Florida (National Times): Astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore have completed an unexpected nine-month stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Their mission, which began on June 5 of the previous year with a planned eight-day duration, was extended after issues with the Boeing Starliner spacecraft, which was supposed to bring them back. The astronauts returned this morning aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule.
The spacecraft successfully deployed its parachutes before splashing down in the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Florida. Alongside Williams and Wilmore, NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov were also on board for the 17-hour return journey.
A NASA team assisted the astronauts upon landing, with Williams seen smiling, waving, and giving a thumbs-up as she exited the capsule.
The deorbit burn, which slows the spacecraft down and prepares it for re-entry, took place at 2:41 am, with splashdown occurring at 3:27 am, 44 minutes later.
Crew-9 undocked from the ISS at 10:35 am (IST), and NASA shared footage of the Dragon capsule departing from the station. SpaceX, founded by Elon Musk, was responsible for the mission, with the Dragon capsule launched atop the Falcon 9 rocket. Crew-10 has since replaced Crew-9 aboard the space station.
President Donald Trump hailed the success of the mission, stating that the astronauts’ safe return fulfilled a promise he made during his administration. The White House affirmed that the President had indeed honored his pledge to bring them back.
A Journey That Lasted Far Longer Than Expected
Williams and Wilmore, both retired Navy pilots, launched for the ISS last June on what was originally planned to be an eight-day mission—the inaugural crewed flight of Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. Unfortunately, after the Starliner experienced propulsion problems, the mission was extended indefinitely. The Starliner was later returned to Earth uncrewed in September.
NASA quickly reassigned Williams and Wilmore to the SpaceX Crew-9 mission, and a Dragon spacecraft was sent to the ISS in September with only two crew members, instead of the usual four, to make room for the stranded astronauts.
After several delays, another Dragon spacecraft arrived on Sunday, finally bringing the astronauts back.
Health Risks After Extended Space Travel
Astronauts returning from long missions face various health risks, including muscle and bone deterioration, radiation exposure, and vision problems. NASA reports that weightlessness causes significant bone density loss, with astronauts losing about one percent of bone density each month if not actively working to mitigate this effect.
Muscles also weaken, as they no longer need to support the body against gravity.
Radiation exposure is a particularly concerning issue for astronauts, as the protection offered by Earth’s atmosphere and magnetic field is unavailable in space, increasing the risk of harmful radiation exposure.
Prime Minister Modi Sends Warm Wishes to Sunita Williams
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his admiration for Sunita Williams in a letter that was shared publicly just as she began her journey back to Earth. The letter, dated March 1, described how Modi had discussed Williams’ remarkable achievements during meetings with Presidents Donald Trump and Joe Biden.
“1.4 billion Indians take immense pride in your accomplishments,” wrote the Prime Minister. “Your strength and determination continue to serve as an inspiration to millions.”
