NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore have finally returned back to earth after being stranded for more than nine months at the International space station.
According to NASA their departure process began at 8:50 am IST after the hatch got securely closed. On March 18th at around 10:35 am IST, the Dragon capsule autonomously undocked from the ISS.
Elon Musk-led SpaceX’s Dragon capsule landed on Wednesday, 19th March after completing a 17-hour trip. The capsule splashed down at 3:27 am IST off the coast of the American state of Florida, in the Gulf of Mexico, near Kennedy Space Center.
The SpaceX Crew Dragon spaceship, carried Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore alongside American Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov.
Sunita Williams extended space odyssey
Initially it was supposed to be a 8-day trip to space but they ended up staying there for over nine months. The extended stay was due to technical issues with the Boeing Starliner spacecraft, which was supposed to be their return vehicle.
The Boeing Starliner developed propulsion problems and had to return back empty, as it was deemed unfit to fly back. Therefore, the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule came to the rescue.
Major achievements during her prolonged stay in space
During her prolonged stay of 284 days at the ISS, she and her team spent over 900 hours in scientific research. They performed more than 150 experiments. Sunita Williams contributed significantly to various scientific experiments and maintenance activities.
- Studied, how microgravity affects fluid systems and the human body.
- Investigated how water impacts the plant growth.
- Participated in BioNutrients project, which explores use o bacteria for producing nutrients for astronauts in space.
- Studied how prolonged weightlessness affects human health.
- Conducted experiments related to plant growth, which are crucial for future deep-space missions.
Williams also participated in multiple spacewalks, stting new records and helping with external repairs and upgrades to the station’s systems.
Williams and Wilmore’s health after their space mission
After their successful return to Earth, NASA performed medical tests to assure both the astronauts are healthy. To prevent any transition issues on Earth, NASA’s medical experts will be monitoring them for the next several weeks.
Returning after spending 9 months in space, it will take a while for the astronauts to completely readjust to life. The readjustment is important for their bodies to adapt to the gravity and atmosphere of Earth.
The two NASA astronauts were sent to the orbital lab in June 2024 to conduct a test of Boeing Starliner aircraft’s first crewed flight. This test was crucial to certify the Starliner for its future operational missions to the ISS.
Both Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore are experienced NASA astronauts. Sunita Williams is a veteran astronaut with a vast history of spaceflights, including various spacewalks. Barry Wilmore has also previous experience on ISS and space shuttle missions.
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