Nasa's Spacex Crew-12 Safely Lands Back on Earth After ISS Mission

WHO:

[12:16 PM EDT] - CBS News - Crew 12 members include Commander Jessica Meir, pilot Jack Hathaway, European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Russian cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev.

[12:16 PM EDT] - CBS News - Crew 13 members include commander Jessica Watkins, pilot Luke Delaney, Canadian Space Agency astronaut Joshua Kutryk, and Russian cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov.

WHAT:

[12:16 PM EDT] - CBS News - The Crew Dragon capsule "Freedom" executed a nine-minute thruster firing starting at 10:46 a.m. ET, slowing the ship just enough to drop it out of orbit.

[12:16 PM EDT] - CBS News - The spacecraft reentered the atmosphere at nearly 5 miles per second, decelerating to 120 mph before parachutes deployed for a gentle splashdown.

[12:16 PM EDT] - CBS News - The Crew Dragon's main parachutes unfurled and inflated, lowering the ship to a relatively gentle 15-mph splashdown at 11:34 a.m. ET, about 50 miles west of Los Angeles.

[12:16 PM EDT] - CBS News - Flight surgeons were standing by on board to give the crew members initial medical checks as they began their re-adjustment to the unfamiliar tug of gravity after nearly eight months in weightlessness.

[12:16 PM EDT] - CBS News - All four crew members were to be flown ashore by helicopter before continuing on to the Johnson Space Center in Houston for physical therapy and rehabilitation.

[12:16 PM EDT] - CBS News - The Crew Dragon capsule "Freedom" splashed down at 11:34 a.m. ET on October 8, 2026, after a mission lasting 237 days and covering over 101 million miles.

[12:16 PM EDT] - CBS News - The Crew 12 mission included four spacewalks and welcomed a fresh Soyuz crew in July, along with their own replacements earlier in October.

[12:16 PM EDT] - CBS News - Crew 12 completed a total of 237 days in space, conducting 3,792 orbits and covering over 101 million miles.

[12:16 PM EDT] - CBS News - The Crew Dragon capsule "Freedom" reentered the atmosphere in a meteor-like fireball of concentrated reentry heat.

[12:16 PM EDT] - CBS News - The Crew Dragon's main parachutes unfurled and inflated, lowering the ship to a relatively gentle 15-mph splashdown at 11:34 a.m. ET.

[12:16 PM EDT] - CBS News - The Crew Dragon capsule "Freedom" executed a nine-minute thruster firing starting at 10:46 a.m. ET, slowing the ship just enough to drop it out of orbit.

[12:16 PM EDT] - CBS News - The spacecraft reentered the atmosphere at nearly 5 miles per second, decelerating to 120 mph before parachutes deployed for a gentle splashdown.

[12:16 PM EDT] - CBS News - The Crew Dragon's main parachutes unfurled and inflated, lowering the ship to a relatively gentle 15-mph splashdown at 11:34 a.m. ET, about 50 miles west of Los Angeles.

[12:16 PM EDT] - CBS News - All four crew members were to be flown ashore by helicopter before continuing on to the Johnson Space Center in Houston for physical therapy and rehabilitation.

[12:16 PM EDT] - CBS News - Crew 12 completed a total of four spacewalks during their mission and welcomed a fresh Soyuz crew in July and their own replacements earlier this month.

[12:16 PM EDT] - CBS News - The Crew Dragon capsule "Freedom" executed a nine-minute thruster firing to drop out of orbit.

[12:16 PM EDT] - CBS News - The Crew Dragon capsule reentered the atmosphere at nearly 5 miles per second, decelerating to 120 mph before parachutes deployed for a gentle splashdown.

[12:16 PM EDT] - CBS News - Crew 12 completed a total of four spacewalks during their mission.

[12:16 PM EDT] - CBS News - The Crew Dragon capsule "Freedom" executed a nine-minute thruster firing starting at 10:46 a.m. ET to slow down enough to drop out of orbit.

[12:16 PM EDT] - CBS News - The spacecraft splashed down at 11:34 a.m. ET, approximately 50 miles west of Los Angeles.

[12:16 PM EDT] - CBS News - The Crew Dragon capsule "Freedom" reentered the atmosphere in a meteor-like fireball of concentrated reentry heat.

[12:16 PM EDT] - CBS News - The Crew Dragon's main parachutes unfurled and inflated, lowering the ship to a relatively gentle 15-mph splashdown.

[12:16 PM EDT] - CBS News - Flight surgeons were on board the recovery ship to give the crew members initial medical checks as they began their re-adjustment to gravity.

