New Delhi: Astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore have returned to Earth after an unexpected stay at the International Space Station (ISS) for more than nine months.
Throughout their journey, they orbited Earth 4,576 times and covered a distance of 121 million miles (195 million kilometers) before returning to earth.
Their spacecraft SpaceX’s Dragon Freedom capsule splashed down off the coast of the US state of Florida early on Wednesday.
The spaceship with Butch and Suni was also carrying astronauts Nick Hague and Aleksandr Grebyonkin who reached the ISS in December as part of a rescue mission.
As soon as the spaceship successfully splashed down, millions of voices with 'Welcome Back To Earth' permeated the whole world.
Dolphins Greet Astronauts First
First of all the dolphins 'welcomed' Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore by surrounding their spaceship...Perhaps "They Want To Say Hi".
Also Read |
Boeing's Starliner returns to Earth from ISS without Sunita Williams
The White House Cheers
The White House on Wednesday said President Donald Trump’s promise to rescue astronauts stranded in space for nine months has been fulfilled, thanking SpaceX, NASA, and Elon Musk.
In a post on X, White House said: PROMISE MADE, PROMISE KEPT: President Trump pledged to rescue the astronauts stranded in space for nine months. Today, they safely splashed down in the Gulf of America, thanks to ElonMusk, SpaceX, and NASA!
PROMISE MADE, PROMISE KEPT: President Trump pledged to rescue the astronauts stranded in space for nine months.
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) March 18, 2025
Today, they safely splashed down in the Gulf of America, thanks to @ElonMusk, @SpaceX, and @NASA! pic.twitter.com/r01hVWAC8S
PM Modi Welcomes
Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed NASA astronaut Sunita Williams and Crew-9 members, who returned to Earth on board a Dragon capsule.
Welcome back, #Crew9! The Earth missed you.
Theirs has been a test of grit, courage and the boundless human spirit. Sunita Williams and the #Crew9 astronauts have once again shown us what perseverance truly means. Their unwavering determination in the face of the vast unknown… pic.twitter.com/FkgagekJ7CAlso Read | Sunita Williams Returns: Female astronaut washes hair in space; How and why...
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 19, 2025
ISRO Chief Narayanan Greets
ISRO Chairman V Narayanan said astronaut Sunita Williams' safe return was a remarkable achievement and a testament to NASA, SpaceX, and the USA's commitment to space exploration.
In a post on X, he wrote "Earth missed you", adding that the astronauts have shown what "perseverance truly means".
Welcome back, Sunita Williams!
— ISRO (@isro) March 19, 2025
Your safe return after an extended mission aboard the ISS is a remarkable achievement. A testament to NASA, SpaceX, and the USA’s commitment to space exploration! Your resilience and dedication continue to inspire space enthusiasts around the…
(...being updated)
