Astronauts Conclude Historic Space Mission with Successful Splashdown
Four astronauts from NASA, Japan, and Russia return to Earth after a five-month mission aboard the ISS, marking a significant milestone in space travel.
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Overview
- Four astronauts from NASA, Japan, and Russia completed a five-month mission aboard the International Space Station.
- They returned to Earth via a SpaceX capsule, achieving a precise splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.
- This mission is notable as SpaceX's third human-crewed Pacific splashdown and the first for NASA in 50 years.
- Some astronauts experienced extended stays due to issues with Boeing's Starliner capsule, necessitating their transfer to SpaceX.
- Upon return, astronaut Anne McClain expressed a desire for relaxation amid the current tumultuous times on Earth.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame this story by highlighting the successful return of astronauts via SpaceX, often contrasting it with the ongoing issues of Boeing's Starliner program. They emphasize the reliability of commercial spaceflight and its role in advancing U.S. space capabilities, including ending reliance on foreign partners, while also noting the mission's scientific achievements.
"It was SpaceX’s third Pacific splashdown with people on board, but the first for a NASA crew in 50 years."
ABC News"It was SpaceX’s third Pacific splashdown with people on board, but the first for a NASA crew in 50 years."
Associated Press"The crew of NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Russia's Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov spent their time on the station conducting more than 200 science experiments that helped prepare humans for exploration beyond low-Earth orbit."
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FAQ
Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams had to extend their stay on the ISS because of malfunctions in Boeing's Starliner capsule, which forced it to return to Earth empty and transfer them to a SpaceX flight for their return.
This splashdown was NASA's first Pacific Ocean landing of a crewed mission in 50 years and SpaceX's third human-crewed Pacific splashdown. It also marked the shift of capsule returns from Florida to California to reduce debris risks.
The mission crew consisted of NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, Japan's Takuya Onishi from JAXA, and Russian cosmonaut Kirill Peskov from Roscosmos.
After returning, astronaut Anne McClain expressed a desire to relax and do nothing for a couple of days in Houston, while her crewmates looked forward to hot showers and burgers; the crew will then reunite with their families.
This mission’s Pacific splashdown is the first for NASA since the 1975 Apollo-Soyuz mission, which was a historic US-Soviet joint effort, marking a significant milestone in crewed spaceflight splashdowns.
History
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