NASA Crew-12 splashes down in Pacific after eight months aboard the International Space Station
Four members of NASA's Crew-12 mission — NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev — returned to Earth on Thursday after approximately eight months at the International Space Station. The SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Los Angeles, California. Crew-13 had arrived at the station the previous week to begin its own rotation, relieving the returning crew.
The Crew-12 mission began in February with a Falcon 9 rocket launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida, docking with the ISS the following day. It marked the 20th crewed orbital mission conducted by SpaceX, according to NPR.
The journey home lasted roughly 45 minutes from undocking. At orbital speed, the Dragon capsule fired its thrusters to exit orbit, sending it through the atmosphere where the ablative heat shield faced temperatures of up to 3,500 degrees Fahrenheit. Four orange-and-white parachutes then slowed the craft to approximately 16 mph before it settled into the ocean.
During the eight months aboard the station, NASA reported the crew completed dozens of science experiments and research efforts, including studies of stem cells, crystal growth in microgravity, and bone loss. Commander Meir conducted four spacewalks totaling just over 27 hours to perform maintenance and upgrades on the orbital outpost; mission specialist Adenot performed three spacewalks.