Things We Saw Today: The SpaceX Dragon Crew Have Returned Safely to Earth

Two months after they were launched into orbit, SpaceX’s crew Dragon has made a splashdown landing in the Gulf of Mexico just after 2:45 pm ET. Their capsule was quickly brought onto SpaceX’s GO Navigator recovery vessel, where the astronauts safely disembarked. This brings a successful conclusion to SpaceX’s first ever crewed mission, and marks the first time that a privately developed spacecraft has launched humans into orbit.

Astronauts Doug Hurley and Robert Behnken were welcomed home by mission control saying, “Thank you for flying SpaceX.” The successful mission marks the first time in nearly a decade that NASA has launched astronauts into space from from U.S. soil. NASA has been using Russian rockets launched from Kazakhstan to transport U.S. astronauts to the international space station after the U.S. space shuttle program closed its doors in 2011.

In a time when good news is hard to come by, it is thrilling to see the extraordinary capability and teamwork of NASA and SpaceX in achieving such a landmark mission. Congratulations to the team for bringing these astronauts home safely.

(via CNN, image: screencap/LA Times)

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• Even Annabelle is sick of quarantine:
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Wonder what Annabelle has been up to in quarantine? Happy National Doll Day! pic.twitter.com/E6Dq2TtaLi

— New Line Cinema (@newlinecinema) August 2, 2020

• Can chernobyl fungus be used as cosmic ray shields for astronauts? (via Syfy Wire)
• Here’s a great essay about the importance of Javicia Leslie’s upcoming turn as Batwoman. (via Autostraddle)
• RIP Cocoon actor and beloved spokesman Wilford Brimley.
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Awww Wilford Brimley. Our favorite warm, good guy, purveyor of truth and reason. A man you always trusted when watching him work. I met him a few times. A really nice human and great actor RIP pic.twitter.com/V6xKjmBVa6

— Barbara Crampton (@barbaracrampton) August 2, 2020

What are you seeing out there, Mary Suevians?

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Chelsea Steiner

Chelsea was born and raised in New Orleans, which explains her affinity for cheesy grits and Britney Spears. An pop culture journalist since 2012, her work has appeared on Autostraddle, AfterEllen, and more. Her beats include queer popular culture, film, television, republican clownery, and the unwavering belief that 'The Long Kiss Goodnight' is the greatest movie ever made. She currently resides in sunny Los Angeles, with her husband, 2 sons, and one poorly behaved rescue dog. She is a former roller derby girl and a black belt in Judo, so she is not to be trifled with. She loves the word “Jewess” and wishes more people used it to describe her.

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