Wed Mar 19 02:13:11 UTC 2025: ## Astronauts Williams and Wilmore Return to Earth After Nine-Month Space Ordeal
**Cape Canaveral, FL** – Astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore splashed down safely off the coast of Florida at 3:27 am this morning, concluding a nine-month mission that began as an eight-day trip. The pair, along with NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, returned aboard the SpaceX Dragon capsule, part of the NASA/SpaceX Crew-9 mission.
The mission’s extended duration stemmed from a propulsion failure in the Boeing Starliner capsule, which was initially slated to carry Williams and Wilmore on an eight-day trip. Stranded after the Starliner’s September return, they were eventually rescued and returned to Earth by a SpaceX Dragon, which made its return journey today. Their arrival was met with an unusual welcoming committee: a pod of dolphins were seen swimming around the capsule as recovery operations began.
Crew-9 undocked from the International Space Station at 10:35 am IST (India Standard Time), with Crew-10 now taking over operations at the ISS. The astronauts were extracted from the capsule and transported to Houston for a 45-day rehabilitation program. The successful return concludes a complex and prolonged mission, marking a testament to international collaboration and SpaceX’s capabilities in space rescue operations.
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