Astronaunts

NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore have finally returned to Earth after spending months stranded in space due to technical issues. The duo safely landed on Wednesday as SpaceX’s Dragon Freedom capsule splashed down off the coast of Florida, ending what was initially an eight-day mission that stretched to nine months.

NASA confirmed their return in a post on X, stating, “Home sweet home. NASA’s SpaceX #Crew9 touched down at Johnson Space Centre’s Ellington Field in Houston at 11:19 pm CDT, March 18, after their @Space_Station mission and successful splashdown earlier this afternoon.”

The delay in their return was due to multiple technical failures in their original capsule, the Boeing Starliner, which was eventually deemed unsafe for the journey back to Earth. In September, NASA decided to send the faulty spacecraft back empty, leaving the astronauts without a ride home. They were later assigned seats on a SpaceX capsule, but because it was part of a six-month mission, they had to wait until now for their return.

Despite the extended stay, NASA maintained that the astronauts were safe, as emergency spacecraft remained docked at the International Space Station (ISS). During this time, Williams and Wilmore conducted research experiments and spacewalks. Williams also set a new record for the most time spent outside the space station by a female astronaut.

“It is awesome to have Crew 9 home, just a beautiful landing,” said Joel Montalbano, deputy associate administrator for NASA’s Space Operations.

Their return journey lasted 17 hours, and upon landing, they were assisted onto stretchers—a routine procedure after long-duration space missions due to the effects of microgravity on the body. They were then transported to the Johnson Space Centre in Houston for medical checks.

Experts explain that prolonged time in space weakens muscles, reduces bone density, and affects blood circulation, requiring astronauts to undergo extensive rehabilitation upon their return.

“Your body feels great; it feels like a holiday. Your heart is having an easy time, your muscles and bones are having an easy time. You’re floating around the space station in this wonderful zero-gravity environment. But you must keep up the exercise regime. Because you’re staying fit in space, not for space itself, but for when you return back to the punishing gravity environment of Earth. Those first two or three days back on Earth can be really punishing,” British astronaut Tim Peake told the BBC.