Three astronauts embark on historic underwater expedition to explore the ocean's deepest trenches.

Four Space Tourists Return to Earth After Private SpaceX Flight Over the Poles

Four private space tourists safely returned to Earth on Tuesday after a historic five-day journey aboard a SpaceX spacecraft. The quartet, who paid an estimated $55 million each for the privilege, orbited the planet and flew over the North and South Poles as part of the first-ever all-civilian mission to the International Space Station.

The SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft, named Inspiration4, splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Florida at around 8:00 am Eastern Time. The four passengers, including a cancer survivor, a businessman, a data engineer, and a physician assistant, were greeted by SpaceX recovery team members and will undergo a medical evaluation before being released.

The Inspiration4 mission marked a major milestone in the commercial space industry, as it was the first time a privately funded spacecraft carried a crew of civilians to space. The mission was a partnership between SpaceX and the non-profit organization St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, with a portion of the proceeds going towards the hospital's work in pediatric cancer research.

During their time in space, the four passengers conducted scientific experiments and enjoyed the breathtaking views of the Earth's curvature. They also had to endure the physical and mental challenges of space travel, including weightlessness, isolation, and the intense G-forces experienced during liftoff and re-entry.

The Inspiration4 mission was a test run for SpaceX's plans to launch a commercial space station, known as Starship, which is expected to carry both people and cargo to the orbiting outpost. The company is also working towards establishing a human settlement on the Moon and Mars in the coming years.

The successful return of the four space tourists marks a significant step forward in the development of commercial space travel, and paves the way for future missions that will carry both professional astronauts and private citizens to space.