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SpaceX ferried three U.S. astronauts and one German one from the International Space Station to Earth on Friday with a splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico.

Why it matters: Just hours after bringing the astronauts back to the planet, SpaceX launched 53 new Starlink internet satellites into orbit from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

On board SpaceX's Dragon capsule was NASA’s Chari, Tom Marshburn and Kayla Barron, and the European Space Agency’s Matthias Maurer.

Go deeper: Jessica Watkins makes history as first Black woman on ISS crew

SpaceX brings four astronauts back to Earth

Hours later, SpaceX launched 53 new satellites into orbit from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule in the Gulf of Mexico on May 6.

The SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule in the Gulf of Mexico on May 6. Photo: Aubrey Gemignani/NASA via Getty Images

SpaceX

Space

SpaceX ferried three U.S. astronauts and one German one from the International Space Station to Earth on Friday with a splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico.Why it matters: Just hours after bringing the astronauts back to the planet, SpaceX launched 53 new Starlink internet satellites into orbit from NASA&#x27;s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

News and analysis of the scientific advances fueling AI and quantum computing, revolutionizing biology and medicine, and tackling climate change. Science is changing the world and colliding with the global politics that shape it.

Science

SpaceX brings four astronauts back to Earth

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