The two NASA astronauts whose return to Earth was delayed for months have just splashed down to Earth.
NASA’s SpaceX Crew-10 mission, carrying astronauts Sunita “Suni” Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore, successfully landed off the coast of Florida after undocking from the International Space Station and traveling approximately 17 hours on its return mission to Earth, according to SpaceX.
The splashdown occurred at approximately 5:57 p.m. ET off the Tallahassee, Florida, coast.
In this image provided by NASA, a SpaceX capsule splashes down off the coast of Florida, March 18, 2025, as it lands off the coast of Florida with NASA astronauts Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore and Nick Hague, and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov.
Keegan Barber/NASA via AP
NASA astronaut Nick Hague and cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov were also onboard the craft.
It was an idyllic day for a return to Earth Tuesday, with the astronauts splashing down to 78 degrees Fahrenheit weather. A pod of curious dolphins was also seen swimming around the capsule as ground crews were preparing the capsule to be opened after landing.
In this screen grab from a video, a dolphin swims by the Crew Dragon capsule off the coast of Florida, March 18, 2025.
NASA TV
The capsule was eventually brought out of the water and placed on a recovery ship where the astronauts finally got to have their first breath of fresh air in nine months.
A SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule carrying Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, two veteran NASA astronauts who have been stuck on the International Space Station for nine months, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov and NASA astronaut Nick Hague, manoeuvres in space following undocking from the ISS to begin a journey to return to Earth March 18, 2025, in this still image taken from video.
NASA via Reuters
Williams and Wilmore had in June 2024 performed the first astronaut-crewed flight of Boeing’s Starliner capsule. What was expected to be a weeklong trip to the ISS instead turned into a nine-month stay. The Boeing Starliner that was expected to carry them home after about 10 days experienced issues, leaving the pair at the station for months.
Their return spacecraft early on Tuesday maneuvered in space, moving above and behind the station, before firing a series of departure burns that sent it back toward Earth.
Astronauts are seen inside a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule carrying Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, two veteran NASA astronauts who have been stuck on the International Space Station for nine months, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov and NASA astronaut Nick Hague, after the capsule undocked from the ISS to begin a journey to return to Earth March 18, 2025, in this still image taken from video.
NASA via Reuters
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
ABC News’ Matthew Glasser and Mary Kekatos contributed to this report.
