NASA astronaut Sunita Williams’s prolonged space mission, spanning over eight months, is scheduled to conclude in March.

Sunita Williams and fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore, in an exclusive interview with CNN from space, shared that NASA’s Crew-10 mission is set to lift off from Earth on March 12. This crew will dock with the International Space Station (ISS) for a six-month stay.

Upon their arrival, Williams and Wilmore will initiate a transition process, passing on their responsibilities to the incoming team. Sunita Williams currently serves as the commander of the orbiting space laboratory.

The handover is expected to take a week, after which Williams and Wilmore will board the same Dragon spacecraft that will bring the Crew-10 astronauts to the ISS. Their return to Earth is planned for March 19.

Wilmore told CNN, "The plan is for Crew-10 to launch on March 12, spend about a week for the turnover, and then we will return on March 19."

Williams and Wilmore initially traveled to the ISS last year aboard Boeing’s Starliner capsule, which experienced technical issues. Their return has been contingent on Crew-10’s arrival to ensure the station maintains a full American crew.

The timing of their return gained attention following former US President Donald Trump’s public appeal last month, urging SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to expedite the astronauts’ return. Trump’s comments called for their immediate return, though NASA clarified that the schedule was largely pre-determined.

Following Trump’s remarks, NASA reassured that it would bring the astronauts home “as soon as practical.” However, a statement from NASA on Tuesday did not link the Crew-10 mission adjustment directly to Trump’s demand.

Steve Stich, head of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, emphasized that human spaceflight often involves unforeseen challenges. He commended SpaceX for its adaptability in handling changes.

The Crew-10 mission's schedule adjustments may also affect Axiom Space’s upcoming mission using the Crew Dragon capsule. Axiom’s mission intends to carry astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary. The Houston-based company has yet to comment on any potential impacts.

SpaceX’s Crew Dragon was developed with around $3 billion in funding through NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. This initiative was designed to foster private spaceflight capabilities, reduce costs, and stimulate the commercial space industry.