Megastar Chiranjeevi and Bollywood actor R. Madhavan were among the first celebrities to extend a warm welcome to NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who returned to Earth after nearly nine months in space. The two astronauts safely splashed down off the coast of Florida on Wednesday as part of SpaceX’s Crew-9 mission, marking the end of an unexpectedly prolonged mission.
Chiranjeevi welcomes Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore
Taking to social media, Chiranjeevi hailed their return as a remarkable feat and likened their journey to a cinematic thriller. “Welcome back to earth Sunita Williams & Butch Wilmore!! Historic and heroic ‘home’ coming!!! Went for eight days to space and returned after 286 days, after an astonishing 4577 orbits around the earth! Your story is unmatchably dramatic, utterly nerve-wracking, unbelievably nail-biting thriller and the greatest adventure ever. A true blue blockbuster!! More power to you!!! @Astro_Suni Kudos to #SpaceXDragon #Crew9 for bringing them back! #SunitaWilliams,” he wrote.
R Madhavan welcomes Sunita Williams
Following their safe return, actor R. Madhavan also shared his thoughts on Instagram, expressing gratitude for their well-being. “Welcome back to Earth our Dear Dear Sunita Williams. Our prayers have been answered…So wonderful to see you safe and smiling. After more than 260 uncertain days in space, this is all God’s grace and millions of praying souls‘ prayers being answered. Great Job all at #spacexfalcon9 #nasa and the entire crew. God bless you,” he wrote.
From an eight-day mission to a nine-month-long stay
NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore have now embarked on a 45-day rehabilitation program to help their bodies readjust to Earth's gravity. The duo originally launched on June 5 last year aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft for what was initially planned as an eight-day mission. However, technical glitches in the propulsion system prevented their timely return, forcing them to remain aboard the International Space Station (ISS) for over nine months. Their extended stay raised concerns about space travel safety and even sparked political discussions regarding the reliability of current space travel technology.
The astronauts’ return became possible after Crew-10 successfully reached the ISS on Sunday, paving the way for Williams, Wilmore, NASA's Nick Hague, and cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov to prepare for their long-awaited journey home.