NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have finally returned to Earth after spending an unexpected nine months in space.
The duo, along with NASA’s Nick Hague and Russia’s Aleksandr Gorbunov, landed safely off the coast of Florida on Tuesday evening, March 18, after a 17-hour descent aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule.
The mission, originally planned to last just eight days, was prolonged due to technical issues with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, leaving Wilmore and Williams stranded on the International Space Station (ISS).
Their long-awaited return was made possible through a SpaceX capsule, which had originally carried two astronauts instead of four, leaving two available seats for their journey home.
Within an hour of landing, the astronauts were seen waving and smiling before being escorted away for routine medical checks.
“The crew’s doing great,” said Steve Stich, manager of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, during a news conference.
The prolonged stay in space was marked by resilience and dedication.
Despite the unexpected extension, Wilmore and Williams continued their work aboard the ISS, conducting critical experiments and spacewalks.
Notably, Williams set a record for the most hours 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 of NASA’s Space Operations Mission Directorate.
Expressing gratitude, he added that SpaceX had been a “great partner” in ensuring their safe return.
The delay stemmed from technical challenges with Boeing’s Starliner, which had been tasked with transporting Wilmore and Williams as part of its first crewed test flight.
However, multiple malfunctions during its journey made it too risky to use for their return.
The capsule was eventually sent back to Earth empty in early September.
NASA had to adjust its plans, and the astronauts had to wait for an alternative ride.
This came in the form of a SpaceX capsule, which arrived at the ISS in late September.
However, it was scheduled for a six-month mission, meaning Wilmore and Williams had to extend their stay until March.
The astronauts made the best of their extended mission.
During Christmas, they embraced the festive spirit by donning Santa hats and reindeer antlers, sending a holiday message to Earth while spending the holiday far from home.
“The big thing will be seeing friends and family and the people who they were expecting to spend Christmas with,” said Helen Sharman, Britain’s first astronaut.
She noted that the astronauts had missed birthdays and important events but could now reunite with loved ones and make up for lost time.
Now safely back on Earth, Wilmore and Williams will undergo thorough medical evaluations at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.
The long wait has finally ended, and their resilience has been celebrated as a testament to the spirit of space exploration.
