When will Sunita Williams return to Earth? NASA to release latest updates tonight

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams pose in Cape Canaveral, Florida, ahead of the launch of Boeing's Starliner-1 Crew Flight Test (CFT). (Image: Reuters)

NASA is gearing up to deliver a critical update on the International Space Station (ISS) operations, focusing on the Boeing Crew Flight Test and NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 mission.

The agency will provide the latest information at 10:00 pm IST on Wednesday, highlighting the developments regarding astronaut Sunita Williams and Commander Butch Wilmore's anticipated return from space.

Williams and Wilmore have been aboard the ISS since June 6, 2024, following the successful launch of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft. Despite an extended stay due to technical challenges, NASA confirms that the astronauts are not stranded. The Starliner team is meticulously working through checklists and simulations to ensure the spacecraft's readiness for a safe return to Earth once a date is finalized.

While in orbit, Commander Butch Wilmore and Pilot Sunita Williams have been actively engaging in monitoring simulations. Meanwhile, Commander Scott Tingle and Pilot Mike Fincke have been participating in simulations from the Boeing Mission Simulator on the ground. Canadian Space Agency astronaut Josh Kutryk has also been involved, managing operations from the console in Houston.

The return of Williams and Wilmore has encountered multiple delays due to technical issues with the Starliner, including helium leaks and thruster malfunctions. These complications have required extensive testing and evaluations to ensure a safe re-entry. NASA and Boeing have conducted approximately 100,000 computer model simulations to prepare for every potential scenario during undocking, deorbit burn, and landing.

To allow more time for analyzing and addressing issues with Boeing's Starliner, NASA has postponed the routine SpaceX launch of astronauts to the ISS by a month. Initially scheduled for August 18, the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft, named Crew-9, is now slated for launch "no earlier than" September 24.

Read More: Will Sunita Williams' Boeing Starliner return before August 18? Know NASA's next move