The crew capsule undocked from the International Space Station this morning at 9:20 a.m. EST after an 18-day mission. Commander Michael López-Alegría, mission specialists Alper Gezeravcı and Marcus Wandt, and pilot Walter Villadei are on board, marking the first all-European private astronaut crew to return from the ISS after two weeks. They are expected to splashdown off the Florida coastline on Friday around 8:30 a.m.
The splashdown site is in the airspace near Jacksonville, Florida, according to the FAA. Initially scheduled for Tuesday, the undocking was delayed due to unfavorable weather conditions at the splashdown location. Axiom Space’s Chief Technology Officer, Mike Baine, stated that the company plans to launch its first module from Florida to the ISS by late 2026.