US Astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore finally returned home on Tuesday, March 18 after a long nine months stuck in space on the ISS, originally supposed to be eight days.
According to NPR news, they were launched into space on June 5, 2024. The capsule they were sent on made it safely to the ISS. However, it had several issues, including helium leaks and thruster problems.
NASA decided that it wasn’t safe to send them home, and they would have to stay aboard the ISS for an extended period.
It took 17 hours for Williams and Wilmore to return to Earth, where they were met with stretchers. Upon arrival, they were checked by a medical team before being seen by their families.
According to the BBC, it can take a long time for an astronaut’s body to recover from extended time in space. Astronauts lose bone density and muscle mass as well.
Following their return, they were given a long exercise list to help them fully recover and re-adapt to the gravity of the Earth after spending months in space with no gravity.
