CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) – Four astronauts returned to Earth in a SpaceX capsule Friday, ending their nearly six-month mission on the space station with a splash in the Atlantic off Florida.
Wet and windy weather across Florida delayed their return home. SpaceX and NASA finally gave the go-ahead on Friday, and the three Americans and one Italian departed the International Space Station, their home since April.
Four astronauts returned to Earth in a SpaceX capsule Friday, ending their nearly six-month mission on the space station with a splash in the Atlantic Ocean off Florida (October 14 / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS)
The capsule parachuted into the ocean, just off Jacksonville, Florida, about five hours later. It was carrying NASA astronauts Kjell Lindgren, Bob Hines and Jessica Watkins, the first black woman to complete a long-duration space flight, and Samantha Cristoforetti of the European Space Agency. SpaceX delivered their replacements last week.
Before leaving, the astronauts said they couldn’t wait to have an ice-cold drink, eat pizza and ice cream, shower, enjoy nature and, of course, be reunited with their families. NASA planned to fly them to Houston once they were off the SpaceX recovery ship and back on solid ground.
“Getting the first hugs when we come back is going to be really great,” Hines told reporters earlier in the week.
Three Americans, three Russians and one Japanese remain on board the space station.
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The Associated Press Department of Health and Science is supported by the Department of Science Education at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
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