SPACEX CAPSULE CARRYING NASA ASTRONAUTS RETURNS TO EARTH

Wed 19 March 2025:

A SpaceX Dragon capsule carrying NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore safely splashed down off the coast of Florida on Tuesday after they spent more than nine months aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

Also on board were NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, who returned to Earth alongside Williams and Wilmore after their prolonged stay in orbit.

NASA confirmed the successful splashdown, marking the end of a mission that lasted far beyond its original timeline.

The four astronauts began their long-awaited journey home early Tuesday, undocking from the ISS at 1.05 a.m. local time (0505GMT) aboard the Dragon capsule. Their return took approximately 17 hours before reaching the waters off Florida’s coast.

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In June 2024, NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore launched aboard Boeing’s Starliner for what was meant to be an 8-day test mission to the International Space Station (ISS).

However, complications arose when the spacecraft experienced propulsion system failures, including thruster malfunctions and helium leaks, making it unsafe for their return. This turned their short trip into a 286-day ordeal, stranding them on the ISS for over nine months.

NASA deemed Starliner unreliable and opted for a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule to bring them back. They safely splashed down off Florida’s coast on March 18, 2025, alongside astronauts Nick Hague and cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, ending a prolonged mission marked by technical setbacks and resilience.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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