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After spending 157 days in space, four astronauts have safely returned to Earth aboard the SpaceX Dragon capsule.

The spacecraft carried the Crew-5 quartet, which consisted of NASA astronauts Nicole Mann and engineer Josh Cassada, JAXA astronaut and engineer Koichi Wakata, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Anna Kikina, to their splashdown site off the coast of Tampa, Florida.

The crew's return to Earth was met with excitement and relief as the Dragon spacecraft made a gentle splashdown in the Atlantic Ocean. Images and videos of the descent show the slow and graceful movement of the vehicle as it descended toward the water.

SpaceX Dragon capsule splashdown

Nicole Mann, the captain of the ship, made history as the first Native American woman to fly in space. The crew's return to Earth marks the completion of their successful mission to the International Space Station, which began on November 11, 2022. This was the fifth operational mission and SpaceX safe return. The sixth crew is currently stationed at the ISS.

The Dragon spacecraft's journey back to Earth was no easy feat. The spacecraft entered Earth's atmosphere traveling at a speed of about 17,000 mph (27,000 km/h).

The friction of particles in the atmosphere created a drag force, slowing it down drastically while heating the outside of the capsule to temperatures nearly as hot as the sun.

Despite the extreme temperatures, the crew was protected by a heat shield. However, the spacecraft doesn't look as pristine after its return, as it did before launch. Previous spacecraft that made the came back from space missions have shown evidence of wear and tear from their fiery reentry phase.

The Dragon capsule's four parachutes were deployed before the splashdown, which helped to ensure a gentle landing. Once the spacecraft landed in the water, a search and recovery crew were waiting nearby on SpaceX's Shannon recovery ship. They helped the crew out of the capsule and hoisted the spacecraft out of the water.

The capsule is now being inspected by SpaceX and NASA teams. And the crew was checked out by the medical team.

The successful return of the Crew-5 quartet marks another milestone for SpaceX as the company continues to make strides in space exploration. The safe return of the astronauts also serves as a reminder of the incredible feats that humans can achieve when working together towards a common goal.