Florida, Mar 19 (V7N) – After nearly nine months in space, four astronauts, including Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, have safely returned to Earth, ending their 286-day mission. The crew’s SpaceX Dragon Crew spacecraft touched down off the coast of Florida at 5:57 PM local time on Tuesday, marking a successful return after a long wait.

The spacecraft, which had spent 17 hours traveling back from space, was welcomed with great anticipation. The entire world had been closely monitoring the journey, especially given concerns over the spacecraft's re-entry into Earth's atmosphere.

After re-entering the Earth's atmosphere, the Dragon spacecraft deployed its parachutes, gradually descending into the sea near Florida. A US Navy rescue ship, stationed nearby for the operation, was quick to recover the astronauts from the capsule.

In a lighthearted moment, pictures surfaced showing dolphins swimming around the capsule, adding to the spectacle. Following the landing, the astronauts were allowed an hour to adjust to Earth's gravity on the rescue ship before being transported back to the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.

Despite their safe return, both Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore showed signs of physical changes after nearly nine months in space. Their heads appeared swollen, and their legs had narrowed due to the long period in zero gravity. While they are healthy, they will be staying in NASA's crew quarters for several weeks for health check-ups and rehabilitation.

Experts note that extended periods in space can cause significant changes to the human body, and the astronauts will undergo a rehabilitation process to recover fully.

Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore were initially scheduled to return much earlier after spending eight days at the International Space Station (ISS) last June. However, technical issues with the Starliner spacecraft manufactured by Boeing stranded them in space for an additional nine months.

NASA, alongside President Donald Trump’s administration, worked tirelessly to bring them back safely, with the Crew-10 mission flight being a part of those efforts. The return of these astronauts highlights not only their dedication but also the resilience of NASA’s space exploration initiatives.

As they continue to undergo rehabilitation, the world watches with excitement as Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore prepare for their next steps after their monumental journey.

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