SpaceX Crew-8 Returns Safely After Record 235 Days in Orbit

The mission faced delays due to technical issues and weather, highlighting NASA's reliance on SpaceX amid Boeing setbacks.

The Crew-8 mission, consisting of three NASA astronauts and one Russian cosmonaut, splashed down near Pensacola, Florida, after an extended 235-day stay on the ISS.
Delays were caused by technical issues with Boeing's Starliner and Hurricane Milton, making this the longest crewed SpaceX mission to date.
NASA's reliance on SpaceX has increased due to recurring problems with Boeing's Starliner, which returned empty from a recent test flight.
Stranded astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore remain on the ISS, with their return postponed to February 2025 due to safety concerns.
SpaceX plans to move future splashdowns to the California coast in 2025 to improve weather conditions and reentry safety.