As soon as the SpaceX’s Dragon Freedom capsule touched the Tallahassee waters, it was cheers all around the world. Finally, Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore returned to Earth after spending over nine months at the International Space Station (ISS) due to unexpected delays. Their spacecraft, successfully splashed down off the Florida coast near Tallahassee. Butch and Suni were accompanied by astronauts Nick Hague and Aleksandr Grebyonkin who reached the ISS in December as part of a rescue mission planned by NASA and SpaceX.
Welcome home, #Crew9@NASA_Astronauts Nick Hague, Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore, and cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov splashed down off the coast of Florida at 5:57pm ET (2127 UTC), concluding their scientific mission to the @Space_Station: https://t.co/DFWxQIiz6O pic.twitter.com/VQu3DhpTUJ
— NASA (@NASA) March 19, 2025
“On behalf of SpaceX, welcome home,” radioed SpaceX Mission Control in California. The astronauts were out of their scorched capsule, waving and smiling while being taken away in reclining stretchers for routine medical checks. However, their troubles may not be over as readjusting to Earth can be difficult due to the damage caused to the human body during space travel. After experiencing microgravity for more than nine months, the astronaut’s bones and muscles operate differently after returning to Earth, making it difficult to stand, walk or hold things. In space, without the weight of the gravity experienced on Earth, the spine elongates, causing a temporary height gain. However, on the flip side, cells that build bone tissue become slower and those which damage bones continue to grow at a normal pace, making bone deterioration faster. Muscles also begin to weaken due to the lack of pull from gravity.
Every month in space, an astronaut’s weight-bearing bones lose one per cent of their density, making them weaker and more brittle. As calluses decrease, and the body become less used to the use of muscles and bone in the legs, astronauts end up developing “baby feet”, a condition that causes you to lose the thick part under your feet, hindering the ability to walk. The human heart, brain and circulatory system are also affected due to a prolonged stay in space. In microgravity, fluids from the rest of the body tend to shift upward toward the head. This fluid redistribution results in facial puffiness, nasal congestion, and increased pressure inside the skull, while the legs experience a loss of fluids. This makes the head appear bigger, while the legs appear smaller and weaker. This phenomenon is called “puffy-head bird-legs syndrome”.
Keeping in mind the changes their bodies have undergone due to the long stay, a rigorous 45 day schedule has been set for their recovery including various tests.
As soon as the capsules landed, political undertones of the successful rescue were hard to miss as The White House claimed that the rescue mission was due to President Trump’s efforts. “PROMISE MADE, PROMISE KEPT: President Trump pledged to rescue the astronauts stranded in space for nine months. Today, they safely splashed down in the Gulf of America, thanks to @ElonMusk, @SpaceX, and @NASA!” it wrote on X.
PROMISE MADE, PROMISE KEPT: President Trump pledged to rescue the astronauts stranded in space for nine months.
Today, they safely splashed down in the Gulf of America, thanks to @ElonMusk, @SpaceX, and @NASA! pic.twitter.com/r01hVWAC8S
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) March 18, 2025
On January 28, 2025, President Donald Trump said he told Elon Musk and SpaceX to retrieve two astronauts from the International Space Station (ISS).
In a Truth Social post, he wrote, “I have just asked Elon Musk and @SpaceX to ‘go get’ the 2 brave astronauts who have been virtually abandoned in space by the Biden Administration. They have been waiting for many months on @Space Station. Elon will soon be on his way. Hopefully, all will be safe. Good luck Elon!!!”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said NASA’s Crew-9 mission has been a test of grit, courage and the boundless human spirit. “Sunita Williams and the #Crew9 astronauts have once again shown us what perseverance truly means. Their unwavering determination in the face of the vast unknown will forever inspire millions,” Modi wrote on X.
Welcome back, #Crew9! The Earth missed you.
Theirs has been a test of grit, courage and the boundless human spirit. Sunita Williams and the #Crew9 astronauts have once again shown us what perseverance truly means. Their unwavering determination in the face of the vast unknown… pic.twitter.com/FkgagekJ7C
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 19, 2025
“Space exploration is about pushing the limits of human potential, daring to dream, and having the courage to turn those dreams into reality. Sunita Williams, a trailblazer and an icon, has exemplified this spirit throughout her career,” he said. He further added, “We are incredibly proud of all those who worked tirelessly to ensure their safe return. They have demonstrated what happens when precision meets passion and technology meets tenacity.”
The welcome back notes continue to pour in for this brave team of astronauts, who have exuded brevity, patience and optimism boundlessly. The world now prays for their quick recovery and with Modi already extending the invitation, India awaits to welcome it’s daughter home!
