[NEWS] 'Endeavor' astronauts return to Earth on first landing in 45 years

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The first manned Dragon spacecraft, dubbed Endeavor, successfully completed its slightly over two-month mission to the International Space Station, with its return to Earth on August 2.

This is the first return to Earth of American astronauts on an American spacecraft since the withdrawal of the space shuttle in 2011. Since then, the United States had needed to occupy seats in Russian Soyuzs to travel to the International Space Station.

Manned by astronauts Douglas Harley and Robert Behnken, and built and operated by Space X under a space transportation contract for NASA, Endeavor arrived at the orbital complex on May 31 after a flight of just 24 hours, similar to the return trip. . After leaving the International Space Station on the afternoon of August 1, the spacecraft covered several turns to Earth before beginning the exorbitant maneuver at 17.56 UTC on Sunday.

 

 

After reentry into the atmosphere, the capsule with the crew landed with parachute assistance at 18.48 GMT in the Gulf of Mexico, off the coast of Pensacola, Florida, as planned and in good weather conditions. A recovery ship was waiting for them to transfer to the mainland.

As planned and without problems, the capsule landed on the surface of the sea. SpaceX's Navigator ship was only about three nautical miles from the site to handle the retrieval of the ship, which will be placed on its deck.

The two astronauts, who are "fine," an NAA spokeswoman said during the live broadcast of the end of the Demo-2 mission, will undergo medical checkups before traveling by air to Houston, Texas.

This ended the historic Demo-2 mission, which began in late May in Cape Canaveral (Florida) and which will certify the ability of SpaceX, Elon Musk's company, to carry out commercial space travel.

It is the first landing of an American manned spacecraft in 45 years, since the end of the Apollo program. The space shuttle did this until 2011, but on an airstrip.

The second mission of a manned Dragon is scheduled for the spring of 2021. On that occasion, it will fly with four people.