NASA's Crew Transport Vehicle, or CTV, pulls up to the Space Shuttle Discovery to offload the crew after a successful landing August 9, 2005 at Edwards Air Force Base, California. The landing marked the end of the STS-114 mission. Space Shuttle Discovery landed safely at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base in California at 5:11:22 a.m. PDT this morning, following the very successful 14-day STS-114 return to flight mission. During their two weeks in space, Commander Eileen Collins and her six crewmates tested out new safety procedures and delivered supplies and equipment the International Space Station. Discovery spent two weeks in space, where the crew demonstrated new methods to inspect and repair the Shuttle in orbit. The crew also delivered supplies, outfitted and performed maintenance on the International Space Station. A number of these tasks were conducted during three spacewalks. In an unprecedented event, spacewalkers were called upon to remove protruding gap fillers from the heat shield on Discovery's underbelly. In other spacewalk activities, astronauts installed an external platform onto the Station's Quest Airlock and replaced one of the orbital outpost's Control Moment Gyroscopes. Inside the Station, the STS-114 crew conducted joint operations with the Expedition 11 crew. They unloaded fresh supplies from the Shuttle and the Raffaello Multi-Purpose Logistics Module. Before Discovery undocked, the crews filled Raffeallo with unneeded items and returned to Shuttle payload bay. Discovery launched on July 26 and spent almost 14 days on orbit.
Matthias Mauer, European Space Agency astronaut, speaks to members of the news media during crew arrival for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-3 mission at Kennedy Space Center’s Launch and Landing Facility in Florida on Oct. 26, 2021. Mauer, along with from left, NASA astronauts Tom Marshburn, Raja Chari, and Kayla Barron arrived at the landing facility from Houston. The astronauts will launch aboard the Crew Dragon on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on Oct. 31. Launch is targeted for 2:21 a.m. from Launch Complex 39A. Crew-3 is the third crew rotation flight for the agency’s Commercial Crew Program, and the first flight of a new Crew Dragon spacecraft.
NASA astronaut Tom Marshburn speaks to members of the news media during crew arrival for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-3 mission at Kennedy Space Center’s Launch and Landing Facility in Florida on Oct. 26, 2021. Marshburn, along with NASA astronauts Raja Chari, and Kayla Barron, and European Space Agency astronaut Matthias Maurer arrived at the landing facility from Houston. The astronauts will launch aboard the Crew Dragon on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on Oct. 31. Launch is targeted for 2:21 a.m. from Launch Complex 39A. Crew-3 is the third crew rotation flight for the agency’s Commercial Crew Program, and the first flight of a new Crew Dragon spacecraft.
NASA astronaut Kayla Barron speaks to members of the news media during crew arrival for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-3 mission at Kennedy Space Center’s Launch and Landing Facility in Florida on Oct. 26, 2021. Barron, along with NASA astronauts Raja Chari, and Tom Marshburn, and European Space Agency astronaut Matthias Maurer arrived at the landing facility from Houston. The astronauts will launch aboard the Crew Dragon on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on Oct. 31. Launch is targeted for 2:21 a.m. from Launch Complex 39A. Crew-3 is the third crew rotation flight for the agency’s Commercial Crew Program, and the first flight of a new Crew Dragon spacecraft.
Kennedy Space Center Director Janet Petro speaks to members of the news media during crew arrival for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-5 mission at the Launch and Landing Facility at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Oct. 1, 2022. The astronauts will launch aboard the Crew Dragon on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on Oct. 5. Launch is targeted for noon EDT from Launch Complex 39A. Crew-5 is the fifth crew rotation mission with SpaceX to the station, and the sixth flight of Dragon with people as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program.
NASA Associate Administrator Bob Cabana speaks to members of the news media during crew arrival for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-5 mission at the Launch and Landing Facility at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Oct. 1, 2022. The astronauts will launch aboard the Crew Dragon on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on Oct. 5. Launch is targeted for noon EDT from Launch Complex 39A. Crew-5 is the fifth crew rotation mission with SpaceX to the station, and the sixth flight of Dragon with people as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program.
NASA astronaut Josh Cassada speaks to members of the news media during crew arrival for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-5 mission at the Launch and Landing Facility at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Oct. 1, 2022. The astronauts will launch aboard the Crew Dragon on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on Oct. 5. Launch is targeted for noon EDT from Launch Complex 39A. Crew-5 is the fifth crew rotation mission with SpaceX to the station, and the sixth flight of Dragon with people as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program.
Roscosmos cosmonaut Anna Kikina speaks to members of the news media during crew arrival for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-5 mission at the Launch and Landing Facility at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Oct. 1, 2022. The astronauts will launch aboard the Crew Dragon on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on Oct. 5. Launch is targeted for noon EDT from Launch Complex 39A. Crew-5 is the fifth crew rotation mission with SpaceX to the station, and the sixth flight of Dragon with people as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program.
NASA astronaut Nicole Mann speaks to members of the news media during crew arrival for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-5 mission at the Launch and Landing Facility at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Oct. 1, 2022. The astronauts will launch aboard the Crew Dragon on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on Oct. 5. Launch is targeted for noon EDT from Launch Complex 39A. Crew-5 is the fifth crew rotation mission with SpaceX to the station, and the sixth flight of Dragon with people as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program.
