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
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