CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Two NASA astronauts returned to Earth Sunday in the first splashdown landing by the U.S. in 45 years.
Test pilots Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken rode the SpaceX Dragon capsule to the International Space Station two months ago. Less than a day after leaving it, the capsule safely parachuted into the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Pensacola.
"Thanks for flying @SpaceX."
— NASA (@NASA) August 2, 2020
📍 Current Location: Planet Earth
A 2:48pm ET, @AstroBehnken and @Astro_Doug splashed down, marking the first splashdown of an American crew spacecraft in 45 years. #LaunchAmerica pic.twitter.com/zO3KlNwxU3
“Welcome back to planet Earth and thanks for flying SpaceX,” the company’s Mission Control said.
Our recovery teams are making sure that there are no poisonous fumes around the capsule, both for the safety of @AstroBehnken and @Astro_Doug and the people recovering them from the water. #LaunchAmerica pic.twitter.com/iUZDb957Kl
— NASA (@NASA) August 2, 2020
The return clears the way for another SpaceX crew to launch early next month.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Cox Media Group
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