Four astronauts safely returned to Earth on Thursday after nearly eight months aboard the International Space Station. The SpaceX capsule splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Los Angeles.
On board were NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, European Space Agency representative Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev. They left the ISS the day before and were eager to reunite with their families.
The crew launched to the station in February to urgently replace colleagues, one of whom — NASA's Mike Fincke — had to be evacuated for medical reasons. It was the first medical evacuation in NASA's crewed spaceflight history in 65 years.
The replacement crew arrived three weeks late due to capsule repairs, which delayed the current crew's return. After splashdown, all four quickly exited the capsule, waved and clenched their fists aboard the SpaceX recovery ship.
"We are so happy to be back on planet Earth after an incredible mission aboard the International Space Station," Meir said shortly after splashdown. While still in orbit, she had spoken of mixed emotions and of how much she would miss "the extraordinary views of our home planet."
What remains constant on such missions, despite all the technical difficulties and delays?
After the helicopter ride to shore, the astronauts headed to Houston. They will undergo medical examinations and adapt to Earth's gravity.
