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Four astronauts from the International Space Station returned to Earth inside a SpaceX Dragon capsule early on May 2. (Video: NASA via Storyful)

SpaceX Crew-1 NASA astronauts splash down in the Gulf of Mexico

All astronauts aboard the capsule, Michael Hopkins, Victor Glover and Shannon Walker and Soichi Noguchi have exited the Dragon capsule

May 2, 2021 at 12:01 p.m. EDT
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The four Crew-1 astronauts splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico right on schedule early Sunday, returning to Earth after a six-month stay on the International Space Station.

The astronauts — three Americans and one from Japan — had undocked from the station at 8:35 p.m. Saturday, flew through the atmosphere and then touched down in the Gulf of Mexico under four massive parachutes at about 2:57 a.m. ET Sunday.  

What you need to know:

  • The Dragon capsule splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico at about 2:57 a.m. ET Sunday off the coast of Panama City, Fla.
  • It’s the first time a U.S. space capsule has landed under the cover of darkness since 1968. It was only the second time that a spacecraft has splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico.
  • Weather conditions were excellent, with little wind and glass-like seas. The descent was captured by cameras on board the recovery ship and aboard a nearby aircraft.
  • The astronauts aboard the capsule, Americans Michael Hopkins, Victor Glover and Shannon Walker and Soichi Noguchi of Japan, set the record for the most days in space by a crew launched on a United States spacecraft, surpassing the milestone of 84 days that was set by the Skylab 4 crew in 1974.
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The Dragon capsule splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico at about 2:57 a.m. ET Sunday off the coast of Panama City, Fla.
It’s the first time a U.S. space capsule has landed under the cover of darkness since 1968. It was only the second time that a spacecraft has splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico.
Weather conditions were excellent, with little wind and glass-like seas. The descent was captured by cameras on board the recovery ship and aboard a nearby aircraft.
The astronauts aboard the capsule, Americans Michael Hopkins, Victor Glover and Shannon Walker and Soichi Noguchi of Japan, set the record for the most days in space by a crew launched on a United States spacecraft, surpassing the milestone of 84 days that was set by the Skylab 4 crew in 1974.

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