59-year-old Sunita Williams ‘Sunny’ and 64-year-old Barry E. Wilmore ‘Butch’, who had reached space nine months ago through SpaceX from the International Space Station, set foot on Earth on Wednesday.
They had gone on a space mission for only eight days, but due to a technical issue in the spacecraft they boarded, they had to stay there for 9 months. After living the thrilling life of zero gravity, their return to Earth has spread happiness across the globe. The SpaceX Dragon capsule (spacecraft) landed them in the waters near the coast of Florida, USA. After a 17-hour continuous journey, the joyful moments of their landing on Earth have now become a subject of interest everywhere. CNN published a video showing the spacecraft parachuting into the sea and floating. Both astronauts inside were safe and sound. After the capsule landed in the water, a group of dolphins gathered around it.
As they came out of the spacecraft, both of them looked up toward the sky. Those who were waiting to welcome them outside greeted them enthusiastically with handshakes. Sunita smiled, waved her hand, and said, “Hello everyone.” The security personnel placed them on rolling stretchers and took them while letting them feel the touch of the Earth. Butch, even more excited, tried to walk on his own, but as his body staggered, other assistants helped him onto the rolling stretcher. He cheerfully laughed and waved his hand as he came out. NASA has reported that the health condition of both astronauts is normal, but international media have stated that they will still be under medical observation for some time.
Sunita and Butch had embarked on their space mission in June of last year. Their stay in space was extended due to a technical issue in the spacecraft. Had it been an ordinary person stranded in space that long, survival would have been unlikely. But they utilized their human qualities with wisdom to make life sustainable in space. They also demonstrated how the human mind can take control of the void in space and continue living.
Not only that, they also participated in civic life while in space by exercising their citizen rights. They cast their votes in the U.S. Presidential Election held in November last year from space itself. They stayed in contact with their families as well. In an interview, Sunita said, “Life in space wasn’t easy, but with inner strength, we adopted new ways to survive.” In their previous video interview, they also highlighted the various practices they undertook to stabilize their balloon-like life floating 400 kilometers above Earth in zero gravity.
The nine months spent flying, rolling, and floating inside a balloon-like spacecraft taught them and the people on Earth a lesson in courage and patience. Not just inside, they even ventured outside the spaceship to closely observe space and dared to repair their spacecraft. During this time, they maintained equipment controlling the station’s operations, modified light filters in telescopes, and energy-generating adapters while floating.
While there, they could observe the sunrise 16 times daily, visible only once daily on Earth. Since their space station orbited Earth 16 times every 24 hours, they witnessed the mystical sights of sunrise and sunset multiple times. The scenes appearing every 45 minutes gave them a new way to think about Earth’s concept of day and night. They shared the experience that it instilled a realization that humans must preserve Earth’s mystical nature.
Despite being in space, Sunita expressed that the messages sent from Earth became more dear to them than even oxygen. “It made us feel like we were home,” she said. They gradually adapted themselves to the space environment. According to international media, their experience of transforming an unexpected life stuck in space into an expected one has inspired the world. Food supplies used in space were delivered to them periodically via cargo spacecraft.
Another astronaut, Don Pettit, departed for space on Sunday with a spacecraft to bring them back. He took videos and photos during their farewell and sent them. Sunita and Butch waved goodbye and began their journey back to Earth from space.
