SpaceX astronauts splashdown safely off San Diego coast
Space Crew Returns to Earth After Extended ISS Mission**
A SpaceX Dragon spacecraft carrying four astronauts safely splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on Saturday morning, concluding a nearly five-month mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The capsule touched down at 8:33 a.m. PT, approximately 17 hours after undocking from the orbital laboratory at 3:05 p.m. PT on Friday. Following separation, the spacecraft executed precise maneuvers to lower its orbit in preparation for re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere.
The crew comprised 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. Their mission began March 14 from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, marking a 145-day stay aboard the ISS.
During their time in orbit, Crew-10 facilitated numerous scientific investigations geared toward bolstering future human space exploration and enhancing life on Earth. Studies encompassed the effects of microgravity on human physiology and the development of technologies vital for extended missions beyond low Earth orbit. SpaceX indicated that these experiments contribute to a broader understanding of long-duration space travel challenges.
The Dragon capsule, having previously supported NASA’s Crew-3, Crew-5, and Crew-7 missions, has now completed its fourth orbital assignment. The Falcon 9 rocket utilized for this mission also demonstrated reusability, marking its second flight after the deployment of the SES 03b mPOWER satellite.
NASA and SpaceX provided live coverage of the spacecraft’s atmospheric reentry and Pacific splashdown through a webcast and on the X TV app, allowing audiences worldwide to witness the mission’s culmination. The successful return off California’s southern coast underscores the continued collaboration between NASA and SpaceX in expanding crewed spaceflight capabilities.
