The Dragon capsule deployed its parachutes before splashing down in the waters off the coast of Florida.
Sunita Williams Returns to Earth After Extended Stay in Space: Astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore have safely returned to Earth after what was initially an eight-day mission to the International Space Station (ISS), which unexpectedly extended into a nine-month stay. The duo launched aboard a Boeing Starliner on June 5 last year and returned home this morning aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft.
The Dragon capsule deployed its parachutes before splashing down in the waters off the coast of Florida. Williams and Wilmore were accompanied by NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov on the 17-hour journey home.
Upon landing, a NASA team helped the astronauts exit the capsule, where Williams was seen waving and giving a thumbs-up.
The spacecraft began its deorbit burn at 2:41 am, a maneuver in which it fired its engines to slow down, followed by a splashdown at 3:27 am, 44 minutes later.
Crew-9, the team that had been aboard the ISS, undocked from the station at 10:35 am (IST). NASA shared a video of the moment the spacecraft detached, marking the start of their journey home. Elon Musk's SpaceX was responsible for the mission, with the Dragon capsule launched atop a Falcon 9 rocket. Crew-10 has now replaced Crew-9 at the space station.
President Donald Trump has praised the success of the mission, asserting that his administration kept its promise to bring the astronauts back. The White House responded, acknowledging that Trump had indeed fulfilled his commitment.
A Long Wait in Space: From Eight Days to Nine Months
Williams and Wilmore, both veteran Navy pilots, initially flew to the ISS for an eight-day mission, which was to be the first crewed flight of a Boeing Starliner. However, after the Starliner suffered propulsion issues, the spacecraft was deemed unfit for further missions and returned uncrewed in September.
NASA reassigned Williams and Wilmore to SpaceX's Crew-9 mission, with a Dragon spacecraft sent to the ISS with a two-person crew in September, leaving space for the stranded astronauts.
After a series of delays, a relief mission with another Dragon capsule finally docked with the station on Sunday, bringing the astronauts back home.
Challenges Awaiting the Astronauts
Astronauts returning from extended missions face several health challenges, including bone and muscle deterioration, radiation exposure, and potential vision problems. NASA warns that prolonged weightlessness leads to a loss of bone density, with bones becoming about one percent less dense per month in space if not actively countered. Muscles also weaken due to the lack of gravity, as they aren't used as much.
Radiation exposure is another significant concern, as astronauts are exposed to higher levels of radiation without Earth's protective atmosphere and magnetic field.
PM Modi Congratulates Sunita Williams
Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent a letter to Sunita Williams ahead of her return to Earth, which was made public on Monday. In the letter, dated March 1, Modi expressed his admiration for Williams' accomplishments and noted that he had discussed her achievements during his meetings with Presidents Donald Trump and Joe Biden.
"1.4 billion Indians have always taken immense pride in your remarkable journey," wrote the Prime Minister. "Your perseverance and fortitude continue to inspire us all."
