Astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore have finally returned to Earth after spending nine months aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Initially, they launched on June 5 last year aboard Boeing’s Starliner for what was supposed to be an eight-day mission. However, due to technical issues, their stay extended far beyond the original plan.
Safe Landing in Florida
After months of delays, the astronauts safely landed this morning off the Florida coast in a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. Along with them, NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov completed the 17-hour journey back to Earth.
Elon Musk Reacts to Their Return
Shortly after the landing, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk congratulated the teams for ensuring a safe return. He wrote on X, “Congratulations to the @SpaceX and @NASA teams for another safe astronaut return!”
Furthermore, he acknowledged President Donald Trump’s support, stating “Thank you to @POTUS for prioritizing this mission.”
Congratulations to the @SpaceX and @NASA teams for another safe astronaut return!
Thank you to @POTUS for prioritizing this mission! https://t.co/KknFDbh59s
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 18, 2025
Musk Criticizes Biden Over Delayed Rescue
However, Musk did not hold back his criticism of the Biden administration. He claimed that SpaceX could have brought the astronauts home months earlier, but the government refused his offer. He stated, “We made that offer to the Biden administration. It was rejected for political reasons and that’s just a fact.”
Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore Thank Musk and Trump
Meanwhile, before leaving the ISS, Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore took a moment to thank Elon Musk and former President Donald Trump. In a video message, Williams playfully remarked, “We are coming back before long, so don’t make those plans without me.”
Mission Delays and Trump’s Response
Originally, the astronauts were expected to return within a week, but technical failures forced them to remain in space for nearly a year.
Reacting to the delays, Donald Trump criticized the situation, saying, “We love you and we’re coming up to get you, and you shouldn’t have been up there so long. The most incompetent president in our history has allowed that to happen to you… I’ve authorized Elon Musk to go and get them and he’s prepared to do so.”
After months of uncertainty, Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore have finally returned home. Their extended mission highlights ongoing challenges in space travel and raises questions about future rescue operations.
