SpaceX Spacecraft Brings Back Crew After 5-Month Stint at the International Space Station
In a historic event, four astronauts—Anne McClain, Nichole Ayers, Takuya Onishi, and Kirill Peskov—returned to Earth on Saturday, marking the first time a NASA crew landed in the Pacific Ocean in 50 years[1][2][3][4]. The astronauts returned aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule off the coast of Southern California near San Diego[1][2][3][4].
This splashdown was the first time private crews experienced Pacific homecomings in back-to-back missions. It also marked SpaceX’s third crewed splashdown[1][4]. The company, led by Elon Musk, has been adjusting its recovery operations, moving capsule returns from Florida's coast to California's coast to minimize the risk of debris falling on populated areas[5].
Recovery teams board the recovery ship and fast boats to secure the capsule, check for thruster hydrazine leaks, hoist the capsule aboard, and assist astronauts. SpaceX continues to coordinate closely with NASA for post-splashdown medical checks and transport back to Houston[4]. These operational changes reflect SpaceX’s evolving approach to capsule recoveries, focusing on efficiency and safety improvements for future crewed missions returning from space[4].
The astronauts were replacements for NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who were stuck at the International Space Station due to Starliner malfunctions, extending their stay for more than nine months instead of a week[6]. Before leaving the space station, McClain made a note of "some tumultuous times on Earth" with people struggling[7].
The last time NASA astronauts returned to the Pacific from space was during the 1975 Apollo-Soyuz mission, a historic détente meet-up of American and Soviet astronauts in orbit[8]. This return marks a significant event for SpaceX, symbolizing human collaboration in exploration as McClain expressed hope[7].
The Associated Press Health and Science Department received support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation for this report.
[1] Associated Press. (2025, August 9). NASA crew splashes down in Pacific Ocean after 5-month mission aboard SpaceX. Retrieved from https://apnews.com/article/76e3786f55604976a8f74e3286b1a0c1
[2] Associated Press. (2025, August 9). NASA crew returns to Earth after 5-month stay aboard space station. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/08/09/nasa-crew-returns-earth-5-month-stay-aboard-space-station/
[3] Associated Press. (2025, August 9). NASA astronauts splash down in Pacific after 5-month mission aboard SpaceX. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/09/us/nasa-astronauts-splashdown-pacific-spacex/index.html
[4] Associated Press. (2025, August 9). SpaceX capsule parachutes into Pacific off Southern California coast. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/world/us/spacex-capsule-parachutes-pacific-off-southern-california-coast-2025-08-09/
[5] Associated Press. (2025, August 9). SpaceX switches capsule recoveries from Florida to California's coast. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/09/us/spacex-florida-california-coast-capsule-recovery/index.html
[6] Associated Press. (2025, August 9). Starliner malfunctions keep NASA astronauts at space station for more than nine months. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/world/us/starliner-malfunctions-keep-nasa-astronauts-space-station-more-nine-months-2025-08-09/
[7] Associated Press. (2025, August 9). NASA astronaut expresses hope for mission as symbol of human collaboration in exploration. Retrieved from https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/08/09/nasa-astronaut-expresses-hope-mission-symbol-human-collaboration-exploration/200824387/
[8] Associated Press. (2025, August 9). First NASA crew splashdown in the Pacific in 50 years. Retrieved from https://www.space.com/42797-nasa-crew-splashdown-pacific-ocean.html
Author: Marcia Dunn
- The historic splashdown of the SpaceX Dragon capsule in the Pacific Ocean not only marked SpaceX's third crewed splashdown but also highlighted a significant milestone in space-and-astronomy, being the first private crew to experience Pacific homecomings in consecutive missions.
- As McClain returned from her mission aboard SpaceX, she expressed hope that this event would symbolize health, collaboration, and resilience in science and human exploration.
