Dolphins Surround SpaceX Capsule After Ocean Splashdown as NASA Astronauts Return to Earth: Watch!

03/19/2025 06:49 AM

Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams successfully returned back to Earth after nine months in space on Tuesday, March 18

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams received a surprise welcome on their return home to Earth!

Dolphins surrounded the astronauts' capsule after it landed in the ocean, completing their journey home after nine months in space on Tuesday, March 18. 

In drone footage obtained by NASA, a pod of dolphins is seen circling the SpaceX Dragon capsule that Wilmore and Williams journeyed in alongside fellow NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov after it splashed down into the water off the Florida coast.

Another video posted by CNN correspondent Omar Jimenez on X showed the group of dolphins swimming near the capsule shortly after landing alongside a rescue crew heading over to check on the spacecraft.

Wilmore and Williams, who made headlines after being stranded in space, made a successful splashdown hours after SpaceX Crew-9 undocked from the International Space Station at 1:05 a.m. ET. They landed on Earth at around 6:00 p.m. local time.

The unplanned welcome crew!

Crew-9 had some surprise visitors after splashing down this afternoon.🐬 pic.twitter.com/yuOxtTsSLV

— NASA's Johnson Space Center (@NASA_Johnson) March 18, 2025

Related: Splashdown Time! 'Stranded' Astronauts Return to Earth After 9 Months in Space

NASA and SpaceX confirmed the astronauts' safe arrival on X. "Splashdown of Dragon confirmed – welcome back to Earth, Nick, Suni, Butch, and Aleks!" SpaceX wrote. 

A video shared alongside the message showed the moment the capsule splashed into the ocean with four white and orange parachutes deployed gently landing and resting upright alongside. An announcer stated, "And Splashdown! Crew 9, back on earth," followed by cheers and applause. 

Wilmore and Williams arrived at the International Space Station in June 2024. They were originally expected to stay in space for no more than 10 days, however, their return was delayed after their spacecraft encountered mechanical issues. The spacecraft was subsequently sent back to Earth without them. 

On March 14, a new crew arrived at the ISS to start the launch of Wilmore and Williams' journey back to Earth as part of a joint SpaceX and NASA mission. The crew consisted of astronauts Anne McClain, Nichole Ayers, Takuya Onishi and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov.

Related: Astronaut Wears 'Alien' Mask to Greet SpaceX Crew at the International Space Station

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NASA's Johnson Space Center posted photos on X of Wilmore and Williams being greeted by crew members after arriving at Johnson Space Center's Ellington Field in Houston hours after their splashdown on March 18.

"Home sweet home 🏠," the caption read. "NASA's SpaceX #Crew9 touched down at Johnson Space Center's Ellington Field in Houston at 11:19 pm CDT, March 18, after their @Space_Station mission and successful splashdown earlier this afternoon."

"Welcome home, Butch, Suni, Nick, & Aleksandr!"