SpaceX guiding NASA astronauts to first splashdown in 45 years

first astronauts to ride a X capsule into orbit heed toward a retro-style splashdown in Gulf of Mexico on Sunday afteron to close out a two-month test flight.

It will mark first splashdown in 45 years for NASA astronauts and first return in gulf. Unlike Florida’s Atlantic coast, alrey feeling effects of Tropical Storm Isaias, waves and wind were calm near Pensacola in Florida Panhandle.

Test pilots Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken departed International Station on Saturday night, and awoke to a recording of ir young children urging m to “rise and shine” and “we can’t wait to see you.”

“Don’t worry, you can sleep in tomorrow,” said Behnken’s 6-year-old son o, who was promised a puppy after flight. “Hurry home so we can go get my dog.”

ir atypical ride home by Elon Musk’s X company — first commercially built and operated craft to carry people to and from orbit — was expected to be fast, bumpy and hot, at least on outside.

Dragon capsule, named Endeavour by its crew, was to go from a screaming orbital speed of 17,500 mph (28,000 kph) to 350 mph (560 kph) during re-entry in atmosphere and finally to 15 mph (24 kph) at splashdown. Peak heating during descent: 3,500 degrees Fahrenheit (1,900 degrees Celsius). Top G forces: four to five times force of Earth’s gravity.

A X recovery ship with more than 40 staff, including doctors and nurses, was poised to move in at splashdown, with two smaller, faster boats leing way. To keep returning astronauts safe in pandemic, recovery crew self-quarantined for two weeks and were tested for coronavirus.

X expected it to take a half-hour for ship to arrive at capsule and ditional time to lift it out of water onto deck. A flight surgeon was going to be first to look into capsule, once hatch is pulled open. After medical exams, astronauts were expected to fly home to Houston.

last time NASA astronauts returned from to water was on July 24, 1975, in Pacific, scene of most splashdowns, to end a joint U.S.-Soviet mission kwn as Apollo-Soyuz. Mercury and Gemini crews in early to mid 1960s parachuted into Atlantic, while most of later Apollo capsules hit Pacific. lone Russian “splashdown” was in 1976 on a partially frozen lake amid a blizzard following an aborted mission; harrowing recovery took hours.

X me history with this mission, which launched May 30 from Florida. It was first time a private company launched people into orbit and also first launch of NASA astronauts from home turf in nearly a dece. Hurley came full circle, serving as pilot of NASA’s last shuttle flight in 2011 and commander of this X flight.

NASA turned to X and also Boeing to ferry astronauts to and from station, following retirement of shuttles. Until Hurley and Behnken rocketed into orbit, NASA astronauts relied on Russian rockets.

X needs six weeks to inspect capsule before launching next crew around end of September. This next mission of four astronauts will spend a full six months aboard station. Hurley and Behnken’s capsule will be refurbished for ar flight next spring.

Boeing doesn’t expect to launch its first crew until next year. company encountered significant software problems in debut of its Starliner capsule, with one aboard, last year.

By beating Boeing, X laid claim to a U.S. flag left at station by Hurley and rest of last shuttle crew. flag — which also flew on first shuttle flight — was carefully packed aboard Dragon for homecoming.