Crew Dragon splashdown on track, NASA astronauts returning after 63-day stay at ISS

NASA astronauts, Bob Behnken and Douglas Hurley, are on last leg of ir journey home as y return to Earth after spending 63 days at International Station (ISS). While two astronauts blasted off from Cape Canaveral on May 30, y are w all prepared to make first splashdown return to Earth in 45 years. pair is expected to land in ocean off coast of Florida around 12:18 am IST on August 3. 

READ: X Guiding NASA Astronauts To First Splashdown In 45 Years

Behnken and Hurley made history when y became first people to be launched into low-Earth orbit on a commercial craft built by X. mission, Demo-2, also marked first time NASA had launched astronauts from US soil in nine years. w, X’s Crew Dragon Capsule is all set to land in water off Pensacola in western Florida. 

While primary targeted site remains coast Pensacola, which US ncy said is far away from Hurricane Isaias, alternate site is off coast of Panama City in Gulf of Mexico for splashdown and recovery.

Once back on Earth, Crew Dragon Capsule will be in water for about an hour before it is hauled by crane onto a X recovery ship. It will be ar hour before hatch is opened and two astronauts are moved to recovery. 

READ: NASA Astronauts Aim For Florida Coast To End X Flight

Historic splashdown 

Crew Dragon capsule blasted off from Kennedy Center's historic Launch Pad 39A on May 30 at 12:52 am IST to International Station from American turf. splashdown will mark first return of a commercially built and operated American craft carrying astronauts from station, wrapping up NASA’s X Demo-2 mission. 

NASA Television is covering mission live from undocking to splashdown. farewell ceremony of X Dragon Demo-2 began around 6:40 pm IST and NASA TV undocking cover will start at 2:45 am IST.

(Im: @JimBrindestine/Twitter)

READ: NASA, X Target Gulf Of Mexico For Crew Dragon Splashdown; Monitoring Hurricane Isaias

READ: NASA Astronaut Bob Behnken Prepared For Splashdown, Tweets 'my Bags Are Packed' From ISS