From space to the Pacific: Four astronauts complete a fiery 237-day mission

Fiery Return

After 237 days in orbit, four astronauts faced one of spaceflight’s most intense moments: atmospheric re-entry. Their Dragon capsule plunged through Earth’s atmosphere at enormous speed, generating extreme heat before parachutes slowed the spacecraft for a Pacific Ocean splashdown.

27-Hour Journey

The journey home was not a quick ride back. After Dragon autonomously undocked from the International Space Station on October 7, the spacecraft spent roughly 27 hours in orbit before beginning its final descent, turning the return into a carefully choreographed operation.

Seven Months

Jessica Meir, Jack Hathaway, Sophie Adenot and Andrey Fedyaev had spent 237 days aboard the ISS, conducting experiments, technology demonstrations and station maintenance. Their extended stay put their bodies and equipment through months of life in microgravity before the difficult trip home.

Science Mission

Life in orbit was far more than simply circling Earth. Crew-12 worked on research involving human health in microgravity, food production, biological processes and technologies designed to support future deep-space missions, with some experiments potentially benefiting life back on Earth.

Crew Handover

The splashdown also signals a changing chapter aboard the ISS. Crew-13 arrived on October 1, taking over station research and operations as Crew-12 began its journey home, leaving the orbital laboratory with a new team while completing another long-duration mission.