On social media, many viewers believed that a viral video claimed to show ‘fake’ splashdown footage as NASA astronauts returned after nine months in space.
After spending nine months aboard the International Space Station (ISS), NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have finally returned to Earth.
Their splashdown off the coast of Florida, aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule, marked the end of an extended mission that began in June.
However, their return has sparked a wave of conspiracy theories online.
Social media erupts over ‘fake’ splashdown footage
On X platform, a viral video captured shock moment showing NASA’s astronauts return to Earth after 9 months stuck in space.
As soon as footage of the splashdown was released, online skeptics began questioning its authenticity.
A major point of contention was the presence of dolphins swimming near the capsule. Many users on social media suggested that the footage was computer-generated imagery (CGI) rather than a real event.
On social media, some theories went even further, suggesting that the entire mission, from launch to landing, was a fabrication.
One person said: The dolphins’ welcome home was a nice touch. Hats off to the @SpaceX CGI team.
A second wrote: The dolphins were so perfect, they looked CGI.
Wile a third commented: I watched the return space flight for about 1 hour. Fully automated, state-of-the-art, futuristic, sci-fi stuff!
Another added: The first thing I said when I watch the video on tv is this CG video. Just did not look real.
Someone else said: The video looked like AI
Grandma and grandpa are back safe and sound. Someone else said.
Another user added: I’m sorry, but those dolphins are obviously AI-generated or robots deployed by @elonmusk.
NASA and AI Weigh in on the controversy
Despite the skepticism, experts and AI systems have dismissed these claims. One user asked X’s AI chatbot Grok to verify the footage. Grok responded:
“The video of dolphins around the SpaceX Dragon splashdown on March 18, 2025, is real, not fake or CGI. Dolphins swam near the capsule, a natural occurrence in the Gulf of Mexico, even noted live by NASA and SpaceX staff. No evidence suggests manipulation – it’s authentic footage.”
However, some skeptics remained unconvinced, questioning why no close-up shots of the dolphins were provided.
However, this is not the first time NASA has been the target of conspiracy theories.
Some theorists have long claimed that the moon landings were staged, while others argue that ISS footage is filmed on Earth.
While these theories lack evidence, NASA’s frequent delays in returning humans to the moon have fueled public doubt.
The return of Wilmore and Williams was also entangled in political debates. The astronauts initially traveled to the ISS aboard Boeing’s Starliner, but technical problems with the spacecraft made it unsafe for their return. NASA opted instead to bring them back via SpaceX’s Crew Dragon.
After being trapped in space for nine months, NASA astronauts have now returned to Earth.
NASA maintains that Wilmore and Williams were well-prepared for their prolonged mission.
The agency assured the public that astronauts undergo rigorous training for extended stays and that their health was continuously monitored.