First Commercial Crew Returns After Successful 64-Day Mission

First Commercial Crew Returns After Successful 64-Day Mission

The SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft descends under four parachutes to a pinpoint landing in the Gulf of Mexico on Aug. 2, 2020. Even before splashdown, a SpaceX boat speeds to the landing site to begin recovery of the capsule and NASA astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken.
The SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft descends under four parachutes to a pinpoint landing in the Gulf of Mexico on Aug. 2, 2020. Even before splashdown, a SpaceX boat speeds to the landing site to begin recovery of the capsule and NASA astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken. Photo credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls

By Bob Granath

After 64 days in space, NASA astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken returned to Earth on Aug. 2, 2020 completing Demo-2, the agency’s first Commercial Crew mission. Liftoff atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket took place May 30, 2020, from the agency’s Kennedy Space Center.

The spacecraft undocked from the International Space Station on Aug. 1, 2020 to begin the reentry process. Due to Tropical Storm Isaias moving up the east coast of Florida, landing was moved to the Gulf of Mexico near Pensacola, Florida. The option demonstrated the flexibility of SpaceX and the commercially built and operated Crew Dragon.

The Crew Dragon capsule with NASA astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken aboard is hoisted to the deck of the SpaceX Go Navigator recovery shop minutes after splashdown. In the background, support teams and curious recreational boaters look on.
The Crew Dragon capsule with NASA astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken aboard is hoisted to the deck of the SpaceX Go Navigator recovery shop minutes after splashdown. In the background, support teams and curious recreational boaters look on. Photo credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls

After splashdown and recovery by the SpaceX recovery ship Go Navigator, Hurley and Behnken took a short helicopter trip the Naval Air Station Pensacola. This was followed by a flight aboard a NASA jet to Ellington Field near the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Click here to read more about the Demo-2 mission.

About an hour after splashdown, SpaceX recovery crews opened the hatch to the Demo-2 Crew Dragon capsule. NASA photographer Bill Ingalls captured this image of NASA astronauts Bob Behnken, left, and Doug Hurley as they signal thumbs-up following their 64-day mission.
About an hour after splashdown, SpaceX recovery crews opened the hatch to the Demo-2 Crew Dragon capsule. NASA photographer Bill Ingalls captured this image of NASA astronauts Bob Behnken, left, and Doug Hurley as they signal thumbs-up following their 64-day mission. Photo credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls

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