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SpaceX Dragon Crew-8 Safely Returns to Earth After Record-Breaking Mission, Splashdown at 3:29 a.m. in Gulf of Mexico

Oct 25, 2024, 07:24 AM

The SpaceX Dragon capsule carrying Crew-8 successfully splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico near Pensacola at 3:29 a.m. EDT on October 25, 2024. The crew, consisting of NASA astronauts Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt, and Jeanette Epps, along with Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin, returned to Earth after a mission duration of 235 days, 3 hours, and 35 minutes. This marks the longest flight by any piloted U.S. spacecraft in the history of the American space program. The capsule had undocked from the International Space Station at 5:05 p.m. EDT on October 23, 2024. The descent began with an 8-minute 20-second deorbit burn at 2:39 a.m. EDT, slowing the spacecraft by about 130 mph. The capsule's drogue and main parachutes deployed as planned, ensuring a safe landing. The recovery ship Megan, stationed offshore near Pensacola, successfully retrieved the capsule and the crew members were helped out of the spacecraft for initial medical checks. The capsule reentered Earth's atmosphere at 3:17 a.m. and passed over Mexico before splashdown. The Crew Dragon exited the 'keep-out sphere' around the ISS, reaching nearly 4 miles from the station.