Astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore Return to Earth After 9 Months at ISS
After spending over nine months at the International Space Station (ISS), astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore have finally made their way back to Earth. They landed safely off the coast of Florida, USA, early Wednesday morning.
The astronauts traveled aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, which also carried American astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov. The spacecraft re-entered the atmosphere and deployed parachutes, making a smooth splashdown near the Florida coast at 3:27 AM IST.
Williams and Wilmore originally flew to the ISS in June last year for what was meant to be a short test mission of Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. The mission was planned as a brief roundtrip to evaluate the Starliner’s performance during its first crewed flight. However, due to technical issues with the spacecraft’s propulsion system, it was declared unsafe for the return journey. As a result, the capsule was sent back to Earth without any crew, while the two astronauts remained at the ISS until a replacement mission was arranged.
🌍 “Earth Was Waiting for You”: PM Modi Welcomes Sunita Williams
Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted NASA astronaut Sunita Williams and the Crew-9 team as they safely returned to Earth aboard the Dragon capsule.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), PM Modi expressed his admiration, saying, “Earth missed you.”
He praised the astronauts for their grit, courage, and determination, calling their mission a true display of human resilience.
“Welcome back, #Crew9! Your journey has been a powerful example of bravery and the unyielding human spirit. Sunita Williams and the Crew-9 astronauts have once again shown what it means to persevere through the unknown.” round trip
Astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore Return to Earth After Fiery Re-Entry
After nine months in space, astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore safely returned to Earth aboard a Dragon spacecraft. The capsule splashed down in the waters near Florida at 5:57 PM local time (3:27 AM IST).
The spacecraft, traveling at a speed of around 28,000 km/h, faced intense heat of nearly 1,600 degrees Celsius as it re-entered Earth’s atmosphere, creating a fiery trail. Despite the extreme conditions, the capsule deployed its parachutes and made a smooth landing.
Shortly after landing, Williams (59) and Wilmore (62) were helped out of the capsule. Both astronauts smiled and waved at the crowd, expressing their joy to be back on Earth. They were accompanied on the 17-hour journey by NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, who were also part of the returning crew.
🌟 About Sunita Williams
Sunita Williams, a former US Navy captain, is a 59-year-old astronaut with Indian and Slovenian heritage. She was born on September 19, 1965, in Euclid, Ohio, to Deepak Pandya, her Gujarati father from Jhulasan village in Mehsana district, Gujarat, and Ursuline Bonnie Pandya, her Slovenian mother. She is married to Michael J. Williams, a federal police officer. In her free time, she enjoys running, swimming, and cycling.
Williams has visited India several times, including in 2007 and 2013, after her space missions. In 2008, she was awarded the Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian honor. Proud of her diverse heritage, Williams has carried cultural symbols to space, including samosas, a Slovenian flag, and a Ganesha idol during her earlier missions.
NASA Stresses Safety and Success Amid Politics Over Crew-9 Return
A NASA official emphasized that the agency’s main responsibility is to safely and successfully carry out space missions, regardless of political discussions surrounding the Crew-9 return. While answering a question from a British journalist from The Times, Joel Montalbano, Deputy Associate Administrator for NASA’s Space Operations Mission Directorate, stated, “At NASA, our main goal is to carry out missions safely and successfully.”
We operate based on scientific principles and collaborate with commercial partners. Sometimes, the information shared in the media may not fully reflect what happens. Our responsibility is to carry out these missions with precision.” Montalbano’s remarks highlighted that NASA’s priority remains space exploration and safety, regardless of political narratives.
Mission Commander’s Words After Splashdown
As the Dragon capsule safely splashed down, mission control confirmed the landing with the message, “Splashdown confirmed. Crew-9 is back on Earth. ” At NASA, our main goal is to carry out missions safely and successfully.”
In response, Nicholas Hague, one of the American astronauts on board, expressed his excitement, saying, “What an incredible ride! I can see nothing but big smiles all around.” The crew appeared overjoyed and relieved as they returned home after their extended mission.
NASA Celebrates 25 Years of Human Presence in Space
During the splashdown coverage, NASA’s Sandra Jones highlighted a major milestone—25 years of continuous human presence in space.
“If you’re under 25 years old, you’ve never lived in a time when humans weren’t working aboard the International Space Station, conducting research that benefits life on Earth,” Jones shared.
Crew-9 Mission: By the Numbers
Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore:
- Distance traveled: 121.3 million miles
- Days in Space: 286
- Earth orbits completed: 4,576
Nick Hague and Aleksandr Gorbunov:
- Distance traveled: 72.5 million miles
- Days in Space: 171
- Earth orbits completed: 2,736
✅ This was Gorbunov’s first space mission, while Hague added to his space experience, having now spent a total of 374 days in space over two missions.
✅ Williams has clocked 608 days in space over her three flights, and Wilmore has accumulated 464 days across his three missions.
Sunita Williams’ Return Follows Kalpana Chawla’s Birth Anniversary
Astronaut Sunita Williams, along with the Crew-9 team, made their return to Earth just two days after the world honored Kalpana Chawla on her birth anniversary.
- Williams, the second astronaut of Indian heritage to achieve global recognition, follows in the footsteps of Kalpana Chawla, who was the first Indian-born woman to travel to space.
- Chawla tragically lost her life in 2003 when the Columbia space shuttle disintegrated during re-entry.
How Much NASA Could Pay Sunita Williams for Her 9-Month Space Mission
Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore are classified under NASA’s GS-15 pay grade, the highest level for federal employees.
- Their annual base salary ranges between $125,133 and $162,672 (₹1.08 crore and ₹1.41 crore).
- For their 9-month mission, they will earn between $93,850 and $122,004 (₹81 lakh and ₹1.05 crore).
- With an additional $1,148 (₹1 lakh) in incidental pay, their total earnings for the mission are expected to be between $94,998 and $123,152 (₹82 lakh and ₹1.06 crore).
Experts Call Sunita Williams’ Safe Return a Victory for Science
The successful return of Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore is being seen as a major achievement for science and technology, according to experts. Dr. P.K. Ghosh, a space strategist, described their comeback as a testament to scientific progress. “Everything went smoothly, and their safe arrival marks a celebration of science and the ability to overcome many challenges in space,” he said.
Narottam Sahoo, a scientist and advisor at the Gujarat Council on Science and Technology, praised the mission in a post on X, calling it an unforgettable moment. He said, “The safe return of Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore represents human strength, teamwork, and the drive for exploration.”
Dr. Ghosh also highlighted the importance of the spacecraft’s descent angle. He explained that if the angle is too shallow, the capsule could veer off course.
When asked why the Dragon capsule took 17 hours to return to Earth, Ghosh clarified that the actual travel time between the ISS and Earth is around 55 minutes. However, the extended duration is due to various spacecraft checks and waiting for the final approval from mission control before re-entry.
