The Crew Dragon spacecraft completed a nine day mission to the International Space Station and then made a successful return to Earth. After its ocean splashdown, recovery teams confirmed the capsule’s condition and began post mission procedures.
Approximately half a day after departure from the ISS, the spacecraft deployed its main parachutes and began a controlled descent through the upper atmosphere. It reached denser atmospheric layers at about five and a half kilometers altitude, followed by a precise landing in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Florida. Teams on site secured the vehicle and initiated on deck routines to bring the crew inside and start the post flight sequence.
The mission occurred under the Axiom-2 commercial program, with a team of experienced flyers onboard. The commander is Peggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut who became the first woman to command the ISS, alongside John Schoffner, a seasoned pilot and businessman. Joining them were Ryan Barnawi and Ali al-Karni, two Saudi Arabian astronauts who contributed to the extended collaboration with the ISS crew. The quartet worked in close coordination with the space station’s resident crew for eight days, sharing tasks, experiments, and maintenance duties that benefit ongoing research and technology demonstrations in microgravity.
Earlier coverage highlighted the historic significance of the mission. Ryan Barnawi is set to become the first Saudi, and one of the first Arab women, to travel to space, representing a milestone for both his nation and the wider Muslim community. Ali al-Karni is also poised to become the first Saudi astronaut to visit the ISS, reinforcing a growing trend toward broader international participation in human spaceflight.