Astronauts Butch and Suni finally back on Earth

After nine months in space, NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have finally returned to Earth. Their SpaceX spacecraft underwent a rapid and intense re-entry into the atmosphere, followed by the deployment of four parachutes, ultimately splashing down smoothly off the coast of Florida. The successful return marks the end of a significantly extended mission.

After the recovery ship hoisted the spacecraft out of the water, the astronauts waved with smiles, then exited the hatch with the help of other crew members – astronauts Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov. "The crew is doing well," NASA's Commercial Crew Program Manager Steve Stich said at a press conference. The astronauts appeared to be in good spirits after their long journey.

The mission was originally planned to last only eight days, but was significantly extended due to technical issues with the spacecraft Butch and Suni used to travel to the International Space Station. "It's just fantastic to have Crew-9 safely back, and it was a textbook landing," said Joel Montalbano, deputy associate administrator for NASA's space operations mission directorate. He also thanked the astronauts for their resilience and flexibility, and called SpaceX a "great partner." The collaboration between NASA and SpaceX proved crucial for the mission's success.

The journey back to Earth took 17 hours. The astronauts were placed on stretchers, which is standard procedure after prolonged periods in a weightless environment. They will undergo medical team examinations before reuniting with their families. "The most important thing is seeing friends and family, and those people that they were planning to spend Christmas with," said Helen Sharman, Britain's first astronaut. "All those family celebrations, birthdays and other things that they thought they were going to be part of – now, perhaps, they can make up for some lost time." The reunion will be a joyous occasion after their extended time in space.

Butch and Suni's story began in June 2024. They participated in the first crewed test flight of the "Starliner" spacecraft developed by aerospace company Boeing. However, the spacecraft encountered multiple technical issues en route to the space station, deemed too risky to send the astronauts home. Although the "Starliner" safely returned to Earth without a crew in early September, it meant the two needed a new means of transportation to return. Therefore, NASA chose the next scheduled flight: a SpaceX spacecraft that arrived at the International Space Station in late September. This spacecraft carried two astronauts instead of four, leaving two empty seats for Butch and Suni's return. The only "downside" was that this mission was scheduled to last six months, thereby extending the astronauts' stay until now. This unexpected turn of events led to a much longer mission than initially planned.

The NASA astronauts gladly accepted their extra-long stay in space. They conducted a series of experiments and performed spacewalks on the orbital laboratory, with Suni breaking the record for the longest time spent outside the space station by a woman. During Christmas, the team sent a holiday message wearing Santa hats and reindeer antlers. Although the astronauts were described as "stranded," they were never really in danger. Throughout their mission, there was always a spacecraft connected to the space station to take them and the others on board home in case of an emergency. The astronauts made the most of their extended stay, contributing significantly to scientific research.

Now that the astronauts have safely returned, they will soon be sent to the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, where they will be examined by medical specialists. Long-duration space missions can take a toll on the body, with astronauts losing bone density and suffering muscle loss. Blood circulation can also be affected, and fluid shifts can affect vision. British astronaut Tim Peake said it takes a long time for the body to return to normal. "Your body feels great, it feels like you're on holiday. Your heart's very relaxed, your muscles and your bones are very relaxed. You're floating around on the space station, in this wonderful zero-g environment. But you have to keep up the exercise. Because you're keeping fit in space, not for space itself, but for when you come back to the harsh gravity environment on Earth. The first two or three days back on Earth can be pretty rough." The recovery process is essential for the astronauts' long-term health.

In an onboard interview, Butch and Suni said they were well prepared for the longer-than-expected stay, but they were also looking forward to some things back home. "I'm looking forward to seeing my family, my dog, and jumping into the ocean," Suni Williams told CBS last month. "It's going to be so nice to be back on Earth and feel the Earth." The simple pleasures of life on Earth will be a welcome change after their extended time in space.