NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who were left stranded in space for months due to technical issues, have finally made their way back to Earth.
The two astronauts landed safely on Wednesday as SpaceX’s Dragon Freedom capsule splashed down off the coast of Florida. Their return marked the end of a mission initially planned to last just eight days but stretched to an unexpected nine months.
NASA confirmed their safe arrival in a post on X, stating, “Home sweet home. NASA’s SpaceX #Crew9 touched down at Johnson Space Center’s Ellington Field in Houston at 11:19 pm CDT, March 18, after their @Space_Station mission and successful splashdown earlier this afternoon.”
Extended Mission Due to Technical Issues
Williams and Wilmore had traveled to the International Space Station (ISS) in June 2024 aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft for its inaugural crewed test flight. However, multiple technical failures rendered the capsule unsafe for their return journey.
By September, NASA opted to send the faulty Starliner back to Earth unmanned, leaving the astronauts without a designated ride home. They were later assigned seats on a SpaceX capsule, but since it was part of a six-month mission, they had to remain at the ISS until its completion.
While described as “stranded,” NASA assured that the astronauts were never in danger, as emergency spacecraft remained docked at the ISS throughout their extended stay.
Contributions and Records Set in Space
During their prolonged mission, Williams and Wilmore continued conducting research experiments and performing spacewalks. Notably, Williams set a new record for the most time spent outside the space station by a female astronaut.
NASA officials commended the astronauts for their resilience and adaptability. “It is awesome to have Crew-9 home, just a beautiful landing,” said Joel Montalbano, deputy associate administrator for NASA’s Space Operations.
Effects of Long-Term Space Travel
The astronauts’ return journey took 17 hours. Upon landing, they were placed on stretchers as a precautionary measure, a standard procedure for long-duration space missions due to the physical toll of microgravity.
Experts note that extended periods in space weaken muscles, reduce bone density, and affect blood circulation, requiring astronauts to undergo extensive rehabilitation upon returning to Earth.
British astronaut Tim Peake described the transition back to Earth’s gravity: “Your body feels great in space, almost like a holiday. Your heart, muscles, and bones have an easy time in zero gravity. But maintaining an exercise regime is crucial—not for space itself, but for the return to Earth’s punishing gravity. The first two or three days back can be really tough.”
Despite the challenges, Williams and Wilmore’s safe return marks a successful conclusi
