NASA Astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore Return to Earth After Over Nine Months in Space

NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore have successfully returned to Earth after spending more than nine months aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Their extended stay was the result of unexpected delays, but they have now safely completed their mission.

The duo traveled back aboard SpaceX’s Dragon Freedom capsule, which splashed down off the Florida coast near Tallahassee at 5:57 p.m. ET on Tuesday (3:27 a.m. IST, Wednesday). They were not alone—astronauts Nick Hague and Aleksandr Grebyonkin accompanied them, having arrived at the ISS in December as part of a NASA and SpaceX rescue mission.

Following the splashdown, SpaceX Mission Control in California welcomed the astronauts back, stating, “On behalf of SpaceX, welcome home.”

After completing their 17-hour-long journey, the astronauts emerged from their capsule, which bore signs of re-entry heating. Smiling and waving at the cameras, they were immediately assisted into reclining stretchers for routine medical evaluations.

Williams and Wilmore’s extended mission underscores the challenges of space travel and the collaborative efforts of NASA and SpaceX in ensuring astronaut safety. Their safe return marks yet another milestone in human space exploration.