Four Astronauts Return to Earth After Eight Months Aboard International Space Station
SpaceX capsule brings U.S., French, and Russian astronauts back to the Pacific Ocean after a mission that included replacing a crewmate evacuated due to illness.
Four astronauts have returned to Earth after an eight-month mission aboard the International Space Station. SpaceX successfully brought the U.S., French, and Russian flyers back with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Los Angeles on Thursday.
NASA’s Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, France’s Sophie Adenot, and Russia’s Andrey Fedyaev departed the orbiting laboratory on Wednesday. Their mission was extended due to delays in the arrival of their replacements, which were caused by necessary repairs to their capsule. The astronauts expressed eagerness to reunite with their families after their extended stay.
"It’s a lot of mixed, swirling emotions for all of us," Meir said while still in orbit, adding that they would miss "these extraordinary views of our home planet."
Meir and her crew originally launched in February to replace four station occupants who were sent back to Earth earlier than planned. This early return was necessitated after one of their crewmates, NASA's Mike Fincke, fell ill. This marked NASA's first medical evacuation in the 65-year history of human spaceflight.
During their time on the station, the astronauts witnessed the Artemis II crew fly around the moon. They also participated in celebrations for the United States' 250th birthday, with Meir performing a piccolo solo with the Boston Pops for a Fourth of July concert from orbit.
Meir undertook four spacewalks, while Adenot completed three excursions for maintenance and upgrades on the 28-year-old space station. Beyond their duties, the crew found time for recreation, including a dance party and cooking demonstrations.
Hathaway maintained a distinctive mustache throughout the mission, a style he adopted to honor his Navy ties. He had previously stated that he was unsure if he would keep the mustache upon his return to Earth, noting it had become part of his identity during the mission.
Seven astronauts from the U.S., Russia, and Canada currently remain aboard the International Space Station. The station has hosted 298 visitors from 26 countries since it became operational in 2000.