After Sunita Williams Returns to Earth, White House says 'Promises Made, Promises Kept'

After an extended and eventful mission, NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore are finally back to Earth aboard a SpaceX capsule. Their prolonged journey, which began with Boeing’s troubled Starliner test flight more than nine months ago, concluded with a splashdown off Florida’s coast at 3:27 AM (IST) on Wednesday. They crew members have now been taken to a medical facility where they will undergo a checkup. 

After their return, the White House released a statement which read - “PROMISE MADE, PROMISE KEPT: President Trump pledged to rescue the astronauts stranded in space for nine months.  Today, they safely splashed down in the Gulf of America, thanks to  @ElonMusk ,  @SpaceX , and  @NASA !”

President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, both have suggested that the previous administration (the Biden administration), left them up in the space because they didn't want Elon Musk to get the credit, of rescuing them. It isn't clear if this is true. 

Here is what you need to know

Sunita Williams has cemented her legacy by spending an incredible 608 days in space, making her the second-most experienced NASA astronaut in terms of total time beyond Earth. She follows Peggy Whitson, who holds the record at 675 days.

Over her career, she has completed nine spacewalks, including two in her ongoing mission, amassing a total of 62 hours and 6 minutes in extravehicular activity.

Having flown aboard the Soyuz, Space Shuttle, Dragon, and Boeing’s Starliner, Williams has demonstrated remarkable adaptability across various spaceflight systems.

Her achievements highlight the growing role of women in space exploration, with both the first and second spots for the most time spent in space held by female astronauts.

Through her dedication and contributions to human spaceflight, Williams continues to inspire future generations, particularly women, to push boundaries and pursue careers in space exploration.