​​Smiles, waves and dolphins: Sunita Williams splashes down after 9 months in space​

Nasa astronaut Sunita Williams and her crewmate Butch Wilmore have finally returned to Earth after an unexpected nine-month stay in space. Williams and Wilmore were joined by fellow American astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov on their return journey. ( Nasa photo)

On Tuesday evening, Williams and Wilmore finally touched down. Their SpaceX capsule parachuted into the Gulf of Mexico off Florida’s Panhandle. Recovery teams quickly retrieved them, marking the official end of their unexpected space odyssey. (Nasa photo)

Back on Earth, Williams’ return was widely celebrated. Prayers were held at temples including Dola Mata temple for Williams' safe return. PM Narendra Modi also wrote an emotional letter to the Indian-origin astronaut, calling her an illustrious daughter of India. (PTI photo)

As Williams and her crew waited for recovery teams in the Gulf, an unexpected sight greeted them—a pod of dolphins swimming around their capsule. The moment, caught on video, added a magical ending to their long journey home. (PTI photo)

Williams appeared in high spirits as she exited the capsule, waving at the cameras. After spending 286 days in space, she showed no signs of exhaustion. Her return was closely followed by space enthusiasts and her family, who had eagerly awaited this moment. (PTI photo)

Williams and Wilmore originally launched on June 5 aboard Boeing’s Starliner capsule. The mission was meant to be a short test flight, lasting just over a week. However, technical failures in the Starliner left them unable to return, turning their mission into a record-breaking stay. (PTI photo)

Deeming Starliner unsafe, Nasa opted for SpaceX’s Dragon capsule. Though a SpaceX capsule was ready in September, Nasa kept the crew aboard to staff the ISS. Battery issues caused further delays, pushing their return to March 2025. (Nasa photo)

Despite public debate, Nasa insisted that Williams and Wilmore were never "stranded." Critics, including former US President Donald Trump and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, blamed the Biden administration for delays. (Nasa photo)

Even after landing, the astronauts face a long recovery. Nine months in zero gravity weakens leg muscles, making it hard to walk. They will need weeks or even months of rehabilitation to regain full strength and adjust to Earth’s gravity. (ANI photo)