Williams and Wilmore had been stranded in space since June 2024, as part of Boeing Starliner's first crewed mission to the ISS. The Starliner experienced several technical issues and was deemed unsafe for them to return.

by Xinhua Writer Tan Jingjing

LOS ANGELES, March 18 (Xinhua) -- NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, who had been stranded in space for over nine months, returned to Earth on Tuesday afternoon.

The two astronauts, along with their fellow Crew-9 members -- NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov -- returned home aboard SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft.

The spacecraft successfully splashed down off Florida's coast at 5:57 p.m. Eastern Time (2157 GMT), according to NASA's live broadcast.

The crew undocked from the International Space Station (ISS) early Tuesday morning, beginning their approximately 17-hour journey back to Earth. The spacecraft performed several orbit-lowering maneuvers, re-entered Earth's atmosphere, and completed a parachute-assisted splashdown near Tallahassee, Florida.

A recovery ship positioned itself to hoist the Dragon capsule onto the main deck, where teams worked to secure the spacecraft, ensuring the safe retrieval of the Crew-9 astronauts. Once the hatch was opened, the four astronauts exited the capsule one by one, with assistance from medical personnel. As a routine after any space mission, medical teams will assess the astronauts' health following their return from space.

NASA had initially scheduled the astronauts' return for a day later. However, favorable weather conditions allowed for an earlier splashdown on Tuesday, though NASA had expressed concerns about adverse weather later in the week.

"We are thrilled to have Suni, Butch, Nick and Aleksandr home after their months-long mission conducting vital science, technology demonstrations and maintenance aboard the International Space Station," said NASA Acting Administrator Janet Petro.

Williams and Wilmore had been stranded in space since June 2024, as part of Boeing Starliner's first crewed mission to the ISS. The Starliner experienced several technical issues, including helium leaks and propulsion malfunctions, leading NASA to deem the spacecraft unsafe for the astronauts' return.

While the Starliner returned to Earth last September, Williams and Wilmore remained aboard the ISS as part of the station's regular crew rotation, extending their stay by several months beyond the originally planned eight-day mission.

The splashdown marked the conclusion of a long space odyssey for Williams and Wilmore. After months in space, their bodies will need time to adjust to Earth's gravity and atmosphere.

The Crew-9 astronauts returned home after the Crew-10 mission carrying four new astronauts arrived at the ISS on Sunday.

Throughout their mission, Crew-9 astronauts contributed to a host of science, maintenance activities and technology demonstrations, including spacewalks, collecting samples from the station's external surface for analysis, investigations on plant growth and quality, as well as the potential of stem cell technology to address blood diseases, autoimmune disorders and cancers, according to NASA.

Williams now holds the record for total spacewalking time by a female astronaut, with 62 hours and 6 minutes, according to NASA.