On March 19, 2025, SpaceX's "Dragon" spacecraft successfully splashed down in the waters near Florida, marking the departure of American astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunny Williams, who had been stranded in space for over nine months due to a malfunction of the Boeing "Starliner" spacecraft, on their journey home.

Wilmore and Williams' space journey began on June 5, 2024, when they boarded the Boeing "StarCraft" spacecraft to the International Space Station to carry out the spacecraft's first manned test flight mission. However, shortly after launch, the spacecraft encountered a series of problems such as propulsion failure and helium leakage, resulting in the return time of the two astronauts being repeatedly postponed. The originally planned 8-day short-term mission eventually turned into a 9-month space "long stay".

During their stay, Wilmore and Williams not only had to adapt to the microgravity environment in space and cope with the physiological and psychological changes it brought, but also actively participated in scientific research projects on the International Space Station, contributing their efforts to space exploration. According to reports, after being stranded in space for about 7 months, Williams stated that his basic physical activity has been affected to some extent and he is working hard to regain the feeling of walking.

NASA and SpaceX acted quickly to retrieve stranded astronauts. On March 14, 2025, SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft was launched into its designated orbit to transport rotating astronauts to the International Space Station. On the 16th, the "Dragon" spacecraft successfully flew to the International Space Station. After a series of preparations, the Dragon spacecraft departed from the International Space Station and set off to return to Earth in the early hours of the 18th Eastern Time.

In addition to Wilmore and Williams, the Dragon spacecraft also carried two other astronauts - American astronaut Nick Haig and Russian astronaut Gorbunov. They went through this unprecedented space rescue mission together and eventually returned safely to Earth.

When the "Dragon" spacecraft splashed down in the waters near Florida, the world's attention was focused on this rescue operation. NASA  Wilmore and Williams have returned to Earth and have been transferred to a rescue ship where they will undergo medical examinations. NASA also posted on social media platforms, welcoming the two astronauts to "go home". NASA  Public affairs officer Jimmy Russell revealed that four astronauts were assisted by a medical team to exit the spacecraft and undergo gravity re adaptation. Astronauts appear to be very healthy, and they may spend some time undergoing rehabilitation treatment. After that, according to the doctor's observation, they can usually reunite with their families within one to two days after passing the physical examination.

This space detention incident not only tested the will and perseverance of astronauts, but also highlighted the complexity and challenges of space exploration. It reminds people that on the path of pursuing their space dreams, they must always remain vigilant and be prepared to deal with various risks and challenges. The smooth return of Wilmore and Williams undoubtedly put a satisfactory end to this long space stay.