The Blubber

After a planned week-long trip to the International Space Station turned into a nine-month mission, two NASA astronauts have finally returned to Earth.

On Tuesday at 5:57 p.m. ET, a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule splashed down off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida, carrying Suni Williams and Barry (Butch) Wilmore back to solid ground for the first time since their launch last June.

The capsule, which landed under clear blue skies with four red-and-white parachutes, was met by calm ocean waters — and even a few curious dolphins swimming nearby.

Joining Wilmore, 62, and Williams, 59, on the return journey were fellow NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov. The crew's SpaceX Dragon spacecraft had undocked from the International Space Station (ISS) on Monday evening.

After landing, Hague's voice came over the radio, describing "grins ear to ear" from the crew as they made their return.

Once the capsule was lifted onto the recovery ship, the hatch was opened, and the astronauts were carefully assisted out by the recovery team.

Williams and Wilmore's extended stay in space required a delay in their return until a full replacement crew could arrive at the ISS to take over their roles. Hague and Gorbunov had traveled to the ISS aboard the same Dragon spacecraft in September, with two empty seats reserved for the returning astronauts.

Following their arrival on the recovery ship, the astronauts began medical evaluations, a routine process after extended time in space. For Williams and Wilmore, the road to full recovery could take months as they work to regain their physical strength.

As they were carried off the ship, all four astronauts smiled and waved — Hague leading the way, followed by Gorbunov, Williams, and finally Wilmore.