SpaceX Crew Dragon Returns from Space Station on -1 Mission

Launch and Docking: The Crew Dragon spacecraft was launched atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on March 2, 2019, from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. After a successful launch, Crew Dragon autonomously approached and docked with the International Space Station a day later.

Stay at the ISS: The Crew Dragon spent several days attached to the ISS during its Demo-1 mission. During this time, astronauts aboard the ISS conducted tests and assessments of the spacecraft to evaluate its performance and safety.

Un-Docking: After a successful stay at the ISS, Crew Dragon was un-docked from the station on March 8, 2019, with the assistance of the station's robotic arm.

Deorbit Burn: To return to Earth, Crew Dragon performed a deorbit burn, a precisely calculated engine firing that reduced its velocity and trajectory to begin its descent.

Reentry and Atmospheric Entry: Crew Dragon re-entered Earth's atmosphere, and like previous spacecraft, it experienced intense heat and friction during the reentry phase. The heat shield of the spacecraft protected it from the extreme temperatures generated by reentry.