10
Loading video...
By Gabe Whisnant
News Editor
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
A pod of dolphins could be seen swimming around NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams after they safely returned to Earth on Tuesday.
After a nine-month-long test flight saga, their SpaceX capsule parachuted into the Gulf of Mexico in the early evening, just hours after departing the International Space Station. The splashdown occurred off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida, marking the end of their unexpectedly prolonged journey.
Within an hour, the astronauts emerged from their capsule, waving and smiling at the cameras as they were swiftly escorted away in reclining stretchers for routine medical evaluations.
Read More on U.S.
"The unplanned welcome crew! Crew-9 had some surprise visitors after splashing down this afternoon," NASA's Johnson Space Center posted on X, formerly Twitter, about the pod of dolphins.
Why It Matters
Wilmore and Williams' extended mission captivated the world, redefining the phrase "stuck at work" and making "Butch and Suni" household names. While some astronauts have spent longer periods in space, none have faced such uncertainty or seen their mission unexpectedly stretch far beyond its original timeline.
Their mission took an unexpected turn in late January when President Donald Trump urged SpaceX founder Elon Musk to speed up the astronauts' return, blaming the delay on the Biden administration. With the replacement crew's new SpaceX capsule still not ready, SpaceX swapped it for a used capsule, accelerating the timeline by several weeks.
...
What to Know
The astronauts' journey began with a flawed Boeing test flight last spring.
Wilmore and Williams originally expected to spend just a week in space after launching aboard Boeing's new Starliner crew capsule on June 5. However, multiple technical issues arose en route to the International Space Station (ISS), forcing NASA to return Starliner empty and reassign the astronauts to SpaceX, delaying their return until February. Further SpaceX capsule issues added another month's wait.
With their relief crew's arrival Sunday, NASA finally cleared them for departure, moving up their return due to uncertain weather later in the week. They bid farewell to NASA's Nick Hague and Russia's Alexander Gorbunov, who arrived last fall on SpaceX's Crew Dragon, with two empty seats originally reserved for them.
Instead of just a week-long trip, Wilmore and Williams spent 286 days in space, completing 4,576 orbits of Earth and traveling 121 million miles before Tuesday's splashdown.
What People Are Saying
A host of posts on social media immediately reacted to the dolphins swimming around the astronauts.
CNN's Jake Tapper commented during his live broadcast: "Mother Earth sends a welcome home party with a pod of dolphins. It's pretty incredible and magical in its way."
Conservative broadcaster Nick Sortor posted on X: "NOW: A pod of DOLPHINS have surrounded the SpaceX Dragon, welcoming the astronauts back to Earth. Love to see this. God's creatures and the 'Gulf of America' are amazing."
CNN correspondent Omar Jimenez posted on X: "Dolphins really pulled up to the splashdown like they were the rescue crew"
The @dogedesigner account posted on X, which was re-posted by SpaceX Founder and CEO Elon Musk: "A pod of Dolphins stopped by to say welcome home to the Astronauts."
What Happens Next
Wilmore and Williams must first disembark the SpaceX recovery ship and fly to Houston before reuniting with their loved ones. According to officials, the three NASA astronauts will undergo medical evaluations as they readjust to gravity and will be cleared to return home after several days.
This is a developing news story and will be updated as more information is available.
Update: 3/18/25, 6:43 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
Update: 3/18/25, 6:52 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
Update: 3/18/25, 7:06 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
Update: 3/18/25, 7:35 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information and remarks.
Update: 3/18/25, 8:01 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information and remarks.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines