NASA Crew Dragon Pilot Tom Marshburn ’82 Returns From Third Space Mission
The crew of Crew Dragon “Endurance” shortly after splashdown early this morning in the Gulf of Mexico: (L to R) European Space Agency Astronaut Matthias Maurer and NASA astronauts Tom Marshburn, pilot and a Davidson alum; Raja Chari, commander; and Kayla Barron.
Astronaut Tom Marshburn, a 1982 Davidson alum and Pilot of the Crew Dragon “Endurance,” returned to earth with three fellow crew members today, a little after midnight. They spent 177 days in space and conducted five spacewalks, along with a host of experiments around disease and infection, growing plants without soil and effects of long-duration spaceflight.
“Endurance” splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico, and the astronauts were helped aboard SpaceX’s recovery ship. This was Marshburn’s third mission, and he has logged a total of 339 days in space and five spacewalks. It was the first spaceflight for NASA astronauts Kayla Barron and “Endurance” Commander Raja Chari, as well as European Space Agency astronaut Matthias Maurer.
NASA Crew Dragon “Endurance” Pilot Tom Marshburn, a 1982 Davidson graduate, waves early this morning as he is helped off of the spaceship and aboard SpaceX’s recovery ship after 177 days in space.
NASA Crew Dragon “Endurance” is brought aboard the SpaceX recovery ship after splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico this morning. The four-person crew includes Davidson alum Tom Marshburn, the ship’s pilot.
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