Sunita Williams, NASA Crew-9 Astronauts Return Home After 9 Months in Space, Welcomed by Dolphins
First Published: 19th March, 2025 11:03 IST
The astronauts exited the capsule on stretchers, which is a standard precaution for those returning from long-duration space missions.
NASA Crew-9 astronauts Sunita Williams, Nick Hague, Butch Wilmore, and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov returned home and breathed fresh air for the first time in over nine months on Wednesday after their SpaceX Dragon capsule successfully splashed down off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida.
SpaceX’s recovery ship, Megan, lifted the capsule out of the water using a large rig. Crew members closely monitored the spacecraft for any signs of fuel leaks. Dolphins were seen swimming around the capsule as it floated in the water, with at least five dolphins captured on video circling the capsule in what appeared to be a warm welcome home.
After the splashdown, a worker rinsed the Crew Dragon spacecraft with fresh water to remove salt deposits. “Saltwater is corrosive, and we want to rinse out as much of it as possible to reduce corrosion on the metallic structures,” SpaceX’s Kate Tice explained.
The astronauts exited the capsule on stretchers, which is a standard precaution for those returning from long-duration space missions. SpaceX follows this protocol to help astronauts adjust to Earth’s gravity after months in microgravity.
Nick Hague and Aleksandr Gorbunov had been in space since September 2024. However, Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams had been away since June 2024. Their mission, originally scheduled to last just one week, extended to over nine months due to issues with their Boeing Starliner capsule, which delayed their return.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt praised the successful return, crediting US President Donald Trump for fulfilling his promise to bring the astronauts home. “President Trump promised to look out for the forgotten man and woman. At 5:57 PM ET tonight promise made, promise kept!” Leavitt posted on X.
The side hatch of the Crew Dragon remained closed during its time in orbit. After docking with the International Space Station (ISS), astronauts used a different hatch on top of the vehicle to enter and exit.
The successful splashdown marks another milestone for SpaceX and NASA’s continued collaboration in space exploration.
Also Read: SpaceX, NASA launch mission to bring back astronauts Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore from ISS
COMMENTS
TOPMOST STORY NOW
Live Amit Shah asks all CMs to identify Pakistani nationals in their states, ensure their return
25th April 2025
Live Girls Top All Streams as Manipur Class 12 Exam 2025 Records 94% Pass Percentage
25th April 2025
Live Rahul Gandhi meets JK CM, Pahalgam attack survivor; says idea of attack was to divide society
25th April 2025
Live 8 Arrested in Assam for Supporting Pahalgam Terror Attack: Assam CM
25th April 2025
WE RECOMMEND
PM Modi’s Youngest Fans? Here’s What JD Vance’s Kids Ewan And Vivek Said After Meeting PM Modi
JD Vance's Kids: Vance described PM Modi as a “special person”, recounting their first meeting during the AI Action Summit in February.
22nd April 2025
What was Pope Francis’s last message to the world?
Pope Francis’ last message was a heartfelt plea to end global conflict and restore dignity through peace.
22nd April 2025
India declares 3-day State Mourning on passing away of Pope Francis
The mourning will be observed across the country on April 22 and 23, and again on the day of the Pope's funeral.
22nd April 2025
Harvard University sues Trump administration over threats to freeze funding
This development comes after the Trump administration demanded access to all university reports on antisemitism and anti-Muslim bias on campus generated since October 2023
22nd April 2025
Pope Francis Dies at 88 in Vatican
His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church, Farrell said in the announcement.
21st April 2025