NEW DELHI: NASA’s Crew-8 mission has successfully concluded after an impressive 236 days in space, with the crew safely splashing down off the coast of Pensacola, Florida. The mission featured a team of four astronauts, including NASA’s Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt, Jeanette Epps, and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin, who spent their time aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, which facilitated the crew’s return, completed its deorbit burn as scheduled. Splashdown was confirmed at 3:29 AM EDT, marking the end of an extensive journey that covered approximately 100 million miles and involved 3,776 orbits around Earth. During their stay at the ISS, the crew witnessed the arrival and departure of eight different spacecraft, showcasing the ongoing operations at the station.
Dragon splashes down off the coast of Florida with the Crew-8 astronauts after spending 235 days on-orbit and completing SpaceX’s 13th human spaceflight mission pic.twitter.com/LR6uTLWX2F
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) October 25, 2024
As the spacecraft descended, the mission’s final phase proceeded smoothly. At around 18,000 feet, the drogue parachutes deployed, effectively reducing the spacecraft’s speed from 350 miles per hour. Shortly after, at 6,000 feet, the main parachutes were deployed, further slowing the spacecraft to a safe 119 miles per hour, ensuring a controlled and secure splashdown.
Earlier in the day, the crew undocked from the ISS’s Harmony module at 5:05 PM EDT, marking the beginning of their journey home. SpaceX’s Dragon is notable for its capacity to carry up to seven passengers to and from orbit, and it remains the only operational spacecraft capable of returning significant cargo to Earth. This mission further solidifies the Dragon’s legacy, as it was the first privately developed spacecraft to transport humans to the ISS.
With the successful return of Crew-8, NASA and SpaceX continue to advance human spaceflight, paving the way for future missions and international collaboration in space exploration. As the space community celebrates this achievement, eyes turn to the next milestones in human exploration beyond our planet.