NASA Associate Administrator Bob Cabana greets the crew members of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-3 mission after their arrival at the center’s Launch and Landing Facility in Florida on Oct. 26, 2021. From left are European Space Agency astronaut Matthias Maurer, and NASA astronauts Tom Marshburn, Raja Chari, and Kayla Barron. Crew-3 will launch aboard the Crew Dragon on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Launch is targeted for 2:21 a.m. EDT on October 31 from Launch Complex 39A.
Kennedy Space Center Director Janet Petro, far left, greets the crew members of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-3 mission after their arrival at the center’s Launch and Landing Facility in Florida on Oct. 26, 2021. From left are European Space Agency astronaut Matthias Maurer, and NASA astronauts Tom Marshburn, Raja Chari, and Kayla Barron. Crew-3 will launch aboard the Crew Dragon on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Launch is targeted for 2:21 a.m. EDT on October 31 from Launch Complex 39A.
NASA astronaut Bob Hines speaks to members of the news media during crew arrival for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-4 mission at the Launch and Landing Facility at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 18, 2022. Behind him from left are NASA astronaut Kjell Lindgren, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti, and NASA astronaut Jessica Watkins. They arrived at the landing facility from Houston. The astronauts will launch aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon and Falcon 9 rocket on April 23, 2022. Launch is targeted for 5:26 a.m. EDT from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A.
Crew members for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-6 mission to the International Space Station arrive at Kennedy Space Center’s Launch and Landing Facility in Florida on Feb. 21, 2023. From the front are NASA astronauts Stephen Bowen and Warren “Woody” Hoburg, UAE (United Arab Emirates) astronaut Sultan Alneyadi, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev. The crew will head to the center’s Astronaut Crew Quarters as they await launch aboard the Crew Dragon on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Launch is targeted for no earlier than Feb. 26 at 2:07 a.m. EST. Crew-6 is the sixth crew rotation mission with SpaceX to the station, and the seventh flight of Dragon with people as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program.
NASA astronaut Bob Hines speaks to members of the news media during crew arrival for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-4 mission at the Launch and Landing Facility at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 18, 2022. Hines, along with NASA astronauts Kjell Lindgren and Jessica Watkins, and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti, will launch aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon and Falcon 9 rocket on April 23, 2022. Launch is targeted for 5:26 a.m. EDT from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A.
NASA astronaut Kjell Lindgren speaks to members of the news media during crew arrival for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-4 mission at the Launch and Landing Facility at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 18, 2022. Lindgren, along with NASA astronauts Bob Hines and Jessica Watkins, and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti, will launch aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon and Falcon 9 rocket on April 23, 2022. Launch is targeted for 5:26 a.m. EDT from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A.
ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti speaks to members of the news media during crew arrival for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-4 mission at the Launch and Landing Facility at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 18, 2022. Cristoforetti, along with NASA astronauts Bob Hines, Kjell Lindgren, and Jessica Watkins, will launch aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon and Falcon 9 rocket on April 23, 2022. Launch is targeted for 5:26 a.m. EDT from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A.
SpaceX Crew-4 astronauts, from left, Jessica Watkins, Bob Hines, and Kjell Lindgren, along with ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti, pause for a photograph after arriving at the Launch and Landing Facility at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 18, 2022. The astronauts will enter quarantine at the center’s astronaut crew quarters, as they await launch aboard the Crew Dragon on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Launch is targeted for 5:26 a.m. EDT on April 23, 2022, from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A.
SpaceX Crew-4 astronauts arrive at the Launch and Landing Facility at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 18, 2022. From left are Jessica Watkins, Kjell Lindgren, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti, and Bob Hines. The astronauts will enter quarantine at the center’s astronaut crew quarters, as they await launch aboard the Crew Dragon on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Launch is targeted for 5:26 a.m. EDT on April 23, 2022, from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A.
NASA astronaut Bob Hines speaks to members of the news media during crew arrival for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-4 mission at the Launch and Landing Facility at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 18, 2022. Hines, along with NASA astronauts Kjell Lindgren and Jessica Watkins, and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti, will launch aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon and Falcon 9 rocket on April 23, 2022. Launch is targeted for 5:26 a.m. EDT from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A.
NASA astronaut Jessica Watkins speaks to members of the news media during crew arrival for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-4 mission at the Launch and Landing Facility at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 18, 2022. Watkins, along with NASA astronauts Kjell Lindgren and Bob Hines, and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti, will launch aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon and Falcon 9 rocket on April 23, 2022. Launch is targeted for 5:26 a.m. EDT from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A.
SpaceX Crew-6 astronauts pause for a photograph after arriving at Kennedy Space Center’s Launch and Landing Facility in Florida on Feb. 21, 2023. From left are UAE (United Arab Emirates) astronaut Sultan Alneyadi, NASA astronauts Stephen Bowen and Warren “Woody” Hoburg, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev. The crew will launch to the International Space Station aboard the Crew Dragon on a SpaceX Falcon 9. Launch is targeted for no earlier than Feb. 26 at 2:07 a.m. EST from Launch Complex 39A. Crew-6 is the sixth crew rotation mission with SpaceX to the station, and the seventh flight of Dragon with people as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program.
