NASA Crew-9 astronauts Sunita Williams, Nick Hague, Butch Wilmore, and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov have safely returned to Earth after spending more than nine months in space.
Their SpaceX Dragon capsule successfully splashed down off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida, on Wednesday, marking the end of a mission that was initially expected to last just a week but was extended due to technical delays.
An Emotional Return
The breathtaking homecoming saw the capsule greeted by an unexpected yet poetic welcome—a pod of dolphins swimming around it as it bobbed in the ocean waters. As per SpaceX protocols, a large rig aboard the recovery ship Megan lifted the capsule from the water, ensuring no fuel leaks or structural damage before opening the hatch.
Following the retrieval, astronauts were extracted on stretchers, a precautionary measure for all long-duration space travellers to help their bodies readjust to Earth’s gravity. The recovery process was executed meticulously, with SpaceX engineers rinsing the spacecraft with fresh water to remove corrosive salt deposits from the ocean.
“Splashdown of Dragon confirmed—welcome back to Earth, Nick, Suni, Butch, and Aleks!”
SpaceX announced in a triumphant post on X.
First Words After Landing
As NASA mission control established communication with the astronauts post-splashdown, Nick Hague was the first to break the silence, his excitement unmistakable despite some static interference. “We’re grinning ear to ear,” Hague relayed, capturing the sheer relief and joy of the moment.
NASA commentator Sandra Jones, reporting from the control centre, described the scene:
“There’s just breathtaking views of a calm, glass-like ocean—a picture-perfect landing for Crew-9.”
Williams’ Homecoming Celebrated in India
In India, Sunita Williams’ safe return was met with celebrations, particularly in her ancestral village of Jhulasan, Gujarat, where locals performed aarti and offered prayers. Williams has long been a source of inspiration for Indian space enthusiasts, and her extended stay in space made her return even more significant.
Her cousin, Dinesh Rawal, had organised a Yagna in Ahmedabad the previous day, seeking blessings for her safe arrival. The celebrations reflected the immense pride and admiration that Williams continues to command across generations.
Prolonged Mission Due to Starliner Capsule Issues
Williams and Wilmore’s unexpectedly long stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS) was due to issues with Boeing’s Starliner capsule, which had been slated to bring them home months earlier. Originally, their mission was meant to last only a week, but delays in Starliner’s readiness forced NASA to keep them aboard the ISS for safety reasons.
During their prolonged stay, media speculation intensified, with theories circulating that the astronauts had been “abandoned” or “stranded” in space. Both Williams and Wilmore refuted such claims, expressing confidence in NASA’s decisions.
“That’s been the narrative from day one: stranded, abandoned, stuck—and I get it, we both get it,” Wilmore said in a CNN interview in February.
“Help us change the narrative. Let’s change it to: prepared and committed despite what you’ve been hearing. That’s what we prefer.”
White House Reaction and Political Commentary
The astronauts’ return also became a talking point at the White House, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt crediting US President Donald Trump for their safe homecoming.
“President Trump promised to look out for the forgotten man and woman. At 5:57 PM ET tonight—promise made, promise kept!”
she declared in a post on X.
The statement sought to highlight Trump’s administration’s role in ensuring the return of the astronauts, though NASA officials have not made any such political statements regarding the mission.
President Trump promised to look out for the forgotten man and woman.
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) March 18, 2025
At 5:57PM ET tonight — promise made, promise kept!pic.twitter.com/DU4kJGRuuw
What’s Next for Crew-9?
After their retrieval from the ocean, the astronauts were transported to the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston for further medical evaluations and re-acclimation protocols. NASA specialists will monitor their vital signs, balance, and muscle function, as astronauts returning from extended space missions often experience temporary dizziness, weakness, and bone density loss due to prolonged exposure to microgravity.
The astronauts will undergo weeks of rehabilitation before resuming normal activities, with continuous monitoring in the months ahead.
The successful return of Crew-9 underscores the remarkable advancements in space travel while also revealing the unpredictable challenges of long-duration missions. For Sunita Williams, this return cements her legacy as one of NASA’s most experienced astronauts, and for NASA and SpaceX, it marks another triumph in their growing partnership.
The mission also raises questions about future crewed missions, particularly concerning delays and technical challenges associated with Boeing’s Starliner, which remains a work in progress.
For now, however, the focus is on celebrating the astronauts’ safe return, and the world watches as Crew-9 readjusts to life back on Earth after an unforgettable nine-month odyssey in space.
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