Astronauts return to Earth after nine months

American astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore landed off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida following a nine-month stay at the International Space Station (ISS), which they reached on June 5, 2024. Their journey back to Earth took 17 hours. Alongside them were fellow American Nick Hague and Russian Aleksandr Gorbunov. Upon re-entering the Earth’s atmosphere, their capsule deployed parachutes and made a sea landing, with its exterior showing signs of the intense heat endured during re-entry. After the landing, Hague remarked on the cheerful atmosphere inside the capsule. The astronauts will be flown to Johnson Space Center in Houston for medical check-ups before reuniting with their families. NASA has announced that the astronauts will then have well-deserved time off. Astronauts typically face a thorough health evaluation after space missions due to potential adverse effects on muscles, bones, and vision from prolonged space stays.