Los Angeles:Four astronauts have returned to Earth after an eight-month mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS), landing in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Los Angeles.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the crew consisted of NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, France's Sophie Adenot, and Russia's Andrey Fedyaev. They splashed down aboard a SpaceX spacecraft after leaving the space station on Wednesday. Their return was delayed by three weeks due to the late arrival of their replacements, caused by capsule repairs.
The astronauts were eager to reunite with their families after the extended mission. Meir expressed excitement about returning to Earth and reflected on the mixed emotions of leaving the extraordinary views of space behind. After landing, they celebrated onboard SpaceX's recovery ship before being transported ashore and heading to Houston.
The mission began in February when the crew replaced four astronauts who were brought back early due to NASA astronaut Mike Fincke's illness, marking NASA's first medical evacuation in 65 years of human spaceflight. During their stay, the astronauts witnessed the Artemis II crew's flyby around the Moon and celebrated the United States' 250th birthday aboard the station. Meir also participated in a Fourth of July concert with the Boston Pops Orchestra from orbit.
The mission included several spacewalks, with Meir completing four and Adenot conducting three for maintenance and upgrades to the 28-year-old ISS. In addition to their work, the crew held recreational activities such as a dance party and shared cooking demonstrations from space. Meir made a video on curly hair care in space, while Hathaway became known for his bushy mustache, a tribute to his Navy background.
Currently, seven astronauts remain on the ISS, representing the United States, Russia, and Canada. Since its inception in 2000, the space station has hosted 298 visitors from 26 countries.