Video | NASA says Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore 'doing great' after touchdown on Earth

US space agency NASA has confirmed that astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who splashed down in waters off the coast of the Florida Panhandle after nine months in space, are doing great.

"The crew is doing great," Steve Stich, the manager of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, told reporters. He added that the astronauts will rehabilitate with doctors and then reunite with their families in "the next day or so" after being cleared medically. They will also do a de-brief on their time in space before taking some time off.

"They all looked like they were feeling about normal for the landing and recovery phase where their bodies are trying to re-adapt," Stich said.

The SpaceX's Crew Dragon carrying Williams and Wilmore, along with NASA's Nick Hague and Russia's Alexander Gorbunov, parachuted into the Gulf of Mexico in the early hours of Wednesday. An hour later, a video emerged showing the astronauts leaving the capsule, waving and smiling at the cameras while being hustled away in reclining stretchers for routine medical checks.

Wilmore and Williams spent 286 days in space, in a mission that was planned for 12 days but was extended to nine-and-half-months. They were the first crew to launch on Boeing's CST-100 Starliner capsule which encountered propulsion issues, after which NASA decided to land it without them on board. Williams and Wilmore were reassigned to SpaceX's Crew Dragon.

Touchdown

It took only hours for the SpaceX capsule to bid adieu to the ISS and enter the Earth. The first major moment was when the parachutes were deployed to slow down the capsule from more than 17,000mph before splashdown. The capsule landed on the water. As recovery crews prepared to receive the astronauts, dolphins were seen swimming around their capsule. The capsule was then brought onboard the ship, where it was rinsed off with fresh water before it was opened.

Nick Hague, the commander of the Crew-9 mission, was the first to step out of the capsule followed by Aleksandr Gorbunov of Roscosmos. Next out was Williams. Wilmore was the last one out of the capsule and he raised two thumbs to the camera.

"What a ride," said Hague just after splashing down. "I see a capsule full of grins from ear to ear." They were welcomed by SpaceX Mission Control, which said: "On behalf of SpaceX, welcome home".  

NASA thanks Starliner

Stitch also thanked Boeing for their investment, adding how Boeing "all the way up to their new CEO Kelly Ortberg" were committed to Starliner.

"We’re super grateful for Boeing and their investment," he said, adding that the issue highlights the need to have at least two vehicles in orbit.

He also said that Boeing is celebrating Suni and Butch's return with a watch party. He added that NASA is "working hand in hand with Boeing as well on certification of Starliner, getting that vehicle back to flight".