NASA: Dolphins ‘Welcomed’ Astronauts Returning to Earth After 9 Months in Space

Even Earth’s creatures rejoiced at the return of Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, who were stranded in space for nine months. The veteran astronauts completed their mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS) alongside NASA’s Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov. Their SpaceX capsule, Crew Dragon Freedom, splashed down off the coast of Florida just before 6 PM local time on Tuesday (March 18, 2025). Among the welcoming committee were not only human specialists but also a pod of dolphins. “Wow, we have a delightful little pod of dolphins; it wasn’t just one or two,” commented Kate Tice, director of operations engineering at SpaceX, during the live broadcast. The dolphins’ playful presence was noted as they swam around the recovery vessel, providing an unexpected assist to the retrieval team. Dolphins are known for being social and playful marine mammals that often travel in groups near shorelines like those of Florida’s Gulf Coast. While bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) are most common in this area, the exact species observed remains unclear. Initially sent on a short-term mission via Boeing’s Starliner in June 2024, technical issues extended Williams and Wilmore’s stay significantly. To resolve the situation, NASA partnered with Elon Musk’s SpaceX, sending fewer replacements later in September to ensure room for their return. Following medical evaluations post-splashdown, the crew will be transported to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston for further health checks before reuniting with their families. This successful operation fulfilled President Trump’s promise to bring the stranded astronauts home safely.