Three NASA astronauts and a Russian cosmonaut have successfully wrapped up a 235-day mission on the International Space Station. The crew, comprised of Commander Matthew Dominick, co-pilot Michael Barrett, cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin, and NASA astronaut Jeanette Epps, undocked the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule from the ISS and are now aiming for a pre-dawn Friday splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico. The crew left behind another team on the station, including Boeing Starliner astronauts and Soyuz cosmonauts. This mission marks the end of a nearly eight-month-long journey that spanned over 3,776 orbits and 100 million miles since its launch in March.
Originally scheduled to return in September, the departure of the Crew 8 mission was delayed due to various factors, including the need to provide an eventual ride home for the returning Boeing Starliner astronauts. Despite several delays caused by weather conditions, the Crew 8 team was finally cleared for undocking as the forecast for favorable conditions improved.
With the mission now coming to a close, the astronauts and cosmonaut are expected to touch down in the Gulf of Mexico early on Friday. This successful mission highlights the ongoing partnership between NASA and SpaceX, as well as the efficiency and expertise of the crew in conducting space missions.
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