Two NASA astronauts who were forced to stay at the International Space Station (ICS) for almost nine months instead of the planned ten days, due to the technical malfunction of the spacecraft, successfully returned to the ground for almost nine months.
The Crew Dragon spacecraft with a crew, which included Sunita Williams and Barry Vilmore, was landing in the Gulf of Mexico, about 80 km from the Florida coast. It happened at 11:57 Kyiv time.
The original mission of astronauts, which should last only 10 days, was interrupted due to a malfunction of the ship, which led to almost nine months of the ISS. Fortunately, despite its considerable delay, the crew was able to complete all the necessary tasks at the station and, after all, returned to the ground safely.
"This is a trip. I see a capsule full of smiles from ear to ear," said Crew Dragon Mission Commander Nick Gayg, noting how they were happy to meet astronauts after a long mission.
Prolonged stay in space can have a serious impact on human health, including muscle atrophy, visual impairment and other physiological changes. After returning to the ground, astronauts will undergo a medical examination at the Johnson Space Center, where their physical condition will be evaluated.
"They will receive a well -deserved vacation and time with their families. For them, it was a long time in space," added the head of the NASA commercial crew program Steve Seve.
