LIVE: Splashdown: Global cheer as Sunita Williams and crew back on Earth
The four-member crew, including Sunita Williams, on board the SpaceX capsule, splashed down at 3.27 am IST Wednesday
Astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore have made a safe return to Earth following their mission on the International Space Station (ISS). They travelled back aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, which smoothly re-entered Earth’s atmosphere and landed in the waters off the coast of Florida, near Tallahassee. The milestone event unfolded at 3:27 am on Wednesday (March 19).
Williams and fellow NASA astronaut, Butch Wilmore, finally undocked from the ISS and left for Earth on board a SpaceX capsule at 10.35 am (IST) on Tuesday to close out a dramatic marathon mission that began with a bungled Boeing test flight more than nine months ago.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has written to Williams, inviting her to visit India. The letter, written on March 1, was sent through former NASA astronaut Mike Massimino.
‘Stuck at work’
Williams and Wilmore travelled to the ISS in June last year for a scheduled eight-day mission. However, they were forced to stay back as the Boeing Starliner capsule developed issues with its propulsion system.
The duo spent 286 days on the ISS, where they conducted over 4,500 orbits and travelled more than 121 million statute miles, NASA said in its commentary.
Their plight captured the world’s attention, giving new meaning to the phrase “stuck at work”. While other astronauts had logged longer spaceflights over the decades, none had to deal with so much uncertainty or see the length of their mission expand by so much.
With 62 hours over nine spacewalks, Williams set a new record: the most time spent spacewalking over a career among female astronauts.
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Live Updates
- 19 March 2025 5:41 AM
No limits to dreams: Kerala Assembly on Sunita Williams' achievement
The Kerala Assembly on Wednesday congratulated NASA astronaut Sunita Williams on her return to Earth after a nine-month long space exploration mission and said that her achievement shows that "there are no limits to dreams".
Speaker AN Shamseer said that Willams achievement was a "sparkling example" of courage and dedication by a person of Indian origin and therefore, it was a moment of pride for the country as well.
He said that the Indian-origin astronaut showed her inner strength to the world through her journey and her achievement should be a source of encouragement for women and youth across the world.
"It shows that there are no limits to dreams. We (assembly) extend our heartfelt congratulations to Sunita Williams and the others who helped her in her journey," Shamseer said. PTI
- 19 March 2025 5:20 AM
Sunita Williams’ return is historic triumph of perseverance: TN Guv
NASA astronaut Sunita Williams’ return to earth at the conclusion of the scientific mission to the space station was more than a homecoming. It was a historic triumph of perseverance, proving that determination and courage transform adversity into achievement, Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi said on Wednesday.
Welcoming Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore on their successful mission, the Governor said months in the unforgiving expanse of space tested the limits of endurance, adaptability and resolve. "Yet you conquered every challenge with unwavering determination and resilience," Ravi said.
In a post on the official handle of the Raj Bhavan, the Governor said: "Your return is more than a homecoming; it is a historic triumph of perseverance, proving that determination and courage transform adversity into achievement. May your journey ahead open new frontiers and inspire future explorers to push the boundaries of the cosmos." Welcoming the Crew 9 home, NASA said astronauts Nick Hague, Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore, and cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov splashed down off the coast of Florida on Tuesday concluding their scientific mission to the Space Station.
Meanwhile, former Chief Minister and AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami said in a post: "saluting the resilience of #SunitaWillams & #ButchWilmore for surviving unplanned 9 long months in space, facing uncertainty & challenges." "Especially @Astro_Suni ! She stood strong—an epitome of courage & determination. Her journey is not just about space exploration but about women’s strength & empowerment. As an Indian-origin astronaut, her exemplary journey is a testament to perseverance," Palaniswami said.
He welcomed home Crew 9 Team of four to Earth and said "your story will continue to inspire generations. @NASA @SpaceX #Dragon @AIADMKOfficial." PTI
- 19 March 2025 4:49 AM
‘Elon is able to do that with his genius’: Trump hails Musk over astronauts' return
President Donald Trump credited Elon Musk after the SpaceX Crew Dragon brought astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore back home. The astronauts returned home after being stuck in space for nine months.
Reiterating the claim that Joe Biden abandoned the astronauts, Trump said in an interview with Fox News, hailing Musk as a “patriot,” “When I got into office, I said ‘Elon, we gotta get them out of there…Elon is able to do that with his genius, yet there are people who hate it, and I really believe these are people who hate our country.”
- 19 March 2025 4:38 AM
Kerala CM wishes good health, more achievements for Williams, Wilmore
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday said NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore created history and left an inspiring legacy in space exploration. He also wished them good health and more achievements ahead.
