​Sunita Williams Returns to Earth with a Smile After Nine-Month ISS Mission

NASA astronaut Sunita Williams was all smiles and waves as she stepped out of SpaceX’s Dragon capsule after spending more than nine months in space.Williams, alongside fellow NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Nick Hague, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, returned to Earth after an extended mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

The crew splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico, off the Florida Panhandle, on Tuesday evening. Recovery teams quickly hoisted the capsule from the water and assisted the astronauts in exiting. Williams' return marked the end of her 286-day stay in space—far longer than the original short-duration mission had planned.

As she emerged from the capsule, the 59-year-old astronaut looked in great spirits, waving and smiling at the cameras. The moment was met with excitement by space enthusiasts and her family, who had been eagerly awaiting her return. Across the U.S., Hindu temples held prayers for her safe journey home, reflecting her strong Indian heritage.

Williams' extended stay in space was due to delays with Boeing's Starliner capsule, which led NASA to adjust its mission plans. Despite the extended mission, Williams and her crew adapted, continuing to support the ISS through operations, experiments, and even spacewalks. During her mission, Williams set a record for the most time spent spacewalking by a female astronaut, totaling 62 hours across nine spacewalks.