A heartwarming moment was captured on video as a pod of dolphins appeared to surround the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, seemingly welcoming astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore back to Earth. The duo, who had been stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) for nine months, finally splashed down off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida, on March 18.
The video, shared widely on social media, shows the dolphins swimming near the capsule as it floated in the ocean. Many users described the scene as something out of a movie, with one commenting, "Dolphins are the humans of the sea." Others saw it as a symbolic moment, calling it a "fairy tale ending" to the astronauts' long journey.
NOW: A pod of DOLPHINS have surrounded the SpaceX Dragon, welcoming the astronauts back to Earth
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) March 18, 2025
Love to see this.
Gods creatures and the Gulf of America are amazing. https://t.co/LSnwilk32I pic.twitter.com/vBTiSua8oj
Williams and Wilmore, who spent extra time in space conducting crucial scientific experiments, were greeted with a warm welcome from SpaceX mission control. "Butch, Suni, on behalf of SpaceX, welcome home," a dispatcher radioed after their safe return.
The dolphins' unexpected appearance added a magical touch to the homecoming, making it a moment to remember for both the astronauts and those following their journey from Earth.
