Dolphins Welcome to Medical Checks: What Happened Right After Splashdown

Florida: Four white parachutes with an orange design at the center carried the Dragon capsule safely back to Earth, landing in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida, on Wednesday (IST). The return marked the successful end of a 286-day space mission for astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who were stranded aboard the International Space Station (ISS) for nine months due to a technical glitch in their Boeing Starliner spacecraft.  

A Warm Welcome in the Ocean

As soon as the capsule touched the water, a group of dolphins appeared, playfully swimming around as if welcoming the astronauts home. The scene felt almost magical, as nature seemed to celebrate their long-awaited return. Moments later, support crews arrived to assist in the recovery. Two crew members quickly opened the hatch, marking the first steps of the astronauts' journey back to normal life on Earth.  

READ MORE: Picture-Perfect Splashdown: Dolphins Welcome Dragon Carrying Stranded NASA Astronauts Sunita Williams & Butch Wilmore | Republic World 

From a One-Week Mission to Nine Months in Space

Williams and Wilmore had originally gone to the International Space Station (ISS) for just one week in Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. However, due to a technical issue, they were unable to return as planned and had to stay in space for over nine months—one of the longest unplanned missions ever. 

One by One, Astronauts Step Out

The return journey wasn’t just for Williams and Wilmore. They were accompanied by NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, who were also aboard the capsule.  

• Nick Hague was the first to exit the spacecraft. Smiling and appearing relieved, he was immediately placed on a stretcher for a medical check-up.  
• Aleksandr Gorbunov was next, waving cheerfully at the support team.  
• Sunita Williams followed, stepping out of the capsule with a wide grin, finally breathing in fresh air after nearly a year in space.  
• Butch Wilmore was the last to emerge, joining his teammates in their long-awaited return to solid ground. 

Medical Assistance After Splashdown

Once out of the capsule, all four astronauts were carefully lifted onto stretchers for medical evaluation. Space missions take a toll on the human body, and after months in microgravity, their muscles and bones need time to adjust to Earth’s gravity again.  

Friends, colleagues, and NASA officials greeted them warmly, celebrating their safe return. Williams and Wilmore will now be flown to Houston’s Johnson Space Center, where they will undergo further medical checks and debriefing. 

NASA and Boeing Face Questions

The unexpected delay of Williams and Wilmore’s mission has raised concerns about the reliability of Boeing’s Starliner. NASA officials stated that they are reviewing the spacecraft’s technical problems to prevent such issues in future missions.