NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore returned to planet Earth on Tuesday after staying in space for about nine months. The SpaceX capsule, in which the astronauts travelled, parachuted into the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday morning (IST), hours after departing the International Space Station.
The splashdown took place off the coast of Tallahassee in the Florida Panhandle. Williams, 59 and Wilmore, 62 were expected to stay on the ISS for about a week but were stranded there after arriving in June last year.
The successful splashdown will follow as part of her post-mission recovery. Some of them are:
Immediate medical attention: Sunita Williams and her fellow astronauts were assisted out of the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule and placed on stretchers for medical examinations soon after their splashdown. This standard procedure for all astronauts on return to Earth to counteract the effects of prolonged exposure to microgravity, which can lead to muscle atrophy, balance issues, and fluid shifts in the body.
Johnson Space Center, Houston: After the medical check-ups, the astronauts will be flown to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. The astronauts will spend a few days undergoing further health evaluations before being cleared to reunite with their families, according to media reports.
Post-mission debriefings: Sunita Williams and Wilmore will also participate in post-mission debriefings, where they will share insights into their extended stay aboard the ISS, discuss challenges they faced, and provide feedback on the Boeing Starliner spacecraft’s performance.
Post-mission debriefings: The astronauts will participate in debriefings to discuss their experiences, challenges, and successes during the mission.
It’s been a roller coaster for them, probably a little bit more so than for us.
Family reunions: Sunita Williams had earlier expressed excitement about returning home, particularly to see her two dogs. “It’s been a roller coaster for them, probably a little bit more so than for us,” she said earlier this month.
(This is a developing story. Check back for updates)