[12:16 PM EDT] - CBS News - All four crew members were to be flown ashore by helicopter before continuing on to the Johnson Space Center in Houston for physical therapy and rehabilitation.

[12:16 PM EDT] - CBS News - Crew 12 completed a 237-day mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

[12:16 PM EDT] - CBS News - The Crew Dragon capsule "Freedom" executed a nine-minute thruster firing to drop out of orbit.

[12:16 PM EDT] - CBS News - The spacecraft splashed down at 11:34 a.m. ET, approximately 50 miles west of Los Angeles.

[12:16 PM EDT] - CBS News - Crew 12 completed 3,792 orbits, covering nearly 101 million miles, and conducted four spacewalks during their mission.

WHERE:

[12:16 PM EDT] - CBS News - The splashdown occurred in the Pacific Ocean, approximately 50 miles west of Los Angeles.

[12:16 PM EDT] - CBS News - Splashdown occurred in the Pacific Ocean, approximately 50 miles west of Los Angeles.

[12:16 PM EDT] - CBS News - Splashdown occurred in the Pacific Ocean, west of Los Angeles.

[12:16 PM EDT] - CBS News - Crew 12 launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

WHEN:

[12:16 PM EDT] - CBS News - Crew 13 launched to the ISS on October 1, 2026, and is planned to remain in orbit for six months.

[12:16 PM EDT] - CBS News - Crew 12 undocked from the ISS one day prior to their return.

[12:16 PM EDT] - CBS News - Crew 12 launched on February 13, 2026.

[12:16 PM EDT] - CBS News - Crew 13 launched to the ISS on October 1, 2026.

[12:16 PM EDT] - CBS News - Soyuz MS-29 launched from Kazakhstan on July 14, 2026.

WHY:

[12:16 PM EDT] - CBS News - Meir expressed her eagerness to see her 3 1/2-year-old daughter and experience nature again after her time in space, stating, "I'm so looking forward to seeing nature again, feeling the breeze on my face, the wind rustling through the leaves."

[12:16 PM EDT] - CBS News - Hathaway mentioned, "Going home and being able to take a nice long hot shower will be very relaxing and very nice."

[12:16 PM EDT] - CBS News - Meir expressed her eagerness to see her daughter and experience nature again after her time in space, stating, "I'm so looking forward to seeing nature again, feeling the breeze on my face, the wind rustling through the leaves."

[12:16 PM EDT] - CBS News - Hathaway mentioned, "Going home and being able to take a nice long hot shower will be very relaxing and very nice."

[12:16 PM EDT] - CBS News - Meir expressed her eagerness to see her 3 1/2-year-old daughter and experience nature again after her time in space.

[12:16 PM EDT] - CBS News - Hathaway mentioned that he was looking forward to taking a long hot shower and seeing his family.

[12:16 PM EDT] - CBS News - Meir expressed her eagerness to see her 3 1/2-year-old daughter and experience nature again after her time in space.

[12:16 PM EDT] - CBS News - Hathaway mentioned that he was looking forward to taking a long hot shower and seeing his family.

[12:16 PM EDT] - CBS News - Meir expressed her eagerness to see her 3 1/2-year-old daughter and experience nature again after her time in space.

[12:16 PM EDT] - CBS News - Hathaway mentioned that he was looking forward to taking a long hot shower and seeing his family.

[12:16 PM EDT] - CBS News - Meir expressed her eagerness to see her 3 1/2-year-old daughter and experience nature again after her time in space.

[12:16 PM EDT] - CBS News - The mission aimed to conduct experiments and research projects for scientists on the ground.

HOW:

[12:16 PM EDT] - CBS News - A SpaceX recovery team stabilized the spacecraft and provided initial medical checks for the crew after splashdown.

[12:16 PM EDT] - CBS News - A SpaceX recovery team stabilized the spacecraft and provided initial medical checks for the crew.

[12:16 PM EDT] - CBS News - The Crew Dragon capsule executed a nine-minute thruster firing starting at 10:46 a.m. ET to slow down enough to drop out of orbit.

[12:16 PM EDT] - CBS News - The Crew Dragon capsule reentered the atmosphere at nearly 5 miles per second, decelerating to 120 mph before parachutes deployed for a gentle splashdown.

[12:16 PM EDT] - CBS News - A SpaceX recovery team stabilized the spacecraft and provided initial medical checks for the crew.

