In a historic moment for human spaceflight, a team of NASA astronauts Bitch and Suni who spent months aboard the International Space Station (ISS) has returned safely to Earth aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule. Their return not only emphasizes the growing partnership between NASA and commercial spaceflight providers like SpaceX but also provides valuable insights into the physical challenges faced by astronauts during long-duration missions.
A Remarkable Homecoming
After what many describe as an extended and transformative journey in space, the astronauts—who experienced unforeseen delays and complications during their mission—finally touched down back on Earth. The return flight, executed flawlessly by SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule, marks one of the most dramatic and well-coordinated re-entry operations in recent space history.
Key points of the mission include:
Extended Duration in Space: The crew spent approximately nine months on the ISS. Their prolonged exposure to microgravity provided NASA with an unparalleled opportunity to study the effects of long-term space travel on the human body.
Challenges and Delays: Although the term “stuck” has been used in some reports, the astronauts remained safe and focused throughout the mission despite technical or scheduling challenges. These hurdles have highlighted the need for robust contingency plans and flexible operational protocols in human spaceflight.
Collaboration with SpaceX: The Crew Dragon capsule, developed by SpaceX, once again demonstrated its reliability and advanced engineering. The success of this mission adds momentum to the growing reliance on commercial partners for crewed space missions, a shift that has been central to NASA’s strategy in recent years.
Trump Takes Credit for Astronaut’s Return
US President Donald Trump says that NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore only came back to Earth on March 19 because he told his advisor and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to fetch them. On Truth Social, he claimed that the previous Biden administration “shamefully” forgot about the two astronauts who spent nine months at the International Space Station when NASA decided Boeing’s Starliner capsule was too risky after its first troubled trip to the ISS in June 2024.
“I just spoke with the Acting Administrator of NASA, Janet Petro. She is coordinating our team of highly respected scientists, space engineers, and various other geniuses, who have agreed to let our astronauts come home long prior to the two-week period originally approved by NASA. Janet was great. She said, ‘let’s bring them home now, sir!’” Trump posted just before a SpaceX capsule detached from the ISS on March 18 carrying four returning astronauts—Wilmore, Williams, Nick Hague, and Aleksandr Gorbunov.
All four safely splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico yesterday and were picked up by a nearby SpaceX retrieval vessel.
This mission not only emphasizes technological progress but also represents a significant step in NASA’s ongoing efforts to build a sustainable presence in low Earth orbit and eventually venture further into deep space.
