Four astronauts returned to Earth on Friday after nearly eight months on the International Space Station (ISS). Their stay was extended by almost two months due to problems with Boeing's Starliner capsule and the passage of Hurricane Milton.
The SpaceX capsule and its crew of three Americans and one Russian landed safely by parachute in the Gulf of Mexico, off the coast of Florida.
Astronauts who arrived at the ISS in March are expected to return to Earth as scheduled after six months. Their return was postponed due to a problem with Boeing's new Starliner capsule, which arrived at the station in June with two astronauts.
The second factor that delayed the astronauts' return home was Hurricane Milton, which brought unfavorable weather conditions in the first half of October.
They have been waiting for their return since June
The return to Earth of Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt, Jeanette Epps and Alexander Grebenkin ends a period when the station was crowded due to the need for two astronauts from the Starliner to remain. There are currently four Americans and three Russians on the ISS.
The two astronauts, who had been aboard the ISS since June, were supposed to stay there for a week, but their mission was extended due to technical failures, including helium leakage and damage to the engines. The empty capsule returned to Earth in early September, and the astronauts are not scheduled to return until February next year.
Main photo source: Reuters