"Capsule Full Of Grins": Sunita Williams' Fellow Astronaut After Splashdown

Photo : AP

After spending nine months in space, NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore finally came back to Earth on Tuesday. Their return ended a mission that caught the world’s attention and became part of political talks. They were travelling in a SpaceX Crew Dragon spaceship called Freedom, along with American astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov. The spaceship safely splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean near Florida at 5:57 PM (2157 GMT).

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As the capsule fell through Earth’s atmosphere, it faced burning heat of around 3,500 degrees Fahrenheit (2,000 degrees Celsius). The craft, darkened by the heat, floated gently on the sea under a clear sky. Teams on the ground cheered with joy when they saw the astronauts were safe. Nick Hague, smiling with relief, said, “What a ride — I see a capsule full of grins.”

While rescue boats rushed toward the capsule, a group of dolphins surprisingly swam near the site. Soon after, a larger ship lifted Freedom out of the water. The crew opened the hatch, and the astronauts came out one by one, waving and smiling. They were placed on wheelchairs, as long stays in space make it hard to walk right away due to weak muscles.

From the rescue ship, they were flown by helicopter to Houston, where they will meet their families in the next few days. They will also start a physical therapy program to regain their strength. Staying in space for a long time causes muscle loss, weak bones, and balance problems.

Wilmore and Williams had originally flown to space in June 2024 on Boeing’s Starliner spaceship. The mission was supposed to last only a few days to test the spacecraft. However, problems with Starliner’s engine made it unsafe for return, forcing the astronauts to stay on the International Space Station (ISS). The faulty craft returned to Earth without them.

NASA later added the two astronauts to SpaceX’s Crew-9 mission, which reached the ISS in September 2024. To make room for Wilmore and Williams, Crew-9 only had two astronauts instead of the usual four. This allowed the stranded pair to safely remain on the station.

Finally, on March 16, 2025, Crew-10 reached the ISS. This allowed Crew-9, including Wilmore and Williams, to leave for home. Their mission ended after 286 days, much longer than the usual six-month stay on the ISS. Their time in space became the sixth-longest mission by any American astronaut. The U.S. record is held by Frank Rubio, who spent 371 days in space. The world record is held by Russian cosmonaut Valeri Polyakov, who stayed for 437 days.

Even though Wilmore and Williams were in space longer than planned, NASA experts said their health will be fine. Long stays in space can cause weak muscles and bones, along with vision and balance issues. However, the astronauts will follow a recovery program to help them regain their strength.

Their extended mission also became part of a political argument. Former U.S. President Donald Trump accused President Joe Biden’s government of leaving the astronauts “stranded” in space. Trump, along with SpaceX owner Elon Musk, claimed that the White House delayed their rescue.

After their safe return, the White House posted on X (formerly Twitter): “PROMISE MADE, PROMISE KEPT: President Trump promised to bring the astronauts back safely.” The post caused criticism, as NASA had always planned the same recovery timeline. Their return was never delayed by politics.

NASA’s Commercial Crew Program manager, Steve Stich, confirmed that the astronauts’ return had no political delays. He explained that the return date was always set according to SpaceX’s schedule, with minor changes caused by SpaceX’s own timing adjustments.

After landing, Wilmore and Williams will now focus on resting and recovering. They will spend the next few weeks doing physical therapy to regain their strength. Despite the challenges, both astronauts were praised for their courage and patience.

Joseph Keebler, a psychologist at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, praised their strength. He said, “If you were told you had to stay at work for nine months, you might have a panic attack. These astronauts showed incredible toughness.”

Now safely back on Earth, Wilmore, Williams, and their crew members will soon be with their families. They will have time to rest and recover from their long and unexpected journey in space.

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