SpaceX's First Commercial Crew Returns to Earth

Spacex Tourists Return to Earth After Historic Flight

Four civilians who spent three days aboard the International Space Station have safely returned to Earth after a historic journey that marked a major milestone in commercial space travel.

The SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, named "Freedom," splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean at 10:47am EST (3:47pm GMT) on Sunday, bringing an end to the 11-day mission.

The four passengers, who were part of the Inspiration4 mission, were Anousheh Ansari, a businesswoman and space enthusiast; Chris Sembroski, a software engineer; Sian Proctor, a geologist and astronaut candidate; and Hayley Arceneaux, a physician assistant and former NASA intern.

The group, who were all strangers before the mission, were chosen from a pool of thousands of applicants to be part of the first-ever all-civilian crew to venture into space.

During their time on the ISS, the crew members conducted scientific experiments, took part in educational activities, and enjoyed the breathtaking views of the Earth from the cupola of the space station.

The Inspiration4 mission marked a significant achievement for SpaceX, which has been working towards making commercial space travel a reality. The company's CEO, Elon Musk, has stated that the goal is to make space travel accessible to anyone, regardless of their background or financial means.

The successful return of the crew and the historic nature of the mission have sparked excitement and interest in space travel, with many believing that this could be the start of a new era in commercial space exploration.

The Inspiration4 mission was sponsored by Jared Isaacman, a billionaire entrepreneur and space enthusiast, who paid for the entire mission in order to make it possible for the four passengers to experience the thrill of space travel.