Astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore return to earth after extended space mission

Dhangadhi: NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, along with fellow crewmates Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov, have successfully returned to Earth after an extended stay at the International Space Station (ISS) due to a technical malfunction in Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft.

Originally planned as an eight-day test mission, the crew’s stay aboard the ISS was prolonged following unexpected issues with the Starliner. After overcoming these challenges, they landed safely in the ocean near Tallahassee, Florida, at 5:57 PM on Tuesday (4:42 AM Wednesday, Nepali time), according to NASA. The historic landing was broadcast live, showing the astronauts exiting their SpaceX Dragon capsule upon arrival.

The prolonged space mission of Sunita and Butch had drawn global attention, sparking concerns over their health and well-being. However, NASA confirmed that they returned safely, and video footage from BBC’s live coverage captured Butch and Sunita emerging from the capsule, smiling and waving. Interestingly, as their capsule splashed down, it was surrounded by curious dolphins in the Florida waters.

To mark their successful return, NASA and SpaceX held a joint press conference, though the astronauts themselves did not attend. NASA stated that the crew will require time to readjust to Earth’s gravity and will undergo medical evaluations before reuniting with their families.