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Impressive Return of SpaceX Crew-7 Astronauts
Andreas Mogensen, the first European Space Agency astronaut and the first non-American to pilot a U.S. commercial crew spacecraft, along with his SpaceX Crew-7 crewmates, successfully landed on Earth after spending 197 days aboard the International Space Station (ISS) on March 12.
Smooth Splashdown and Physical Adjustments
At the post-flight news conference held at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Mogensen described the landing as smooth, comparing it to “plopping into the water” of a swimming pool while wearing a life vest. He commended the smoothness of the landing in contrast to his previous experience landing in Kazakhstan aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft.
During the return to Earth, NASA astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli, the commander of Crew-7, noted the softness of the landing but felt more motion than she expected once they splashed down. The crew was later subjected to physiological tests to assess their adaptation to Earth’s gravity after six months in space.
Mogensen explained the challenges of walking straight after returning to solid ground, emphasizing the adjustment required for their bodies to relearn balancing without relying solely on visual cues.
Reintroduction to Earthly Pleasures
After their return, the crew got to enjoy simple pleasures they missed during their time in space. Satoshi Furukawa expressed his longing for a hot bath, specifically in a hot spring, due to the absence of water accumulation in zero gravity. Moghbeli shared her excitement for hot showers and relished in the variety of foods available on Earth, contrasting the set menu in space.
Space Station Experiences
During their stay at the space station, the Crew-7 astronauts participated in numerous activities, including hosting and bidding farewell to visiting vehicles, conducting experiments, and technology demonstrations. Moghbeli also completed her first spacewalk, making news when she accidentally let her tool bag float away.
Photographing Earth from space posed its own challenges, with Mogensen mentioning the difficulty of capturing specific targets due to weather conditions or obstructed views. Furukawa humorously recounted how he accidentally took a photo of a tool bag instead of Mount Fuji while trying to photograph the mountain peak.
Mixed Emotions and Fulfillment
Reflecting on their six months in space, Moghbeli acknowledged that there were good days and challenging days. Despite missing milestones and events on Earth, she emphasized the incredible experience of living on the space station, conducting impactful science, and technology experiments.
While some maintenance tasks were less rewarding than scientific endeavors, the overall journey was cherished by the Crew-7 members. Moghbeli expressed sadness at leaving the space station, highlighting the mix of emotions that came with the end of their mission.
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