Crew-9 astronauts conducted 150 experiments in space that could help NASA’s work to return to the moon and even reach Mars, the agency said Tuesday evening.

Joel Montalbano, deputy associate administrator for NASA’s Space Operations Mission Directorate said the crew put in more than 900 hours of research.

He called the work the "building blocks" to landing on the moon and Mars.

Suni Williams notched the record for most spacewalking for a female astronaut during her nine-month stay at the International Space Station, NASA officials said during a press conference Tuesday.

Williams notched 62 hours stemming from nine spacewalks.

She and Butch Wilmore both splashed down Tuesday afternoon during a smooth return to Earth. 

With Post wires

Crew-9 astronauts exited their capsule one by one after splashing down on Tuesday.

Recovery crews previously opened the hatch to the vehicle to release the space-walkers.

The rescued pair, Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, both smiled and waved as they were helped out of the capsule.

After exiting, each astronaut was taken for an onboard medical check-up customary for those who return to Earth after an extended time in space.

Recovery team members lifted Crew-9's capsule out of the water following splashdown at around 6 p.m.

Their journey is nearly fin-ished.

Dolphins appeared near Crew-9's capsule following their splashdown off Florida's coast Tuesday.

The aquatic mammals could be seen swimming around the rescue crew and the astronauts' spacecraft.

Following splashdown, NASA astronaut Nick Hauge told mission control Crew-9 is "grinning ear to ear."

The astronauts splashed down off Florida's coast around 6 p.m. Tuesday.

Astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore could be making around six-figures for their stint in space -- but won't be logging any overtime for their extended nine-month stay, according to a former astronaut.

NASA astronauts were paid about $152,258.00 in 2024, the space agency's website explains.

But they don't qualify for overtime.

Instead, they will paid on the same basis as a federal employee on an extended business trip who are compensated for a handful of incidentals, according to former astronaut Cady Coleman.

“There is some small amount of money per day for incidentals that they end up being legally obligated to pay you,” Coleman, who spent 159 days in space, told the Washingtonian.

As NASA takes care of their food, lodging up, and clothing up in space, any incidentals are very few.

For Coleman, they added up to about $4 worth in compensation.

The US astronauts stranded on the International Space Station are home at last — more than nine months after their days-long jaunt into orbit turned into a headline-grabbing space odyssey.

Butch Wilmore, 62, and 59-year-old Suni Williams splashed down off the coast of Tallahassee, Fla., just before 6 p.m. EST Tuesday, concluding a 17-hour return journey from the ISS aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon Freedom capsule.

Their triumphant homecoming came a baffling 278 days behind schedule — when they first arrived at the ISS in June 2024, they were scheduled to stay for just about 10 days.

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Crew-9 capsule's parachutes unravelled, starting a slowdown that will try to bring the Crew Dragon speeds to under 20 miles per hour.

NASA mission controllers lost contact with SpaceX Crew-9 as they re-enter Earth's atmosphere — but don't be alarmed.

Due to the amount of heat creating a buildup outside of the Crew Dragon capsule, communication can be cut off for up to 10 minutes.

Crew-9 astronauts will land near Tallahassee for their highly awaited return back on Earth.

The space-walkers are still on track for their target touchdown of 5:57 p.m. EST.