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Space station crew returns to Earth with perfect splashdown
- Jessica Meir
- SpaceX
- European Space Agency
- California
- Russia
- Roscosmos
- France
- Sophie Adenot
What happened
NASA's Crew-12 astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot and Russian cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev splashed down safely in the Pacific about 50 miles west of Los Angeles at 11:34 a.m. ET Thursday. They rode SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule Freedom home, ending a 237-day mission aboard the International Space Station.
Summary
Four people who spent nearly eight months living off the planet are back. The Crew-12 team undocked from the space station Wednesday. On Thursday their capsule fired its thrusters for nine minutes starting at 10:46 a.m. ET, slowing just enough to drop out of orbit. It hit the atmosphere at nearly 5 miles per second, its heat shield facing temperatures up to 3,500 degrees, NPR reported. Parachutes then eased it into the ocean at 11:34 a.m. ET. CBS News put the final speed at 15 mph; NPR said 16 mph. "We are so excited to be back on Planet Earth after an incredible mission on the International Space Station," Meir radioed. [1] [2] [3] [4] [10] [12]
The crew launched Feb. 13 from Cape Canaveral to replace four station residents sent home early after NASA's Mike Fincke, now retired, fell ill. The AP called it NASA's first medical evacuation in 65 years of human spaceflight. Over 237 days the crew circled Earth 3,792 times and traveled more than 100 million miles. NASA said their research included stem cell production, making IV fluid on demand and how pneumonia bacteria can cause lasting heart damage. Meir made four spacewalks, bringing her career total to seven. Adenot made three, becoming the first French woman to step outside the station. Their trip home was delayed when replacements arrived three weeks late because of capsule repairs. [1] [3] [4] [6] [8] [11]
Flight surgeons checked the crew aboard SpaceX's recovery ship Shannon, and all four were out of the capsule within an hour, waving and pumping their fists. They were to fly ashore by helicopter, then head to Johnson Space Center in Houston for physical therapy as their bodies readjust to gravity. Meir said she most looked forward to seeing her 3 1/2-year-old daughter; Hathaway said a hot shower was near the top of his list. NASA set a crew news conference for Oct. 15 in Houston, without Adenot, who is returning to Europe. Seven astronauts remain on the station. [1] [4] [6] [8] [10] [12]
Summary written by Vox Populi News from the 12 sources below. See all sources
Key questions
Why did the Crew-12 astronauts go to the space station?
They launched in February to replace four station occupants who were sent home early after NASA astronaut Mike Fincke fell ill, which the AP described as NASA's first medical evacuation in 65 years of human spaceflight. [6] [7] [9] [12]
Where and when did the Crew-12 capsule splash down?
The Crew Dragon capsule Freedom landed in the Pacific Ocean about 50 miles west of Los Angeles at 11:34 a.m. ET (8:34 a.m. PDT) on Thursday. [1] [2] [4] [8]
When will the Crew-12 astronauts speak about their mission?
NASA said Meir, Hathaway and Fedyaev will hold a news conference at 3:30 p.m. EDT on Thursday, Oct. 15, at Johnson Space Center in Houston, while Adenot returns to Europe. The Los Angeles Times reported the briefing as Thursday afternoon. [8] [11]
Sources 12
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1AolRead on Aol (opens in a new tab)
Space station crew returns to Earth with perfect splashdown
Crew 12 dropped out of orbit and returned to Earth on Thursday, one day after undocking from the International Space Station, in a meteor-like fireball of concentrated reentry heat, safely splashing…
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2New York PostRead on New York Post (opens in a new tab)
Dramatic moment SpaceX astronauts blast back to Earth before splashdown off SoCal
Four astronauts returned to back to Earth Thursday after spending nearly eight months in space aboard the International Space Station.
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3NPRRead on NPR (opens in a new tab)
4 people on NASA's Crew-12 mission return to Earth after 8 months in space
NASA's Crew-12 members gather for a portrait in the pressure suits they wore while departing the International Space Station inside the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft.
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4CBS NewsRead on CBS News (opens in a new tab)
Space station crew closes out 8-month mission with picture-perfect Pacific Ocean splashdown
Bill Harwood has been covering the U.S. space program full-time since 1984, first as Cape Canaveral bureau chief for United Press International and now as a consultant for CBS News.
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5Bloomberg BusinessRead on Bloomberg Business (opens in a new tab)
SpaceX Crew Capsule Splashes Down in Pacific After Space Journey
A SpaceX capsule carrying four astronauts returned from space and splashed down off the coast of California on Thursday, capping the crew's mission to the International Space Station.
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6U.S. News & World ReportRead on U.S. News & World Report (opens in a new tab)
Four Astronauts Return to Earth After Eight Months in Space
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) -- Four astronauts returned to Earth from the International Space Station on Thursday after hurrying there eight months ago to replace an ailing colleague and his crew.
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7BreitbartRead on Breitbart (opens in a new tab)
Four astronauts return to Earth after eight months in space
Four astronauts are back on Earth after an eight-month stay at the International Space Station. CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.
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8NASARead on NASA (opens in a new tab)
NASA's SpaceX Crew‑12 Splashes Down, Sets Briefing to Discuss Mission
After more than seven months aboard the International Space Station, NASA's SpaceX Crew-12 mission safely splashed down Thursday in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Los Angeles.
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9NewsMaxRead on NewsMax (opens in a new tab)
4 Astronauts Return to Earth After 8 Months in Space
Four astronauts returned to Earth from the International Space Station on Thursday after hurrying there eight months ago to replace an ailing colleague and his crew.
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10FortuneRead on Fortune (opens in a new tab)
'We are so excited to be back' SpaceX's recovery ship brought down four astronauts to Earth after eight months
SpaceX brought the U.S., French and Russian flyers back with a splashdown in the Pacific off the coast of Los Angeles.
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11Los Angeles TimesRead on Los Angeles Times (opens in a new tab)
NASA's SpaceX Crew-12 splashes down off L.A. coast after 100-million-mile orbital journey
The space station traveled more than 100 million miles, completing 3,792 orbits around earth.
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12PBS.orgRead on PBS.org (opens in a new tab)
WATCH: Four astronauts return to Earth after 8 months aboard International Space Station
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) -- Four astronauts returned to Earth from the International Space Station on Thursday after hurrying there eight months ago to replace an ailing colleague and his crew.
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