Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore return to earth after 9 long months in Space

After spending an arduous nine months in space, Nasa astronauts Sunita 'Suni' Williams and Barry 'Butch' Wilmore have safely returned to Earth, marking the end of a prolonged and unplanned stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

The SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule carrying Williams, Wilmore along with astronaut Nick Hague, and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov returned home with a gentle, on-target splashdown off Florida's Gulf Coast near Tallahassee at around 3:30 am (IST), 17 hours after undocking from the ISS.

Originally planned as a routine eight-day mission, their journey extended unexpectedly due to technical malfunctions that prevented their spacecraft from making a safe return. Nasa officials confirmed their safe recovery shortly after touchdown, hailing their resilience and adaptability during the mission’s unexpected extension.

"Splashdown! Good mains release," astronaut Hague radioed SpaceX flight controllers in Hawthorne, California, after the four main parachutes were released from the Dragon. "What a ride," Hague said. "I see a capsule full of grins, ear to ear."

A SpaceX recovery ship was positioned nearby to retrieve the spacecraft, allowing the crew to be assisted out of the Dragon's cabin and placed onto stretchers for initial medical evaluations. After the Dragon's side hatch was opened, the crew began emerging into the fresh air and sunlight. Williams and Wilmore were the last to exit.