🪂 Main parachutes deployed! ✅

Four chutes are now slowing Dragon Freedom down for the final descent towards the Pacific Ocean. 🌊

#εpsilon

🪂 Drogue parachutes deployed ✅

The two drogues help slow and stabilise Dragon before the four main parachutes deploy.

#εpsilon

Signal acquired! 📡✅
Dragon Freedom is back in contact as Sophie and her Crew-12 crewmates continue their descent towards the Pacific Ocean.

#εpsilon

🔥 Dragon has reoriented, with its heat shield now facing Earth to protect the spacecraft from the extreme temperatures generated during atmospheric re-entry.

📡 Communications with Crew-12 are temporarily interrupted as Dragon flies through the plasma generated around the spacecraft.
#εpsilon

Dragon trunk jettison ✅
Dragon nosecone closed ✅
Next up: atmospheric re-entry. 🔥

The crew is securely restrained and their visors are down. Go Dragon! #εpsilon

🔥 Deorbit burn complete! ✅

Dragon Freedom has fired its thrusters to leave orbit and begin the final descent back to Earth, carrying ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot and her Crew-12 crewmates home. 🌍 #εpsilon

Check out our infographic for the next steps on the journey home👇

Nice views of Sophie Adenot and the Crew-12 members inside the Dragon Freedom spacecraft!
Next step: deorbit burn! #εpsilon

In about 1 hour, at 14:20 GMT/16:20 CEST, join us live as ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot and her Crew-12 crewmates return to Earth! 🌍

Next stop for Dragon Freedom: splashdown. 🌊

📺 watch.esa.int + ESA’s #YouTube channel #εpsilon

More information: www.esa.int/Science_Expl...

🔊Prossima fermata: la Terra

L'infografica per scoprire le tappe principali del viaggio di ritorno, della durata di quasi 28 ore, di Sophie 👩‍🚀e compagni di equipaggio. Il viaggio si concluderà domani con l'ammaraggio al largo delle coste della California. 🪂🌊 #εpsilon
@exploration.esa.int 👇

Bon voyage Sophie!
Splashdown off the coast of California is scheduled on 8 October at 15:34 GMT/17:34 CEST.

Once back on solid ground for the first time in about 8 months, Sophie will then make her way to ESA's European Astronaut Center in Cologne 🇩🇪.

🔗 www.esa.int/Science_Expl... #εpsilon

Next stop: Earth. 🌍

Dragon Freedom has safely exited the Keep-Out Sphere and the approach ellipsoid around the Station.

Check out this infographic for the major steps of the roughly 27.5-hour journey home, ending with splashdown off the coast of California tomorrow. 🪂🌊

#εpsilon

🔴 Almost time to go! 👋
Sophie Adenot and her Crew-12 crewmates are inside Dragon Freedom and ready to undock from the International Space Station and begin their journey back to Earth.
Undocking is scheduled for 12:05 GMT / 14:05 CEST.

📺 watch.esa.int + ESA’s #YouTube channel #εpsilon

Sophie Adenot was last to get into her seat. With the hatch now closed, Crew-12 members are preparing to undock and begin their journey home. After nearly eight months in orbit, Earth is next.

Undocking is scheduled NET 12:05 GMT/14:05 CEST (livestreaming starts at 11:45 GMT/13:45 CEST) 👋🛰️
#εpsilon

Time to go home! ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot and her Crew-12 crewmates are helping each other don their pressure suits inside Dragon Freedom, the spacecraft that will bring them back to Earth after nearly eight months aboard the International Space Station.
#εpsilon

👩‍🚀🌍 One final crew conference before @esa.int astronaut Sophie Adenot returns to Earth.

This special moment connected Sophie with some of the many people who have supported her #εpsilon mission from the ground.

🔗 blogs.esa.int/exploration/...

"Day 235, orbit 3653 – This is the end of the orbital chapter of the #εpsilon mission, but I look forward to continuing to share my experience with you.
 
But first: undocking, splashdown, flying back to Europe and getting adjusted to 1G!" says @esa.int astronaut Sophie Adenot.

🎥 ESA/NASA

Watch live as ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot and Crew-12 return from their nearly eight-month mission aboard the International Space Station! Undocking is currently scheduled NET 7 October at 12:05 GMT/14:05 CEST.

📺 More information and broadcast start times ➡️ www.esa.int/Science_Expl... #εpsilon

"Day 234, orbit 3627 — I’ll soon have my feet back on Earth, but I definitely plan to keep sharing the beauty of our planet w/ you. I still have a few photos in store… 😉
This heart 💚 is the small Croatian island of Galešnjak", says @esa.int astronaut Sophie Adenot.

📸 ESA/NASA – S. Adenot #εpsilon

"Day 233, orbit 3612 — These last few days before departure are full of special moments… After more than 2 months at the helm of the Station, Jessica handed over command to Pyotr, who arrived w/ Anna and Anil in July aboard Soyuz MS-29", says @esa.int astronaut Sophie Adenot.

📸 ESA/NASA #εpsilon

"Day 232, orbit 3596 – Yoohoo! Crew-13 has arrived! It feels so good to welcome new crewmates aboard the Station 😄" says @esa.int astronaut Sophie Adenot! #εpsilon