Sunita Williams Returns: NASA Reveals What Helped In The Picture-Perfect SpaceX Crew-9 Splashdown

Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who were stranded in space for 9 months, have finally returned to Earth on March 19 during the wee hours (IST). Their Dragon spacecraft made a smooth splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico, marking the end of an unexpected months-long space odyssey. However, the picture-perfect landing witnessed by millions across the globe has several factors, including weather and a well-chalked-out plan by Elon Musk's SpaceX.

What made the landing of the spacecraft picture-perfect?

During the press conference, NASA opened up about the factors that made Dragon's landing smooth. "The landing that you guys witnessed today there are a number of things to look at, a number of factors and weather being one of them. You saw great weather today," said NASA.

He further stated, "We look at the readiness of the recovery team to make sure they are ready to go. We look at the handover time on orbit between the incoming crew and the departing crew to make sure there is enough time for activities to be accomplished before the departing crew leaves. We do have the benefit of having NASA astronaut Donald Pettit remaining onboard. He will be coming home on Soyuz in April. He will continue the handover with the crew."

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Highlighting the other factors, he continued, "We also look at the vehicle traffic, the vehicles coming and going and when you pull that together, the International Space Station program."

"The commercial crew program and SpaceX came up with the plan that we just witnessed. The CREW-10 Launch last week, the docking over the weekend back, the undoack early today and then the landing that we just witnessed so just an in cred amount of input you get to pull that together to have a successful operation," concluded NASA.

Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore to undergo medical evaluations

Following their splashdown in the Gulf - recently renamed the Gulf of America by Trump via an executive order in January - Wilmore and Williams will remain aboard the SpaceX recovery ship before being flown to Houston to reunite with their loved ones. NASA officials confirmed that all returning astronauts would undergo medical evaluations as they readjust to Earth’s gravity before being cleared to go home in a few days.

Also Read: Sunita Williams Return LIVE: 'We Are Going to Take Some Time to Celebrate,' Says NASA