<span style="color: #222222;">Two NASA astronauts have returned to Earth, successfully ending their historic two-month mission to stay on the space station. Astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken have returned in a dramatic, retro-style splashdown, their capsule parachuting into the Gulf of Mexico to close out an unprecedented test flight by Elon Musk's SpaceX company. <br />”<br />”It was the first splashdown by US astronauts in 45 years, with the first commercially built and operated spacecraft to carry people to and from orbit. The return clears the way for another SpaceX crew launch as early as next month and possible tourist flights next year.<br />”<br />”Shortly before the astronauts' return, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said, this is the next era in human spaceflight where NASA gets to be the customer.<br />”<br />”SpaceX needs six weeks to inspect the capsule before launching the next crew around the end of September. This next mission of four astronauts will spend a full six months aboard the space station.</span><br />