SpaceX Dragon returns four astronauts from space station, splashes down off Los Angeles
In short
A SpaceX Dragon spacecraft carrying four astronauts undocked from the International Space Station at 08:05 US Eastern Time on October 7 and splashed down in waters near Los Angeles, California, at 11:34 US Eastern Time on October 8, after more than 27 hours of flight, Chinese outlets reported citing NASA and CCTV. The crew of Jessica Meir, Jack Hathaway, Andrey Fedyaev and Sophie Adenot had spent about eight months on the station.
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A SpaceX Dragon spacecraft carrying four astronauts returned to Earth on October 8, splashing down in waters near Los Angeles, California, Cailian Press, Yicai and 36Kr reported, the latter two citing CCTV. The spacecraft had undocked from the International Space Station at 08:05 US Eastern Time on October 7 (20:05 Beijing time) and splashed down at 11:34 US Eastern Time on October 8 (23:34 Beijing time), after more than 27 hours of flight. [ 5 , 6 , 7 ]
The undocking time was given by NASA, Cailian Press and Jiemian reported. At the time of undocking, NASA expected the spacecraft to splash down in waters off California at 11:34 US Eastern Time on October 8. Cailian Press reported the undocking in a brief flash on the evening of October 7, Beijing time. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The four astronauts on board were US astronauts Jessica Meir (杰茜卡·迈尔) and Jack Hathaway (杰克·哈撒韦), Russian astronaut Andrey Fedyaev (安德烈·费佳耶夫) and European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot (索菲·阿德诺), according to Jiemian, citing CCTV, and cnBeta. [ 3 , 4 ]
The crew launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on February 13 and arrived at the space station on February 14. During their stay they carried out a number of scientific experiments and technology demonstrations in preparation for future missions to the Moon and Mars, the reports said. Jiemian and cnBeta put the length of the stay at about eight months, while Yicai said nearly eight months. [ 3 , 4 , 6 ]
Why it matters
The return ends a crew stay of about eight months on the International Space Station, during which the astronauts carried out scientific experiments and technology demonstrations, according to the reports. Those reports said the work was in preparation for future missions to the Moon and Mars.
Key facts
- NASA said the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft carrying four astronauts undocked from the International Space Station at 08:05 US Eastern Time on October 7 (20:05 Beijing time). [ 2 , 3 ]
- The spacecraft splashed down in waters near Los Angeles, California, at 11:34 US Eastern Time on October 8 (23:34 Beijing time). [ 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- The return flight lasted more than 27 hours. [ 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- The crew were US astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, Russian astronaut Andrey Fedyaev and European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot. [ 3 , 4 ]
- The crew launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on February 13 and reached the space station on February 14. [ 3 , 4 , 6 ]
- During their stay the astronauts carried out scientific experiments and technology demonstrations in preparation for future Moon and Mars missions. [ 3 , 4 , 6 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- A SpaceX Dragon spacecraft undocked from the International Space Station on October 7 and began its return to Earth. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- The spacecraft carried four astronauts. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- Undocking took place at 08:05 US Eastern Time on October 7, 20:05 Beijing time. [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- The crew launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on February 13 and arrived at the station on February 14. [ 3 , 4 , 6 ]
Still unclear
- Exact length of the crew's stay on the station. Jiemian and cnBeta said the astronauts stayed about eight months, while Yicai said nearly eight months; no outlet gave an exact number of days.
- Which experiments and technology demonstrations the crew carried out. The reports describe the work only in general terms and name no specific experiments.
- The spacecraft splashed down in waters near Los Angeles, California, at 11:34 US Eastern Time on October 8, 23:34 Beijing time, after more than 27 hours of flight. Reported by a single source so far
- The crew were Jessica Meir, Jack Hathaway, Andrey Fedyaev and Sophie Adenot. Reported by a single source so far
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- October 7, Beijing time: the Dragon spacecraft undocks from the International Space Station (08:05 US Eastern Time). [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- October 7: Cailian Press reports that the SpaceX capsule has left the space station and the crew is heading back to Earth. [ 1 ]
- October 8, Beijing time: the spacecraft splashes down in waters near Los Angeles, California (11:34 US Eastern Time). [ 5 , 6 , 7 ]