<p>Four astronauts just returned from the International Space Station described on Thursday their reentry into Earth's atmosphere and ocean splashdown after more than 160 days in space.</p>.<p>A SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule carrying the crew back to Earth splashed down off Florida early Sunday in NASA's first nighttime ocean landing in more than 50 years.</p>.<p>"There was a point where I was just saying to myself, breathe. Inhale, because I felt really heavy -- I felt like those cartoons when they experience G and your face is just sagging down," said American Victor Glover, one of the astronauts in the group called Crew-1.</p>.<p>It was the first regular mission to be taken and then returned from the ISS aboard a spacecraft built by billionaire Elon Musk's company.</p>.<p>"I expected it to be so dynamic -- and so challenging -- that the actual event I think, was a little less than what I was expecting, and so it was enjoyable all around," Glover said.</p>.<p>The weight of acceleration was concentrated in the chest, making it difficult to breathe.</p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/spacex-successfully-lands-starship-rocket-982839.html" target="_blank">Read | SpaceX successfully lands Starship rocket</a></strong></p>.<p>But then, "launch and entry are such unique experiences," he said.</p>.<p>NASA has contracted SpaceX to launch astronauts into space from US soil, something that has not been possible since 2011 with the end of space shuttle program.</p>.<p>Since that time until now NASA was forced to pay for rides to the ISS aboard Russian Soyuz vessels, which land on dry land.</p>.<p>"Landing in the water was interesting because none of us really knew what to expect, but I would say from my standpoint, it felt a little bit softer than landing on land," said US astronaut Shannon Walker.</p>.<p>"You spend less time under a parachute on the Dragon than you do under the Soyuz," he said.</p>.<p>Soon, space "tourists" -- civilians who are not professional astronauts -- will take their places on Dragon.</p>.<p>US astronaut Mike Hopkins believes that space tourists will be able to handle the rough reentry rides.</p>.<p>After the civilians go through some centrifuge training "it's not going to be completely unique to them," he said.</p>.<p>Japanese astronaut Soichi Noguchi said the landing was pretty smooth.</p>.<p>"Impact was very, very minimal, and right after splashdown. We feel the waves, we come back to the water planet.</p>.<p>"That's a great feeling."</p>
<p>Four astronauts just returned from the International Space Station described on Thursday their reentry into Earth's atmosphere and ocean splashdown after more than 160 days in space.</p>.<p>A SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule carrying the crew back to Earth splashed down off Florida early Sunday in NASA's first nighttime ocean landing in more than 50 years.</p>.<p>"There was a point where I was just saying to myself, breathe. Inhale, because I felt really heavy -- I felt like those cartoons when they experience G and your face is just sagging down," said American Victor Glover, one of the astronauts in the group called Crew-1.</p>.<p>It was the first regular mission to be taken and then returned from the ISS aboard a spacecraft built by billionaire Elon Musk's company.</p>.<p>"I expected it to be so dynamic -- and so challenging -- that the actual event I think, was a little less than what I was expecting, and so it was enjoyable all around," Glover said.</p>.<p>The weight of acceleration was concentrated in the chest, making it difficult to breathe.</p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/spacex-successfully-lands-starship-rocket-982839.html" target="_blank">Read | SpaceX successfully lands Starship rocket</a></strong></p>.<p>But then, "launch and entry are such unique experiences," he said.</p>.<p>NASA has contracted SpaceX to launch astronauts into space from US soil, something that has not been possible since 2011 with the end of space shuttle program.</p>.<p>Since that time until now NASA was forced to pay for rides to the ISS aboard Russian Soyuz vessels, which land on dry land.</p>.<p>"Landing in the water was interesting because none of us really knew what to expect, but I would say from my standpoint, it felt a little bit softer than landing on land," said US astronaut Shannon Walker.</p>.<p>"You spend less time under a parachute on the Dragon than you do under the Soyuz," he said.</p>.<p>Soon, space "tourists" -- civilians who are not professional astronauts -- will take their places on Dragon.</p>.<p>US astronaut Mike Hopkins believes that space tourists will be able to handle the rough reentry rides.</p>.<p>After the civilians go through some centrifuge training "it's not going to be completely unique to them," he said.</p>.<p>Japanese astronaut Soichi Noguchi said the landing was pretty smooth.</p>.<p>"Impact was very, very minimal, and right after splashdown. We feel the waves, we come back to the water planet.</p>.<p>"That's a great feeling."</p>