Three astronauts and one cosmonaut from NASA’s Crew-12 mission have safely returned to Earth following an eight-month scientific expedition aboard the International Space Station. The crew splashed down off the coast of Los Angeles, California, aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule. The mission team consisted of NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev. Their journey back to Earth began when the spacecraft initiated its deorbit burn at an orbital speed of 17,500 mph. The capsule plunged through the atmosphere, using its ablative heat shield to withstand temperatures reaching up to 3,500 degrees Fahrenheit. After slowing down significantly, four orange-and-white parachutes deployed to ease the spacecraft into the Pacific Ocean at a gentle 16 mph. Launched in February on a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida, the Crew-12 mission marked SpaceX’s 20th crewed flight into orbit. Throughout their nearly eight months in space, the crew completed numerous scientific studies, focusing on stem cell research, crystal growth in microgravity, and bone density loss. In addition to indoor laboratory work, Meir completed four spacewalks totaling over 27 hours for station maintenance and upgrades, while Adenot performed three spacewalks. Prior to their departure, the Crew-12 members were succeeded by the Crew-13 team, who arrived at the orbital outpost for a six-month rotation. Speaking before leaving the station, Meir shared her excitement about reuniting with her three-and-a-half-year-old daughter and experiencing terrestrial nature again, such as feeling the wind and breeze on her face. Meanwhile, the veteran astronaut noted that she would fondly miss the unique sensation of weightlessness and the breathtaking views of Earth.
Source: npr.org
