NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 astronauts returned to Earth aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft at 3:29 a.m. EDT on October 25, 2024, splashing down off Pensacola, Florida, reported Forbes. The crew included NASA astronauts Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt, and Jeanette Epps, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin. Recovery teams from NASA and SpaceX secured the spacecraft promptly after landing.
The astronauts spent nearly eight months aboard the International Space Station, completing research, maintenance, and other mission objectives. The mission, originally planned for two months, was extended due to delays in a Boeing Starliner mission carrying astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore.
During routine medical assessments after splashdown, one astronaut required further evaluation. All four astronauts were taken to a hospital in Pensacola. Three have since been discharged, while the fourth remains under observation in stable condition. NASA has not disclosed the identity or the medical details of the astronaut to protect privacy.
Crew-8 launched on March 3, 2024, atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The mission delivered the astronauts safely to the ISS, where they participated in ongoing research and station maintenance. The extended mission allowed continued support of ISS operations during the Starliner delay.
The Boeing Starliner spacecraft recently returned uncrewed after docking issues, and NASA now plans to bring Williams and Wilmore back using the upcoming Crew-9 Dragon mission. This adjustment frees up two seats for the next SpaceX flight, which will carry NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos astronaut Aleksandr Gorbunov.
The successful return of Crew-8 demonstrates the continued partnership between NASA and SpaceX, maintaining ISS operations and safely rotating crews despite scheduling challenges and technical delays.