SpaceX capsule returns NASA astronauts after 9 months aboard ISS

Following splashdown, the 4 area explorers had been video recorded in what was described as “a capsule filled with grins” throughout NASA’s livestream of the restoration. Credit score: NASA/Keegan Barber

SpaceX’s Dragon Freedom capsule safely splashed down within the Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday night, bringing astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita “Suni” Williams dwelling after the 2 spent 286 days in area aboard the Worldwide Area Station.

The 2 had been joined by Crew-9 NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, who had been additionally aboard the ISS throughout Wilmore and Williams’ keep.

The spacecraft returned to Earth on the scheduled splashdown time of 5:57 p.m. EDT, and NASA groups aboard Restoration Vessel Megan started the restoration course of shortly after.

Wilmore and Williams had been left aboard the ISS for an extended stay after their Boeing Starliner spacecraft encountered helium leaks and thruster malfunctions throughout a week-long check flight to the station final yr.

In September, the uncrewed Starliner returned to Earth autonomously whereas the 2 astronauts had been left on the station.

Following splashdown, the 4 area explorers had been video recorded in what was described as “a capsule filled with grins” throughout NASA’s livestream of the restoration.

All 4 astronauts had been safely extracted from the capsule and transported to the restoration ship’s medical services for examination.

NASA acknowledged throughout its livestream that the astronauts will probably be flown by helicopter to shore in Tallahassee, Florida, then transferred to an plane to fly dwelling to Houston.