Astronauts Return to Earth After Mission
Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP) — Four astronauts have successfully returned to Earth from the International Space Station (ISS) after an eight-month mission. This particular crew had initially rushed to replace a colleague who became ill, marking a significant moment as NASA’s first medical evacuation in 65 years.
Splashdown and Homecoming
SpaceX facilitated the return, with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean near Los Angeles. The astronauts included NASA’s Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, France’s Sophie Adenot, and Russia’s Andrey Fedyaev. Meir expressed her excitement upon landing, noting the crew’s mixed emotions about leaving the orbiting lab and returning to family.
Watch the splashdown in the video player above.
Celebrating Accomplishments
During their stay, the crew was involved in significant events, such as witnessing the Artemis II mission and celebrating the 250th birthday of the United States. Their time aboard included multiple spacewalks, maintenance work, and even fun activities like a dance party and cooking demonstrations.
Future From the ISS
As the crew shared heartfelt moments upon their return, seven astronauts still remain on the ISS, continuing the exploration and research endeavors that have welcomed 298 visitors from 26 countries since 2000.
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For further reading and to watch the launch of Crew-13 to the ISS, visit PBS NewsHour.
