NASA Astronauts Return After Nine-Month Space Odyssey

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have finally begun their return to Earth after an extended mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS) that lasted 286 days, far exceeding their initial plan of eight days. They departed the ISS in a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, accompanied by fellow astronauts Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, with a splashdown off Florida expected around 5:57 p.m. ET. Their prolonged stay was prompted by issues with Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, which led to significant delays and ultimately a transfer to SpaceX for their return journey. Throughout their time on the ISS, they conducted numerous experiments and spacewalks, with Williams setting a record for the most cumulative spacewalk time by a female astronaut. Despite some claims of being 'stranded,' both astronauts emphasized that their mission was productive and fulfilling. Their return was celebrated by the new Crew 9 members who recently arrived at the ISS, marking a successful transition of personnel in space exploration.