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US: Bright Streak Observed Over California as SpaceX Crew-11 Re-enters

A bright streak was observed across the night sky over Southern California early Thursday, January 15 as the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule carrying four astronauts made its fiery re-entry before splashing down in the Pacific Ocean off San Diego. The capsule returned NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, along with Japan’s Kimiya Yui and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov, ending the Crew-11 mission about a month early due to a non-emergency medical condition affecting one crew member. NASA said the astronaut was stable and brought back to Earth for further evaluation.

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NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 Splashdown

Handout Photo shows NASA astronaut Mike Fincke helped out of the SpaceX Dragon Endeavour spacecraft onboard the SpaceX recovery ship SHANNON after he, NASA astronaut Zena Cardman, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov landed in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Long Beach, Calif., Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. Cardman, Fincke, Yui, Platonov are returning after 167 days in space as part of Expedition 74 aboard the International Space Station. Photo by Bill Ingalls/NASA via ABACAPRESS.COM

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NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 Splashdown

Handout Photo shows JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Kimiya Yui is helped out of the SpaceX Dragon Endeavour spacecraft onboard the SpaceX recovery ship SHANNON after he, NASA astronauts Mike Fincke, Zena Cardman, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov landed in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Long Beach, Calif., Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. Cardman, Fincke, Yui, Platonov are returning after 167 days in space as part of Expedition 74 aboard the International Space Station. Photo by Bill Ingalls/NASA via ABACAPRESS.COM

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NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 Splashdown

Handout Photo shows Support teams onboard the SpaceX recovery ship SHANNON work around the SpaceX Dragon Endeavour spacecraft shortly after it landed with NASA astronauts Zena Cardman, Mike Fincke, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov aboard in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Long Beach, Calif., Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. Cardman, Fincke, Yui, Platonov are returning after 167 days in space as part of Expedition 74 aboard the International Space Station. Photo by Bill Ingalls/NASA via ABACAPRESS.COM

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NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 Splashdown

Handout Photo shows Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov is helped out of the SpaceX Dragon Endeavour spacecraft onboard the SpaceX recovery ship SHANNON after he, NASA astronauts Mike Fincke, Zena Cardman and JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Kimiya Yui landed in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Long Beach, Calif., Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. Cardman, Fincke, Yui, Platonov are returning after 167 days in space as part of Expedition 74 aboard the International Space Station. Photo by Bill Ingalls/NASA via ABACAPRESS.COM

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NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 Splashdown

Handout Photo shows NASA astronaut Zena Cardman is helped out of the SpaceX Dragon Endeavour spacecraft onboard the SpaceX recovery ship SHANNON after she, NASA astronaut Mike Fincke, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov landed in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Long Beach, Calif., Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. Cardman, Fincke, Yui, Platonov are returning after 167 days in space as part of Expedition 74 aboard the International Space Station. Photo by Bill Ingalls/NASA via ABACAPRESS.COM

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NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 Splashdown

Handout Photo shows Support teams raise the SpaceX Dragon Endeavour spacecraft aboard the recovery ship SHANNON shortly after it landed with NASA astronauts Zena Cardman, Mike Fincke, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov aboard in thePacific Ocean off the coast of Long Beach, Calif.,Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. Cardman, Fincke, Yui, Platonov are returning after 167 days in space as part of Expedition 74 aboard the International Space Station. Photo by Bill Ingalls/NASA via ABACAPRESS.COM

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NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 Splashdown

Handout Photo shows Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov, left, NASA astronauts Mike Fincke, Zena Cardman, and JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Kimiya Yui are seen inside the SpaceX Dragon Endeavour spacecraft onboard the SpaceX recovery ship SHANNON shortly after having landed in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Long Beach, Calif., Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. Cardman, Fincke, Yui, Platonov are returning after 167 days in space as part of Expedition 74 aboard the International Space Station. Photo by Bill Ingalls/NASA via ABACAPRESS.COM

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NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 Splashdown

