISS on June 5 last year aboard Boeing’s Starliner for what was supposed to be an eight-day mission. However, technical issues with the Starliner’s propulsion system left them stranded in space. The capsule was deemed unfit to bring them back and was returned to Earth without a crew in September.

With uncertainty looming over their return, NASA reassigned them to SpaceX’s Crew-9 mission. Unlike the usual four-member crew, SpaceX sent a Dragon spacecraft with only two astronauts to the ISS in September, ensuring the stranded crew could return.

Four astronauts onboard return mission

After multiple delays, the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft successfully docked at the ISS on Sunday. Now, with the undocking complete, the crew has begun their 17-hour journey back to Earth.

The return flight includes four astronauts: Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore, NASA’s Nick Hague, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov. Their spacecraft is expected to splash down off the Florida coast at approximately 3:27 AM (IST) on Wednesday.

Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, the two U.S. astronauts stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) for over nine months, are finally set to return to Earth. NASA has scheduled their splashdown for Tuesday evening (EDT), off the Florida coast aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule.

NASA advances return schedule

Initially planned for Wednesday, NASA moved up the return to 5:57 pm EDT on Tuesday (3:27 am IST, Wednesday). The decision was made to allow for a smooth crew transition while ensuring a safe return before unfavorable weather conditions develop later in the week.

NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov will also be aboard the Crew Dragon as it makes its descent. The hatch closure preparations will begin on Monday evening, and the entire journey back will be streamed live.

The nine-month ordeal

Williams and Wilmore have been on the ISS since June, far beyond their expected mission duration. Their extended stay was due to propulsion issues with the Boeing Starliner spacecraft, which was deemed unfit for the return journey.

Originally designed as a short round-trip, their mission ended up lasting three months longer than a standard six-month ISS rotation. While this is much shorter than the record 371-day stay by NASA astronaut Frank Rubio or the world record 437-day stay by Russian cosmonaut Valeri Polyakov, the sudden extension forced them to receive additional clothing and supplies.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has strongly criticized the United Nations and other international organizations, labeling them as “almost irrelevant” in addressing current global conflicts. Speaking on American scientist Lex Fridman’s podcast, PM Modi underscored the lack of reforms in these institutions and their failure to maintain global order amid ongoing wars and geopolitical tensions.

PM Modi’s remarks on UN’s inefficiency

PM Modi pointed out that despite the existence of international organizations, those who disregard laws and regulations continue to act unchecked. “The international organizations that were created have become almost irrelevant, there is no reform in them. Institutions like the UN cannot play their role. People in the world who do not care about laws and rules are doing everything, no one is able to stop them,” he said.

The Prime Minister emphasized that lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic should have led to a shift towards global unity, but instead, the world has moved further into instability and conflict.

“Covid-19 has exposed the limitations of all of us… It seemed that the world would learn something from it and move towards a new world order. But unfortunately, instead of peace, the world entered a phase of uncertainty, and wars only worsened the situation,” he added.

Call for cooperation over conflict

PM Modi asserted that expansionism and unilateralism cannot work in an interconnected and interdependent world. He stressed that nations must collaborate rather than engage in conflicts.

“As I said earlier, the world is interdependent, interconnected… Everyone needs everyone, no one can do anything alone. And I see that in all the different forums I have to go to, everyone is worried about conflict. We hope to get relief from it very soon,” he stated.

Last year, PM Modi, during the UN’s ‘Summit of the Future,’ had also called for urgent reforms, stating that global actions must align with global ambitions.

India’s push for a permanent UNSC seat

India has long argued for its inclusion as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), citing the need for structural reforms. New Delhi believes the UNSC, founded in 1945, does not reflect contemporary geopolitical realities.

Currently, the UNSC consists of five permanent members—Russia, the UK, China, France, and the US—who hold veto power, and ten non-permanent members elected for a two-year term. While the UK, France, and the US have expressed support for India’s bid, structural reforms remain a roadblock.

With global conflicts escalating, PM Modi’s remarks have once again brought attention to the inefficacy of international institutions, reinforcing India’s push for reform and a permanent seat at the high table.