Astronauts return to Earth

Stranded astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore have been safely reunited with their loved ones after unexpectedly spending 256 days in orbit aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

Initially an 8-day mission, their test flight of the new Boeing Starliner evolved into a considerably longer sojourn in space. Technical failures en route to the ISS meant it was deemed unwise for the crew to board the craft's return flight.

NASA ensured the SpaceX Dragon craft transporting Crew-9 members to the ISS could accommodate the marooned astronauts on its return. However, after rendezvousing with the ISS in September, it would remain docked until the crew had completed its 6-month mission and Crew-10 had arrived to relieve them.

As Williams and Wilmore's homecoming edged closer, an additional month's operational delays meant Crew-10 didn't board the ISS until March. On 18 March, after Crew-9's capsule had spent 17 hours travelling at 27,300 kilometres an hour, it successfully reentered the atmosphere. Following this, parachutes deployed enabling a controlled final descent before splash down in the Gulf of Mexico.

Veteran astronaut Williams now has three missions under her belt and the second highest ever time in space - an impressive 608 days. Despite this achievement, concerns over prolonged exposure to weightless space environments mean astronauts' health is closely monitored.

Detrimental effects include loss of bone density and muscular atrophy. These impacts are closely assessed during missions on the ISS and astronauts are carefully examined upon their return. However, once reacclimatised to life under gravity, in most cases any conditions astronauts have work themselves out. View Less