The NASA Crew-11 mission splashed down successfully in the ocean off the coast of San Diego,California,on Thursday,after cutting short its stay at the international Space Station (ISS) due to a medical issue affecting one of its four crew members.
The SpaceX Dragon capsule, which undocked from the space station Wednesday at 5:20 p.m. EST,landed in calm seas at 3:41 a.m. EST after a nearly eleven-hour journey. “Welcome home, Crew-11!” NASA’s mission control announced upon the capsule’s arrival.
Astronauts Zena Cardman adn Mike Fincke of NASA, Kimiya Yui of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), and Oleg Platonov of the Russian space agency Roscosmos, were aboard. The crew spent 165 days aboard the orbital laboratory and a total of 167 days in space.
Four parachutes slowed the capsule’s descent, allowing for a safe splashdown where a recovery ship was waiting. The ship secured the Dragon capsule and prepared to bring the astronauts aboard.
Approximately forty minutes after landing, the capsule’s hatch opened, and the crew emerged. though appearing weakened from time spent in microgravity, all four astronauts were smiling and in seemingly good health.Mike Fincke was the first to exit, at 4:28 a.m. EST, and was immediately taken by stretcher inside the recovery ship for a routine medical check. zena Cardman, kimiya yui, and Oleg Platonov followed shortly after.
