Select Language:
A group of four international astronauts safely returned to Earth Saturday after spending nearly five months aboard the International Space Station, arriving via a SpaceX capsule. The spacecraft, carrying U.S. astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, Japan’s Takuya Onishi, and Russian cosmonaut Kirill Peskov, touched down off the coast of California at 8:44 a.m. local time.
This mission marks the conclusion of NASA’s 10th crew rotation under the Commercial Crew Program, which was established to replace the Space Shuttle by collaborating with private companies. Elon Musk’s SpaceX Dragon capsule detached from the ISS the previous day. During reentry, the capsule heats up to roughly 1,925 degrees Celsius, as NASA explains—the process of atmospheric reentry and deploying massive parachutes reduces its descent speed from over 28,100 km/h to just above 25 km/h.
Post-splashdown, the capsule was recovered by a SpaceX vessel and lifted aboard. Only then could the astronauts breathe Earth’s air again after months in space. The crew will now travel to Houston to reunite with loved ones.
Throughout their stay, they performed various scientific experiments—examining plant growth, cellular responses to gravity, and how microgravity affects human eyes. NASA Acting Administrator Sean Duffy commended the mission’s success, noting, “Our crew missions are foundational for long-duration human exploration, stretching the limits of what’s achievable.”
McClain described her departure from the ISS as “bittersweet,” sharing on X that she might never return. She emphasized the global effort involved, stating, “Every day, this mission depends on people from all corners of the world—government agencies, private industries, political groups, and unwavering dedication to a shared goal spanning decades.”
Last month, NASA announced it would be reducing its workforce by approximately 20%, around 3,900 employees, as part of President Donald Trump’s broader effort to cut federal spending. Meanwhile, Trump has prioritized crewed missions to the Moon and Mars.
The launch of Crew-10 in March enabled two U.S. astronauts to return home after an unplanned nine-month stay aboard the station. Initially scheduled for only an eight-day mission in June 2024, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams experienced propulsion issues with their Boeing Starliner’s first crewed flight, prolonging their spaceflight indefinitely. NASA announced this week that Wilmore intends to retire after 25 years with the agency.
Recently, astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke from the U.S., along with Japan’s Kimiya Yui and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov, embarked on a six-month mission by boarding the ISS.
Add us on ChatGPT
Add us on Perplexity
