Crew 9 helped ISS Research with designing reactor, build wooden satellites and prepare for missions to the Moon and Mars, NASA said in a post on X (formerly twitter).

As the whole world waits, with abated breath, for the safe return of Sunita Williams, this is how PM Sh @narendramodi expressed his concern for this daughter of India. “Even though you are thousands of miles away, you remain close to our hearts,” says PM Sh Narendra Modi’s heartfelt letter sent to #SunitaWilliams through astronaut Mike Massimino, reflecting the pride of 1.4 billion Indians. A few days ago, PM Modi met Massimino at an event and requested that this letter from him and the people of India must reach her. Wishing her strength and a safe return, the PM reaffirmed India’s deep bond with its illustrious daughter. Sunita, in turn, touched by the gesture, expressed her gratitude to PM Modi and India," said Dr. Jitendra Singh, the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences in a post on the microblogging platform X (formerly twitter).

During their extended nine-month stay at ISS, NASA astronauts Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams conducted more than 900 hours of scientific research ranging 150 experiments. It ranged from studying the effects of microgravity on humans, testing the behaviour of flame in space and conducting spacewalks.

On its journey to the International Space Station back in June 2024, Boeing's Starliner spacecraft experience several technical issues, including five helium leaks caused by a faulty seal which led to a malfunctioning maneuvering thruster, which is used for the docking at the ISS. On reaching the ISS, four more of the 28 maneuvering thrusters failed.

While four of the five malfunctioning thrusters were fixed by engineers, NASA decided to send Starliner back empty as it was deemed unsafe for human travel.

Barry Wilmore and Williams have been in space since June 5, 2024, in what was supposed to be a eight day mission. However, after their Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner was deemed unsafe for the return journey, the two astronaut's made ISS their abode for over nine months.

The journey from the International Space Station to Florida's coast will take 17 hours.

The spacecraft carrying Crew 9's four members, including Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore undocked from the space station at 10:35 am IST on Tuesday. They're expected to touch down on Earth at 3:27 pm IST today.

At 11:05 am IST on March 17, the hatches between the ISS and the Dragon spacecraft were opened. Shortly after, NASA's Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers along with Japan's Takuya Onishi and Russia's Kirlill Peskov entered the spacecraft.

The hatches between the International Space Stationa and SpaceX's Dragon Capsuel closed at 8:05 am IST on Tuesday.

NASA's Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore are set to return from their 9-month long stay at the International Space Station on SpaceX's Dragon capsule. They will spash down off the coast of Mexico at 3:27 am IST on Wednesday.