The SpaceX Inspiration4 mission's four newly minted citizen astronauts successfully splashed down in the Atlantic off the coast of Florida on Saturday, after a three-day trip by the first all-civilian crew ever launched into Earth orbit.
The mission's successful launch and return, the latest in a recent run of billionaire passengers-funded rocket-powered tasks, marked another milestone in the budding business of commercial Astro-tourism, 60 years after human spaceflight began.
Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla Inc, the electric carmaker, provided the spacecraft, launched it, controlled its flight, and oversaw the splashdown recovery.
The three-day journey concluded about 7 p.m. when the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, nicknamed Resilience, parachuted into calm seas. Following an automated reentry descent, soon before dusk EDT (2300 GMT), as seen during a live SpaceX live stream on their YouTube account.
After the vehicle, which was clearly charred on its outside, was hauled from the water to the deck of a SpaceX rescue vessel, the four joyful crew members were seen emerging one by one from the capsule's side door.
Before being led to a medical station on board for examinations at sea, each of the four stopped on the deck for a few seconds in front of the capsule to wave and offer thumbs up. They were then transported back to Cape Canaveral by helicopter for reunions with loved ones.