Premium

Watch: Moment when NASA astronauts Sunita Williams, Wilmore splashdown after 9-months in space

Williams and Wilmore’s SpaceX Dragon spacecraft had parachuted into the Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday (ET), hours after departing the ISS.

google-preferred-btn
sunita williams nasa spacexThe Crew Dragon capsule containing Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams and two other astronauts splashes down, following their return to earth from the International Space Station off the coast of Florida, U.S. in a still image from video. NASA TV/Handout

After spending an extended stay in space for over nine months, NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore finally returned to Earth safely and their SpaceX Crew 9 Dragon spacecraft splashdown off the Florida coast.

The 286-day ordeal of Williams and Wilmore, who were stuck in the International Space Station (ISS) after their space expedition with Boeing Starliner witnessed technical faults, came to an end as Dragon spacecraft splashdown successfully in the ocean off the Florida coast at about 3:30am IST.

In a post on X, SpaceX confirmed the splashdown and posted “Splashdown of Dragon confirmed – welcome back to Earth, Nick, Suni, Butch, and Aleks!”

nasa sunita williams return spacex Dolphins swim past the Crew Dragon capsule containing Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams and two other astronauts floats after their splashdown following their return to earth from the International Space Station off the coast of Florida, U.S. in a still image from video. NASA TV/Handout via REUTERS.

Williams and Wilmore’s SpaceX Dragon spacecraft had parachuted into the Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday (ET), hours after departing the ISS. Dragon Splashdown took place at 5:57pm off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida.

Story continues below this ad
Also Read | How Sunita Williams’ week-long space mission turned into a 9-month stay

The stuck astronauts were relieved after the arrival of a relief crew at the ISS on Sunday, which led to the departure of Williams and Wilmore after spending close to 10 months in space.

The crewed voyage of Boeing Starliner went to space on June 5, 2024 for eight days but multiple issues in propulsion, helium leaks and thruster malfunctions raised alarm that a return trip was not feasible.

Amid multiple reports of health concerns, Sunita Williams during an interview in November 2024 had said “We’re feeling good, working out, eating right…People who are worried about us, really, don’t worry about us. We’re a happy crew up here.”

As soon as Sunita Williams got out of the Dragon capsule upon its landing in Florida, she waved and smiled with joy and was then taken for medical checkup to Houston for rehabilitation.

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram

© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd
Latest Comment
Post Comment
Read Comments
Advertisement
Express shorts
For Kolkata, the IMD has forecast mostly cloudy skies with light to moderate rain or thundershowers on most days through Panchami.
Unprecedented rain submerges Kolkata amidst Durga Puja preparations; train services hit
Cities43 min ago

At least two people were killed as Kolkata woke up to an inundated city on Tuesday morning after heavy overnight rainfall flooded streets, railway tracks, and Metro tracks. The downpour, which began late Monday night and continued past midnight, led to severe waterlogging across major arterial roads and residential areas, paralysing normal life.

