New York, Oct 26, (V7N) - In a significant milestone for space exploration, NASA's SpaceX Crew-8 has successfully returned to Earth after an impressive 235 days aboard the International Space Station (ISS), setting a new record for SpaceX missions. The crew, comprising NASA astronauts Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt, Jeanette Epps, and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin, splashed down off the coast of Florida just before 3:30 a.m. this morning.
 
"Crew-8 Returns: NASA astronauts Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt, Jeanette Epps, and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin celebrate their successful splashdown after a record-breaking mission."
 
Their return was delayed for two months due to technical issues with Boeing's Starliner spacecraft and the impact of Hurricane Milton. Upon recovery, the astronauts were taken to Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola for medical evaluations. While one crew member experienced a medical issue—details not disclosed for privacy—the crew member is in stable condition and remains at the facility as a precaution. The other three astronauts have since returned to NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston and were seen exiting the Dragon spacecraft in good spirits.
 
Originally, the crew was set to return two months earlier, but complications with the Starliner, including thruster issues and a helium leak during its first crewed test flight, led to the delays. Consequently, astronauts Sunita "Suni" Williams and Barry "Butch" Wilmore will remain aboard the ISS until 2025, affecting the timeline for the upcoming SpaceX Crew-9 mission.
 
As the Crew-8 astronauts reflect on their groundbreaking journey, the future of crewed spaceflight remains a topic of ongoing development and challenge. Updates on their recovery and subsequent missions will follow.
 
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