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NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who had been in space since June 2024, returned to Earth on March 18.
Credit: Reuters
The SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule carried the astronauts back from space on Wednesday (March 19).
Credit: Reuters
SpaceX Crew Dragon splashed down in calm, azure waters off the coast of the Florida.
Credit: Reuters
After detaching from the space station around 1 am. Eastern time (ET), the spacecraft began its return to Earth.
Credit: Reuters
It slowed from a speed of over 17,000 mph, eventually deploying four parachutes that softly landed it in the water before 6 pm (ET).
Credit: Reuters
Minutes later, recovery teams inspected the capsule and the beaming astronauts were safely extracted from the spacecraft.
Credit: Reuters
After months of weightlessness and their bodies still adjusting to the pull of gravity, they were lifted onto gurneys.
Credit: Reuters
NASA astronaut Suni Williams is helped out of a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft.
Credit: Reuters
The four astronauts were scheduled to fly back to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, where they were to remain briefly until doctors let them go home.
Credit: Reuters