Quartet of Astronauts Conclude Six-Month International Space Station Mission with SpaceX Capsule Earth Landing

Early on Monday, a group of four astronauts concluded their half-year tenure at the International Space Station, making their way back to Earth.

Their descent was facilitated by a SpaceX capsule that made a parachute landing in the Atlantic Ocean, just off the coast of Florida.

The returning astronauts comprised of NASA personnel Stephen Bowen and Warren “Woody” Hoburg, Russian cosmonaut Andrei Fedyaev, and the United Arab Emirates’ Sultan al-Neyadi—making him the first individual from the Arab world to have an extended orbital stay.

Prior to vacating the space station, the astronauts expressed their anticipation for hot showers, freshly brewed coffee, and the smell of ocean air, elements they had missed since their arrival in March. Their return was initially delayed by a day due to adverse weather conditions at the designated splashdown sites. Nevertheless, their eventual landing provided a stunning nocturnal spectacle as the capsule illuminated the sky above Cape Canaveral before making its splashdown near Jacksonville.

Upon their return, the astronauts conveyed their elation. SpaceX Mission Control communicated via radio, stating, “You’ve got a roomful of happy people here.”

In a continuous cycle of crew rotation, SpaceX had already sent up the next batch of astronauts to replace the returning team just over a week prior.

Further, another shift in crew members is slated for later this month, featuring the much-anticipated return of two Russian cosmonauts and one American astronaut who have been aboard the station for a full year. Their extended mission was a result of a coolant leak in their Soyuz capsule, necessitating the launch of a new spacecraft.

In the interim periods between these crew rotations, the International Space Station accommodates a permanent crew of seven astronauts.

This report is brought to you by The Big Big News Health and Science Department, supported by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The Associated Press retains full responsibility for the content of this article.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about SpaceX capsule return