First look at stranded NASA astronauts as they finally return to Earth after nine months stuck in space

The stranded NASA astronauts have had a successful splash landing back down to Earth after nine long months stuck in space.

Today (Tuesday, March 18), the SpaceX Crew Dragon brought NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita 'Suni' Williams back home to Earth after being trapped in orbit for months.

The crew were deployed to the International Space Station (ISS) on what they thought was going to be a simple eight-day mission on June 5, 2024.

The Dragon's parachutes were deployed before hitting the waters (NASA)

However, their Boeing Starliner Calypso malfunctioned from helium leaks, and its thrusters failed, making it unsafe for Williams and Wilmore to return to their home planet.

Other attempts to retrieve the veteran astronauts failed, leaving them aboard the ISS for almost 300 days.

The team bracing themselves for landing (NASA)

Progress was then made towards bringing them home as of Friday when SpaceX Crew-10 replacements successfully landed at the ISS, so Wilmore, Williams and NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunobv, who joined them in September as part of the homeward bound mission, could come home.

Then on Tuesday, the Crew-9 splashed down at 5.57pm EST off the Gulf Cost near Tallahassee, Florida.

The splash landing as it happened (NASA)

NASA celebrated the 'smooth' success of the autonomous landing with a 'capsule full of grins'.

We had a brief 'black out' with the crew, as planned, as it came through its final descent and re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere.

Aerial view of the splash landing showed the Dragon spacecraft deployed parachutes before hitting the waters.

A pod of dolphins enjoyed the moment (NASA)

Stationed nearby was the 'Megan' recovery vessel - and as it so happened, a pod of dolphins were there to greet them who were immediately intrigued by the commotion.

The historic moment, live streamed by NASA, shows how the teams used specialist equipment to recover the spacecraft, which included jetting off the saltwater from the ocean as part of safety protocol.

NASA astronaut Nick Hague was the first off (NASA)

Once the team safely emerged from the side hatch, and took their first breath of fresh air, they met with medics via a stretcher, again protocol for a post-landing consultation.

Commander, Nick Hague, was the first off, followed by Gorbunobv, both of whom were slipped immediately into mobility aids but were both seen smiling and waving.

Then the big moment came we had all been waiting for as Williams emerged with a thumbs up.

Finally, Wilmore came out in similar spirits.

After their medical examinations, the team were prepared to be taken to Houston, the hub of NASA's spaceflight operations.

Prior to the landing, chief commander of Crew Dragon, Nick Hague, said: "Crew nine is going home. On behalf of crew nine, it was a privilege to call space home... to live and work... in cooperation for the benefit of humanity."

"To our colleagues and dear friends who remain on the station, we know the station is in great hands. We're excited to see what you guys are going to accomplish and we'll be waiting for you."