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On Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi warmly welcomed Sunita Williams following her return from an extended space mission aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft under NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 program.
Taking to X, PM Modi posted, “Welcome back, #Crew9! The Earth missed you. Theirs has been a test of grit, courage and the boundless human spirit. Sunita Williams and the #Crew9 astronauts have once again shown us what perseverance truly means. Their unwavering determination in the face of the vast unknown will forever inspire millions.”
The Prime Minister also praised the dedication of those who worked behind the scenes to ensure the safe return of the astronauts.
“Space exploration is about pushing the limits of human potential, daring to dream, and having the courage to turn those dreams into reality. Sunita Williams, a trailblazer and an icon, has exemplified this spirit throughout her career. We are incredibly proud of all those who worked tirelessly to ensure their safe return. They have demonstrated what happens when precision meets passion and technology meets tenacity,” the post further added.
Welcome back, #Crew9! The Earth missed you.
Theirs has been a test of grit, courage and the boundless human spirit. Sunita Williams and the #Crew9 astronauts have once again shown us what perseverance truly means. Their unwavering determination in the face of the vast unknown… pic.twitter.com/FkgagekJ7C
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 19, 2025
The Crew-9 astronauts – Sunita Williams, Nick Hague, Butch Wilmore, and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov – returned to Earth after more than nine months in space.
Their SpaceX Dragon capsule successfully splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico off Florida’s coast.
As per CNN, the astronauts were carried out on stretchers as a standard procedure for those returning from extended space missions.
Nick Hague and Aleksandr Gorbunov had been in space since September 2024, while Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams had been away even longer, having launched in June.
Originally a short-duration mission, technical issues with the Boeing Starliner capsule significantly extended their stay in space, delaying their return.
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