After 197 days on a mission in orbit, Thomas Pesquet’s space capsule was initially scheduled to return to Earth this Sunday. However, weather conditions forced the crew to postpone the splashdown.
After launching into space on April 24, Thomas Pesquet and his travel companions, Akihiko Hoshide, Shane Kimbrough, and Megan McArthur, are back on Earth.
Due to the weather situation, the crew’s departure from the ISS had to be postponed to Monday, November 8, at 8:05 PM.
After a 18-hour journey covering 408 km, the capsule is expected to splash down off the coast of Florida on Tuesday, November 9, at 4:33 AM.
#MissionAlpha: Due to strong winds over the splashdown area, the return to Earth of #Crew2, which includes @Thom_astro as one of the members, is now scheduled for Tuesday, November 9, around 4:33 AM CET.
Undocking is set for Monday, November 8, at 8:05 PM CET. https://t.co/Mstf5EXW8x
— ESA France (@ESA_fr) November 7, 2021
Once they arrive at their destination, the crew will have to undergo a multitude of tests to monitor their health status. These exams will reveal the impact a six-month stay in space may have had on the body.
The astronauts will then undergo three weeks of rehabilitation in Cologne, Germany. Thomas Pesquet will return to Houston in December.
The end of an amazing adventure: we are ready to return to Earth and reunite with our loved ones. I couldn’t have hoped for better teammates to go into space with. I said it on the launch pad, and I still firmly believe it after 6 months together in a tin can! pic.twitter.com/fzqGbjWS5h
— Thomas Pesquet (@Thom_astro) November 6, 2021
For enthusiasts, it is possible to follow the event on NASA’s website.
