NASA's SpaceX Crew-9 Returns After Nine-Month Mission

NASA's SpaceX Crew-9 mission culminated successfully with the return of astronauts Nick Hague and Sunita Williams, along with cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, on March 18, 2025. The crew spent nine months aboard the International Space Station (ISS), conducting vital scientific research, including projects on neurodegenerative diseases and pharmaceutical development in microgravity. Their return was celebrated globally, with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah praising their bravery and resilience amid the challenges faced during the mission. The mission highlights the importance of sustained human presence in space and the collaborative efforts in low Earth orbit, particularly as NASA continues to navigate technical hurdles in its space programs. Meanwhile, a separate NASA mission experienced a significant setback when astronauts Sunny Williams and Butch Wilmore were stranded in space for 270 days due to a thruster malfunction on Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, raising concerns about Boeing's technology and NASA's oversight of commercial missions.