Watch Astronaut Reunite With Her Beloved Dogs After Spending Months In Space

In June 2024, NASA astronaut Suni Williams and her colleague left Earth for what was scheduled to be a week-long stay aboard the International Space Station. But due to system malfunctions, the pair were stranded for nearly 10 months.

During that extended stay in space, Williams was without the company of her family — including her two beloved dogs, Rotor and Gunner.

Knowing just how much Rotor and Gunner mean to Williams, her associates from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) decided to surprise her with figurines of their likenesses.

On a resupply mission, they shipped them to her in space.

“What’s the number one thing that NASA astronaut Suni Williams missed during her 9-month stint in outer space?” WHOI wrote in a post. “Well, in addition to her family and fresh salad — it was her dogs, Rotor and Gunner!”

Back at home, Rotor and Gunner were missing their mom, as well. But then came the day all three had been looking forward to. Last month, Williams and her astronaut colleague successfully returned to Earth.

And this week, Williams shared footage of her joyful reunion, at long last, with the pups she loves so dear: