The last time Americans splashed down in a space capsule was in 1975. It was great seeing another splashdown from America’s space program, this time partnered with commercial industry. The SpaceX Crew Dragon completed its Demo Flight 2 returning the first astronauts to fly a commercial spacecraft back to earth.
“Welcome back to planet Earth,” SpaceX’s mission control radioed the two astronauts aboard the capsule, which is named Endeavour. “Thanks for flying SpaceX.”
“It was truly our honor and privilege,” Hurley radioed back. Just hours earlier, while still in space, Hurley said the experience is one he won’t soon forget.
“It’s hard to put into words just what it was like to be a part of this expedition — Expedition 63,” Hurley said during a farewell ceremony aboard the space station on Saturday (Aug. 1), the day Endeavour undocked and began its journey home. “It’ll be kind of a memory that will last a lifetime for me.”
– Space.com, 8/2/20