(UPDATED October 9, 2026 11:59 UTC)

The Crew Dragon capsule "Freedom" successfully executed a nine-minute thruster firing to drop out of orbit, reentering the atmosphere at nearly five miles per second before slowing to a gentle 15-mph splashdown about 50 miles west of Los Angeles. Flight surgeons were on standby to conduct initial medical checks for the crew members, who had spent nearly eight months in weightlessness, and all four were set to be flown ashore by helicopter for further rehabilitation at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. Crew member Jessica Meir expressed her excitement to see her daughter and reconnect with nature, while fellow astronaut Josh Hathaway looked forward to enjoying a long, hot shower after their return.

(UPDATED October 9, 2026 09:07 UTC)

The Crew Dragon capsule "Freedom" successfully splashed down in the Pacific Ocean, about 50 miles west of Los Angeles, after a remarkable mission lasting 237 days and covering over 101 million miles. During this mission, known as Crew 12, the team conducted four spacewalks and welcomed a new Soyuz crew in July, with their replacements arriving earlier this month. Following the splashdown, a SpaceX recovery team was on hand to stabilize the spacecraft and perform initial medical checks for the crew, who are now looking forward to reuniting with their loved ones and enjoying the beauty of nature again.

(UPDATED October 8, 2026 22:02 UTC)

Crew 12 has successfully completed an impressive 237 days in space, during which they conducted nearly 3,800 orbits and traveled over 101 million miles. The Crew Dragon capsule, named "Freedom," reentered the atmosphere in a spectacular fireball before its main parachutes deployed, allowing for a gentle splashdown at 11:34 a.m. ET, about 50 miles west of Los Angeles. Astronaut Meir expressed her excitement to reconnect with nature and her daughter, while Hathaway looked forward to the simple pleasure of a long, hot shower after their extraordinary journey.

(UPDATED October 8, 2026 21:02 UTC)

The Crew Dragon capsule "Freedom" successfully executed a nine-minute thruster firing to drop out of orbit, reentering the atmosphere at nearly five miles per second before slowing to a gentle 15-mph splashdown about 50 miles west of Los Angeles. After nearly eight months in weightlessness, the four crew members were greeted by flight surgeons for initial medical checks and were set to be flown ashore by helicopter before heading to the Johnson Space Center in Houston for rehabilitation. Crew member Jessica Meir expressed her eagerness to see her young daughter and experience nature again, while fellow astronaut Josh Hathaway looked forward to enjoying a long hot shower and reuniting with his family.

(UPDATED October 8, 2026 20:00 UTC)

Crew 12 has successfully completed four spacewalks during their mission and welcomed a new Soyuz crew in July, along with their own replacements earlier this month. The Crew Dragon capsule "Freedom" executed a nine-minute thruster firing to drop out of orbit and reentered the atmosphere at nearly five miles per second, slowing down to 120 miles per hour before parachutes deployed for a gentle splashdown. Following the landing, a SpaceX recovery team stabilized the spacecraft and provided initial medical checks for the crew, who expressed their excitement to reunite with family and enjoy the comforts of home after their time in space.

(UPDATED October 8, 2026 19:06 UTC)

Crew 12 has successfully completed a total of four spacewalks during their mission, and the Crew Dragon capsule "Freedom" executed a nine-minute thruster firing to slow down enough to drop out of orbit. The spacecraft splashed down approximately 50 miles west of Los Angeles, marking the end of their journey. Astronaut Meir expressed her eagerness to reunite with her 3 1/2-year-old daughter and enjoy nature again, while Hathaway looked forward to a long hot shower and spending time with his family.

(UPDATED October 8, 2026 18:01 UTC)

The Crew Dragon capsule "Freedom" made a dramatic reentry into the atmosphere, creating a meteor-like fireball before its main parachutes deployed, allowing for a gentle splashdown at 15 miles per hour. Flight surgeons were on board the recovery ship to conduct initial medical checks on the four crew members, who will be flown ashore by helicopter and then transported to the Johnson Space Center in Houston for further rehabilitation. Astronaut Jessica Meir expressed her excitement to reunite with her 3 and a half-year-old daughter and to experience nature again after her time in space.

(UPDATED October 8, 2026 17:15 UTC)

Crew 12 has successfully completed a remarkable 237-day mission aboard the International Space Station, returning to Earth after conducting nearly 3,800 orbits and four spacewalks. The Crew Dragon capsule "Freedom" executed a precise nine-minute thruster firing before splashing down in the Pacific Ocean, approximately 50 miles west of Los Angeles, at 11:34 a.m. ET. A SpaceX recovery team was on hand to stabilize the spacecraft and provide initial medical checks for the crew following their reentry.