Elon Musk thanks Trump after safe return of Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore in SpaceX capsule

WASHINGTON, DC: Elon Musk took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to congratulate President Donald Trump after Sunita Williams and Barry 'Butch' Wilmore returned to Earth after spending over nine months at the International Space Station (ISS) on Tuesday, March 18.

Wilmore, 62, and Williams, 59, splashed down off the coast of Tallahassee aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule.

The Tesla CEO wrote, “Congratulations to the @SpaceX and @NASA teams for another safe astronaut return! Thank you to @POTUS for prioritizing this mission!”

His company SpaceX also shared, “Splashdown of Dragon confirmed – welcome back to Earth, Nick, Suni, Butch, and Aleks!”

Besides, a tweet from the White House read, “PROMISE MADE, PROMISE KEPT: President Trump pledged to rescue the astronauts stranded in space for nine months. Today, they safely splashed down in the Gulf of America, thanks to @ElonMusk , @SpaceX , and @NASA !” after the astronauts splashed down off the Florida coast near Tallahassee.

Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore spent 286 days in space

Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore went to space onboarding NASA's Boeing Crew Flight Test in June 2024 for a scheduled eight-day mission. However, the Boeing Starliner capsule developed problems with its propulsion system, forcing the two to stay there for 286 days.

Before her return, the 59-year-old commander of the International Space Station spoke about her experience saying, “This has been Butch and mine third flight to the ISS. We helped put it together, we have been up here watching it change.”

"I think just the fact that we're living up here in this very unique place gives you an amazing perspective. Not only, you know, out the window, obviously, but also just on how to solve problems. I don't want to lose that spark of inspiration, in that perspective, when I leave, so I'm gonna have to bottle it somehow," she stated, per Fox13.

About the uncertainty she and her colleague faced up there, Williams added, “It has been a rollercoaster for them [family and supporters], probably more than it has been for us. We are here, we have a mission. We do what we have to do every day. The hardest thing has been not knowing when we'd come back. All of that uncertainty has been the most difficult part.”

Internet hails Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore's 'cosmic homecoming'

Meanwhile, people around the world have been celebrating Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore’s safe return.

“The return of Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore on Earth after being stranded at the International Space Station for 9 months is triumph of the human spirit. This sheer resilience must be celebrated! Welcome back,” an X user shared.

“OMG the mental strength needed for this 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻,” another user wrote.

A person tweeted, “Welcome back home Sunita Williams and Butch Willmore. Your journey of grit and determination will be an inspirational story for ages. You have made the human race proud. It doesn't end here. Continue with your ground breaking achievements in space. #salute #sunitawilliamsreturn.”

Another said, “A cosmic homecoming 🌎✨ After months in space, Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore & the team are back on Earth. Their journey of resilience & exploration inspires us all. Welcome home, heroes!”

“Damn, spending 9mos stranded in space sounds like something straight out of a sci-fi movie 😭 cant even imagine the mental and physical toll of being so far from home for that long, not knowing when you'd finally return. huge respect to them for staying strong through it all and to the teams who worked to bring them back safely 😭,” a tweet read.

Another user said, “God bless them and thankfully they are home safe. Thank you Elon and President Trump for returning them home safely.”

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