After an extended nine-month mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS), NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have finally returned to Earth. Their journey home culminated in a fiery re-entry through the atmosphere before their SpaceX capsule deployed four parachutes and made a gentle splashdown off the coast of Florida.
As the capsule floated in the ocean, a pod of dolphins was seen circling the spacecraft. Once the recovery ship lifted it from the water, the astronauts beamed and waved as they were helped out of the hatch, along with fellow crew members, NASA astronaut Nick Hague and cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov.
The mission was initially planned to last only eight days, but technical issues with the Boeing Starliner spacecraft extended their stay significantly.
“It is awesome to have Crew-9 home, just a beautiful landing,” said Joel Montalbano, deputy associate administrator of NASA’s Space Operations Mission Directorate. He praised the astronauts for their resilience and commended SpaceX as a “great partner” in ensuring their safe return.
NASA Commercial Crew Program manager Steve Stich also confirmed that “the crew’s doing great” following their arrival.
Journey back to earth
The astronauts’ return took 17 hours, culminating in their parachute-assisted landing in the Atlantic. Once back on solid ground, they were assisted onto stretchers, a standard procedure for astronauts after long-term space missions due to the effects of weightlessness on the body. They will now undergo medical evaluations before reuniting with their families.
British astronaut Helen Sharman, the first Briton in space, emphasized the importance of homecoming:
“The big thing will be seeing friends and family and the people they were expecting to spend Christmas with. All of those family celebrations, birthdays, and other events they thought they were going to be part of – now, suddenly, they can perhaps catch up on a bit of lost time.”
The boeing Starliner setback
Wilmore and Williams’ extended mission began in June 2024, when they participated in the first crewed test flight of the Boeing Starliner spacecraft. However, technical malfunctions prevented Starliner from being deemed safe for their return journey.
As a result, Starliner was sent back to Earth empty in September, leaving NASA to seek an alternative ride home for the astronauts. NASA ultimately decided to return them on the next scheduled SpaceX flight, which arrived at the ISS in late September.
This flight was originally set to carry four astronauts but was modified to fly with only two, leaving room for Wilmore and Williams to join the return trip. However, this meant they had to wait another six months for the planned return, further prolonging their stay in orbit.
Life in space
During their extended time aboard the ISS, Wilmore and Williams fully embraced their unplanned mission extension. They participated in a variety of scientific experiments, conducted spacewalks, and assisted in station maintenance.
Notably, Suni Williams broke the record for the most time spent outside the ISS by a female astronaut during her spacewalks.
At Christmas, the crew dressed in Santa hats and reindeer antlers, sending a festive message back to Earth, despite missing the holiday with their families.
Despite media reports calling them “stranded,” NASA officials clarified that they were never in danger. There were always spacecraft docked at the ISS to ensure an emergency return if needed.
Rehabilitation after spaceflight
Following their return, Wilmore and Williams will be transferred to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, for medical evaluations.
Extended time in microgravity can have significant effects on the human body, including:
- Bone density loss
- Muscle atrophy
- Changes in blood circulation
- Fluid shifts affecting vision
NASA will design a specialized exercise regimen to help them re-adapt to Earth’s gravity.
British astronaut Tim Peake described the adjustment process:
“Your body feels great in space – like a holiday. Your heart, muscles, and bones are having an easy time because you’re floating. But when you return, those first two or three days can be really punishing. You must keep up the exercise regime in space, not for space itself, but for when you come back to Earth’s punishing gravity.”
Looking forward to life back on earth
In recent interviews, Wilmore and Williams spoke about the things they missed most while being away for nine months.
Speaking to reporters last month, Suni Williams said:
“I’m looking forward to seeing my family, my dogs, and jumping in the ocean. That will be really nice – to be back on Earth and feel Earth.”
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