India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams as “a trailblazer and an icon” while congratulating the Crew-9 astronauts on their safe return to Earth.
Williams now holds the record for the most spacewalking time by a female astronaut, logging 62 hours and 6 minutes outside the station during her nine-month stay at the space. She ranks fourth on the all-time spacewalk duration list.
NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 completed its ninth commercial crew rotation mission to the International Space Station (ISS) on March 18, 2025. The crew – NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Sunita Williams, and Butch Wilmore, along with Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov – splashed down safely in a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida, at 5:57 p.m. EDT.
Modi praised the Crew-9 astronauts for their “courage, determination, and contribution to space exploration,” emphasizing that space exploration is about pushing human potential and turning dreams into reality.
“Welcome back, #Crew9! The Earth missed you,” Modi expressed in a social media post. “Theirs has been a test of grit, courage, and the boundless human spirit. Their unwavering determination in the face of the vast unknown will forever inspire millions.”
Thanking the NASA’s team, PM Modi said India takes immense pride in the dedicated individuals who worked relentlessly to ensure a safe return, showcasing the power of precision, passion, technology, and tenacity.
“A moment of glory, pride and relief! The whole world comes together to celebrate the safe return of this illustrious daughter of India who has instantly gone down in the history for the courage, conviction and consistency with which she endured the uncertainties of Space,” said India’s Minister of Science & Technology, Earth Sciences, and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh.
Minister Singh also shared a letter from PM Modi to Williams, dated March 1st, in which he wrote, “Even though you are thousands of miles away, you continue to remain close to our hearts. The people of India are praying for your good health and success in your mission,” adding “After your return, we are looking forward to seeing you in India. It will be a pleasure for India to host one of its most illustrious daughters.”
NASA acting Administrator Janet Petro commended the team, stating, “We are thrilled to have Suni, Butch, Nick, and Aleksandr home after their months-long mission conducting vital science, technology demonstrations, and maintenance aboard the ISS.”
She noted that the crew met an accelerated schedule per the direction of President Trump, showcasing “preparation, ingenuity, and dedication” in executing their mission.
Crew-9’s journey began with two separate launches. On September 28, 2024, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carried Hague and Gorbunov to the ISS from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, docking the next day. Meanwhile, Williams and Wilmore launched aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft on June 5, 2024, as part of the Boeing Crew Flight Test, joining the ISS on June 6, according to a statement from NASA.
Astronauts Williams and Wilmore spent 286 days in space, traveled 121,347,491 miles, and completed 4,576 orbits around Earth. Williams now has a cumulative 608 days in space across her three flights, while Wilmore has logged 464 days.
Throughout the mission, Crew-9 conducted extensive science and maintenance activities. Williams performed two spacewalks – one with Wilmore and another with Hague – handling tasks such as removing a radio frequency group antenna, collecting surface samples, and installing patches on an X-ray telescope’s light filters.
“The American crew members conducted more than 150 unique scientific experiments and technology demonstrations between them, with over 900 hours of research. This research included investigations on plant growth and quality, as well as the potential of stem cell technology to address blood diseases, autoimmune disorders, and cancers,” the statement elaborated. “They also tested lighting systems to help astronauts maintain circadian rhythms, loaded the first wooden satellite for deployment, and took samples from the space station’s exterior to study whether microorganisms can survive in space.”
The Dragon spacecraft, named Freedom, completed its fourth flight, having previously supported NASA’s Crew-4, Axiom Mission 2, and Axiom Mission 3. It will now undergo inspection and refurbishment at SpaceX’s Cape Canaveral facility for future missions.
Crew-9’s return follows the launch of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-10 on March 16, which has begun another long-duration science expedition aboard the ISS.
NASA’s Commercial Crew Program aims to provide safe, reliable, and cost-effective transportation to and from the ISS, supporting research that advances human space exploration, including missions to the Moon and Mars.
