After climate delayed departure for 2 days, 4 astronauts climbed on board the SpaceX Crew Dragon Freedom on Friday to take a five-hour journey again all the way down to Earth and conclude their practically six-month mission to the Worldwide Area Station.
The spacecraft hit the water off the coast of Jacksonville within the Atlantic Ocean at 4:55 p.m. to deliver NASA’s Kjell Lindgren, Bob Hines and Jessica Watkins in addition to the ESA’s Samantha Cristoforetti of Italy again dwelling after spending practically 170 days on the orbiting station. The quartet launched from Kennedy Area Middle on April 27 on a SpaceX Falcon 9.
“SpaceX from Freedom, thanks for an unbelievable journey as much as orbit and an unbelievable journey dwelling. Glad to be again,” mentioned Crew-4 commander Lindgren.
The capsule had carried out its deorbit burn slowing from greater than 17,000 mph throughout which it would reached temperatures topping 3,500 levels Fahrenheit producing 3-5 G’s of pressure, in keeping with SpaceX commentators throughout protection of the return journey dwelling. As soon as within the ambiance, its drogue parachutes slowed it farther from 350 mph at about 18,000 toes altitude earlier than the ultimate 4 parachutes deployed at 119 mph at about 6,500 toes, to then gradual it to 16 mph earlier than splashdown.
The NASA astronauts might be flown to Houston whereas Cristoforetti will head to Europe because the capsule make its method to Port Canaveral for a return to KSC to be refurbished for a future flight. The quartet took their seats Friday morning with hatch closure after 10 a.m., and undocking at 12:05 p.m.
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