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Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore have safely returned to Earth after an extended stay of over nine months at the International Space Station (ISS), which was lengthened due to unforeseen delays. Their SpaceX Dragon Freedom capsule successfully landed off the Florida coast near Tallahassee at 5:57 PM ET on Tuesday (3:27 AM IST, Wednesday).
Joining them were astronauts Nick Hague and Aleksandr Grebyonkin, who arrived at the ISS in December as part of a NASA and SpaceX rescue mission.
“On behalf of SpaceX, welcome home,” was the message from SpaceX Mission Control in California.
About an hour after their 17-hour journey, the astronauts emerged from their capsule, smiling and waving at cameras while being transported on stretchers for standard medical evaluations.
Her native village is celebrating, proudly calling her the ‘illustrious daughter of India.’ Prime Minister Modi and other ministers have expressed their joy over Sunita Williams’ return from space.
On Wednesday, PM Modi praised NASA astronaut Sunita Williams for her return from the ISS, stating that the resolve shown by Crew 9 will inspire many.
In a post on social media platform X, PM Modi noted that the mission to the ISS exemplified grit, courage, and the limitless human spirit.
“Welcome back, Crew 9! The Earth has missed you. Your journey has been a testament to grit, courage, and the boundless human spirit. Sunita Williams and the Crew 9 astronauts have once again illustrated the true meaning of perseverance. Their steadfast determination in the face of the vast unknown will continue to inspire millions,” PM Modi stated.
ISRO also welcomed Sunita Williams back, expressing a desire to utilize her expertise in space exploration. In a post on X, ISRO said, “Welcome back, Sunita Williams! Your safe return after an extended mission aboard the ISS is a remarkable achievement.”