UAE (United Arab Emirates) astronaut Sultan Alneyadi speaks to members of the news media during crew arrival for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-6 mission at Kennedy Space Center’s Launch and Landing Facility in Florida on Feb. 21, 2023. Alneyadi, along with NASA astronauts Stephen Bowen and Warren “Woody” Hoburg, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev will launch to the International Space Station aboard the Crew Dragon on a SpaceX Falcon 9. Launch is targeted for no earlier than Feb. 26 at 2:07 a.m. EST from Launch Complex 39A. Crew-6 is the sixth crew rotation mission with SpaceX to the station, and the seventh flight of Dragon with people as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program.
Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev speaks to members of the news media during crew arrival for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-6 mission at Kennedy Space Center’s Launch and Landing Facility in Florida on Feb. 21, 2023. Fedyaev, along with NASA astronauts Stephen Bowen and Warren “Woody” Hoburg, and UAE (United Arab Emirates) astronaut Sultan Alneyadi will launch to the International Space Station aboard the Crew Dragon on a SpaceX Falcon 9. Launch is targeted for no earlier than Feb. 26 at 2:07 a.m. EST from Launch Complex 39A. Crew-6 is the sixth crew rotation mission with SpaceX to the station, and the seventh flight of Dragon with people as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program.
SpaceX Crew-6 astronauts pause for a photograph after arriving at Kennedy Space Center’s Launch and Landing Facility in Florida on Feb. 21, 2023. From left are Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev, UAE (United Arab Emirates) astronaut Sultan Alneyadi, and NASA astronauts Warren “Woody” Hoburg and Stephen Bowen. The crew will launch to the International Space Station aboard the Crew Dragon on a SpaceX Falcon 9. Launch is targeted for Feb. 26 at 2:07 a.m. EST from Launch Complex 39A. Crew-6 is the sixth crew rotation mission with SpaceX to the station, and the seventh flight of Dragon with people as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program.
Crew members for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-5 mission to the International Space Station wave during a crew arrival media event at the Launch and Landing Facility at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Oct. 1, 2022. From left are Koichi Wakata, mission specialist; Nicole Mann, commander; Josh Cassada, pilot; and Anna Kikina, mission specialist. The crew will head to the center’s Crew Quarters as they await launch aboard the Crew Dragon on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Launch is targeted for noon EDT on Oct. 5 from Launch Complex 39A. Crew-5 is the fifth crew rotation mission with SpaceX to the station, and the sixth flight of Dragon with people as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program.
NASA Astronaut Raja Chari, commander, speaks to members of the news media during crew arrival for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-3 mission at Kennedy Space Center’s Launch and Landing Facility in Florida on Oct. 26, 2021. Chari, along with from left, Matthias Mauer, European Space Agency astronaut, and NASA astronauts Tom Marshburn and Kayla Barron arrived at the landing facility from Houston. The astronauts will launch aboard the Crew Dragon on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on Oct. 31. Launch is targeted for 2:21 a.m. from Launch Complex 39A. Crew-3 is the third crew rotation flight for the agency’s Commercial Crew Program, and the first flight of a new Crew Dragon spacecraft.
Crew members for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-4 mission to the International Space Station arrive at the Launch and Landing Facility at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 18, 2022. From left, are NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins, Kjell Lindgren and Bob Hines, and Samantha Cristoforetti, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut. The crew will enter quarantine at the center’s astronaut crew quarters as they await launch aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon and Falcon 9 rocket. Launch is targeted for 5:26 a.m. EDT on April 23, 2022, from Launch Complex 39A. Crew-4 is the fourth crew rotation flight to the space station as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.
Crew members for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-5 mission to the International Space Station pose at the Launch and Landing Facility at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Oct. 1, 2022. From left are Nicole Mann, commander; Anna Kikina, mission specialist; Josh Cassada, pilot; and Koichi Wakata, mission specialist. The crew will head to the center’s Crew Quarters as they await launch aboard the Crew Dragon on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Launch is targeted for noon EDT on Oct. 5 from Launch Complex 39A. Crew-5 is the fifth crew rotation mission with SpaceX to the station, and the sixth flight of Dragon with people as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program.
Crew members for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-5 mission to the International Space Station arrive at the Launch and Landing Facility at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Oct. 1, 2022. From left are Nicole Mann, commander; Josh Cassada, pilot; Koichi Wakata, mission specialist; and Anna Kikina, mission specialist. The crew will head to the center’s Crew Quarters as they await launch aboard the Crew Dragon on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Launch is targeted for noon EDT on Oct. 5 from Launch Complex 39A. Crew-5 is the fifth crew rotation mission with SpaceX to the station, and the sixth flight of Dragon with people as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program.
