The people of Jhulasan, the native village of NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, celebrated her safe return to Earth on Wednesday by performing aarti and offering prayers. Williams spent nearly nine months in space as part of NASA’s Crew-9 mission before returning aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft.
The celebrations began immediately after SpaceX confirmed the successful splashdown, which also brought back fellow Crew-9 members Butch Wilmore, Nick Hague, and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov.
Prayers for Sunita Williams’ Safe Return
Earlier, Dinesh Rawal, Williams’ cousin, organized a yagna in Ahmedabad on Tuesday, praying for her safe return. The local community in Jhulasan expressed their joy, highlighting the pride and inspiration Williams brings to the village and the country.
“We are so proud of her achievements. She has always made our village and India proud. We prayed for her safe return, and today, we celebrate her successful mission,” said a resident of Jhulasan.
NASA and SpaceX Confirm Safe Landing
Following the splashdown, NASA astronaut Nick Hague shared that the crew was “grinning ear to ear,” expressing their excitement after re-entering Earth’s atmosphere.
“Splashdown of Dragon confirmed – welcome back to Earth, Nick, Suni, Butch, and Aleks!” SpaceX announced in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
NASA commentator Sandra Jones described the breathtaking views of the calm, glass-like ocean at the time of landing.
Recovery and Medical Evaluations
- SpaceX rescue ships retrieved the spacecraft, lifting it onto the “Dragon’s nest” for recovery.
- Before landing, parachutes deployed, slowing the spacecraft’s descent to less than 20 mph.
- The astronauts will undergo initial medical checks aboard the rescue ship and later at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston to re-acclimate to Earth’s gravity.
Addressing Speculation About Their Stay in Space
Williams and Wilmore’s extended stay had been the subject of intense speculation, with rumors suggesting they were “abandoned” or “stranded” in space. However, the astronauts strongly refuted such claims.
“That’s been the narrative from day one: stranded, abandoned, stuck — and I get it, we both get it,” Wilmore told CNN in February. “Help us change the narrative. Let’s change it to: prepared and committed despite what you’ve been hearing.”
A Proud Moment for India
Sunita Williams’ successful mission and safe return continue to inspire aspiring astronauts and scientists in India. The people of Jhulasan remain hopeful that she will visit her ancestral village soon and celebrate with them.