SpaceX capsule with world's first all-civilian orbital crew heads for splashdown

SpaceX capsule with world
# 19 September 2021 03:37 (UTC +04:00)

The quartet of citizen astronauts comprising the SpaceX Inspiration4 mission began their descent from space en route to a splashdown in the Atlantic on Saturday to complete a three-day flight of the first all-civilian crew ever launched into Earth orbit, APA reports quoting Reuters.

In preparation fortheir return to Earth, the SpaceX Crew Dragon vehicle conducted two rocket thruster "burns" on Friday to lower its altitude and line up the capsule's trajectory with the targeted landing zone.

Early on Saturday, the crew donned their helmeted flight suits and made final cabin preparations as the spacecraft continued its autonomous sequence of return maneuvers, including separation from the vehicle's lower auxiliary trunk to expose the capsule's heat shield.

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THE OPERATION IS BEING PERFORMED