Two hours ago, a prototype spacecraft, designed by SpaceX to carry humans to the International Space Station, splashed down in the ocean under four parachutes. It marked the end of a historic test flight, and the first time since 2011 that a spacecraft designed to carry humans has taken off from US soil.

Dragon 1 floating near the ISS on a cargo supply mission.

The origins of the spacecraft, known as Crew Dragon, go back to the days of the space shuttle. When NASA phased the space shuttle out in 2011, they recognized the need for a replacement to take humans to the International Space Station (ISS). Thus, the Commercial Crew Program was created, which essentially contracted out astronaut transport to the ISS to companies. SpaceX began flying the Dragon 1 in 2010, designed to carry cargo and other supplies to the ISS. It was, at the time, the only cargo spacecraft that could return materials to the surface of Earth instead of just being discarded. They announced plans for the Dragon 2, which was to transition from carrying cargo to carrying humans to the ISS.

Crew Dragon docking at the station.

The idea for the Dragon 2 eventually morphed into the Crew Dragon, which is what is currently floating off the Florida coast, being recovered by a specialty team of technicians. After launching into space on March 2nd, the spacecraft rendezvoused and docked with the space station successfully. Because it was riding atop a Falcon 9, the

booster flying it into space was able to return to Earth and land successfully on board a barge. Once the spacecraft was at the ISS, the astronauts already aboard the space station began a check-out procedure of the spacecraft’s systems and vital functions.

Crew Dragon peering ominously over the Japanese laboratory aboard the ISS.

Earlier this morning, March 8th, the spacecraft undocked,  retreated away from its perch at the space station, and fired its engines to bring it back into the atmosphere. After falling through a fiery reentry, it deployed its four parachutes and splashed down successfully in the Atlantic Ocean.

The capsule used here will be cleaned and prepared for a second flight as part of an abort test, where engineers will test the ability for the capsule to escape from a damaged booster in the event of an emergency. The craft will fire its Draco engines to rapidly escape from the booster and likely splash down. Following this, the first flights with crew on board can commence and its service life will start. Boeing is developing a similar craft for the Commercial Crew Program, the Starliner, which will ride atop an Atlas V 512, and is hoped to make its first flight soon.