SpaceX Safely Returns Four Astronauts To Earth After 148-Day ISS Mission

NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, JAXA astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov returned after spending 148 days aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft splashed down off the coast of San Diego, California, at 11:33 AM EDT (9:03 PM IST).

“Splashdown of Dragon confirmed!” SpaceX posted on X.

NASA welcomed the Crew-10 team home, praising their months of work in orbit. This was the tenth operational astronaut mission SpaceX has flown to and from the ISS for NASA under its Commercial Crew Program.

The crew arrived at the ISS in March and spent five months conducting critical scientific research. They studied space-induced physical and mental changes in astronauts, blood flow between the brain and heart, and future lunar navigation techniques.

They also returned important research samples stored in portable science freezers inside Dragon for analysis on Earth.

NASA highlighted the value of these samples in advancing human spaceflight knowledge.

Crew-11 Takes Over

Their return coincided with the arrival of Crew-11 earlier this month. Commander Zena Cardman and Pilot Mike Fincke from NASA, Mission Specialist Kimiya Yui from JAXA, and Mission Specialist Oleg Platonov from Roscosmos will spend six months aboard the ISS.

Crew-11 will carry out a variety of experiments, including simulating lunar landings, testing eye protection methods for space travel, and studying plant cell division to support space agriculture. They will also work on manufacturing high-quality stem cells and exploring alternatives to antibiotics for bacterial infections.

NASA said the research aims to improve life both in space and on Earth, while preparing for future deep space missions.

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