(Image source from: x.com/NASA_Astronauts)
A Dragon spacecraft, carrying astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore back home after a nine-month mission in space, landed in the ocean near Florida at 5:57 PM (3:27 AM IST). As they emerged from the capsule, both 59-year-old Williams and 62-year-old Wilmore greeted the world with smiles and waves amidst cheers from onlookers. Nick Hague from NASA and Aleksandr Gorbunov, a cosmonaut from Roscosmos, joined them on the 17-hour journey back to Earth. However, the excitement of their return followed a tense period during which both the astronauts and those watching anxiously awaited the outcome. The final phase of the descent proved to be the most challenging when the Dragon spacecraft re-entered the atmosphere at speeds reaching 28,800 kilometers per hour. This tremendous speed generates such intense friction that the exterior of the capsule heats up to approximately 1,600 degrees Celsius, while heat shields safeguard the crew inside. Thus, the celebration for Sunita Williams' return only commenced once the vessel had transformed into a fiery streak amidst its atmospheric entry, ultimately landing safely in the ocean.
Prior to this, the Dragon spacecraft had been docked at the International Space Station in a near-vacuum environment. After executing a series of departure burns, it separated from the station, embarking on its journey back. As it approached Earth, the friction encountered caused a drastic rise in temperature, reaching as high as 1,600 degrees. The spacecraft is built with a heat-resistant material called Phenolic-Impregnated Carbon Ablator, or PICA, which was initially developed by NASA. This robust yet lightweight material was later utilized by SpaceX, equipping its Dragon capsule for transporting cargo and astronauts to and from the International Space Station. By the time the Dragon capsule returned with Williams and Wilmore, its exterior had changed from a shiny white to a brown hue, indicating the intense heat it endured during re-entry, while still ensuring the safety of its passengers.
Drogue and main parachutes have deployed pic.twitter.com/X0wiXqFaPt
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) March 18, 2025
Equipped with six parachutes, the Dragon spacecraft features two drogue parachutes meant to stabilize it upon re-entry and four main parachutes designed to decelerate the capsule before landing. Just moments before hitting the water, two of the main parachutes were deployed as the spacecraft neared the ocean's surface, helping to stabilize and slow it down. A minute afterwards, the remaining four parachutes activated, further reducing the capsule's speed. The aim was to reach a descent speed of 25 kilometers per hour at splashdown, which was successfully achieved with the help of the four parachutes positioned above the ocean. As the capsule made contact with the water, a new phase of operations commenced. The initial response team approached the spacecraft to inspect for gas leaks prior to opening the hatch and assisting the astronauts out.
The first astronaut to step out of the Dragon spacecraft was NASA's Nick Hague, followed closely by Aleksandr Gorbunov from the Russian space agency Roscosmos. The moment everyone had been anticipating arrived soon after. Sunita Williams, whose eight-day mission at the International Space Station unexpectedly extended to nine months, appeared with a bright smile and a wave. Finally, Butch Wilmore was the last to exit the spacecraft. Following their extensive 286-day time in space, both Williams and Wilmore will face thorough examinations. Astronauts returning to Earth after long durations in space deal with various health risks, including deterioration of bones and muscles, exposure to radiation, and complications with vision. The absence of gravity can lead to serious and sometimes permanent loss of bone density. Muscles, which typically strengthen through movement on Earth, weaken significantly due to reduced activity in space.
