Two U.S. astronauts, Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley, are about to make the first splashdown return in 45 years, and they’ll have seasick bags ready to use if needed while they wait to be picked up and transported to a SpaceX ship. Splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico is targeted for 2:48 a.m.. E.T.
It’s been 45 years since U.S. astronauts have attempted a splashdown return to earth, and according to the astronauts, it used make the crews a bit seasick, so they’ll have seasick bags along for the trip.
On Sunday afternoon the two American astronauts who ushered the United States back into launching rockets into space from American soil aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 to return to earth after launching May 30 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center and then docking the SpaceX Crew Dragon to the International Space Station.
There will be a slight adjustment due to inclement weather however. Tropical Storm Isaias is making it necessary for the crew to aim for the Gulf of Mexico just off the Florida Panhandle. Flight controllers are keeping close watch on Isaias, which is currently skirting up Florida’s east coast.
Feeling sick “is the way it is with a water landing,” he said during the crew’s final news conference from the International Space Station.
The Dragon will undock from the space station on Saturday in preparation for Sunday’s splashdown.
The return to earth will be handled by computers with the crew readymade to take over if anything took place call for that move, but that is highly unlikely.
SpaceX’s next manned flight is scheduled for the end of September, 2020.
