NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have splashed down on earth off Florida's coast, nine months after their faulty Boeing Starliner craft upended what was to be a week-long stay on the International Space Station.

Florida

Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, two NASA astronauts, have successfully returned to Earth after a nine-month mission in space. They splashed down off the coast of Florida in a SpaceX capsule. The pair initially planned to spend just over a week aboard the International Space Station, but their mission was extended following complications with their intended Boeing Starliner craft.

The return journey was performed using the Dragon spacecraft, which gradually slowed down to 16 miles per hour before splashing down in the Gulf of America near Tallahassee, Florida. Four main parachutes ensured a safe descent, with the live event being broadcast and monitored closely. Commander Nick Hague provided altitude updates as the Dragon capsule neared the water.

The splashdown occurred smoothly with the team bracing for re-entry and touchdown in a calm sea. The recovery vessel 'Megan' was stationed nearby to facilitate their safe exit from the capsule. Observers described the descent as a remarkable operation, with the Dragon capsule transitioning from traveling over 17,000 miles per hour in space to a gentle splashdown in the Gulf.



NASA Astronauts splash down on earth after 9 months in space

Butch Willmore and Suni Williams, the two crew members who spent the last nine months in space just touching back down off the coast of Florida in a SpaceX capsule. The two were originally supposed to be at the International Space Station for a little over a week. Let's watch this moment. The Dragon spacecraft slows down even further. As we mentioned, Freedom will be traveling 16 miles per hour when it splashes down off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida, here at 2.57 p.m. Pacific time this afternoon. And there we go. We have visual on four healthy mains. That view was from inside. That view was from inside one of the buckets where the parachutes are located. So we see a great view there of the reefing on those parachutes. And as those parachutes, those main parachutes, begin to inflate fully, four beautiful, healthy mains. Now awaiting visuals of splashdown, we'll start to hear Commander Nick Hague. As we heard right there, Commander Nick Hague will be calling out the altitude of the Dragon capsule from here on out. Driving in water is simpler and provides more margin against unlikely parachute issues. You can see those parachutes continuing to slow the Dragon capsule down. And if you're just joining us, you're looking at 800 meters, a live view of Crew 9, just minutes away from splashing down off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida. Splashdown two minutes from now at 2.57 p.m. Pacific. We do have four healthy mains really doing the job there. Just breathtaking views of a calm, glass-like ocean off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida. Crew 9 just minutes away from splashing down. This is really such an incredible shot. That was a live view from our recovery vessel, Megan, which is stationed a couple miles away from the splashdown site. We can see the crew there using their restraints as resting places for their arms. They were just in space moments ago, so their arms were able to float freely. 400 meters. 400 meters. This is a gorgeous bluebird day here that we have for the splashdown of Crew 9. It's incredible to think that the Dragon capsule just minutes ago was going over 17,000 miles per hour and now gently coasting to a soft splashdown. 200. Copy 200 meters. Brace for splashdown. As you can see there on your screen, continuing to monitor progress of the Dragon spacecraft, and we're going to stand by for splashdown located in the Gulf of America off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida. And splashdown Crew 9 back on Earth.

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