NASA astronauts and their international crewmates successfully splashed down in the Pacific Ocean, marking the agency’s first such landing in 50 years after a mission to the International Space Station.
NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, along with Japan’s Takuya Onishi and Russia’s Kirill Peskov, splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Southern California on Saturday morning at 11:33 a.m. ET. This event marks NASA’s first Pacific splashdown in five decades and the third for SpaceX with crew members on board.
The crew had launched earlier this year to the International Space Station (ISS) to relieve two astronauts who had been stranded due to issues with their space capsule. Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore were left at the ISS for nine months, far exceeding their intended week-long mission after the Boeing Starliner they arrived in experienced thruster problems and helium leaks.
NASA ultimately determined that returning the stranded astronauts in the Starliner was too risky, leading to a crewless return of the capsule. Wilmore and Williams were finally brought back to Earth in a SpaceX capsule in March after their replacements arrived.
In a poignant moment before departing the ISS, McClain expressed hope that their mission would serve as a reminder of the power of collaboration and exploration during challenging times on Earth. She also mentioned her eagerness to enjoy some well-deserved rest upon returning home, while her crewmates looked forward to hot showers and burgers.
Earlier this year, SpaceX made the decision to shift their splashdown locations from Florida to California, a move intended to minimize the risk of debris falling on populated areas.
Following their splashdown, the crew underwent medical checks before being transported via helicopter to meet a NASA aircraft bound for Houston. Steve Stich, manager of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, expressed satisfaction with the mission, stating, “Overall, the mission went great, glad to have the crew back. SpaceX did a great job of recovering the crew again on the West Coast.”
Dina Contella, deputy manager for NASA’s International Space Station program, shared her happiness at the Crew 10 team’s return, noting, “They looked great, and they are doing great.” During their 146 days at the space station, the crew orbited the Earth 2,368 times and traveled over 63 million miles.
As the space community celebrates this successful mission, the return of the astronauts highlights the ongoing advancements in space exploration and international cooperation in the field.
According to Fox News, the successful splashdown not only marks a significant milestone for NASA but also reinforces the capabilities of commercial spaceflight through partnerships with companies like SpaceX.