SpaceX pilots Douglas Hurley and Bob Behnken undocked from the International Space Station on August 2, 2020. Their children urge them to rise and shine while they can’t wait to see them. First astronauts to ride on the private made SpaceX capsule into an orbit that headed towards the International Space Station (ISS).
Fantastic to see @SpaceX Dragon splashdown – welcome home @AstroBehnken & @Astro_Doug!
— Tim Peake (@astro_timpeake) August 2, 2020
This marks the 45 years for NASA astronauts and first return in the gulf, unlike Florida’s Atlantic coast. Plans called for the Dragon capsule, named Endeavour by its crew, to go from a screaming orbital speed of 17,500 mph to 350 mph during reentry in the atmosphere and finally to 15 mph at splashdown. Peak heating during descent: 3,500 degrees Fahrenheit. Top G forces: four to five times the force of Earth’s gravity.
Splashdown of #CrewDragon Endeavour! @Astro_Doug and @AstroBehnken have made waves in the Gulf of Mexico at 2:48 p.m. ET.
We welcome home the first @NASA_Astronauts to have launched from American soil since 2011. 🚀🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/tOpDJYBpM5
— Johnson Space Center (@NASA_Johnson) August 2, 2020
At 1:59pm ET, the @SpaceX Dragon Endeavour hatch opened. @AstroBehnken and @Astro_Doug are minutes away from exiting the vehicle. #LaunchAmerica pic.twitter.com/qEBqvMEYqV
— NASA (@NASA) August 2, 2020
SpaceX Crew Dragon finally successfully splashdown
A SpaceX recovery ship with more than 40 staff, including doctors and nurses, was poised to move in at splashdown, with two smaller, faster boats leading the way. To keep the returning astronauts safe in the pandemic, the recovery crew self-quarantined for two weeks and were tested for the coronavirus.
.@SpaceX engineers are doing a purge of vapor fumes around the Dragon Endeavour to ensure the safety of our #LaunchAmerica crew when they open the hatch. pic.twitter.com/MtzBKZj2ci
— NASA (@NASA) August 2, 2020
SpaceX expected it to take a half-hour for the ship to arrive at the capsule and additional time to lift it out of the water onto the deck. A flight surgeon was going to be the first to look into the capsule, once the hatch is pulled open. After medical exams, the astronauts were expected to fly home to Houston.
.@AstroBehnken and @Astro_Doug have been lifted out of the water and are aboard the Go Navigator. Welcome home. #LaunchAmerica pic.twitter.com/gjqUcLMy8X
— NASA (@NASA) August 2, 2020
The Crew Dragon splashdown is the final one in 2020’s Human Space Crew series. This was the first time a private company launched people into orbit and also the first launch of NASA astronauts from home turf in nearly a decade. Hurley came full circle, serving as pilot of NASA’s last space shuttle flight in 2011 and the commander of this SpaceX flight.
Scorch marks are seen on the outside of the @SpaceX Dragon Endeavour as we prepare to open the hatch. #LaunchAmerica pic.twitter.com/dTu8blQkHK
— NASA (@NASA) August 2, 2020
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SpaceX needs six weeks to inspect the capsule before launching the next crew around the end of September in the mission named Crew Dragon 2. Let us know what you have to say about this in the comments section below! Also, don’t forget to join us on our Telegram Channel for more such latest updates and discussions.
Suryapratim Ray is an engineer, author, robotics hobbyist, and an active Quoran. Being a technical blogger, he covers the good, bad, and ugly of science on a regular basis at Sciencenews18. In addition to his passion for writing, he’s equally keen on learning classical music.