NASA Astronauts Return to Earth After Nine-Month Delay

Two NASA astronauts, Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, have safely returned to Earth after spending more than nine months aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

Originally set for a short mission in June 2024, they remained in orbit due to technical issues with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, which was meant to bring them home.

They finally landed in the Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday, 18 March, aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule, alongside NASA astronaut Nicholas Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov. Their journey home took 17 hours, with their spacecraft slowing from over 27 000 kilometres per hour to a controlled splashdown.

During their extended stay, Williams and Wilmore contributed to scientific research, conducted spacewalks, and even voted in the United States election from space. They kept fit using specialised exercise equipment and celebrated Christmas in zero gravity.

The astronauts’ delayed trip sparked political debate, but NASA maintained that safety and operational requirements dictated their extended mission. Meanwhile, Boeing’s Starliner programme remains under scrutiny as engineers work to resolve its technical problems.

Following their splashdown, the astronauts will undergo medical evaluations before reuniting with their families, concluding an unexpected but eventful mission in space.

Image Credit: Source