NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, along with Butch Wilmore, Nick Hague, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, returned to Earth today after spending 9 months at the International Space Station (ISS). The astronauts safely disembarked after the successful splashdown of the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida.
#WATCH | Being stranded at the International Space Station for 9 months, Sunita Williams is back on Earth with a smile
Today, NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 – astronauts Nick Hague, Butch Wilmore, Sunita Williams, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov returned to Earth after the… pic.twitter.com/mdZIQTG4SN
— ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2025
Extended Mission at the ISS
The Crew-9 mission, which began as a short-duration test of Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, unexpectedly turned into a prolonged stay at the ISS due to technical issues with the Starliner. As a result, Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore were stranded at the ISS for over 9 months, far longer than initially planned.
Splashdown and Safe Return
On Wednesday, the Crew-9 astronauts undocked from the ISS and began their 17-hour journey back to Earth aboard SpaceX’s Dragon. The spacecraft successfully splashed down off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida, marking the end of their extended mission.
Sunita Williams Returns with a Smile
Sunita Williams, NASA’s Crew-9 astronauts breathe Earthly air after 9 months, disembark from SpaceX’s Dragon
Read @ANI Story | https://t.co/rBF2X7lQKa#SunitaWilliams #NASA #SpaceX pic.twitter.com/lJ7TmSECpW
— ANI Digital (@ani_digital) March 18, 2025
Despite the challenges faced during the extended mission, Sunita Williams returned to Earth with her characteristic smile. Her resilience and dedication to space exploration continue to inspire millions.
Mission Highlights
- Successful splashdown of the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft.
- Safe return of Crew-9 astronauts after 9 months.
- Resolution of technical challenges with the Starliner spacecraft.
