Astronauts stranded on ISS return to Earth
Astronauts have already left their capsule (Illustrative photo: Getty Images)
On Wednesday, March 19, the astronauts who had been stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) returned to Earth. Their capsule landed off the coast of Florida, according to CNN.
"The SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule carrying NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams touched down off the coast of Florida just before 6 p.m. ET. The splashdown landing marks the end of the duo’s extended, nine-month stay in space," CNN reports.
In subsequent updates, the outlet noted that after landing, rescue teams began rinsing the SpaceX capsule with fresh water. The so-called freshwater bath is intended to remove as much salt water as possible.
"Salt water is corrosive, and we want to try and rinse out as much of the salt water as possible to reduce that corrosion on the metallic structures," said Kate Tice from SpaceX.
It’s noted that when the capsule is docked with the ISS, astronauts enter and exit through the upper hatch, which connects to the station's module. After landing or splashdown, the side hatch is used for re-entry to Earth. This hatch is opened for the first time after returning from orbit, symbolizing the completion of the mission. Currently, as CNN reports, the astronauts are breathing fresh air for the first time, while rescue teams are checking their condition, preparing to assist the four passengers' exit.
According to CNN, the four astronauts returning to Earth - Butch Wilmore, Suni Williams, Nick Hague, and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov - will be carried out of the capsule on stretchers. This is a standard precaution taken by SpaceX whenever astronauts return from extended space missions.
As per the latest CNN update, the astronauts have already begun leaving the capsule.
What preceded this
Nick Hague from NASA and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov have been in space since September 2024. However, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams from NASA have been away much longer: their journey began in June of the previous year. The trip was initially expected to last only a week, but it stretched over more than nine months aboard the ISS after issues with their Boeing Starliner capsule delayed their return home.