The crew of Space Shuttle mission STS-114 gathered in front of the shuttle Discovery following landing at Edwards Air Force Base, California, August 9, 2005. From left to right: Mission Specialist Stephen Robinson, Commander Eileen Collins, Mission Specialists Andrew Thomas, Wendy Lawrence, Soichi Noguchi and Charles Camarda, and Pilot James Kelly. Space Shuttle Discovery landed safely at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base in California at 5:11:22 a.m. PDT this morning, following the very successful 14-day STS-114 return to flight mission. During their two weeks in space, Commander Eileen Collins and her six crewmates tested out new safety procedures and delivered supplies and equipment the International Space Station. Discovery spent two weeks in space, where the crew demonstrated new methods to inspect and repair the Shuttle in orbit. The crew also delivered supplies, outfitted and performed maintenance on the International Space Station. A number of these tasks were conducted during three spacewalks. In an unprecedented event, spacewalkers were called upon to remove protruding gap fillers from the heat shield on Discovery's underbelly. In other spacewalk activities, astronauts installed an external platform onto the Station's Quest Airlock and replaced one of the orbital outpost's Control Moment Gyroscopes. Inside the Station, the STS-114 crew conducted joint operations with the Expedition 11 crew. They unloaded fresh supplies from the Shuttle and the Raffaello Multi-Purpose Logistics Module. Before Discovery undocked, the crews filled Raffeallo with unneeded items and returned to Shuttle payload bay. Discovery launched on July 26 and spent almost 14 days on orbit.
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 Credit: (NASA/Keegan Barber)
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 Credit: (NASA/Keegan Barber)
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 Credit: (NASA/Keegan Barber)
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 Credit: (NASA/Keegan Barber)
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 Credit: (NASA/Keegan Barber)
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 Credit: (NASA/Keegan Barber)
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 Credit: (NASA/Keegan Barber)
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 Credit: (NASA/Keegan Barber)
NASA and SpaceX recovery teams are seen shortly after exiting a helicopter aboard recovery ship MEGAN as they prepare for the landing of a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft with NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov aboard, Tuesday, March 18, 2025, off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida. Hague, Gorbunov, Williams, and Wilmore are returning from a long-duration science expedition aboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Keegan Barber)
SpaceX fast boat teams are seen alongside recovery ship MEGAN as the recovery team prepares for the landing of a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft with NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov aboard, Tuesday, March 18, 2025, off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida. Hague, Gorbunov, Williams, and Wilmore are returning from a long-duration science expedition aboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Keegan Barber)
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 Credit: (NASA/Keegan Barber)
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 Credit: (NASA/Keegan Barber)
A United States Coast Guard vessel and SpaceX fast boat teams are seen shortly after the landing of a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft with NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov aboard, Tuesday, March 18, 2025, off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida. Hague, Gorbunov, Williams, and Wilmore are returning from a long-duration science expedition aboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Keegan Barber)
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 Credit: (NASA/Keegan Barber)
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 Credit: (NASA/Keegan Barber)
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 Credit: (NASA/Keegan Barber)
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 Credit: (NASA/Keegan Barber)
Support teams raise a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft aboard the recovery ship MEGAN shortly after it landed with NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov aboard 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 Credit: (NASA/Keegan Barber)
Support teams raise a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft aboard the recovery ship MEGAN shortly after it landed with NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov aboard 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 Credit: (NASA/Keegan Barber)
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 Credit: (NASA/Keegan Barber)
The SpaceX recovery ship MEGAN is seen as the recovery team prepares for the landing of a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft with NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov aboard, Tuesday, March 18, 2025, off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida. Hague, Gorbunov, Williams, and Wilmore are returning from a long-duration science expedition aboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Keegan Barber)
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 Credit: (NASA/Keegan Barber)
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 Credit: (NASA/Keegan Barber)
SpaceX fast boat teams are seen alongside recovery ship MEGAN as the recovery team prepares for the landing of a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft with NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov aboard, Tuesday, March 18, 2025, off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida. Hague, Gorbunov, Williams, and Wilmore are returning from a long-duration science expedition aboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Keegan Barber)
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 Credit: (NASA/Keegan Barber)
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 Credit: (NASA/Keegan Barber)
The helicopter carrying NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov takes off from the SpaceX recovery ship MEGAN 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 Credit: (NASA/Keegan Barber)
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 Credit: (NASA/Keegan Barber)
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 Credit: (NASA/Keegan Barber)
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 Credit: (NASA/Keegan Barber)
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 Credit: (NASA/Keegan Barber)
NASA and SpaceX recovery teams exit a helicopter aboard recovery ship MEGAN as they prepare for the landing of a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft with NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov aboard, Tuesday, March 18, 2025, off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida. Hague, Gorbunov, Williams, and Wilmore are returning from a long-duration science expedition aboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Keegan Barber)
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 Credit: (NASA/Keegan Barber)
The crew of Space Shuttle mission STS-100 gathered in front of the shuttle Endeavour following landing at Edwards Air Force Base, California, 9:11 am, May 1, 2001. From left to right: John L. Phillips, mission specialist (U.S.); Umberto Guidoni, mission specialist (European Space Agency); Chris A. Hadfield, mission specialist (Canadian Space Agency); Jeffrey S. Ashby, pilot (U.S.); Kent V. Rominger, commander (U.S.); Yuri V. Lonchakov, mission specialist (Russia); Scott E. Prazynski, mission specialist (U.S.).
