California: On Wednesday, NASA Crew-9 astronauts Sunita Williams, Nick Hague, Butch Wilmore, and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov returned to Earth for the first time in over nine months following the successful splashdown of SpaceX's Dragon capsule.
As per standard procedure, the astronauts exited the capsule on stretchers, according to CNN. This measure is implemented by SpaceX for all astronauts completing extended space missions.
Prior to the astronauts' disembarkation, a technician washed the Crew Dragon spacecraft with fresh water to eliminate as much saltwater as possible.
"Saltwater is corrosive, and we aim to rinse out as much of it as we can to minimize corrosion on the metallic components," explained SpaceX's Kate Tice.
Throughout its time in orbit, the side hatch of the Crew Dragon remained sealed. After docking with the International Space Station, the astronauts utilized a different hatch located on the top of the vehicle for entry and exit, as reported by CNN.
SpaceX's recovery ship, Megan, employed a large rig to hoist the capsule, which contained the four astronauts, from the water. Nearby crew members vigilantly monitored the spacecraft to ensure there were no fuel leaks.
As the capsule descended off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida, several dolphins were spotted swimming around it, greeting the astronauts upon their return. At least five dolphins were recorded on video circling the capsule as it floated in the water, according to CNN. Boats in the vicinity assisted in stabilizing the capsule and ensuring the safety of the astronauts.
NASA astronauts Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov have been in space since September 2024. In contrast, Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams have been on their mission for a significantly longer period, having launched last June. Originally slated for a one-week duration, their mission was prolonged to over nine months due to complications with their Boeing Starliner capsule, which postponed their return.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt previously remarked that US President Donald Trump had honored his commitment to bring back the "forgotten" astronauts.
"President Trump promised to advocate for the forgotten man and woman. At 5:57 PM ET tonight -- promise made, promise kept!" she stated in a post on X.
