Joyful Celebrations in Gujarat Village as Astronaut Sunita Williams Safely Lands Back on Earth

After spending nine unexpected months in space, NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore have safely returned to Earth. Their mission captured worldwide interest and even sparked political discussions. In Gujarat’s Jhulasan village, Sunita’s ancestral home, people were filled with joy, celebrating her return with prayers and traditional rituals.

The excitement in Jhulasan kicked off as soon as the Dragon spacecraft, carrying Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore, Nick Hague, and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, landed successfully in the ocean. News agency ANI shared pictures of villagers lighting firecrackers and rejoicing over the safe splashdown. Earlier, Sunita’s cousin, Dinesh Rawal, organized a special prayer ceremony called a ‘Yagna’ in Ahmedabad to wish for her safe journey back.

SpaceX reported that the spacecraft, named Freedom, touched down gently off the Florida coast at 5:57 pm local time. The astronauts stepped out smiling widely, with NASA’s Nick Hague saying they were “grinning ear to ear” after their safe landing. The gumdrop-shaped spacecraft faced extreme heat during re-entry, with temperatures soaring to 3,500 degrees Fahrenheit, but it landed smoothly on the water. Recovery boats quickly reached the capsule, and a group of playful dolphins even appeared nearby, adding to the cheerful moment.

Once on the recovery ship, the astronauts were carefully assisted out of the spacecraft and given initial health checks. They waved and gave thumbs-up signs to show they were doing well. Soon, they will be flown to Houston by helicopter for a 45-day recovery program to help them readjust to Earth’s gravity.

The White House marked the occasion with a post on X, stating “PROMISE MADE, PROMISE KEPT.” This echoed a debated claim that President Donald Trump had quickened the recovery process.

Right before landing, parachutes opened to slow the spacecraft, reducing its speed for a safe splashdown. In the days ahead, NASA’s team in Houston will closely watch the crew, conducting medical checks to ensure they settle back into life on Earth comfortably. The Crew-9 team will soon head to NASA’s facilities in Houston for further evaluations.