Astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore of NASA returned to Earth early this morning aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon Spacecraft. 
Their SpaceX capsule parachuted into the Gulf of Mexico. A splashdown occurred off the coast of Tallahassee in the Florida Panhandle, ending the nine-month ordeal of the two astronauts. 
The astronauts concluded their trip with SpaceX’s Crew-9, a routine International Space Station, ISS staff rotation mission, alongside NASA’s Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov. 
Wilmore and Williams were on the International Space Station since June of last year, following the maiden crewed mission of the Boeing Starliner spacecraft, which encountered technical issues that rendered it unsuitable for their return journey. 
The two astronauts ended up spending 286 days in space – 278 days longer than anticipated. Four Crew-10 astronauts arrived at the ISS on Sunday, taking over duties at the space station.

President, PM Congratulate:

President Droupadi Murmu has congratulated the entire team of NASA behind the safe return of the Crew 9 mission on Earth. In a social media post, President Murmu said that India’s daughter Sunita Williams and her fellow astronauts have inspired everyone with their perseverance, dedication, and never-say-die spirit. She added that the historic journey of the astronauts’ is a tale of determination, teamwork, and extraordinary courage. The president praised the astronauts’ unwavering resolve and wished them excellent health.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated and lauded the efforts of those who worked tirelessly to ensure the safe return of the Crew 9 mission on Earth. In a social media post, the Prime Minister said that Sunita Williams and the Crew9 astronauts have once again shown the world what perseverance truly means. He added theirs has been a test of grit, courage and the boundless human spirit. Mr. Modi said that their unwavering determination in the face of the vast unknown will forever inspire millions.
Underlining the spirit and efforts of Sunita Williams, Mr. Modi said that Sunita Williams has exemplified this spirit throughout her career. The Prime Minister further added space exploration is about pushing the limits of human potential, daring to dream, and having the courage to turn those dreams into reality.

45-day Rehabilitation:

Following their extended stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS), the astronauts will now undergo physical reconditioning to counteract the effects of prolonged weightlessness. Prolonged exposure to microgravity presents unique challenges to the human body, including reduced aerobic capacity, muscle strength, endurance, balance, coordination, bone density, and neuro-vestibular function. To counteract these effects, Astronaut Strength, Conditioning, and Rehabilitation (ASCR) specialists have developed a structured reconditioning program aimed at restoring the astronauts’ physical health.
The rehabilitation is divided into three phases. The first phase starts on landing day and focuses on mobility, flexibility, and muscle strengthening. The second phase incorporates proprioceptive exercises and cardiovascular training, while the third and longest phase prioritises functional development.
Seventeen hours after departing the ISS, their SpaceX Dragon capsule safely splashed down at 3:27 a.m. IST. Following their retrieval from the capsule, they were immediately sent for medical evaluations before starting their rehabilitation.

India aims for own Space Station by 2035:

India has planned to have its space station namely Bharat Antariksh Station and if all plan goes well an Indian astronaut will be on the Moon by 2040. This was stated by the Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Dr Jitendra Singh while replying to supplementaries in the Lok Sabha today. Mr. Singh said, Chandrayaan-4 will be launched through two launch vehicles and it will have five components. In reply to a query on why the chosen four Gaganyaan astronauts have been kept away from the public eye, Mr Singh said it has been done to keep them away from distractions. He added that Gaganyaan’s test flight with a female robot will be launched by the end of this year.