Astronaut Crew Returns to Earth Following Extended Space Station Mission

A SpaceX Dragon spacecraft carrying four astronauts splashed down safely in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Southern California on Saturday morning, concluding a 145-day mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The capsule departed the ISS at 6:05 p.m. EDT on Friday, undertaking carefully calculated maneuvers to lower its orbit prior to atmospheric re-entry. The splashdown occurred at approximately 11:33 a.m. EDT, roughly seventeen hours after undocking.

The returning crew comprises NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov. All four are reported to be in good health following recovery operations. The mission commenced on March 14 from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, with the Dragon capsule autonomously docking with the ISS less than two days later.

During their extended stay, the Crew-10 mission supported a broad spectrum of scientific endeavors aimed at fostering advancements in human space exploration and enhancing life here on Earth. This included research investigating the physiological impacts of microgravity and development of innovative technologies crucial for prolonged missions beyond low Earth orbit.

This particular Dragon capsule has proven its versatility, having previously transported NASA’s Crew-3, Crew-5, and Crew-7 teams to and from the ISS. The Falcon 9 rocket utilized for this mission also recorded its second flight, having previously deployed the SES 03b mPOWER satellite. NASA and SpaceX provided a live webcast of the re-entry and splashdown sequence, accessible via various platforms, allowing audiences worldwide to witness the event firsthand. The successful return signifies another achievement in the collaborative efforts of NASA and SpaceX to expand crewed spaceflight capabilities.