‘Heck of a ride’: SpaceX’s Inspiration4 crew returns safely to Earth after historic mission

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — The first all-civilian space crew splashed down off Florida’s coast on Saturday.

The SpaceX Inspiration4 crew spent three days orbiting Earth before their return to the Space Coast.

READ: SpaceX Inspiration4 launch: 10 stunning photos captured by skygazers

The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft splashed into the ocean shortly after 7 p.m.

Cheers were heard as the four-member crew returned safely to conclude their historic mission.

First out of the vessel was St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital physician assistant and cancer survivor Hayley Areceneaux.

READ: WATCH: SpaceX successfully launches first all-civilian mission

Other crew members included U.S. Air Force veteran and lifelong space fan Christopher Sembroski, entrepreneur and geologist Sian Proctor and Shift 4 Payments CEO Jared Isaacman.

The crew and mission intended to raise $200 million to expand St. Jude’s childhood cancer research and netted has raised around $154 million.

All four crew members received commercial astronaut training by SpaceX, which included lessons in orbital mechanics, stress testing and emergency preparedness.

The mission included ultrasounds samples and various in-flight health experiments on the human bodies of ordinary citizens who have not been previously screened and extensively trained as professionals.

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Cox Media Group