Kennedy Space Center Director Janet Petro, at the podium, welcomes the crew members of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-4 mission after their arrival at the Launch and Landing Facility at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 18, 2022. From left are NASA astronauts Kjell Lindgren, Bob Hines and Jessica Watkins, and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti. Crew-4 will launch aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon on the company’s Falcon 9 rocket. Launch is targeted for 5:26 a.m. EDT on April 23, 2022, from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy reacts as he watches the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft splash down with NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore, Suni Williams, Nick Hague, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, Tuesday, March 18, 2025, from the Space Operations Center at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Crew members for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-6 mission to the International Space Station arrive at Kennedy Space Center’s Launch and Landing Facility in Florida on Feb. 21, 2023. In front is NASA astronaut Stephen Bowen, and behind him from left are UAE (United Arab Emirates) astronaut Sultan Alneyadi, NASA astronaut Warren “Woody” Hoburg, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev. The crew will head to the center’s Astronaut Crew Quarters as they await launch aboard the Crew Dragon on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Launch is targeted for no earlier than Feb. 26 at 2:07 a.m. EST. Crew-6 is the sixth crew rotation mission with SpaceX to the station, and the seventh flight of Dragon with people as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program.
Barbara Nucera, ESA (European Space Agency) Houston Office team leader, welcomes the crew members of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-4 mission after their arrival at the Launch and Landing Facility at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 18, 2022. NASA astronauts Kjell Lindgren, Bob Hines and Jessica Watkins, and ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti, will launch aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon on the company’s Falcon 9 rocket. Launch is targeted for 5:26 a.m. EDT on April 23, 2022, from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A.
Kathy Lueders, associate administrator, Space Operations, NASA Headquarters, welcomes the crew members of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-4 mission after their arrival at the Launch and Landing Facility at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 18, 2022. NASA astronauts Kjell Lindgren, Bob Hines and Jessica Watkins, and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti, will launch aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon on the company’s Falcon 9 rocket. Launch is targeted for 5:26 a.m. EDT on April 23, 2022, from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A.
Kennedy Space Center Deputy Director Kelvin Manning speaks to members of the news media during crew arrival for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-6 mission at Kennedy’s Launch and Landing Facility in Florida on Feb. 21, 2023. Behind him, from left, are Salem AlMarri, director general, Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre, and Dana Hutcherson, deputy manager, NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. NASA astronauts Stephen Bowen and Warren “Woody” Hoburg, UAE (United Arab Emirates) astronaut Sultan Alneyadi, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev will launch to the International Space Station aboard the Crew Dragon on a SpaceX Falcon 9. Launch is targeted for no earlier than Feb. 26 at 2:07 a.m. EST from Launch Complex 39A. Crew-6 is the sixth crew rotation mission with SpaceX to the station, and the seventh flight of Dragon with people as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program.
Dana Hutcherson, deputy manager, NASA’s Commercial Crew Program speaks to members of the news media during crew arrival for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-6 mission at Kennedy’s Launch and Landing Facility in Florida on Feb. 21, 2023. NASA astronauts Stephen Bowen and Warren “Woody” Hoburg, UAE (United Arab Emirates) astronaut Sultan Alneyadi, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev will launch to the International Space Station aboard the Crew Dragon on a SpaceX Falcon 9. Launch is targeted for no earlier than Feb. 26 at 2:07 a.m. EST from Launch Complex 39A. Crew-6 is the sixth crew rotation mission with SpaceX to the station, and the seventh flight of Dragon with people as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program.
UAE (United Arab Emirates) astronaut Sultan Alneyadi speaks to members of the news media during crew arrival for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-6 mission at Kennedy Space Center’s Launch and Landing Facility in Florida on Feb. 21, 2023. Behind him, from left, are Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev Alneyadi and NASA astronauts Warren “Woody” Hoburg and Stephen Bowen. The crew will launch to the International Space Station aboard the Crew Dragon on a SpaceX Falcon 9 no earlier than Feb. 26 at 2:07 a.m. EST from Launch Complex 39A. Crew-6 is the sixth crew rotation mission with SpaceX to the station, and the seventh flight of Dragon with people as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program.
NASA astronaut Stephen Bowen speaks to members of the news media during crew arrival for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-6 mission at Kennedy Space Center’s Launch and Landing Facility in Florida on Feb. 21, 2023. Bowen, along with NASA astronaut Warren “Woody” Hoburg, UAE (United Arab Emirates) astronaut Sultan Alneyadi, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev will launch to the International Space Station aboard the Crew Dragon on a SpaceX Falcon 9. Launch is targeted for no earlier than Feb. 26 at 2:07 a.m. EST from Launch Complex 39A. Crew-6 is the sixth crew rotation mission with SpaceX to the station, and the seventh flight of Dragon with people as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program.
