Indian-origin Astronaut Sunita Williams Returns to Earth After 9 Months and 14 Days.
Sunita Williams: Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams successfully returned to Earth after spending 286 days (9 months and 14 days) aboard the International Space Station (ISS). She returned safely with American astronaut Butch Wilmore. Their SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule splashed down in the ocean off the coast of Florida at 3:27 AM Indian Standard Time on Wednesday.
Landing and Recovery Process:
Following the landing, the capsule was recovered and brought aboard a recovery vessel, the entire process executed safely. The capsule was first rinsed with seawater before opening the hatch. Russian cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov emerged first, followed by Sunita Williams.
Sunita Williams' Reaction Upon Returning to Earth:
Sunita greeted her return with a smile. Experiencing the force of gravity, she attempted to stand but struggled to maintain balance after prolonged time in space, slightly stumbling. Two members of the recovery team assisted her onto a stretcher. Subsequent medical checks declared her to be in perfect health.
NASA Welcomes the Astronauts:
NASA sent a special message welcoming the safe return of Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore, Alexander Gorbunov, and Nick Hague. A message from NASA's control center read, "Nick, Alec, Butch, Sunita - Welcome home from SpaceX!" Commander Nick Hague responded, "What an incredible journey!"
Sunita and her Team's 286-Day Stay at the ISS:
Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore launched into space on June 5, 2024, aboard Boeing's new Starliner crew capsule. Their initial stay was planned for only 8 days at the ISS, but technical malfunctions delayed their return, extending their mission to 286 days.
900 Hours of Research and Over 150 Experiments in Space:
During their time at the ISS, Sunita and her team completed 900 hours of scientific research and conducted over 150 experiments, providing the scientific community with valuable insights into space research and life in space.
