NASA's Crew-8 Astronauts Return After Delay

Four astronauts from NASA and Roscosmos have safely returned to Earth after an extended eight-month mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS), landing in the Gulf of Mexico off Pensacola, Florida. Their return, initially scheduled for two months ago, faced delays due to technical issues with Boeing's Starliner capsule, which returned empty in September, alongside disruptions caused by Hurricane Milton. The Crew-8 team, which included NASA astronauts Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt, and Jeanette Epps, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin, spent 232 days in space conducting vital research. The mission's findings aim to enhance astronaut health and advance space medicine, contributing to future explorations beyond low Earth orbit. Following their return, recovery teams promptly assisted the astronauts, who are now heading to NASA's Johnson Space Center for debriefing. Meanwhile, two other astronauts remain on the ISS, delayed until their expected return next year.