"Astronauts @Astro_Suni and Butch Wilmore of @NASA make history by returning home after a remarkable 9-month stay at the International Space Station. Their extended mission, shaped by technical challenges, has left an inspiring legacy in space exploration. Wishing them good health and many more achievements ahead," the CM said in his 'X' handle.
Stuck in space no more, Wilmore and Williams returned to Earth on Tuesday, hitching a different ride home to close out a saga that began with a bungled test flight more than nine months ago. Their SpaceX capsule parachuted into the Gulf of Mexico in the early evening, just hours after departing the International Space Station.
Splashdown occurred off the coast of Tallahassee in the Florida Panhandle, bringing their unplanned odyssey to an end.
Within an hour, the astronauts were out of their capsule, waving and smiling at the cameras while being hustled away in reclining stretchers for routine medical checks. PTI
- 19 March 2025 4:36 AM
ISRO chief greets Sunita Williams, says India wishes to utilise her expertise
ISRO Chairman V Narayanan on Wednesday said astronaut Sunita Williams' safe return was a remarkable achievement and a testament to NASA, SpaceX, and the USA's commitment to space exploration. He also said India would wish to utilise her expertise in space exploration.
"Welcome back, Sunita Williams! Your safe return after an extended mission aboard the ISS is a remarkable achievement. A testament to NASA, SpaceX, and the USA's commitment to space exploration!" ISRO shared Narayanan's message on 'X'. He said Williams' resilience and dedication continue to inspire space enthusiasts around the world.
"As Secretary DoS and Chairman ISRO, I on behalf of my colleagues extend a warm greetings to you and wish you a great day ahead," Narayanan said.
"When Bharat under the leadership of Hon'ble PM Modi ji is working towards making India as a developed country, we wish to utilise your expertise in the space exploration," he added.
NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams returned to Earth on Tuesday after nine months' stay in the space station. Their eight-day journey in the space stretched to nine months due to glitch in their Boeing space craft.
A former US Navy captain, Williams, 59, was born to a Gujarati father, Deepak Pandya, hailing from Jhulasan in Mehsana district, and Slovenian mother, Ursuline Bonnie Pandya, on September 19, 1965 in Euclid, Ohio. PTI
- 19 March 2025 4:12 AM
Sunita Williams back on Earth, her ancestral Gujarat village over the moon
Residents of NASA astronaut Sunita Williams’ ancestral village in Gujarat’s Mehsana district burst into celebrations on Wednesday morning as a SpaceX capsule carrying her and her colleague Butch Wilmore splashed down off the Florida coast.
All eyes were on Williams’s safe return as those in Jhulasan gathered at a village temple to view the event live on a television screen. As soon as she landed, residents celebrated the moment by bursting firecrackers, dancing and chanting ‘Har Har Mahadev’.
Williams has been in the thoughts and prayers of the villagers, who were eagerly awaiting her safe return.
Even as Williams was on her way back, the villagers gathered at the temple performed ‘yagna’ and offered prayers. They said they have been performing yagna and have lit up ‘Akhand Jyot’ (eternal flame) on the premises for her safe return.
Jhulasan, known as the ancestral home of Williams’ father Deepak Pandya, was alive with excitement ever since the news of her proposed return, after a delayed stay at the International Space Station (ISS) around nine months ago, trickled in.
Navin Pandya, her cousin, said that the villagers have been praying for her safety, taking care of the 'Akhand Jyot,' the eternal flame that was lit up for her safe return soon after she went to space over nine months ago. He said the villagers have planned a grand procession in her honour, accompanied by prayer chanting and fireworks to create a festive atmosphere similar to Diwali and Holi.
A procession will be taken out from the village school to the temple where the ‘Akhand Jyot’ has been kept, with students joining the celebrations, he said. The 'Akhand Jyot' will be immersed after the procession reaches the temple, he said. “We have organised a procession with Sunita Williams’ photograph and will perform a dhun (prayer chanting) at the temple,” said Pandya.
He said the villagers are looking forward to inviting Williams to visit Jhulasan.
Williams has visited India at least thrice, including in 2007 and 2013, soon after her space missions and has been honoured with the Padma Bhushan in 2008.
Her father, originally from Jhulasan, migrated to the United States in 1957.
Vishal Panchal, principal of Jhulasan primary school, said elaborate arrangements have been made for Wednesday’s celebrations. PTI
- 19 March 2025 3:58 AM
'Wonderful to see you safe and smiling': Madhavan
Sharing the video of her coming out of the capsule on Instagram, actor R Madhavan wrote, "Welcome back to Earth our Dear Dear Sunita Williams. #sunitawilliams ..Our prayers have been answered... so wonderful to see you safe and smiling. After more than 260 uncertain days in space this is all Gods grace and millions of praying souls prayers being answered .. Great Job all at #spacexfalcon9 #nasa AND the entire crew. God bless you." Madhavan's message was punctuated with a series of folded hands and heart emojis.
