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Orlando Sentinel
Orlando Sentinel
National
Richard Tribou

4 astronauts safe back on Earth after SpaceX Crew Dragon return

ORLANDO, Fla. — After weather delayed departure for two days, four astronauts climbed on board the SpaceX Crew Dragon Freedom on Friday to take a five-hour ride back down to Earth and conclude their nearly six-month mission to the International Space Station.

The spacecraft hit the water off the coast of Jacksonville in the Atlantic Ocean at 4:55 p.m. to bring NASA’s Kjell Lindgren, Bob Hines and Jessica Watkins as well as the ESA’s Samantha Cristoforetti of Italy back home after spending nearly 170 days on the orbiting station. The quartet launched from Kennedy Space Center on April 27 on a SpaceX Falcon 9.

“SpaceX from Freedom, thank you for an incredible ride up to orbit and an incredible ride home. Glad to be back,” said Crew-4 commander Lindgren.

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