After 288 days in orbit, you’d think the moment NASA astronaut Suni Williams set foot on Earth would involve fireworks, a brass band, or at the very least, a parade of fellow astronauts applauding her historic endurance. Instead, it was something far more touching — and hilariously down-to-earth.
Williams, a decorated astronaut and retired Navy captain, returned home to Needham, Massachusetts, this week and was finally reunited with her two beloved Labrador retrievers. It had been over “nine months” since they last sniffed her, and as you might expect, one pup couldn’t contain his joy. The other? Well, he was more interested in a stick.
In a video posted to X (formerly Twitter), Williams is seen on her front lawn with her two dogs bounding around her — one an enthusiastic yellow lab who ran back and forth in pure, tail-wagging bliss.
The other, a chocolate lab with serious “main character energy,” gave her… the cold shoulder. No kisses. No howls. Just a triumphant strut with a giant stick like he was saying, “Yeah, I’ve been holding it down around here. What’ve you been up to?”
Williams laughs in the clip, teasing her older pup for “showing off” and admitting he might be giving her the silent treatment. Can you blame him? She was supposed to be gone for “eight days”. Thanks to a series of technical issues with Boeing’s Starliner capsule, Williams and fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore ended up stuck in space for 288 days — nearly ten months.
Their unplanned extended stay aboard the International Space Station sparked concern when they finally landed on March 18 via a SpaceX shuttle. Images of the two looking gaunt raised eyebrows among health experts. But now, back on terra firma, Williams appears to be regaining her strength — and her sense of humor.
This wasn’t her first rodeo. Williams was selected as an astronaut back in 1998 and had already logged over 300 days in space before this mission. She’s also a test pilot, a marathon runner (yes, she ran one in “space”), and one of NASA’s most seasoned spacewalkers with “nine spacewalks totaling 62 hours”.
After over nine months in space, NASA astronaut Sunita Williams returned home to a joyous reunion with her two Labrador retrievers. In a viral video, the dogs excitedly jump around her as she calls it the “best homecoming ever,” showcasing the unbreakable bond between humans and… pic.twitter.com/qcJN8HRIHI
— The Daily Guardian (@DailyGuardian1) April 2, 2025
But no matter how many missions she’s completed or medals she’s earned, it’s clear her greatest adventure this year was right at home — on her front lawn, being licked by one dog while the other paraded around like a furry diva with a grudge.
After nearly a year floating above Earth, it was the ultimate reminder: gravity may pull you back, but love — and dog drama — make the landing worth it.
