The Polaris Dawn crew has successfully returned to Earth after completing a groundbreaking five-day mission in orbit, Okay.ng reports.
Led by billionaire entrepreneur Jared Isaacman, the all-American team included Sarah Gillis of SpaceX, Anna Menon, and Kidd Poteet.
The mission marked a significant milestone as the crew reached the highest altitude achieved by humans in over five decades.
It also represents the first time such an endeavor has been completed by a privately funded and operated mission.
The crew’s Dragon capsule made a safe splashdown off the coast of Florida on Sunday morning. The event was live-streamed by SpaceX, which announced on its X (formerly Twitter) handle:
“Splashdown of Dragon confirmed! Welcome back to Earth.”
Re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere is one of the most perilous phases of any space mission. The spacecraft faced extreme temperatures as it descended, caused by intense pressure and friction while traveling at speeds of approximately 17,000 miles per hour.
The crew was protected by the Dragon capsule’s advanced heat shield, ensuring their safety during the fiery return.
After splashdown, rescue teams promptly retrieved the capsule from the ocean, placing it onto a specialized recovery vessel known as the Dragon’s Nest.
Final safety checks were conducted on board before the crew disembarked and began their journey back to dry land.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) hailed the mission as “a giant leap forward” for the commercial space industry.
