Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Mar 19: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh lauded astronaut Sunita Williams and her crew-9 teammates for their remarkable achievements in space, following their safe return to Earth.

Taking to social media platform X on Wednesday, Singh expressed his happiness, stating, "Delighted at the safe return of NASA’s Crew-9! The crew, comprising India’s daughter Sunita Williams and other astronauts, have rewritten the history of human endurance and perseverance in space."

He further praised Williams for her unwavering dedication, courage, and fighting spirit, which he said would inspire millions worldwide. "Her return is a moment of celebration for space enthusiasts and the entire world. Her achievements make us all proud. Congratulations and a big thank you to all stakeholders for bringing them back safely," he added.

Williams, along with NASA’s Butch Wilmore, NASA's Nick Hague, and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, returned to Earth on Tuesday evening, concluding what was initially planned as an eight-day mission but turned into an unexpected nine-month stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

The astronauts returned aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, which safely splashed down off the Florida coast just before 6 pm. NASA confirmed that the recovery operation was successfully executed, with the crew being carefully extracted from the capsule.

Hague was the first to exit, followed by Williams, who stepped out third, smiling and waving at the crew assisting them.

Williams and Wilmore initially launched to the ISS on June 6, 2024, aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. However, a malfunction in the spacecraft left them stranded in orbit, delaying their return until SpaceX’s Dragon capsule was dispatched to bring them back.