Four astronauts returned to Earth from the International Space Station (ISS) on Thursday after spending eight months in orbit on a mission that included replacing an astronaut who had fallen ill.
NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, France’s Sophie Adenot and Russia’s Andrey Fedyaev splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Los Angeles aboard a SpaceX spacecraft.
The astronauts left the space station on Wednesday after their return was delayed by three weeks because their replacements arrived late due to capsule repairs.
They had been looking forward to reuniting with their families after the lengthy separation.
“We are so excited to be back on Planet Earth after an incredible mission on the International Space Station,” Meir said over the radio shortly after splashdown.
She earlier said the crew had “a lot of mixed, swirling emotions” and would miss the “extraordinary views of our home planet.”
All four astronauts emerged from the capsule within an hour of landing, waving and celebrating aboard SpaceX’s recovery ship before being taken ashore by helicopter and heading to Houston.
Meir and the other crew members launched in February to replace four astronauts who were brought home early after NASA astronaut Mike Fincke became ill. It marked NASA’s first medical evacuation in 65 years of human spaceflight.
During their mission, the astronauts watched the Artemis II crew fly around the Moon and celebrated the United States’ 250th birthday aboard the space station. Meir also joined the Boston Pops Orchestra for a Fourth of July concert by playing her piccolo from orbit.
Meir completed four spacewalks, while Adenot went outside the station three times to conduct maintenance and upgrades to the 28-year-old orbital outpost.
The crew also found time for recreation, holding a dance party last month and regularly demonstrating cooking in space.
Meir, who has curly hair, made a video showing how to care for curly hair in space. Hathaway, meanwhile, became known for his bushy mustache, which he grew before the mission to honour his Navy background. Several ground controllers also grew mustaches in solidarity.
Seven astronauts remain aboard the ISS, representing the United States, Russia and Canada.
NASA says the space station has hosted 298 visitors from 26 countries since it began operations in 2000.