NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore have finally returned to Earth after spending more than nine months on the International Space Station. They traveled back on SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft and landed safely in the ocean near Florida at 3:27 am (IST).
Elon Musk Congratulates the Teams
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk shared his excitement on social media. He thanked both SpaceX and NASA teams for another safe astronaut return. He also thanked former President Donald Trump for giving priority to the mission.
Did Politics Delay the Return? Musk Thinks So
In a recent interview, Elon Musk said SpaceX had offered to bring the astronauts back earlier. However, according to him, the Biden administration rejected this offer for political reasons. Musk said, “The astronauts were supposed to stay for only eight days but ended up being there for almost 10 months. We offered to bring them back, but the Biden administration refused.”
Donald Trump Asked Musk for Help
Earlier in January, Donald Trump personally asked Elon Musk and SpaceX to help bring the astronauts home. Trump shared on his social media that the astronauts were “abandoned in space” by the Biden administration and asked SpaceX to “go get” them as soon as possible.
What Happened to the Boeing Starliner Mission?
Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore originally went to space on June 5, 2024, aboard Boeing’s Crew Flight Test. The mission was planned for only eight days. But problems started when NASA and Boeing found helium leaks and issues with the spacecraft’s thrusters. The Starliner returned to Earth without the astronauts.
Switching to SpaceX’s Crew-9 Mission
In August, NASA decided to reassign the astronauts to SpaceX’s Crew-9 mission. This change reduced the Crew-9 team from four to two members to make space for Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore.
The Journey Back to Earth
The astronauts spent more than nine months in space before finally coming home. After a 17-hour journey, the Dragon spacecraft landed safely in the ocean. NASA teams helped the astronauts out of the capsule. Sunita Williams was seen smiling and giving a thumbs-up.
Will They Get a Special Meal?
When asked on social media if the astronauts would get a special meal after their long trip, NASA responded that they would first undergo medical checks. After that, they will enjoy fresh food.
The safe return of Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore marks the end of a long and challenging mission. While politics may have played a role in delays, both NASA and SpaceX worked together to bring their astronauts back home safely.
