Four astronauts splashed down in the Pacific after a five-month mission to the International Space Station. They were replacements for the astronauts stranded due to malfunctions in Boeing's Starliner. NASA's Anne McClain and her crew emphasized the importance of teamwork during challenging times. After their return, astronauts expressed excitement for simple pleasures like hot showers and burgers. This event marked SpaceX's first Pacific splashdown with a NASA crew in five decades, highlighting a shift from Florida to California for capsule returns to enhance safety.
Before leaving the space station on Friday, McClain made note of "some tumultuous times on Earth" with people struggling. "We want this mission, our mission, to be a reminder of what people can do when we work together, when we explore together," she said.
This was SpaceX's third Pacific splashdown with people on board, but the first for a NASA crew in 50 years. Elon Musk's company switched capsule returns from Florida to California's coast earlier this year to reduce the risk of debris falling on populated areas.
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