The Dragon Freedom spacecraft’s side hatch has been opened, providing a first glimpse at the astronauts’ return to solid ground after more than nine months of living on the International Space Station (ISS).
As the world sees the Crew-9 astronauts for the first time, relief and happiness are clear. SpaceX’s Kate Tice said that as soon as they exit, it will be “the crew’s first breath of fresh air since boarding their ship at the beginning of their missions last year.”
The return is the successful end to the astronauts’ extended mission, in which they carried out critical research and maintenance on the ISS. The crew will now receive medical checks before flying back to Houston for additional exams and debriefings.
