NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore have safely returned to Earth after being stranded in space for nine months due to technical failures with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft.
Originally scheduled for an eight-day mission, the duo was forced to extend their stay on the International Space Station (ISS) when the Starliner was deemed unsafe for their return. NASA later sent the faulty capsule back to Earth empty and assigned the astronauts seats on a SpaceX mission, requiring them to wait for the scheduled crew rotation.
They finally landed on Wednesday as SpaceX’s Dragon Freedom capsule splashed down off the coast of Florida. NASA confirmed their return, praising their resilience and adaptability during the extended mission.
Despite the unexpected delay, Williams and Wilmore continued conducting research and spacewalks, with Williams setting a new record for the most time spent outside the ISS by a female astronaut.
Upon landing, the astronauts were assisted onto stretchers for medical evaluations, as prolonged exposure to microgravity weakens muscles and bone density. They have since been transported to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston for rehabilitation.
