Pakistan, March 19 -- NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have safely returned to Earth after an extended nine-month mission aboard the ISS. Their SpaceX capsule re-entered the atmosphere, deployed parachutes, and splashed down off Florida's coast. A pod of dolphins surrounded the capsule as the recovery team helped the astronauts exit, alongside NASA's Nick Hague and cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov.

Their mission, originally planned for eight days, stretched for months due to technical issues with the Boeing Starliner spacecraft. NASA eventually arranged for their return on a SpaceX flight. NASA officials praised the crew's resilience, confirming they were never in danger despite media speculation. The astronauts adapted to the...