NASA Crew-9 Returns After Nine Months in Space

“Promise Made, Promise Kept!”—Astronauts Finally Return to Earth

SpaceX Dragon Capsule Splashdown Marks the End of a Prolonged Mission

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🔹 A Long-Awaited Homecoming

After spending over nine months in space, NASA Crew-9 astronauts Sunita Williams, Nick Hague, Butch Wilmore, and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov finally breathed earthly air again on Wednesday, following a successful splashdown of SpaceX’s Dragon capsule.

🚀 Mission Overview:
✔️ Crew Dragon landed safely off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida
✔️ Astronauts were carried off on stretchers, per SpaceX protocol
✔️ Mission extended unexpectedly due to technical issues

The return was originally planned much earlier, but complications with the Boeing Starliner capsule led to delays, forcing Williams and Wilmore to spend over nine months in space instead of just one week.

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🔹 The Splashdown: A Welcome Back from Dolphins?

🌊 As the capsule landed, an unexpected sight greeted the crew—a pod of dolphins was captured on video circling the spacecraft as it bobbed in the water.

📢 SpaceX’s Kate Tice on Capsule Recovery:
🗣️ “Saltwater is corrosive, and we want to rinse out as much of it as possible to reduce corrosion on the metallic structures.”

🔍 Recovery Process:
✔️ Crew Dragon was lifted from the water by SpaceX’s recovery ship, “Megan”
✔️ Astronauts remained inside while safety checks were conducted
✔️ Nearby boats ensured stability before opening the hatch

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🔹 A Delayed but Safe Return

🛰️ NASA astronauts Nick Hague and Aleksandr Gorbunov had been aboard the International Space Station (ISS) since September 2024.

🌍 However, Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore’s mission, originally scheduled for just a week, stretched to over nine months due to persistent Boeing Starliner issues.

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🔹 “Promise Made, Promise Kept” – White House Celebrates Return

📢 White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt hailed the return as a fulfillment of President Donald Trump’s promise to bring home the “forgotten” astronauts.

🗣️ Leavitt’s Statement:
“President Trump promised to look out for the forgotten man and woman. At 5:57 PM ET tonight—promise made, promise kept!”

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🔹 What’s Next for the Astronauts?

🔬 Post-Mission Recovery:
✔️ Medical evaluations and readjustment to Earth’s gravity
✔️ Debriefing sessions on their extended mission experience
✔️ Analysis of long-term space exposure effects on human health

This historic return marks yet another milestone in NASA and SpaceX’s ongoing partnership, solidifying SpaceX’s Crew Dragon as a reliable transport vehicle for future space missions.