NASA astronaut Warren “Woody” Hoburg speaks to members of the news media during crew arrival for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-6 mission at Kennedy Space Center’s Launch and Landing Facility in Florida on Feb. 21, 2023. Hoburg, along with NASA astronaut Stephen Bowen, UAE (United Arab Emirates) astronaut Sultan Alneyadi, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev will launch to the International Space Station aboard the Crew Dragon on a SpaceX Falcon 9. Launch is targeted for no earlier than Feb. 26 at 2:07 a.m. EST from Launch Complex 39A. Crew-6 is the sixth crew rotation mission with SpaceX to the station, and the seventh flight of Dragon with people as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program.
From left to right, Crew-2 mission astronauts Thomas Pesquet (ESA), Megan McArthur (NASA), Shane Kimbrough (NASA) and Akihiko Hoshide (JAXA), arrive at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 16, 2021. The astronauts departed by plane from Ellington Field near the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, making the short flight and touching down at Kennedy’s Launch and Landing Facility. The astronauts are set to launch on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon spacecraft on the second crew rotation mission to the International Space Station as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. Liftoff is targeted for 6:11 a.m. on Earth Day, Thursday, April 22, from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy.
Crew members for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-3 mission to the International Space Station arrive at Kennedy Space Center’s Launch and Landing Facility in Florida on Oct. 26, 2021. From left, European Space Agency astronaut Matthias Maurer, and NASA astronauts Tom Marshburn, Raja Chari, and Kayla Barron speak to members of the news media. The crew will enter quarantine at the center’s Crew Quarters as they await launch aboard the Crew Dragon on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Launch is targeted for 2:21 a.m. EDT on Oct. 31 from Launch Complex 39A. Crew-3 is the third crew rotation flight for the agency’s Commercial Crew Program, and the first flight of a new Crew Dragon spacecraft.
Crew members for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-3 mission to the International Space Station arrive at Kennedy Space Center’s Launch and Landing Facility in Florida on Oct. 26, 2021. From left, European Space Agency astronaut Matthias Maurer, and NASA astronauts Tom Marshburn, Raja Chari, and Kayla Barron speak to members of the news media. The crew will enter quarantine at the center’s Crew Quarters as they await launch aboard the Crew Dragon on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Launch is targeted for 2:21 a.m. EDT on Oct. 31 from Launch Complex 39A. Crew-3 is the third crew rotation flight for the agency’s Commercial Crew Program, and the first flight of a new Crew Dragon spacecraft.
Crew members for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-5 mission to the International Space Station arrive at the Launch and Landing Facility at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Oct. 1, 2022. From left are Nicole Mann, commander; Josh Cassada, pilot; Koichi Wakata, mission specialist; and Anna Kikina, mission specialist. Greeting the crew, from left, are Bob Cabana, NASA associate administrator; Janet Petro, Kennedy director; and Junichi Sakai, manager, International Space Station, JAXA. The crew will head to the center’s Crew Quarters as they await launch aboard the Crew Dragon on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Launch is targeted for noon EDT on Oct. 5 from Launch Complex 39A. Crew-5 is the fifth crew rotation mission with SpaceX to the station, and the sixth flight of Dragon with people as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program.
Crew members for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-4 mission to the International Space Station arrive at the Launch and Landing Facility at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 18, 2022. From the front are NASA astronaut Bob Hines, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti, and NASA astronaut Jessica Watkins. Not in the photo is NASA astronaut Kjell Lindgren. The crew will enter quarantine at the center’s astronaut crew quarters as they await launch aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon and Falcon 9 rocket. Launch is targeted for 5:26 a.m. EDT on April 23, 2022, from Launch Complex 39A. Crew-4 is the fourth crew rotation flight to the space station as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.
Kennedy Space Center Deputy Director Kelvin Manning, Dana Hutcherson, deputy manager, NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, and Salem AlMarri, director general, Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre, greet the crew members of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-6 mission after their arrival at the center’s Launch and Landing Facility in Florida on Feb. 21, 2023. From left are Manning, Hutcherson, AlMarri, Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev, UAE (United Arab Emirates) astronaut Sultan Alneyadi, and NASA astronauts Warren “Woody” Hoburg and Stephen Bowen. Crew-6 will launch aboard the Crew Dragon on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Launch is targeted for no earlier than Feb. 26 at 2:07 a.m. EST.
A first-stage booster from SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket comes in for a successful landing at Landing Zone 1 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, just minutes after NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 launch from Space Launch Complex-40. NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov launched to the International Space Station aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket at 1:17 p.m. EDT on the ninth crew rotation mission with SpaceX to the space station as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program.
A first-stage booster from SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket comes in for a successful landing at Landing Zone 1 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, just minutes after NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 launch from Space Launch Complex-40. NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov launched to the International Space Station aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket at 1:17 p.m. EDT on the ninth crew rotation mission with SpaceX to the space station as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program.
