Guys, gals, and non-binary pals, the day has come. Astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore have returned to earth after 9 grueling months on the international space station.
Back in June, Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft carried the two astronauts up to space. It left them there due to an issue with its orbital maneuvering system, deorbiting without the crew. Just yesterday, however, the astronauts were whisked off of the station by SpaceX’s Crew dragon “Freedom”, eventually splashing down in the Gulf of Mexico.
The Dragon capsule itself was the perfect craft for the job, considering the overall safety of the system. In the event of a parachute failure, the craft could land itself by using specialized thrusters mounted on the capsule’s sides. After three quarters of a year in space, the astronauts must have been happy knowing that the system would keep them safe during descent.
The Dragon spacecraft itself follows the standard space capsule design, split into two separate segments, the SM and the CM. The SM, or service module, contains the craft’s engines, fuel, and solar power system, while the CM carries the crew, along with cargo. The craft was initially designed to service the ISS in its first form, the Dragon 1, although it could not carry astronauts with it. After a few iterations, the spacecraft was redesigned to carry humans, making its first flight in 2020. Since then, it has functioned as NASA’s primary crew launch system, doing its job effectively and reliably.
Rest easy, knowing that Sunita and Butch are home safe.
Related articles
https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=crew-9-return
https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2025/03/crew-9-return/
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