Veteran astronaut Sunita Williams returns to Earth after spending nine months in space. She along with NASA colleague Butch Wilmore landed safely off the Florida coast aboard the SpaceX Dragon Freedom spacecraft.

Williams and Wilmore originally traveled to the International Space Station (ISS) on June 5, 2024 aboard Boeing’s Starliner capsule. The mission was supposed to last only eight days, but propulsion problems forced them to stay in orbit much longer.

Safe Landing in the Ocean

The SpaceX Dragon Freedom capsule splashed down at 3:27 AM IST. It was then lifted onto a recovery ship where the astronauts were assisted out of the capsule. Williams stepped out with a smile waving at the ground crew as she adjusted to Earth’s gravity.

Dolphins Welcome the Astronauts

As the spacecraft landed, a group of dolphins was seen near the splashdown site. After completing a 17-hour journey from the ISS, the astronauts will now undergo a 45-day rehabilitation program in Houston to recover from the effects of long-term space travel.

With Williams and Wilmore back on Earth, Crew-10 has taken charge of ISS operations ensuring a smooth transition for ongoing space missions.

Meanwhile Elon Musk has thanked Donald Trump for prioritizing the safe return of Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams. He has taken to social media and wrote, “Congratulations to the SpaceX and NASA teams for another safe astronaut return! Thank you to POTUS for prioritizing this mission.”

Also Sunita Williams safely returned to Earth almost after 286 days in space, her ancestral village of Jhulasan in Gujarat has indulged in joy and erupted in celebration. Yahnas, Prayers and aartis were performed welcoming home their own with the happiness and devotion they had sent her off with.

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