From left, Kathy Lueders, associate administrator, Space Operations, NASA Headquarters; Kennedy Space Center Director Janet Petro; and Barbara Nucera, ESA (European Space Agency) Houston Office team leader, greet the crew members of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-4 mission after their arrival at the Launch and Landing Facility at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 18, 2022. From left are NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins and Bob Hines, ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti, and NASA astronaut Kjell Lindgren. Crew-4 will launch aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon on the company’s Falcon 9 rocket. Launch is targeted for 5:26 a.m. EDT on April 23, 2022, from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A.
The crew of Space Shuttle mission STS-114 gathered for a press brief following landing at Edwards Air Force Base, California, 5:11 am, August 9, 2005. Left to right: Mission Specialists Charles Camarda, Wendy Lawrence and Stephen Robinson, Commander Eileen Collins at microphone, Mission Specialists Andrew Thomas and Soichi Noguchi, and Pilot James Kelly. Space Shuttle Discovery landed safely at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base in California at 5:11:22 a.m. PDT this morning, following the very successful 14-day STS-114 return to flight mission. During their two weeks in space, Commander Eileen Collins and her six crewmates tested out new safety procedures and delivered supplies and equipment the International Space Station. Discovery spent two weeks in space, where the crew demonstrated new methods to inspect and repair the Shuttle in orbit. The crew also delivered supplies, outfitted and performed maintenance on the International Space Station. A number of these tasks were conducted during three spacewalks. In an unprecedented event, spacewalkers were called upon to remove protruding gap fillers from the heat shield on Discovery's underbelly. In other spacewalk activities, astronauts installed an external platform onto the Station's Quest Airlock and replaced one of the orbital outpost's Control Moment Gyroscopes. Inside the Station, the STS-114 crew conducted joint operations with the Expedition 11 crew. They unloaded fresh supplies from the Shuttle and the Raffaello Multi-Purpose Logistics Module. Before Discovery undocked, the crews filled Raffeallo with unneeded items and returned to Shuttle payload bay. Discovery launched on July 26 and spent almost 14 days on orbit.
Expedition 9 Flight Engineer Michael Fincke shows his happiness with the successful landing in the Syouz spacecraft with fellow crew members, Expedition 9 Commander Gennady Padalka and Russian Space Forces cosmonaut Yuri Shargin. The crew landed in their Soyuz capsule approximately 85 kilometers northeast of Arkalyk in northern Kazakhstan, Sunday, October 24, 2004. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Expedition 9 Commander Gennady Padalka smiles after the successful landing in the Soyuz spacecraft with fellow crew members Expedition 9 Flight Engineer Michael Fincke and Russian Space Forces cosmonaut Yuri Shargin. The crew landed in their Soyuz capsule approximately 85 kilometers northeast of Arkalyk in northern Kazakhstan, Sunday, October 24, 2004. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Expedition 9 Flight Engineer Michael Fincke shows his happiness with the successful landing in the Syouz spacecraft with fellow crew members, Expedition 9 Commander Gennady Padalka and Russian Space Forces cosmonaut Yuri Shargin. The crew landed in their Soyuz capsule approximately 85 kilometers northeast of Arkalyk in northern Kazakhstan, Sunday, October 24, 2004. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Expedition 9 Flight Engineer Michael Fincke is interviewed by former Expedition 5 Flight Engineer Peggy Whitson for the video phone after the successful landing in the Soyuz spacecraft with fellow crew members Expedition 9 Commander Gennady Padalka and Russian Space Forces cosmonaut Yuri Shargin. The crew landed in their Soyuz capsule approximately 85 kilometers northeast of Arkalyk in northern Kazakhstan, Sunday, October 24, 2004. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Expedition 9 Flight Engineer Michael Fincke is carried in a chair from the landing site to the medical tent in order to remove his sokol suit. Fincke landed in the Soyuz capsule along with Expedition 9 Commander Gennady Padalka and Russian Space Forces cosmonaut Yuri Shargin. The crew landed in their Soyuz capsule approximately 85 kilometers northeast of Arkalyk in northern Kazakhstan, Sunday, October 24, 2004. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Expedition 9 Commander Gennady Padalka is carried in a chair from the landing site to the medical tent in order to remove his sokol suit. Padalka landed in the Soyuz capsule along with Expedition 9 Flight Engineer Michael Fincke and Russian Space Forces cosmonaut Yuri Shargin. The crew landed in their Soyuz capsule approximately 85 kilometers northeast of Arkalyk in northern Kazakhstan, Sunday, October 24, 2004. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Under tow by a diesel-powered tractor, the orbiter Discovery begins its roll to the Orbiter Processing Facility from NASA's Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF) at Kennedy Space Center via a two-mile tow-way. Discovery landed at the SLF at 9:14 a.m. EDT, completing mission STS-121. Discovery landed at the SLF at 9:14 a.m. EDT, completing mission STS-121. Discovery traveled 5.3 million miles, landing on orbit 202. Mission elapsed time was 12 days, 18 hours, 37 minutes and 54 seconds. Main gear touchdown occurred on time at 9:14:43 EDT. Wheel stop was at 9:15:49 EDT. During the mission, the STS-121 crew tested new equipment and procedures to improve shuttle safety, and delivered supplies and made repairs to the International Space Station. