Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore have returned to Earth after a nine-month stay on the ISS, which was extended due to issues with Boeing's Starliner spacecraft. Their splashdown occurred in the Gulf of Mexico in a SpaceX Dragon capsule, following a 17-hour journey home. Initially launched in June 2024, their mission was vital for Boeing, who faced significant delays compared to SpaceX. Complications with the Starliner prompted NASA to collaborate with SpaceX for their return, marking a confusing chapter in the ongoing rivalry and challenges in commercial spaceflight.
Williams and Wilmore splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico in a SpaceX Dragon capsule at 5:57 p.m. ET on Tuesday, after a 17-hour return journey from the ISS.
Their return marks the end of one of the stranger chapters in recent spaceflight history, thanks to the problems that Boeing's Starliner experienced and the way that SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has politicized the astronauts' return.
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