SpaceX Dragon Capsule Recovery: Crew-11 Hoisted Aboard Recovery Ship

Crew-11 Return to Earth

• 🚀 The final phases of the Crew-11 return to Earth are captured, following an on-time splashdown at 12:41 a.m. Pacific time.
• 🌊 Recovery operations are proceeding nominally, with the recovery vessel approaching the Dragon spacecraft.

Dragon Capsule Hoisting Procedure

• ⚓ The Dragon spacecraft is being hoisted out of the Pacific Ocean onto the recovery vessel's on-deck cradle, known as the "nest."
• ⏱️ Approximately 5 minutes before the capsule lift, the crew inside Dragon Endeavor were updated on the timeline.
• ⚙️ A powerful hydraulic lift mechanism is used to bring the capsule out of the water and into the nest for crew extraction.

Post-Splashdown Operations

• 👨‍⚕️ Once secured in the nest, the capsule will be oriented for side-hatch access, and a SpaceX medical doctor will be the first to check on the crew members.
• 🚢 The Dragon capsule will remain in the nest for the journey back to port.
• 🐬 Dolphins were observed near the capsule lights during the recovery operations.

Recovery Team Expertise

• ✅ The successful recovery is attributed to calm sea states, good weather, and the swift, skilled efforts of the NASA and SpaceX recovery teams.
• 🗺️ The process involves precise alignment and attachment of straps and rings before the capsule is lifted.