Handout Photo shows The SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour spacecraft is seen as it lands with NASA astronauts Zena Cardman, Mike Fincke, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov aboard in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Long Beach, Calif., Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. Cardman, Fincke, Yui, Platonov are returning after 167 days in space as part of Expedition 74 aboard the International Space Station. Photo by Bill Ingalls/NASA via ABACAPRESS.COM

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NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 Pre-Splashdown - Long Beach

Handout Photo datetd on January 14, 2026 shows NASA and SpaceX support teams board the ship SHANNON to prepare for the landing of the SpaceX Dragon Endeavour spacecraft with NASA astronauts Zena Cardman, Mike Fincke, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov aboard, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Long Beach, Calif.. Cardman, Fincke, Yui, Platonov are landing in the Pacific Ocean after 167 days in space as part of Expedition 74 aboard the International Space Station. Photo by Bill Ingalls/NASA via ABACAPRESS.COM

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NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 Pre-Splashdown - Long Beach

Handout Photo datetd on January 14, 2026 shows The SpaceX recovery ship SHANNON is seen in the Pacific Ocean as the recovery team prepares for the landing of the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft with NASA astronauts Zena Cardman, Mike Fincke, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov aboard, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, off the coast of Long Beach, Calif.. Cardman, Fincke, Yui, Platonov are returning after 167 days days in space as part of Expedition 74 aboard the International Space Station. Photo by Bill Ingalls/NASA via ABACAPRESS.COM

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NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 Pre-Splashdown - Long Beach

Handout Photo datetd on January 14, 2026 shows NASA and SpaceX support teams board a helicopter to stage for the landing of the SpaceX Dragon Endeavour spacecraft with NASA astronauts Zena Cardman, Mike Fincke, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov aboard, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Long Beach, Calif.. Cardman, Fincke, Yui, Platonov are landing in the Pacific Ocean after 167 days in space as part of Expedition 74 aboard the International Space Station. Photo by Bill Ingalls/NASA via ABACAPRESS.COM

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NASA’s SpaceX Crew-10 Splashdown

The SpaceX Crew Dragon Endurance spacecraft is seen as it lands with NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov aboard in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego, Calif., Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025. McClain, Ayers, Onishi, and Peskov are returning after seven-months in space as part of Expedition 73 aboard the International Space Station. Mandatory Photo by Keegan Barber / NASA via CNP/ABACAPRESS.COM

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NASA’s SpaceX Crew-10 Splashdown

Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov is helped out of the SpaceX Dragon Endurance spacecraft onboard the SpaceX recovery ship SHANNON after he, NASA astronauts Nichole Ayers, Anne McClain and JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Takuya Onishi landed in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego, Calif., Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025. McClain, Ayers, Onishi, and Peskov are returning after seven-months in space as part of Expedition 73 aboard the International Space Station. Photo Photo by (NASA/Keegan Barber)\ Mandatory Photo by Keegan Barber / NASA via CNP/ABACAPRESS.COM

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NASA’s SpaceX Crew-10 Splashdown

The SpaceX Crew Dragon Endurance spacecraft is seen as it lands with NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov aboard in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego, Calif., Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025. McClain, Ayers, Onishi, and Peskov are returning after seven-months in space as part of Expedition 73 aboard the International Space Station. Mandatory Photo by Keegan Barber / NASA via CNP/ABACAPRESS.COM

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NASA’s SpaceX Crew-10 Splashdown

NASA astronaut Anne McClain is helped out of the SpaceX Dragon Endurance spacecraft onboard the SpaceX recovery ship SHANNON after she, NASA astronaut Nichole Ayers, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov landed in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego, Calif., Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025. McClain, Ayers, Onishi, and Peskov are returning after seven-months in space as part of Expedition 73 aboard the International Space Station. Mandatory Photo by Keegan Barber / NASA via CNP/ABACAPRESS.COM

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NASA’s SpaceX Crew-10 Splashdown

NASA astronaut Nichole Ayers helped out of the SpaceX Dragon Endurance spacecraft onboard the SpaceX recovery ship SHANNON after she, NASA astronaut Anne McClain, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov landed in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego, Calif., Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025. McClain, Ayers, Onishi, and Peskov are returning after seven-months in space as part of Expedition 73 aboard the International Space Station. Photo Photo by (NASA/Keegan Barber) Mandatory Photo by Keegan Barber / NASA via CNP/ABACAPRESS.COM

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NASA’s SpaceX Crew-10 Splashdown

Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov, left, NASA astronauts Nichole Ayers, Anne McClain, and JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Takuya Onishi are seen inside the SpaceX Dragon Endurance spacecraft onboard the SpaceX recovery ship SHANNON shortly after having landed in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego, Calif., Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025. McClain, Ayers, Onishi, and Peskov are returning after seven-months in space as part of Expedition 73 aboard the International Space Station. Mandatory Photo by Keegan Barber / NASA via CNP/ABACAPRESS.COM

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NASA’s SpaceX Crew-10 Splashdown

JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Takuya Onishi is helped out of the SpaceX Dragon Endurance spacecraft onboard the SpaceX recovery ship SHANNON after he, NASA astronauts Nichole Ayers, Anne McClain, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov landed in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego, Calif., Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025. McClain, Ayers, Onishi, and Peskov are returning after seven-months in space as part of Expedition 73 aboard the International Space Station. Photo Photo by (NASA/Keegan Barber) Mandatory Photo by Keegan Barber / NASA via CNP/ABACAPRESS.COM

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NASAs and SpaceXs Crew-9 Splashdown - USA

Handout photo dated March 18, 2025 shows NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov are seen inside the SpaceX Dragon capsule as NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 crew members return to Earth on March 18, 2025. Dragon is scheduled to splashdown in the Gulf of America, off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida, at 5:57 p.m. EDT. Photo by NASA via ABACAPRESS.COM

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NASAs and SpaceXs Crew-9 Splashdown - USA

Handout photo dated March 18, 2025 shows NASA astronaut Nick Hague is helped out of a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft onboard the SpaceX recovery ship MEGAN after he, NASA astronauts Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov landed in the water off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida, Tuesday, March 18, 2025. Hague, Gorbunov, Williams, and Wilmore are returning from a long-duration science expedition aboard the International Space Station. Photo by Keegan Barber/NASA via ABACAPRESS.COM

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NASAs and SpaceXs Crew-9 Splashdown - USA

Handout photo dated March 17, 2025 shows The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft carrying four SpaceX Crew-9 members is docked to the Harmony module’s space-facing port on the International Space Station. On March 17, 2025. Photo by NASA via ABACAPRESS.COM

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NASAs and SpaceXs Crew-9 Splashdown - USA

Handout photo dated March 18, 2025 shows Support teams work around a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft shortly after it landed with NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov aboard in the water off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida, Tuesday, March 18, 2025. Hague, Gorbunov, Williams, and Wilmore are returning from a long-duration science expedition aboard the International Space Station. Photo by Keegan Barber/NASA via ABACAPRESS.COM

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NASAs and SpaceXs Crew-9 Splashdown - USA

Handout photo dated March 18, 2025 shows Support teams onboard the SpaceX recovery ship MEGAN work around a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft shortly after it landed with NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov aboard in the water off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida, Tuesday, March 18, 2025. Hague, Gorbunov, Williams, and Wilmore are returning from a long-duration science expedition aboard the International Space Station. Photo by Keegan Barber/NASA via ABACAPRESS.COM

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NASAs and SpaceXs Crew-9 Splashdown - USA

Handout photo dated March 18, 2025 shows Support teams work around a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft shortly after it landed with NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov aboard in the water off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida, Tuesday, March 18, 2025. Hague, Gorbunov, Williams, and Wilmore are returning from a long-duration science expedition aboard the International Space Station. Photo by Keegan Barber/NASA via ABACAPRESS.COM

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NASAs and SpaceXs Crew-9 Splashdown - USA

Handout photo dated March 18, 2025 shows NASA astronaut Nick Hague is helped out of a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft onboard the SpaceX recovery ship MEGAN after he, NASA astronauts Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov landed in the water off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida, Tuesday, March 18, 2025. Hague, Gorbunov, Williams, and Wilmore are returning from a long-duration science expedition aboard the International Space Station. Photo by Keegan Barber/NASA via ABACAPRESS.COM

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NASAs and SpaceXs Crew-9 Splashdown - USA

Handout photo dated March 18, 2025 shows NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore is helped out of a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft onboard the SpaceX recovery ship MEGAN after he, NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Suni Williams, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov landed in the water off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida, Tuesday, March 18, 2025. Hague, Gorbunov, Williams, and Wilmore are returning from a long-duration science expedition aboard the International Space Station. Photo by Keegan Barber/NASA via ABACAPRESS.COM

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NASAs and SpaceXs Crew-9 Splashdown - USA

Handout photo dated March 18, 2025 shows NASA astronaut Suni Williams is helped out of a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft onboard the SpaceX recovery ship MEGAN after she, NASA astronaut Nick Hague, and Butch Wilmore, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov landed in the water off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida, Tuesday, March 18, 2025. Hague, Gorbunov, Williams, and Wilmore are returning from a long-duration science expedition aboard the International Space Station. Photo by Keegan Barber/NASA via ABACAPRESS.COM

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NASAs and SpaceXs Crew-9 Splashdown - USA

Handout photo dated March 18, 2025 shows NASA astronaut Suni Williams is helped out of a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft onboard the SpaceX recovery ship MEGAN after she, NASA astronaut Nick Hague, and Butch Wilmore, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov landed in the water off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida, Tuesday, March 18, 2025. Hague, Gorbunov, Williams, and Wilmore are returning from a long-duration science expedition aboard the International Space Station. Photo by Keegan Barber/NASA via ABACAPRESS.COM

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NASAs and SpaceXs Crew-9 Splashdown - USA

Handout photo dated March 18, 2025 shows NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore is helped out of a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft onboard the SpaceX recovery ship MEGAN after he, NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Suni Williams, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov landed in the water off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida, Tuesday, March 18, 2025. Hague, Gorbunov, Williams, and Wilmore are returning from a long-duration science expedition aboard the International Space Station. Photo by Keegan Barber/NASA via ABACAPRESS.COM

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NASAs and SpaceXs Crew-9 Splashdown - USA

Handout photo dated March 18, 2025 shows Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov is helped out of a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft onboard the SpaceX recovery ship MEGAN after he, NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Suni Williams, and Butch Wilmore, landed in the water off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida, Tuesday, March 18, 2025. Hague, Gorbunov, Williams, and Wilmore are returning from a long-duration science expedition aboard the International Space Station. Photo by Keegan Barber/NASA via ABACAPRESS.COM

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NASAs and SpaceXs Crew-9 Splashdown - USA

Handout photo dated March 18, 2025 shows A SpaceX Dragon spacecraft is seen as it lands with NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov aboard in the water off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida, Tuesday, March 18, 2025. Hague, Gorbunov, Williams, and Wilmore are returning from a long-duration science expedition aboard the International Space Station. Photo by Keegan Barber/NASA via ABACAPRESS.COM

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NASAs and SpaceXs Crew-9 Splashdown - USA

Handout photo dated March 18, 2025 shows A SpaceX Dragon spacecraft is seen as it lands with NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov aboard in the water off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida, Tuesday, March 18, 2025. Hague, Gorbunov, Williams, and Wilmore are returning from a long-duration science expedition aboard the International Space Station. Photo by Keegan Barber/NASA via ABACAPRESS.COM

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NASAs and SpaceXs Crew-9 Splashdown - USA

Handout photo dated March 18, 2025 shows Support teams onboard the SpaceX recovery ship MEGAN work around a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft shortly after it landed with NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov aboard in the water off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida, Tuesday, March 18, 2025. Hague, Gorbunov, Williams, and Wilmore are returning from a long-duration science expedition aboard the International Space Station. Photo by Keegan Barber/NASA via ABACAPRESS.COM

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NASAs and SpaceXs Crew-9 Splashdown - USA

Handout photo dated March 18, 2025 shows Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov is helped out of a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft onboard the SpaceX recovery ship MEGAN after he, NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Suni Williams, and Butch Wilmore, landed in the water off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida, Tuesday, March 18, 2025. Hague, Gorbunov, Williams, and Wilmore are returning from a long-duration science expedition aboard the International Space Station. Photo by Keegan Barber/NASA via ABACAPRESS.COM

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NASAs and SpaceXs Crew-9 Splashdown - USA

Handout photo dated March 18, 2025 shows NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore, left, Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, second from left, and NASA astronauts Nick Hague, second from right, and Suni Williams, right are seen inside a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft onboard the SpaceX recovery ship MEGAN shortly after having landed in the water off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida, Tuesday, March 18, 2025. Hague, Gorbunov, Williams, and Wilmore are returning from a long-duration science expedition aboard the International Space Station. Photo by Keegan Barber/NASA via ABACAPRESS.COM

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NASAs and SpaceXs Crew-9 Splashdown - USA

Handout photo dated March 18, 2025 shows A SpaceX Dragon spacecraft is seen as it lands with NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov aboard in the water off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida, Tuesday, March 18, 2025. Hague, Gorbunov, Williams, and Wilmore are returning from a long-duration science expedition aboard the International Space Station. Photo by Keegan Barber/NASA via ABACAPRESS.COM

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NASAs and SpaceXs Crew-9 Splashdown - USA

Handout photo dated March 18, 2025 shows Support teams work around a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft shortly after it landed with NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov aboard in the water off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida, Tuesday, March 18, 2025. Hague, Gorbunov, Williams, and Wilmore are returning from a long-duration science expedition aboard the International Space Station. Photo by Keegan Barber/NASA via ABACAPRESS.COM

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NASAs and SpaceXs Crew-9 Splashdown - USA

Handout photo dated March 18, 2025 shows Support teams work around a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft shortly after it landed with NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov aboard in the water off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida, Tuesday, March 18, 2025. Hague, Gorbunov, Williams, and Wilmore are returning from a long-duration science expedition aboard the International Space Station. Photo by Keegan Barber/NASA via ABACAPRESS.COM

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Astronauts Stuck in Orbit for Nine Months Leave Iss for Earth

Handout photo dated March 16, 2025. shows The four SpaceX Crew-10 members and the seven Expedition 72 crew members join each other for a welcoming ceremony shortly after the SpaceX Dragon crew spacecraft docked to the International Space Station and the hatches opened. ISS on March 16, 2025. After nine months stranded aboard the ISS, American astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will finally be returning to Earth. Their mission, initially scheduled for eight days, has been extended due to technical problems on Boeing's Starliner spacecraft. Accompanied by another American and a Russian cosmonaut, they left the station aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule, which detached from the ISS early on March 18. Their return is scheduled for the evening off Florida, where their capsule will be slowed by parachutes before being recovered. Eager to be reunited with their loved ones, the astronauts have kept their sense of humor, with Suni Williams even throwing out to her family, “Don't plan anything without me!”. Ph

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Astronauts Stuck in Orbit for Nine Months Leave Iss for Earth

Handout photo dated on March 17, 2025, shows NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 members pose together for a portrait inside the SpaceX Dragon crew spacecraft docked to the International Space Station. From left, are NASA astronaut Suni Williams, Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, and NASA astronauts Nick Hague and Butch Wimore. ISS on March 17, 2025. After nine months stranded aboard the ISS, American astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will finally be returning to Earth. Their mission, initially scheduled for eight days, has been extended due to technical problems on Boeing's Starliner spacecraft. Accompanied by another American and a Russian cosmonaut, they left the station aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule, which detached from the ISS early on March 18. Their return is scheduled for the evening off Florida, where their capsule will be slowed by parachutes before being recovered. Eager to be reunited with their loved ones, the astronauts have kept their sense of humor, with Suni Williams even throwing out t

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Astronauts Stuck in Orbit for Nine Months Leave Iss for Earth

