'Stranded' NASA astronauts back on Earth after splashdown

Washington (AFP) Mar 18, 2025

After an extended and unexpected nine-month mission in orbit, two NASA astronauts safely returned to Earth on Tuesday, drawing global attention to their dramatic journey. A SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, carrying Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams along with fellow American Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, successfully re-entered Earth's atmosphere and splashed down gently off Florida's coast at 5:57 pm (2157 GMT).