August 10, 2025
Science

NASA Astronauts Return to Earth After Historic Pacific Splashdown

  • August 10, 2025
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NASA Astronauts Return to Earth After Historic Pacific Splashdown

Successful Return of ISS Crew

Four astronauts have safely returned to Earth after completing a mission to the International Space Station (ISS), where they relieved two colleagues stranded due to technical issues. NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, along with Japan’s Takuya Onishi and Russia’s Kirill Peskov, splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off Southern California on Saturday morning at 11:33 a.m. ET. This marked NASA’s first Pacific splashdown in 50 years and SpaceX’s third with a crew aboard.

Historic Splashdown and Mission Details

The last time NASA conducted a Pacific splashdown was during the Apollo-Soyuz mission in 1975, a significant event marking international cooperation in space exploration. The recent mission launched in March, replacing astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, who were unexpectedly extended at the ISS for nine months due to issues with their Boeing Starliner capsule. The Starliner faced thruster problems and helium leaks, prompting NASA to deem it unsafe for crew return. Consequently, Williams and Wilmore returned via a SpaceX capsule in March.

Reflections and Future Plans

Before departing the ISS, McClain emphasized the importance of collaboration in space exploration, especially during challenging times on Earth. She expressed her anticipation for some downtime upon returning home, while her fellow crew members looked forward to simple pleasures like hot showers and burgers. The decision to switch splashdowns from Florida to California was made by SpaceX earlier this year to minimize risks associated with debris over populated areas.

Post-Mission Procedures

After their successful splashdown, the crew underwent medical evaluations before being transported by helicopter to meet a NASA aircraft bound for Houston. Steve Stich, manager of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, praised SpaceX for their effective recovery operations on the West Coast. Dina Contella, deputy manager for NASA’s ISS program, expressed satisfaction with the mission’s outcome, noting that the crew orbited Earth 2,368 times and traveled over 63 million miles during their 146-day mission.

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