Astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore are back on Earth after spending nine unplanned months in space
The pair waved and smiled as they emerged from the SpaceX Dragon, which splashed down off the coast of Florida
A pod of dolphins inspected Suni and Butch's capsule as it bobbed in the ocean, waiting to be pulled aboard a rescue ship
Suni and Butch left Earth in June 2024 for an eight-day mission to test Boeing Starliner's capsule
But the capsule suffered technical issues, so Nasa decided to keep them on the ISS and return the Starliner to Earth empty
It was a fast and fiery re-entry through the Earth's atmosphere for the Space X capsule - science editor Rebecca Morelle explains how it works
Watch: Dolphins surround Dragon capsule after successful splashdown
Image source, NASAThe Nasa control room
In our live stream at the top of this page, we've been listening in on updates from Nasa.
They say there will be a loss of signal with the capsule that could last about 10 minutes when it enters the atmosphere.
That's because of a plasma build up, and Nasa says it is a normal part of re-entry.
We've just seen some live images from inside of the capsule as it prepares to return to Earth.
The astronauts are seen strapped into their seats, which is done during "dynamic" operations such as re-entry.
According to Nasa, they will lower the visors on their helmets as they begin to enter the atmosphere.
Image source, NASA
Image source, NASA
Image source, NASA
Image source, GettyBritish astronaut Tim Peake said it can take a while to re-adjust once you are back on Earth.
"Your body feels great, it feels like a holiday,” he told BBC Radio 4's Today Programme.
“Your heart is having an easy time, your muscles and bones are having an easy time," he said.
"You're floating around the space station in this wonderful zero gravity environment. But you must keep up the exercise regime.
"Because you're staying fit in space, not for space itself, but for when you return back to the punishing gravity environment of Earth. Those first two or three days back on Earth can be really punishing."
Nasa has published a rough schedule of how the next few hours will play out.
Rebecca Morelle
Science editor
Image source, NasaClockwise from left: Butch Wimore, Suni Williams, Aleksandr Gorbunov and Nick Hague
Most astronauts spend about six months onboard the space station - Butch and Suni were there just over nine months. And being in space takes a toll on your body.
Even though astronauts on the ISS exercise for hours every day, the weightless environment still means they lose bone density and suffer muscle loss.
Blood circulation - usually helped along by gravity - is also affected, and fluid shifts can also impact eyesight. Astronauts are exposed to radiation too.
Everyone on the ISS is carefully monitored throughout their mission - and this continues on the return to Earth.
Most of the changes can be reversed as the body re-adapts to gravity, but that does take some time.
Rebecca Morelle
Science editor
Throughout their mission, Butch and Suni have repeatedly been described as stranded, stuck or trapped on the International Space Station.
It implies that they had no way of getting off the orbiting lab, but this isn’t the case.
The space station always has spacecraft attached to it - the capsules that arrive there stay parked for months at time. The idea is that if there ever was an emergency, they act like lifeboats ready to carry the astronauts back to Earth.
That’s certainly been the case for Butch and Suni - there has always been a way to get them home.
Hello and welcome back to our live coverage of Butch and Suni as they make their way back to Earth after nine months in space.
Over the next few hours we will follow their journey as they deorbit and splashdown in the SpaceX Dragon "Freedom".
Stick with us.
Butch and Suni are finally on their way home, after an epic nine months in space.
The duo are expected earth-side just before 22:00GMT– we’ll be resuming coverage ahead of their return so please do check back in later.
In the meantime, you can find out how they spent their extended stay in space – from voting in the US election to watching 16 sunrises and sunsets a day and keeping fit in zero gravity.
Rebecca Morelle
Science editor
Image source, EPAButch and Suni are leaving the space station with Nasa astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov.
Hague and Gorbunov arrived at the space station in September on a SpaceX Dragon capsule.
There were supposed to be four astronauts on that mission – but Nasa took the decision to fly with a crew of two, which left two seats spare for Butch and Suni to come home in.
After the arrival of Hague and Gorbunov, Butch and Suni became incorporated into their crew – known as crew nine – and now the four are all flying back together.
This has been cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov’s first trip to space, while Nasa’s Nick Hague spent 203 days on the space station in 2019.
Rebecca Morelle
Science editor
Image source, NasaThe SpaceX Dragon capsule pictured here during its journey to the ISS in late September
Getting home from space is far from easy.
The SpaceX Dragon capsule will make a fast and fiery re-entry through the Earth’s atmosphere, enduring temperatures of up to 1,600C. A heatshield will protect Butch, Suni and the two other astronauts they are travelling with, as they sit inside the capsule.
As the craft hits the atmosphere, it starts to rapidly slow and the astronauts will experience significant g-forces, about four times Earth’s gravity. Finally, four large parachutes will open up – with a jolt for those inside – but this then allows the craft to slow down enough for a gentle splashdown in the ocean.
