Private flight with 2 Saudi astronauts returns from space station with Gulf of Mexico splashdown

A private flight carrying two Saudi astronauts and other passengers returned to Earth late on May 30 night after a nine-day trip to the International Space Station.

A private flight carrying two Saudi astronauts and other passengers returned to Earth late on May 30 night after a nine-day trip to the International Space Station.

The SpaceX capsule carrying the four parachuted into the Gulf of Mexico, just off the Florida panhandle, 12 hours after undocking from the orbiting lab.

The Saudi government picked up the multimillion-dollar tab for its two astronauts: Rayyanah Barnawi, a stem cell researcher who became the first Saudi woman in space; and fighter pilot Ali al-Qarni.

Ms. Barnawi wiped away tears as she wrapped up her experiments and prepared to leave the space station.

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“Every story comes to an end and this is only the beginning of a new era for our country and our region,” she said on May 29.