The return of two American astronauts from the space station will mark NASA’s first crewed splashdown since 1975, but it may miss the August 2 target date.
After a two-month stay at the International Space Station, NASA astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken will soon return to Earth in SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft in what will be the first-ever crewed return trip for the vehicle, and the first NASA splashdown in 45 years. The American space agency is targeting August 1 for the undocking, with the splashdown occurring the following day. But concern over a developing weather system that could cause conditions to deteriorate in the splash zones near Florida may cause the trip to be delayed. NASA officials discussed the final preparations for the Crew Dragon’s return journey in a meeting on Wednesday, July 30.
