This was the launch of the new NASA and SpaceX mission led by Nicole Mann 4:28
(CNN) --
Four astronauts returned safely to Earth after splashing down in a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule off the coast of Florida on Friday afternoon.
NASA astronauts Bob Hines, Kjell Lindgren and Jessica Watkins, as well as European Space Agency astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti, spent nearly six months aboard the International Space Station conducting spacewalks and scientific research.
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The mission, called Crew-4, also made history with Watkins becoming the first black woman to participate in a long-duration mission aboard the International Space Station.
In this image provided by NASA, SpaceX's Megan recovery ship is seen in the Atlantic Ocean as teams from NASA, ESA (European Space Agency) and SpaceX prepare for the spacecraft's splashdown on October 14 2022, off the coast of Jacksonville, Florida.
Credit: Bill Ingalls/NASA via Getty Images
The SpaceX capsule named "Freedom" undocked from the orbiting outpost around noon Friday, after two previous attempts to return to Earth were delayed due to inclement weather at the splashdown site off the coast. from Jacksonville.
About five hours later, after an extreme descent through Earth's atmosphere, the capsule gently hit the water under an umbrella of four large parachutes.
SpaceX has so far launched 8 manned missions since May 2020, six for NASA and two on private missions.
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