Astronaut Sophie Adenot returns safely from long mission
ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot splashed down safely off California after completing her historic eight-month mission to the International Space Station.
Astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway joined Sophie in the Dragon Freedom spacecraft. They undocked on 7 October to begin their return journey to Earth after 237 days in orbit together for this record-breaking flight.
Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrei Fedyaev also flew with the crew. The team experienced rapid deceleration from around 28 000 km/h down to about 500 km/h before main parachutes deployed to ensure a gentle landing near Los Angeles.
Rescue boats reached the capsule quickly to help the exhausted but smiling crew members exit safely. Sophie celebrated her achievement as the third person to leave the spacecraft following her successful first spaceflight experience there.
Medical checks were completed aboard the recovery vessel before the team flew to Houston. Then they traveled to the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne for further rest and initial post-flight activities following their long journey home together.
“smiling and celebrating after her first, record-breaking spaceflight”