NASA Crew-9 astronauts Sunita Williams, Nick Hague, Butch Wilmore, and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov breathed Earth’s air for the first time in over nine months following the successful splashdown of SpaceX’s Dragon capsule.
The astronauts disembarked from the capsule on stretchers, a standard precautionary measure for those returning from long-duration space missions, CNN reported.
Recovery and Precautionary Measures
Following the landing, SpaceX workers rinsed the Crew Dragon spacecraft with fresh water to minimize saltwater corrosion.
“Saltwater is corrosive, and we want to try and rinse out as much of the salt water as possible to reduce that corrosion on the metallic structures,” SpaceX’s Kate Tice explained.
The capsule’s side hatch, which remains sealed during its time in orbit, was opened only after retrieval. During its docking at the ISS, astronauts had used a separate hatch on the top of the vehicle, CNN reported.
SpaceX’s recovery ship Megan used a large rig to lift the capsule carrying the four astronauts out of the water. Crew members closely monitored the spacecraft to ensure there were no fuel leaks.
A Unique Welcome Home
As the capsule splashed down off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida, an unusual sight delighted the recovery team. Several dolphins were seen swimming around the spacecraft, as if welcoming the astronauts home. At least five dolphins were captured on video circling the capsule as it bobbed in the water, CNN reported. Nearby boats assisted in stabilizing the capsule and ensuring the astronauts’ safety.
Mission Extension and Political Reactions
NASA astronauts Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov had been in space since September 2024, while Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams had been away since June 2024. Their mission, initially planned for just a week, was extended to over nine months due to delays with Boeing’s Starliner capsule.
The astronauts’ prolonged stay became a topic of political discussion. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt credited former US President Donald Trump for ensuring their return, stating:
“President Trump promised to look out for the forgotten man and woman. At 5:57 PM ET tonight — promise made, promise kept!” she said in a post on X.