US: Four Astronauts Return To Earth After 237 Days In Space.

Los Angeles, United States - October 08, 2026 Four astronauts safely returned to Earth on Thursday after spending 237 days aboard the International Space Station, splashing down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Los Angeles aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft. NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev began their journey home after undocking from the orbital laboratory. The spacecraft traveled at roughly 17,500 mph before firing its thrusters to leave orbit and begin its fiery descent. During re-entry, the capsule's heat shield endured temperatures reaching about 3,500 degrees Fahrenheit. Four parachutes then slowed the spacecraft for its splashdown at 11:34 a.m. EDT. Recovery teams moved in with boats to secure the Dragon and prepare to bring the astronauts aboard the recovery ship. The Crew-12 astronauts spent nearly eight months conducting scientific research and maintaining the space station. Meir completed four spacewalks, while Adenot completed three, including becoming the first French woman to venture outside the orbital outpost. For Meir, the return marked the end of her second mission to space. She had previously said she was looking forward to feeling a breeze and experiencing nature again after months in orbit. The mission also marked the first spaceflight for Hathaway and Adenot and the second for Fedyaev.