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On Runway 15 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the crew transport vehicle has drawn up to the crew hatch on space shuttle Atlantis after landing. The crew transfers into the CTV to change from their launch and entry suits and later greet NASA VIPs and the media. After a round trip of nearly 5.3 million miles, Atlantis and crew returned to Earth with a landing at 9:07 a.m. EST.The shuttle landed on orbit 202 to complete the 13-day STS-122 mission. Main gear touchdown was 9:07:10 a.m. Nose gear touchdown was 9:07:20 a.m. Wheel stop was at 9:08:08 a.m. Mission elapsed time was 12 days, 18 hours, 21 minutes and 44 seconds. During the mission, Atlantis' crew installed the new Columbus laboratory, leaving a larger space station and one with increased science capabilities. The Columbus Research Module adds nearly 1,000 cubic feet of habitable volume and affords room for 10 experiment racks, each an independent science lab. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- After greeting the media on the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the STS-122 crew signals a successful mission and landing. From left are Mission Specialists Leland Melvin, Hans Schlegel, Rex Walheim and Stanley Love, Pilot Alan Poindexter and Commander Steve Frick. Schlegel represents the European Space Agency. After a round trip of nearly 5.3 million miles, space shuttle Atlantis and crew returned to Earth with a landing at 9:07 a.m. EST. The shuttle landed on orbit 202 to complete the 13-day STS-122 mission. Main gear touchdown was 9:07:10 a.m. Nose gear touchdown was 9:07:20 a.m. Wheel stop was at 9:08:08 a.m. Mission elapsed time was 12 days, 18 hours, 21 minutes and 44 seconds. During the mission, Atlantis' crew installed the new Columbus laboratory, leaving a larger space station and one with increased science capabilities. The Columbus Research Module adds nearly 1,000 cubic feet of habitable volume and affords room for 10 experiment racks, each an independent science lab. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller
Astronaut Allen Bean with Lunar Landing Research Facility (LLRF) crew. Alan Bean was one of the third group of astronauts named by NASA in October 1963. He served as backup astronaut for the Gemini 10 and Apollo 9 missions.
Expedition 9 Flight Engineer Michael Fincke is checked out in the medical tent prior to removal of his sokol suit. Fincke landed in the Soyuz capsule along with Expedition 9 Commander Gennady Padalka and Russian Space Forces cosmonaut Yuri Shargin. The crew landed in their Soyuz capsule approximately 85 kilometers northeast of Arkalyk in northern Kazakhstan, Sunday, October 24, 2004. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
STS114-S-047 (9 August 2005) --- NASA’s Crew Transport Vehicle (CTV) pulls up to the Space Shuttle Discovery to offload the STS-114 crewmembers after a successful landing at 5:11 a.m. (PDT) on August 9, 2005 at Edwards Air Force Base in California. The landing concludes a historic 14-day, Return to Flight mission to the International Space Station.
STS053-S-085 (9 Dec. 1992) --- The drag chute on the space shuttle Discovery is partially deployed during landing on Runway 22 at Edwards Air Force Base. The landing ended an eight-day space mission for the STS-53 crew. Main gear touchdown occurred at 12:43:17 p.m. (PST) on Dec. 9, 1992. Onboard were astronauts David M. Walker, Robert D. Cabana, Guion S. Bluford Jr., James S. Voss and Michael R.U. (Rich) Clifford.
An inflatable medical tent stands in the foreground of the Expedition 9 landing site, while in the background the Soyuz capsule lays on its side after landing approximately 85 kilometers northeast of Arkalyk in northern Kazakhstan with Expedition 9 crew members Flight Engineer Michael Fincke, Commander Gennady Padalka and Russian Space Forces cosmonaut Yuri Shargin, Sunday, October 24, 2004.
Russian Space Forces cosmonaut Yuri Shargin, left, Expedition 9 Commander Gennady Padalka and Expedition 9 Flight Engineer Michael Fincke, right, are kept warm after their successful landing in the Soyuz spacecraft. The crew landed in their Soyuz capsule approximately 85 kilometers northeast of Arkalyk in northern Kazakhstan, Sunday, October 24, 2004. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- After exiting the crew transport vehicle on the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the STS-122 crew stands in front of space shuttle Atlantis to greet the media and guests. At the microphone is Commander Steve Frick. Behind him, left to right, are Mission Specialists Leland Melvin, Hans Schlegel, Rex Walheim (not visible) and Stanley Love, and Pilot Alan Poindexter. Schlegel represents the European Space Agency. After a round trip of nearly 5.3 million miles, space shuttle Atlantis and crew returned to Earth with a landing at 9:07 a.m. EST. The shuttle landed on orbit 202 to complete the 13-day STS-122 mission. Main gear touchdown was 9:07:10 a.m. Nose gear touchdown was 9:07:20 a.m. Wheel stop was at 9:08:08 a.m. Mission elapsed time was 12 days, 18 hours, 21 minutes and 44 seconds. During the mission, Atlantis' crew installed the new Columbus laboratory, leaving a larger space station and one with increased science capabilities. The Columbus Research Module adds nearly 1,000 cubic feet of habitable volume and affords room for 10 experiment racks, each an independent science lab. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller