Nasa SpaceX crew return: Dragon capsule splashes down

[Eugene]

Source: BBC

Nasa SpaceX crew return: Dragon capsule splashes down

By Jonathan Amos
BBC Science Correspondent
2 August 2020

Nasa astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken have returned to Earth after a two-month stay on the space station.

The crew's SpaceX Dragon Capsule splashed down just south of Pensacola on Florida's Gulf coast.

The successful end to the crew's mission initiates a new era for the American space agency.

All its human transport needs just above the Earth will in future be purchased from private companies, such as SpaceX.

The government agency says contacting out to service providers in this way will save it billions of dollars that can be diverted to getting astronauts to the Moon and Mars.

Hurley's and Behnken's capsule touched the water shortly after 14:45 EDT (19:45 BST; 18:45 GMT).

-snip-

Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-53621102

Link to tweet

[FM123]

1. It was a beautiful splashdown!

Everything was just fantastic (except for seeing that trump flag on a passing boat)