Astronauts Return to Earth with SpaceX After 5 Months at the International Space Station
Four astronauts returned to Earth on Aug 9, 2025, splashing down in the Pacific after serving about five months aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The SpaceX capsule carried NASA's Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, Japan’s Takuya Onishi, and Russia’s Kirill Peskov.
The crew launched in March to replace two NASA astronauts who remained aboard the ISS after Boeing’s Starliner experienced major malfunctions. NASA later ordered Starliner to return empty and reassigned the original astronauts to a SpaceX flight.
Before undocking, McClain reflected on global challenges, saying the mission shows what people can achieve when they work together. After splashdown, the crew said they looked forward to simple comforts — hot showers and juicy burgers.
Mission highlights
- Third-ever SpaceX Pacific splashdown with crewed passengers, and the first NASA crew Pacific return in 50 years.
- Launch month: March 2025; Splashdown: Aug 9, 2025 (≈5 months mission).
- Reason for extended ISS stays: Starliner test failures delayed its planned crew swap.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who returned to Earth and when?
NASA's Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, Japan's Takuya Onishi, and Russia's Kirill Peskov returned on Aug 9, 2025, after about five months on the ISS.
Why were they on the ISS for five months?
They launched as replacements after Boeing's Starliner malfunctioned, causing NASA to keep the originally assigned astronauts aboard longer and later transfer them on a SpaceX flight.
Why did SpaceX switch splashdowns to the Pacific?
SpaceX moved some crew returns to the Pacific coast to reduce risk to populated areas from potential debris during reentry and recovery operations.
When was the last NASA Pacific splashdown before this?
The last time NASA astronauts splashed down in the Pacific was during the Apollo–Soyuz Test Project in 1975.
What did the crew want after landing?
Simple comforts — hot showers and burgers were top of the list.
