Astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore have safely returned to Earth after their planned eight-day mission to the International Space Station (ISS) turned into a nine-month stay. They originally launched aboard Boeing's Starliner on June 5 last year but faced propulsion issues, leaving them stranded in space. The uncrewed Starliner returned to Earth in September, while Williams and Wilmore remained aboard the ISS.

They finally made their journey home in SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft, splashing down off the Florida coast this morning. NASA’s Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov accompanied them on the 17-hour return trip. NASA teams assisted the astronauts as they exited the capsule, with Williams waving and flashing thumbs-up signs.

The spacecraft began its deorbit burn at 2:41 AM, slowing down before a successful splashdown at 3:27 AM. Crew-9 had undocked from the ISS at 10:35 AM (IST), with SpaceX taking charge of their return. The Dragon capsule, launched atop a Falcon 9 rocket, successfully replaced Crew-9 with Crew-10.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump accused the Biden administration of abandoning the astronauts. The White House responded, stating that President Trump had "made a promise and kept it."

Health Challenges Post-Spaceflight After their extended stay, Williams and Wilmore face health challenges, including bone density loss, muscle weakening, and radiation exposure. NASA notes that weight-bearing bones lose about one percent of their density per month in microgravity if countermeasures are not taken.

PM Modi’s Letter to Sunita Williams Before her return, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote a letter to Williams, expressing India's pride in her achievements. He mentioned discussing her well-being with both Trump and Biden and praised her resilience, calling her an inspiration to 1.4 billion Indians.

Astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore have safely returned to Earth after their planned eight-day mission to the International Space Station (ISS) turned into a nine-month stay. They originally launched aboard Boeing's Starliner on June 5 last year but faced propulsion issues, leaving them stranded in space. The uncrewed Starliner returned to Earth in September, while Williams and Wilmore remained aboard the ISS.

They finally made their journey home in SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft, splashing down off the Florida coast this morning. NASA’s Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov accompanied them on the 17-hour return trip. NASA teams assisted the astronauts as they exited the capsule, with Williams waving and flashing thumbs-up signs.

The spacecraft began its deorbit burn at 2:41 AM, slowing down before a successful splashdown at 3:27 AM. Crew-9 had undocked from the ISS at 10:35 AM (IST), with SpaceX taking charge of their return. The Dragon capsule, launched atop a Falcon 9 rocket, successfully replaced Crew-9 with Crew-10.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump accused the Biden administration of abandoning the astronauts. The White House responded, stating that President Trump had "made a promise and kept it."

Health Challenges Post-Spaceflight After their extended stay, Williams and Wilmore face health challenges, including bone density loss, muscle weakening, and radiation exposure. NASA notes that weight-bearing bones lose about one percent of their density per month in microgravity if countermeasures are not taken.

PM Modi’s Letter to Sunita Williams Before her return, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote a letter to Williams, expressing India's pride in her achievements. He mentioned discussing her well-being with both Trump and Biden and praised her resilience, calling her an inspiration to 1.4 billion Indians.