SpaceX Capsule, NASA Crew Make First Splashdown In 45 Years
HAWTHORNE (CBSLA/AP) — Two NASA astronauts aboard the SpaceX Dragon concluded the final and most important aspect of their test flight by returning to Earth safely.
Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley safely splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico near Pensacola, Florida.
"Good splashdown of Dragon confirmed! Welcome back to Earth, @AstroBehnken and @Astro_Doug!," SpaceX tweeted from its official account.
The splashdown marked the first for astronauts in 45 years.
"Welcome back to planet Earth and thanks for flying SpaceX," said Mission Control from SpaceX headquarters.
"It was truly our honor and privilege," replied Hurley.
Behnken and Hurley began their 19-hour journey back from the International Space Station on Saturday.
More than an hour after splashdown, the astronauts emerged from their capsule on the deck of a recovery ship, both signaling a thumbs-up as they headed for medical exams.
SpaceX made history with this mission, which launched May 30 from NASA's Kennedy Space Center. It was the first time a private company launched people into orbit and also the first launch of NASA astronauts from home turf in nearly a decade. Hurley came full circle, serving as pilot of NASA's last space shuttle flight in 2011 and the commander of this SpaceX flight.
Musk monitored the descent and splashdown from SpaceX Mission Control in Hawthorne.
President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, who both watched the launch in Florida, sent congratulations.
(© Copyright 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
