Astronauts from NASA successfully land in the waters off the coast of Southern California after a half century, marking a significant return.
NASA Crew Splashes Down Off Southern California After Five-Month Mission
Four astronauts returned to Earth on Saturday, marking a historic event as they splashed down off the Southern California coast in a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule. This is the first time in 50 years that a NASA crew has splashed down off the Southern California coast, the previous one being the 1975 Apollo-Soyuz mission in the Pacific Ocean.
The crew members included NASA's Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, Japan's Takuya Onishi, and Russia's Kirill Peskov. They parachuted into the Pacific Ocean near San Diego around 8:33 a.m. local time.
SpaceX shifted NASA crew splashdowns from the Florida coast to California to reduce risks associated with falling debris on populated areas. This was SpaceX’s third splashdown in the Pacific with crew onboard, but it was the first for a NASA-sponsored mission.
McClain expressed her anticipation for doing nothing for a couple of days upon returning home to Houston. Starliner malfunctions kept Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams at the space station for more than nine months. Wilmore has since retired from NASA.
Back-to-back private crews experienced Pacific homecomings for the first time during this mission. The SpaceX Dragon capsule's return marked the first time a private company facilitated a Pacific homecoming for a NASA crew.
McClain made note of "some tumultuous times on Earth" before leaving the space station. She emphasized that the mission served as a reminder of what people can achieve when they work together and explore together.
The last time NASA astronauts returned to the Pacific from space was during the 1975 Apollo-Soyuz mission. This recent mission marked a significant milestone in space exploration, demonstrating the advancements made in space travel and cooperation between nations.
[1] Associated Press. (2025, August 9). NASA crew splashes down off Southern California coast. Associated Press.
[2] NASA. (2025, August 9). NASA's Anne McClain and crew splash down off Southern California coast. NASA.
[4] SpaceX. (2025, August 9). SpaceX Crew Dragon splashes down off Southern California coast. SpaceX.
The NASA crew, including members from California like Anne McClain, splashed down off the Southern California coast, marking a historical moment amidst their five-month mission. This mission also signified a significant advancement in space-and-astronomy technology, as it was the first time a private company, SpaceX, facilitated a Pacific homecoming for a NASA crew.
