SpaceX Crew Dragon Capsule Safely Returns NASA Astronauts to Earth
SpaceX and NASA successfully complete the final phase of the Demo-2 mission, bringing astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley home after two months at the International Space Station. This historic splashdown paves the way for Crew Dragon's official certification and regular operational flights.
SpaceX and NASA successfully complete the final phase of the Demo-2 mission as the Crew Dragon spacecraft safely returns NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley to Earth. The capsule performs a fully automated de-orbit and splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico, marking the first human water landing in 45 years. Despite unauthorized private boats encroaching on the recovery zone, SpaceX establishes a secure perimeter and retrieves the crew using its GO Navigator recovery vessel without issue.
This historic mission demonstrates that the Crew Dragon handles launch, docking, undocking, and re-entry exactly as intended throughout the two-month trip to the International Space Station. The spacecraft keeps the astronauts safe and secure during every phase of the journey, proving the viability of SpaceX's human-rated spaceflight technology. The smooth operation clears the path for final mission reviews that are expected to result in full certification of the Crew Dragon and Falcon 9 systems.
With the demonstration mission concluded, Crew Dragon prepares to begin regular service as America's primary transportation method to and from the orbiting laboratory. The first operational flight, designated Crew-1, is currently scheduled for late September and will carry three NASA astronauts and one Japanese astronaut to the station. This upcoming mission officially restores NASA's independent ability to launch and retrieve its own crew members without relying on foreign spacecraft.