AMERICAN ASTRONAUTS ARE
BACK ON EARTH TONIGHT, THEIR
SPACE CAPSULE MADE A DRAMATIC
SPLASHDOWN SOMETHING THAT HAS
NOT HAPPENED SINCE THE 1970S.
MARK STRASSMAN HAS MORE.
Reporter: AFTER 6 MINUTES OF
SILENCE, SPACEX MISSION CONTROL
WANTED TO HEAR FROM THE
ASTRONAUTS.
WHEN THE CREW DRAGON CAPSULE
CAME INTO VIEW, EVERYONE ON
SPACEX BREATHE EASIER.
THE MAIN SHOOTS DEPLOYED.
-- 19 OUR RETURN TRIP WAS
ALMOST OVER.
WELCOME BACK TO PLANET EARTH
AND THANKS FOR FLYING SPACEX.
Reporter: THE FIRST
SPLASHDOWN EVER IN THE GULF OF
MEXICO, TO DODGE HURRICANE
ISAIAS IN THE ATLANTIC.
TO FAST BOATS REACHED THE
CAPSULE, AND -- A BREACH OF
SAFETY AND SECURITY.
SOMETHING LIKE THIS CAN
ENDANGER THE WHOLE THING.
Reporter: THE ASTRONAUTS
CAME OFF THE OPEN HATCH ON
STRETCHERS AS EXPECTED, STILL
READJUSTING TO EARTHS GRAVITY.
THAT HOMECOMING BEGAN LAST
NIGHT, 266 MILES ABOVE SOUTH
AFRICA.
CAPSULE AND CREW SEPARATED FROM
THE SPACE STATION.
-- WENT TO SLEEP.
THEIR YOUNG SONS WOKE THEM UP
THIS MORNING.
THEY HURRIED, THEIR FIERY
PLUMMET INTO EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE
REACHED TEMPERATURES OF 3500
DEGREES.
THEY KEPT FALLING, NOW AT 350
MILES PER HOUR.
TWO SETS OF OPEN PARACHUTES
SLOW DOWN THE CAPSULE, THIS TWO-
MONTH MISSION WAS NEARLY
FLAWLESS.
SPACEX HAD ACED ITS FINAL TEST