Handout photo dated March 17, 2025, shows NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 members pose together for a portrait inside the vestibule between the International Space Station and the SpaceX Dragon crew spacecraft. Clockwise from left, are NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore, Nick Hague, and Suni Williams, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov. After nine months stranded aboard the ISS, American astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will finally be returning to Earth. Their mission, initially scheduled for eight days, has been extended due to technical problems on Boeing's Starliner spacecraft. Accompanied by another American and a Russian cosmonaut, they left the station aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule, which detached from the ISS early on March 18. Their return is scheduled for the evening off Florida, where their capsule will be slowed by parachutes before being recovered. Eager to be reunited with their loved ones, the astronauts have kept their sense of humor, with Suni Williams even throwing out to her family,

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Japanese astronaut Onishi

Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi gives an interview in Tokyo on Nov. 28, 2024. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency announced on Dec. 2 that he will serve as commander at the International Space Station when he heads to the ISS aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule in February 2025 at the earliest, becoming the third Japanese to assume the post.

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Japanese astronaut Onishi

Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi gives an interview in Tokyo on Nov. 28, 2024. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency announced on Dec. 2 that he will serve as commander at the International Space Station when he heads to the ISS aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule in February 2025 at the earliest, becoming the third Japanese to assume the post.

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Japanese astronaut Onishi

Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi gives an interview in Tokyo on Nov. 28, 2024. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency announced on Dec. 2 that he will serve as commander at the International Space Station when he heads to the ISS aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule in February 2025 at the earliest, becoming the third Japanese to assume the post.

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Japanese astronaut Onishi to assume ISS commander

Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi gives an interview in Tokyo on Nov. 28, 2024. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency announced on Dec. 2 that he will serve as commander at the International Space Station when he heads to the ISS aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule in February 2025 at the earliest, becoming the third Japanese to assume the post.

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Trump Picks Musk Ally Jared Isaacman To Head Nasa

NO FILM, NO VIDEO, NO TV, NO DOCUMENTARY - File photo dated September 15, 2021 of SpaceX Inspiration 4 crew member Jared Isaacman, with Chris Sembroski, foreground, hugs his daughter as they prepare to depart for the launch pad, ahead of their scheduled liftoff on the Inspiration 4 mission at Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA. The crew will orbit the earth for three days in the SpaceX Crew Dragon "Resilience" spacecraft. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday tapped Jared Isaacman to lead NASA, selecting a billionaire private astronaut and business associate of Elon Musk to oversee an agency closely linked to the SpaceX founder's business. Photo by Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel/TNS/ABACAPRESS.COM

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SpaceX Will Return Stranded Astronauts Next Year

Handout file photo dated July 3, 2024 shows Boeing's Starliner spacecraft that launched NASA's Crew Flight Test astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to the International Space Station is pictured docked to the Harmony module's forward port. This view is from a window on the SpaceX Dragon Endeavour spacecraft docked to the port adjacent to the Starliner. Two Nasa astronauts who have been stuck in space for over two months will return to Earth in February 2025 with SpaceX. Nasa said the Boeing Starliner spacecraft the astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore had travelled to International Space Station (ISS) on would return to Earth "un-crewed". The pair took off on what was planned to be an eight-day mission on 5 June but will now spend around eight months in orbit. Photo by NASA via ABACAPRESS.COM

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CHINA-JIANGXI-NANCHANG-DRAGON BOAT RACE (CN)

(240608) -- NANCHANG, June 8, 2024 Photo by Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM) -- Crew of the Teutons Dragon Boat Team pose for a photo during the 2024 Nanchang International Dragon Boat Race in Nanchang, east China's Jiangxi Province, June 1, 2024. TO GO WITH "Across China: German expats test the waters at dragon boat race in east China" Photo by Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM)

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CHINA-JIANGXI-NANCHANG-DRAGON BOAT RACE (CN)

(240608) -- NANCHANG, June 8, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Crew of the Teutons Dragon Boat Team pose for a photo during the 2024 Nanchang International Dragon Boat Race in Nanchang, east China's Jiangxi Province, June 1, 2024. TO GO WITH "Across China: German expats test the waters at dragon boat race in east China" (Xinhua)