Four astronauts return to Earth after eight months aboard the ISS
SpaceX recovered the crew in a Pacific splashdown after a delayed handover; astronauts said they were eager to see family.
Four astronauts returned to Earth on Thursday after spending about eight months aboard the International Space Station, completing a mission that began with an emergency crew rotation earlier this year.
SpaceX successfully recovered the crew with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Los Angeles. The group included NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, French astronaut Sophie Adenot and Russian cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev.
Delayed handover and long separation
The four had gone to the station on an urgent rotation to replace a colleague who fell ill, and their stay extended to roughly eight months. Their replacements reached the station about three weeks later than planned after repairs to the return capsule pushed back the handover and ultimately the crew's trip home.
Speaking by radio immediately after splashdown, Meir said: "We are very excited to be back on planet Earth after an incredible mission aboard the International Space Station."
While still in orbit she told reporters the team had felt "many mixed, strong emotions" and that they would miss "the incredible views of our home planet." The astronauts were described as eager to reunite with family after the prolonged separation.
The recovery marked the end of a mission that highlighted both the routine international cooperation on the ISS and the logistical challenges that arise when hardware requires unexpected repairs.
Photo: press material from the event
