All smiles: Indian-origin NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, colleague Butch Wilmore touch down
Their spacecraft, SpaceX’s Dragon Freedom capsule, successfully splashed down off the Florida coast near Tallahassee on Wednesday, 3.27 AM (IST)
By Newsmeter Network Published on 19 March 2025 9:21 AM IST
US: An extraordinary journey of NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore has come to an end, with their return to Earth from the International Space Station (ISS).
Their spacecraft, SpaceX’s Dragon Freedom capsule, successfully splashed down off the Florida coast near Tallahassee on Wednesday, 3.27 AM (IST).
After their 17-hour-long journey, the astronauts were out of their scorched capsule, waving and smiling at the cameras, and then rushed for medical checks. A video of their return to Earth is going viral on social media.
#NASAastronauts Welcome Home!
— NewsMeter (@NewsMeter_In) March 19, 2025
NASA astronauts #SunitaWilliams #ButchWilmore return to Earth after 9 months.
Their spacecraft, SpaceX’s Dragon Freedom capsule, successfully splashed down off the Florida coast near Tallahassee on Wednesday, 3.27 AM (IST). pic.twitter.com/AaL8vPx1zZ
Williams and Wilmore, members of Crew-9, have been aboard the ISS since June 2024. Initially, their mission was planned for just eight days, but technical issues with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft led to an extended stay.
The Starliner, launched on June 5, 2024, for its first crewed test flight, successfully docked at the ISS. However, multiple helium propulsion system leaks and thrust issues forced NASA and Boeing to conduct further tests, significantly delaying their return.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has penned a heartfelt letter to Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams, expressing admiration for her achievements and extending best wishes for her ongoing space mission. "We discussed how proud we are of you and your work. Following this interaction, I could not stop myself from writing to you. Even though you are thousands of miles away, you remain close to our hearts. The people of India are praying for your good health and success in your mission," he wrote.
Modi remembered meeting Sunita Williams' late father, Deepakbhai in 2016 during his visit to the US. In the letter, Modi has given an invitation for Williams to visit India after her mission, calling it a "pleasure" for the country to host "one of its most illustrious daughters."
On the other side, Jhulasan village, known as the ancestral home of Williams' father, Deepak Pandya is eagerly awaiting her return. Villagers have been praying for her safety, with many offering special prayers and lighting an Akhand Jyot (eternal flame) at the local temple.
NASA astronaut since 1998:
Williams was selected as an astronaut by NASA in 1998 and she underwent training at the Johnson Space Center. She also worked in Moscow with the Russian Space Agency on the Russian contribution to the International Space Station.
She launched on her first mission on December 9, 2006, aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery to join ISS Expeditions 14 and 15 for a 195-day stint in orbit.
On April 16, 2007, she became the first person to run a marathon in space, completing the Boston Marathon on a treadmill on the space station in 4 hours and 24 minutes.
She became the only second woman to lead the International Space Station during her second spaceflight in 2012. She oversaw station operations, completed a triathlon in orbit, and captured a now-iconic image appearing to "touch" the Sun during a spacewalk.
