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NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who were stranded in space for months due to technical issues, have finally returned to Earth.

Their journey concluded on Wednesday as SpaceX’s Dragon Freedom capsule safely splashed down off the Florida coast, ending a mission that was initially set to last just eight days but extended to nine months. NASA confirmed their arrival in a post on X, stating, “Home sweet home. NASA’s SpaceX #Crew9 touched down at Johnson Space Center’s Ellington Field in Houston at 11:19 pm CDT, March 18, after their @Space_Station mission and successful splashdown earlier this afternoon.”

Williams and Wilmore had traveled to the International Space Station in June 2024 aboard Boeing’s Starliner for its first crewed test flight. However, the capsule suffered multiple technical failures and was deemed unsafe for their return. NASA later sent the Starliner back to Earth empty in September, leaving the astronauts without transportation.

They were eventually assigned seats on a SpaceX capsule, but as it was part of a scheduled six-month mission, they had to remain on the ISS until now.

Despite being considered “stranded,” NASA assured that the astronauts were always safe, as emergency spacecraft were docked at the station. During their extended stay, they conducted research experiments and spacewalks, with Williams setting a new record for the most time spent outside the space station by a female astronaut.

NASA officials praised their resilience and adaptability. “It is awesome to have Crew 9 home, just a beautiful landing,” said Joel Montalbano, deputy associate administrator for NASA’s Space Operations.

Following their 17-hour return journey, the astronauts were assisted onto stretchers, a routine procedure after long space missions due to the effects of microgravity on the body. They were then taken to the Johnson Space Center in Houston for medical evaluations.

Experts highlight that extended space travel weakens muscles, reduces bone density, and affects circulation, requiring astronauts to undergo extensive rehabilitation upon returning to Earth’s gravity.

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