NASA astronauts Robert Behnken, left, and Douglas Hurley are seen inside the SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour spacecraft onboard the SpaceX GO Navigator recovery ship shortly after having landed in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Pensacola, Florida, Sunday, Aug. 2, 2020. The Demo-2 test flight for NASA's Commercial Crew Program was the first to deliver astronauts to the International Space Station and return them safely to Earth onboard a commercially built and operated spacecraft. Behnken and Hurley returned after spending 64 days in space. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

SpaceX Demo-2 Landing

NASA astronauts Robert Behnken, left, and Douglas Hurley are seen inside the SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour spacecraft onboard the SpaceX GO Navigator recovery ship shortly after having landed in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Pensacola, Florida, Sunday, Aug. 2, 2020. The Demo-2 test flight for NASA's Commercial Crew Program was the first to deliver astronauts to the International Space Station and return them safely to Earth onboard a commercially built and operated spacecraft. Behnken and Hurley returned after spending 64 days in space. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Photo by: NASA/Bill Ingalls

NASA/Bill Ingalls

Congrats NASA and SpaceX! Here's a Recap of the Splashdown to Earth

On Sunday, August 2 at 2:48P ET, NASA Astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley successfully returned home to Planet Earth. Here's everything that happened from undocking from the ISS to splashing down into the Gulf of Mexico near Pensacola, Florida.

August 02, 2020

After just over a 2 month stay at the International Space Station, NASA Astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley began their journey back to Earth. On Saturday around 7:34P ET, the SpaceX Crew Dragon successfully undocked from the International Space Station, setting the astronauts on course to enter back into the Earth's atmosphere for a splashdown landing on Sunday afternoon.

August 1: The Journey Begins

Space Launch LIVE: SpaceX Crew Dragon Undocked and Ready to Return 00:58

NASA Astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley return to Earth somewhere in the ocean near Florida after just over two months at the International Space Station. The first step was completed today at around 7:30 P ET, with a successful undocking from ISS.

SpaceX Crew Dragon Undocked and Ready to Return

NASA Astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley return to Earth somewhere in the ocean near Florida after just over two months at the International Space Station. The first step was completed today at around 7:30 P ET, with a successful undocking from ISS.

At 2:48P ET, the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft splashed down into the Gulf of Mexico, near Pensacola, FL on Sunday, August 2. The SpaceX Crew Dragon splashdown marks the first crew recovery at sea for NASA Astronauts since the year of the final Apollo spacecraft mission in 1975. Follow Bob and Doug's journey home.

Moments from Space Launch LIVE: Splashdown

Space Launch LIVE: Crew Dragon Splashdown! 00:46

Congrats to NASA and SpaceX! At 2:48P ET, the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft successfully splashed down into the Gulf of Mexico, near Pensacola, FL. Today's SpaceX Crew Dragon splashdown marks the first crew recovery at sea for NASA Astronauts since the year of the final Apollo spacecraft mission in 1975.

Space Launch LIVE: NASA Astronauts Safely Out of the Hatch 02:08

After the successful splashdown, the Crew Dragon was lifted out of the water and on to the Go Navigator. With safety checks cleared, the hatch is opened and NASA Astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken are seen safely exiting the Dragon Endeavor spacecraft.

Space Launch LIVE | Josh Gates Chats With NASA Astronauts 02:34

Expedition Unknown’s Josh Gates had the chance to talk to NASA Astronauts Doug Hurley, Bob Behnken, Commander Cassidy on board the International Space Station before Doug and Bob’s departure. From their moments at the ISS to the recap of the spacewalks, the NASA astronauts share their stories.

This historic milestone is the first time a commercially built and operated American crew spacecraft has returned from the ISS to complete a test flight. Congrats to NASA and SpaceX on the beginning to a new era in human spaceflight.

More on the Splashdown Journey

What to Know About the Splashdown to Earth

A spacecraft full of humans is going to crash on the Earth and that’s okay. What goes up, must come down. At least, that’s what the saying is. And in the case of the historic NASA/SpaceX crewed mission to the International Space Station, it’s true.

10 Facts About NASA’s SpaceX Demo-2 Splashdown

Here's everything you need to know about NASA Astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley's return home from the International Space Station on Sunday, August 2.

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The James Webb Space Telescope Launches!

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NASA Has a New Supersonic Jet and It’s Super-Quiet

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6 Months in Space Permanently Ages Bones by 10 Years

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South Korea Joins Space Race by Sending its First Spacecraft to the Moon

South Korea is launching its first lunar probe to the moon on August 4th. The Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter (KPLO) or Danuri, developed by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) is being launched to study moon carters, magnetic fields, and surface weathering.

How Exoplanets Became the Next Big Thing in Astronomy

To date, we know of over 5,000 planets outside the solar system. And astronomers suspect that there may be *checks notes* around a trillion more in our galaxy alone. The search for exoplanets is one of the hottest topics in astronomy, with expensive telescopes and giant collaborations all searching for the holy grail of the 21st century: an Earth 2.0, a habitable world like our own.

How Astronomers Use a Trick of Gravity to See the Most Distant Objects in the Universe

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A Guide to this August’s Best Astronomy Attractions

Learn more about the exciting things happening in the night sky this month! From the rings of Saturn to the most popular meteor shower of the year, August 2022 has us stargazing all month.

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