NASA Astronauts Williams, Wilmore Return After Nine-Month Mission

NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore have returned to Earth after a remarkable nine-month mission aboard the International Space Station, originally intended to last only eight days. They splashed down on March 18 off the Florida coast aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft, alongside fellow astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov. The extended mission was prompted by a propulsion issue with their original spacecraft, leading to a reassignment to Crew Dragon. Following their return, the astronauts will undergo a 45-day rehabilitation program to adapt to Earth's gravity, addressing the physiological changes caused by prolonged weightlessness. Williams now holds the record for total spacewalking time by a female astronaut, while both astronauts achieved significant milestones, including traveling over 121 million miles in space. The mission showcased the adaptability and resilience of human spaceflight operations, as noted by Wilmore, who emphasized the importance of preparedness for unexpected durations in space.