NASA and SpaceX Crew-5 Mission Abandoned Safely the International Space Station (ISS) in the early hours of Saturday to travel back to Earth with its four occupants, who have landed aboard a capsule in waters near Florida (USA) after spending almost six months in space.

Between the four mission astronauts was cosmonaut Anna Kikina, 38, who has become the first Russian to fly on a US spacecraft in 20 years. Also present was NASA Flight Commander Nicole Aunapu Mann, 45, the first Native American woman sent into orbit.

A space mission that also featured NASA pilot Josh Cassada, 49, and Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata, 59, a veteran of four previous space flights.

The Crew-5 team left Florida for the International Space Station on October 6 for perform routine scientific activities.

The Crew Dragon spacecraft, a capsule designed to be launched on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rockets, endured frictional heat that sent temperatures outside the capsule soaring to 1,930 degrees Celsius.

Two sets of parachutes were deployed to slow the descent of the capsule at 24 kilometers per hour just before splashdown. Through social networks they have retransmitted how was the moment in which they landed safely in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Tampa, Florida, after 157 days in space.

The Shannon recovery ship equipment, including two fast boats, are taking charge of securing and ensuring the spacecraft is safe for the recovery effort. As the fast boat crews complete their work, the recovery boat will move into position to hoist Dragon onto the main Shannon deck with the astronauts inside.

“Once on the main deck, the crew will be removed from the spacecraft and receive medical check-ups before a helicopter ride to Tampa to board a plane to Houston,” NASA reported on its website.