--- title: "Dolphins Appear as Astronauts Splash Down in Ocean" description: "After splashing down in the Gulf of Mexico, stranded NASA astronauts Williams and Wilmore were greeted by a curious pod of dolphins." date: "2025-03-19" modified: "2025-03-19" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/dolphins-appear-astronauts-splash-down-ocean" categories: - "Off-World" - "Space" tags: - "astronauts" - "crew dragon" - "dolphins" - "elon musk" - "international space station" - "SpaceX" --- # Dolphins Appear as Astronauts Splash Down in Ocean ![After splashing down in the Gulf of Mexico, stranded NASA astronauts Williams and Wilmore were greeted by a curious pod of dolphins.]() *\Image: SpaceX/NASA\* NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore have finally returned after being stranded on board the International Space Station for nine months. The pair became stuck in June after Boeing's plagued Starliner spacecraft was [deemed unfit to return them]() last summer due to a [litany of technical problems](). After splashing down in the Gulf of Mexico, Williams and Wilmore were greeted by a curious pod of dolphins — a soothing experience after being thrown in the [middle of a politically charged circus](). SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and president Donald Trump have turned the pair's return into a rallying cry, misleadingly blaming the many delays on the Biden administration and sparking an [ugly spat between the billionaire]() and several former and current astronauts. https://twitter.com/NASA_Johnson/status/1902124589636784140? In the end, the splashdown couldn't have gone more smoothly, with a sea mammalian committee ready to welcome them back home. Drone footage shows dolphin fins popping up around the scorched, bullet-shaped Crew Dragon spacecraft as it bobs in the water. "Here on your screen, we can see dolphins, actually, who want to come and play with Dragon," said webcast host and SpaceX quality systems engineering manager Kate Tice during Tuesday's livestream, as [quoted by *Business Insider*](). For minutes, dolphins swam excitedly around the unusual craft while engineers prepared to haul Dragon onboard a nearby barge. It's not just curious dolphins that have come extremely close to Dragon recovery proceedings. Following the splashdown of the first-ever crewed Dragon mission to the space station in 2020, [Trump flag-waving boats approached the spacecraft]() to have a closer look, despite poisonous fumes hanging in the area. "I think all of America was very anxious to see the capsule land in the water, but yeah, it’s something we need to do better next time," said NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine at the time. "This lack of regard for safety is something that the Coast Guard takes very seriously," a Coast Guard spokesperson [told the *New York Times*](). Fortunately, the dolphins didn't appear to be in danger while checking out the landed spacecraft. "That was really fun to see," SpaceX Dragon mission management director Sarah Walker told reporters during a press call following splashdown. **More on the ISS:** *[NASA Sending Military Personnel to Space Station]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()