Helen Sharman, Britain’s first astronaut, made the ride home in a Soyuz capsule during her visit to space in 1991. She said the thrilling ride would be worth it.
“They're experienced astronauts but they will feel fantastic to be back on Earth. The fresh air is the first thing that gets you,” she told me.
The SpaceX Dragon capsule carrying Butch and Suni, as well as Nasa astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, has just undocked from the International Space Station.
The undocking process is autonomous, requiring no action from the crew on board.
The spacecraft will now begin its 17-hour journey back to Earth.
Nasa has advised us of some pretty specific times that key moments in the astronauts’ journey home are expected to occur.
This is when the milestones are expected to happen:
Given the Boeing mission was meant to be a short trip, Williams and Wilmore packed light.
They brought minimal toiletries and clothes, expecting a quick return to Earth, after just over a week's stay.
Williams also brought a card game. She admits that she didn't expect it to work - but said in an interview aboard the ISS earlier this month that the crew all managed to play.
Wilmore brought a ring featuring sentimental naval aviator pilot wings in gold that he carries with him.
Nick Hague, a Nasa astronaut who was brought to the ISS on a separate mission but is heading home with the Starliner crew, said he brought some sheet music.
The astronauts on the ISS also received deliveries of supplies including clothes, food, water and oxygen.
Rebecca Morelle
Science editor
Image source, NasaClockwise from left: Butch Wimore, Suni Williams, Aleksandr Gorbunov and Nick Hague
Most astronauts spend about six months onboard the space station - Butch and Suni have now been there just over nine months. And being in space takes a toll on your body.
Even though astronauts on the ISS exercise for hours every day, the weightless environment still means they lose bone density and suffer muscle loss. Blood circulation - usually helped along by gravity - is also affected, and fluid shifts can also impact eyesight. Astronauts are exposed to radiation too.
Everyone on the ISS is carefully monitored throughout their mission - and this continues on return to Earth.
Most of the changes can be reversed as the body re-adapts to gravity, but that does take some time.
The Starliner crew Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, alongside fellow Nasa astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov (who have been on the ISS separately) are today being taken back to Earth by a SpaceX flight.
Hague and Gorbunov arrived on the ISS in a SpaceX Dragon capsule in September for a six-month mission.
There’s room for four in that capsule, so now that those six months are up, they, alongside Williams and Wilmore, are ready to travel back to Earth.
We are expecting the capsule to land back on Earth at around 22:00GMT.
The SpaceX Dragon capsule hatch is now closed.
The four astronauts - Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore, Nasa astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov - could be seen in the livestream making preparations in the capsule, including putting on their re-entry suits.
Nasa has just started a livestream of the SpaceX Dragon capsule preparing to leave the ISS. Watch live below.
Rebecca Morelle
Science editor
When Butch and Suni arrived on the International Space Station in June, the plan was to stay for just eight days. They were taking part in the first crewed test flight of Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft.
But the capsule suffered several technical problems on its way to the space station, and it was deemed too risky to take the astronauts home. This capsule was flown back empty in early September, but it meant Butch and Suni needed a new ride back to Earth.
So Nasa opted for the next scheduled flight: a SpaceX capsule that was due to arrive in late September. It flew with two astronauts instead of four, leaving two seats spare for Butch and Suni’s return. The only catch was this had a planned six-month mission, extending the astronauts stay until now.
The arrival of a replacement crew on Sunday was the final step needed for Butch and Suni’s return –after a short hand-over with the new team – it means their mission is now at an end.
Sunita"Suni" Williams
Suni was selected as an astronaut by Nasa in 1998 and is a veteran of two space missions before her current stay in the ISS. She has also worked in Moscow with the Russian Space Agency on the Russian contribution to the space station.
She then branched out to work in the Robotics division. Williams spent a total of 322 days in space over the course of her previous two missions. With 50 hours and 40 minutes, she is second on the list of total cumulative spacewalk time by a female astronaut.
Barry"Butch" Wilmore
Butch is a veteran of two spaceflights and has accumulated 178 days in space. He was selected as an astronaut by Nasa in July 2000 and is a retired US Navy captain.
In his last mission, he served as a Flight Engineer for Expedition 41, and he assumed command of the ISS upon arrival of the Expedition 42 crew. He returned to Earth in March 2015. During this mission, he logged 167 days in space and performed four spacewalks.
Image source, EPANasa astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore went on what was meant to be an eight day mission to the International Space Station aboard a Boeing Starliner on 5 June 2024.
It was the first flight of its kind with people on board and was a test designed to see how the new spacecraft performed.
However, technical issues including helium leaks and thruster malfunctions meant that the Starliner became unsafe for their return and was brought back to Earth without them.
In August, after more than two months in space, the decision was made for the pair to be brought back to Earth in March on a SpaceX craft.
In the meantime, Williams and Wilmore have continued their work aboard the ISS doing research, going on spacewalks and video calling schools to educate children about life in space.