SpaceX Crew-12 Splashes Down Off Los Angeles After 237 Days in Space

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 safely splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Los Angeles at 8:34 a.m. PDT on Thursday, Oct. 8, returning four international crew members after a 237-day mission.

The SpaceX Crew Dragon Freedom carried NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev back to Earth.

Who returned to California

Jessica Meir, NASA astronaut, completed her second spaceflight.
Jack Hathaway, NASA astronaut, completed his first spaceflight.
Sophie Adenot, European Space Agency astronaut, completed her first spaceflight.
Andrey Fedyaev, Roscosmos cosmonaut, completed his second spaceflight.

NASA said the crew spent more than seven months living and working aboard the International Space Station and traveled more than 100 million miles during the mission.

What happened after splashdown

Recovery teams aboard a ship deployed fast boats to secure the capsule and confirm that it was safe to lift from the water. The recovery vessel then hoisted Dragon onto its deck before the astronauts exited for initial medical checks and transportation.

The Pacific recovery zone off Southern California has become an important return corridor for SpaceX crew missions. Weather, sea conditions, spacecraft readiness and recovery-team positioning are evaluated before NASA confirms a landing site.

Mission highlights

The four-person crew conducted scientific research and technology demonstrations intended to support work in low-Earth orbit and future exploration of the Moon and Mars. Crew members also completed four spacewalks during the mission.

Meir now has 440 cumulative days in space and completed four spacewalks during Crew-12, bringing her career total to seven. NASA says that places her among the agency’s top 10 astronauts for total time in space. Adenot completed three spacewalks and became the first French woman to conduct a spacewalk.

California’s growing role in advanced science and technology also includes new state initiatives described in California58’s report on fusion energy and quantum research investment.