Sunita Williams' return highlights: Astronauts finally on Earth; 'Crew doing great,' says Nasa

Sunita Williams-Butch Wilmore return LIVE updates: Catch all the latest news on Nasa astronaut Sunita William's return here

5:46 AM

We work for the president: Nasa official

Asked if the mission would have changed if the 2024 presidential election had turned out differently, Joel Montalbano, an official from Nasa’s space operations mission directorate, said, “We work for the president.” He added that they would take input from any presidential administration.

5:45 AM

Boeing all the way up to their new CEO Kelly has been committed to Starliner: Nasa

During Nasa’s SpaceX Crew-9 post-splashdown news conference, Stich, the manager of Nasa’s Commercial Crew program, was asked whether the company will continue working on the spacecraft after spending so much money on it. “Boeing all the way up to their new CEO Kelly has been committed to Starliner,” he said.

5:38 AM

Elon Musk congratulates SpaceX and Nasa for safe astronaut return

5:36 AM

Boeing congratulates Nasa and SpaceX on successful Crew-9 splashdown

5:33 AM

Astronauts will rehabilitate with medical officials and then reunite with their families soon: Nasa

Steve Stich said the astronauts will rehabilitate with medical officials and then reunite with their families in “the next day or so.”

5:31 AM

‘The crew is doing great after splashdown'

Steve Stich praised the resilience of Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore. He also appreciated their families. He talked about the astronaut's seamless transition to living and working nine months on the space station.

Stich said that the crew will spend some time on the recovery ship undergoing initial medical evaluations before being transported back to Houston for further checks and debriefing.

5:21 AM

We’re super grateful for Boeing and their investment: Nasa official

Steve Stich, the manager of Nasa’s Commercial Crew program highlighted Boeing, which made the Starliner spacecraft that malfunctioned and resulted in Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore’s long stay in orbit. He said today’s flight highlighted the value of having two different vehicles to get to orbit. “We’re super grateful for Boeing and their investment,” he said.

5:18 AM

The whole system worked just as planned: Nasa official

Steve Stich, the manager of Nasa’s Commercial Crew program, praised the spacecraft and its performance. “The whole system worked just as planned,” he said.

5:16 AM

SpaceX an incredible partner for us: Nasa official

At the start of the post-splashdown news conference, Joel Montalbano, an official from Nasa’s space operations mission directorate, said that President Trump had asked SpaceX in January what it would take to bring Crew-9 home. “At the time that that question was asked, we were already looking at options,” he said, about the rotation of Crew-9 and Crew-10. He also called SpaceX “an incredible partner for us.”

5:15 AM

We'll celebrate for now and then start to prepare for Crew-11 that will be going to ISS in July: Nasa

5:14 AM

Couldn't be prouder of our team: Nasa official

5:10 AM

Sunita Williams' return LIVE: Nasa’s SpaceX Crew-9 post-splashdown news conference begins

Following the return of Nasa's SpaceX Crew-9 mission, Nasa and SpaceX hold a news conference to discuss the crew's return and take media questions. The participants include:

• Joel Montalbano, deputy associate administrator, Nasa’s Space Operations Mission Directorate

• Steve Stich, manager, Nasa’s Commercial Crew Program

• Bill Spetch, operations integration manager, Nasa's International Space Station Program

• Sarah Walker, director, Dragon Mission Management, SpaceX

5:08 AM

Sunita Williams' return LIVE: Nasa’s SpaceX Crew-9 post-splashdown news conference begins

Officials from Nasa and SpaceX share the latest updates following Crew-9's safe return to Earth earlier this morning.

4:58 AM

Sunita Williams' return LIVE: Nasa’s SpaceX Crew-9 post-splashdown news conference shortly

4:47 AM

White House reacts, says ‘PROMISE MADE, PROMISE KEPT’

“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 Elon Musk, SpaceX and NASA," White House posted on X.