View all shorts
Live Blog

Photos

In pics: From concept supercars to electronic SUV's: Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025 was all about innovation
In Pics: From Concept Supercars to Electric SUVs – Innovation at Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025
Top Stories
Azam Khan
CitiesSP leader Azam Khan walks out of jail after 23 months
Water-logged streets across Shyambazar amid Durga Puja preparations.
Live UpdatesLive: Heavy rain floods streets, railway tracks in Kolkata; 2 dead
ranbir kapoor katrina kaif
EntertainmentRanbir Kapoor didn't want Sonakshi Sinha in Besharam, said 'he was uncomfortable'; urged director to cast Katrina Kaif
yash chopra lata mangeshkar
EntertainmentYesteryear Bollywood composer became paralysed moments after seeing picture of Lata Mangeshkar, was blacklisted after altercation with her
Calling it a "blessing in disguise" for India, Kamakoti highlighted how the move could serve as a catalyst for research and innovation within the country (Image source: @ANI/X)
Trending‘Craze for going to the US is gone’: IIT Madras director calls Trump’s H-1B visa fee hike a ‘blessing in disguise’
Zach Wilson linked his experience to the impact of recent immigration policy changes, specifically US President Donald Trump’s newly announced executive order imposing a $100,000 fee on H-1B visa sponsors (Representative image/Pexels)
Trending‘Competition vanished overnight’: Ex-Meta employee reveals 88% of team had H-1B visas, calls Trump’s move opportunity for Americans
Pakistan opener Sahibzada Farhan (L) holds his bat like a gun; pacer Haris Rauf mimics a crashing aircraft, ostensibly referring to his country's air strikes during the recent hostilities with India. (AP)
Sports‘Crashing planes’, gunshots with bat: India-Pakistan game was all except cricket
In a broader perspective, they could be T20I cricket's most destructive opening pair, an irrepressible bond sculpted by friendship and familiarity. Like Langer and Hayden, or Frodo and Sam of JR Tolkein’s Lord of the Rings, or the Woodies in tennis, Flanagan and Allan in music. (AP Photo)
SportsHow Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill became T20I's most destructive opening pair
C Raja Mohan writes: On its 80th birthday, and after Trump, a question: Whose UN is it anyway?
OpinionOn its 80th birthday, and after Trump, a question: Whose UN is it anyway?
Termed as GST Bachat Utsav by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, the rate rationalisation is meant to leave more disposable income in the hands of people
ExplainedAs GST 2.0 kicks in: what changes for consumers and industry
Neena Gupta on continuing her affair with Vivian Richards
Lifestyle‘It was long-distance’: Neena Gupta on continuing her ‘on and off’ relationship with Vivian Richards after the birth of their daughter; expert on stable co-parenting dynamic
Nvidia will start delivering hardware as soon as late 2026, with the first gigawatt of computing power to be deployed in the second half of that year on its upcoming platform, named Vera Rubin. (Image: Reuters)
TechnologyNvidia to invest up to $100 billion in OpenAI, linking two artificial intelligence titans
Advertisement
Must Read
Sports‘Crashing planes’, gunshots with bat: India-Pakistan game was all except cricket
Pakistan opener Sahibzada Farhan (L) holds his bat like a gun; pacer Haris Rauf mimics a crashing aircraft, ostensibly referring to his country's air strikes during the recent hostilities with India. (AP)
SportsHow Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill became T20I's most destructive opening pair
In a broader perspective, they could be T20I cricket's most destructive opening pair, an irrepressible bond sculpted by friendship and familiarity. Like Langer and Hayden, or Frodo and Sam of JR Tolkein’s Lord of the Rings, or the Woodies in tennis, Flanagan and Allan in music. (AP Photo)
SportsParis St Germain and France forward Ousmane Dembele wins 2025 Ballon d'Or
Dembele is the sixth Frenchman to have won the award, with the most recent Ballon d'Or winner from the country being Karim Benzema in 2022. (AP Photo)
TechnologyNvidia to invest up to $100 billion in OpenAI, linking two artificial intelligence titans
Nvidia will start delivering hardware as soon as late 2026, with the first gigawatt of computing power to be deployed in the second half of that year on its upcoming platform, named Vera Rubin. (Image: Reuters)
TechnologyPerplexity’s Comet browser is now available in India for Windows and Mac users 
Additionally, the AI-powered browser keeps track of what you have read, are working on, and are looking at to recommend relevant information.(Image: Perplexity)
TechnologyAs Trump raises H-1B fees, Amazon, Google, and Microsoft press employees to return to US
After midnight, holders with H-1B visas could not be permitted to return to the country unless they have paid $100,000. (Image: AP)
Lifestyle‘It was long-distance’: Neena Gupta on continuing her ‘on and off’ relationship with Vivian Richards after the birth of their daughter; expert on stable co-parenting dynamic
Neena Gupta on continuing her affair with Vivian Richards
Advertisement
Buzzing Now
Trending‘Craze for going to the US is gone’: IIT Madras director calls Trump’s H-1B visa fee hike a ‘blessing in disguise’
Calling it a "blessing in disguise" for India, Kamakoti highlighted how the move could serve as a catalyst for research and innovation within the country (Image source: @ANI/X)
Trending‘Competition vanished overnight’: Ex-Meta employee reveals 88% of team had H-1B visas, calls Trump’s move opportunity for Americans
Zach Wilson linked his experience to the impact of recent immigration policy changes, specifically US President Donald Trump’s newly announced executive order imposing a $100,000 fee on H-1B visa sponsors (Representative image/Pexels)
Trending'The worst is about to come': Noted paediatrician highlights dangers of AI for children
Dr Samir Dalwai, a noted developmental and behavioural paediatrician, recently explained how AI is affecting children (Representative image/Pexels)
TrendingThumb injury treated at Rs 50, American woman hails affordability of Indian healthcare: ‘insurance premiums cost $1-2k per month in US'
Reflecting on the experience, Fischer highlighted three things that stood out to her which are the hospital’s close proximity, the complete lack of wait time, and the incredibly low cost of care (Instagram source: @kristenfischer3/Instagram)
Trending‘Should not promote labor culture’: Mattresses, pillows brought to Flipkart’s Bengaluru office ahead of Big Billion Days, video triggers debate
The Flipkart Big Billion Days 2025 will commence on September 23, offering discounts on electronics, tech, apparel, home and kitchen products, and more (Image source: @markertingwithsim/Instagram)
Sep 23: Latest News
Advertisement