Four astronauts who arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) earlier this year to replace two stranded astronauts returned to Earth on Saturday. NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, along with Japan’s Takuya Onishi and Russia’s Kirill Peskov, landed in the Pacific off the coast of Southern California in a SpaceX capsule. This marked NASA’s first Pacific splashdown in 50 years and the third for SpaceX with crew on board.
The crew launched in March to relieve Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, who were left stranded at the space station for nine months due to issues with their original spacecraft. Wilmore recently announced his retirement from NASA after 25 years of service.
Before departing the space station, McClain expressed the importance of unity and exploration during challenging times on Earth. The crew members were excited about returning home for some rest and relaxation, including hot showers and burgers.
SpaceX decided to shift their splashdowns to California earlier this year to minimize the risk of debris falling on populated areas. After landing, the crew underwent medical evaluations before being transported to Houston. NASA officials praised the successful mission and SpaceX’s recovery efforts on the West Coast.
Overall, the Crew 10 team traveled more than 63 million miles and orbited the Earth 2,368 times during their 146 days at the space station. The return of the astronauts was met with joy and relief by the NASA team, as they looked forward to the crew’s safe return home.
