Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore Return After 9-Month Space Stay, Splash Down Near Florida

Astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore have finally returned to Earth after what was initially planned as an eight-day mission to the International Space Station (ISS) turned into an unexpected nine-month stay. The duo, who launched aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft on June 5 last year, made their return journey early this morning in SpaceX’s Dragon capsule.

Their spacecraft safely deployed its parachutes before making a smooth splashdown in the ocean near Florida’s coast. Joining them on the 17-hour trip back were NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov.

Following the landing, NASA recovery teams quickly opened the capsule hatch and assisted the crew with mobility aids as they readjusted to Earth’s gravity. Sunita Williams appeared in good spirits, waving and giving a thumbs-up as she exited the spacecraft.

Take a bow! What an incredible moment!! Welcome Sunita Williams after 286 days in space, completing 4,577 orbits around Earth! You have just achieved an impossible. ????#SunitaWilliams #sunitawilliamsreturn #SunitaReturns pic.twitter.com/znfHPpA8M6

— MANOJ TIWARY (@tiwarymanoj) March 19, 2025

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Take a bow! What an incredible moment!! Welcome Sunita Williams after 286 days in space, completing 4,577 orbits around Earth! You have just achieved an impossible. ????#SunitaWilliams #sunitawilliamsreturn #SunitaReturns pic.twitter.com/znfHPpA8M6 — MANOJ TIWARY (@tiwarymanoj) March 19, 2025