RESCUED: NASA astronauts land in Gulf of America in SpaceX rescue capsule after 9 months stuck in space

NASA astronauts Barry "Butch" Wilmore and Suni Williams have returned to Earth's surface after spending around nine months aboard the International Space Station. Splashdown occurred off the coast of Tallahassee, Flordia in the Gulf of America shortly before 6 pm. They returned aboard a SpaceX capsule

 

Also returning to Earth’s surface aboard the SpaceX capsule were Crew 9 commander Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov, who were concluding their time at the space station after spending 171 days in orbit. After landing in the water, Hague was heard saying the crew was "grinning ear to ear," per CNN. At around 6:45 pm, the first astronaut, Hauge, was helped outside of the capsule and onto a stretcher. Hague was followed by Gorbunov, Williams, and Wilmore. All astronauts will receive medical checkups per standard protocol.

Wilmore and Williams’ mission was supposed to last just eight days, but problems with Boeing’s Starliner capsule prevented their release. According to CBS News, their flight is the sixth-longest single NASA mission. The June 5 flight to the International Space Station marked the first test flight of Boeing's Starliner, which suffered multiple propulsion system helium leaks and thruster problems. NASA eventually decided to keep the astronauts aboard the International Space Station and return the Starliner to Earth by remote control.

Shortly after taking office, President Donald Trump directed Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX, to rescue the stranded astronauts. Trump wrote at the time, "I have just asked Elon Musk and @SpaceX to ‘go get’ the 2 brave astronauts who have been virtually abandoned in space by the Biden Administration. They have been waiting for many months on @Space Station. Elon will soon be on his way. Hopefully, all will be safe. Good luck Elon!!!"

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