NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore have safely returned to Earth after what was supposed to be an eight-day mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The duo travelled to space aboard Boeing’s Starliner on June 5 last year but finally made their way home on Tuesday morning aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft.

The return capsule deployed its parachutes before safely splashing down in the ocean off Florida’s coast. Williams and Wilmore were accompanied on the 17-hour journey back to Earth by NASA’s Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov.

As Sunita Williams touched down, Indian social media, especially Twitter (now X) went into the celebratory mode, with people congratulating her for the “historic feat”. 

Visuals from Sunita Williams’ native village in India 

A video from Jhulasan, her native village in Gujarat, captured people bursting firecrackers and rejoicing over her return after spending nine months stranded in space.

Sunita Williams Returns: Social media reactions

Former Miss World Manushi Chhillar also joined in, calling Williams an inspiration. “Moments like these define humanity! While we make attempts to advance our research and technology, our resilience during difficult times defines us. Have always looked up to women such as Sunita Williams. Welcome back!” she said.

“Take a bow! What an incredible moment! Welcome Sunita Williams after 286 days in space, completing 4,577 orbits around Earth! You have just achieved an impossible,” wrote one social media user. 

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Another shared the moment Williams exited the Dragon capsule.

Many also praised Elon Musk and SpaceX for ensuring the safe return of the astronauts.

An X (formerly Twitter) user praised Elon Musk and his company SpaceX for bringing back stranded astronauts. “A remarkable journey! Welcome back, Sunita Williams! Kudos to SpaceX and Elon Musk for this historic achievement!”

For many in India, this moment carried extra pride. “Very proud moment for India, the whole world is watching this big successful adventurous journey. Kudos Sunita Williams And Butch Wilmore. A big inspiration for youth. When Dragon X Landed in Houston’s ocean in Brahma Muhurta, it seemed Lord Ram Himself put up back in Pushpak Viman,” wrote an Internet user from India. 

Another shared a video of astronauts’ splashdown after being stranded in space. They wrote, “Take a bow! What an incredible moment! Welcome Sunita Williams after 286 days in space, completing 4,577 orbits around Earth! You have just achieved an impossible.”