Also returning to Earth’s surface aboard the SpaceX capsule were Crew 9 commander Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov, who were concluding their time at the space station after spending 171 days in orbit. After landing in the water, Hague was heard saying the crew was “grinning ear to ear,” per CNN. At around 6:45 pm, the first astronaut, Hauge, was helped outside of the capsule and onto a stretcher. Hague was followed by Gorbunov, Williams, and Wilmore. All astronauts will receive medical checkups per standard protocol.

Wilmore and Williams’ mission was supposed to last just eight days, but problems with Boeing’s Starliner capsule prevented their release. According to CBS News, their flight is the sixth-longest single NASA mission. The June 5 flight to the International Space Station marked the first test flight of Boeing’s Starliner, which suffered multiple propulsion system helium leaks and thruster problems. NASA eventually decided to keep the astronauts aboard the International Space Station and return the Starliner to Earth by remote control.