In the early hours of Sunday, May 25, 2025, SpaceX’s Dragon CRS-32 capsule successfully completed its resupply mission to the International Space Station (ISS), landing in the Pacific Ocean near the coast of Oceanside, California.
The spacecraft’s return created a stunning nighttime spectacle for residents across California, with many witnessing its fiery reentry into the atmosphere and hearing the sonic boom caused by its deceleration as it approached landing.
Launched on April 21, 2025, aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center, the Dragon CRS-32 carried approximately 3,040 kg of supplies, including food, equipment, and scientific experiments for the ISS. After about a month docked at the station, the capsule undocked on May 23 to begin its journey back to Earth.
During reentry, around 10:45 p.m. PDT (2:45 a.m. BRT), the spacecraft was visible across various regions of California. Videos shared on social media showed its glowing trajectory lighting up the night sky. The sonic boom, caused by the capsule’s rapid deceleration upon entering Earth’s atmosphere, was heard by many in Southern California, adding excitement to the event.
Source and images: X @OC_Scanner | @SpaceX
