‘That was one heck of a ride,’ said NASA astronaut Nicole Mann after landing into the Gulf of Mexico

The first Native woman in space and Crew-5 returned to Earth Saturday evening after five months on the International Space Station.

The SpaceX Dragon capsule splashed down off the coast of Florida near Tampa after nearly a 19-hour journey.

“That was one heck of a ride,” Commander Nicole Mann, Wailacki of Round Valley Tribes, radioed after splashing into the Gulf of Mexico at 16mph. “Looking forward to next time.”

She logged 157 days in space, her first spaceflight.

Mann said she couldn’t wait to feel the wind on her face, smell fresh grass and enjoy some delicious Earth food.

She and the crew — NASA astronaut John Cassada, astronaut Koichi Wakata of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Anna Kikina — made the space station their home since October where they conducted scientific research for future space exploration and life on Earth.

Besides dodging space junk, the astronauts had to deal with a pair of leaking Russian capsules docked to the orbiting outpost and the urgent delivery of a replacement craft for the station’s other crew members.

The @SpaceX Crew Dragon Endurance spacecraft is seen as it returns from space with #Crew5 @NASA_Astronauts @AstroDuke, @astro_josh, @JAXA_en’s @Astro_Wakata, and @Roscosmos cosmonaut Anna Kikina, after 157 days aboard @SpaceStation! ?https://t.co/mUrCcP7kLW pic.twitter.com/uFfl1nSqvI

— NASA HQ PHOTO (@nasahqphoto) March 12, 2023

Welcome home #Crew5! @NASA_Astronauts @AstroDuke, @astro_josh, @JAXA_en’s @Astro_Wakata, and @Roscosmos cosmonaut Anna Kikina are seen inside the @SpaceX Crew Dragon Endurance after splashdown off the coast of Florida. Check back for more images: https://t.co/mUrCcP7kLW pic.twitter.com/nCvoUk8fSN

— NASA HQ PHOTO (@nasahqphoto) March 12, 2023

Parachutes are now deployed. So cool how you can see them open up!

— Jourdan Bennett-Begaye (@jourdanbb) March 12, 2023

After splashing down in the ocean, Crew-5 was taken out of the capsule on a stretcher, one of the many recovery activities they will have to undergo, due to the change in gravity.

Crew-5 was flown to Houston to reunite with their families after six months.

That moment when you see your loved ones face-to-face for the first time in 6 months. ?

After splashing down Saturday, #Crew5 returned to Houston where they were greeted by their friends and family. pic.twitter.com/hZVu7NongU

— NASA Astronauts (@NASA_Astronauts) March 13, 2023

Earlier in the week, high wind and waves in the splashdown zones kept them at the station a few extra days. Their replacements, Crew-6, arrived more than a week ago.

Remaining behind at the space station are three Americans, three Russians and one from the United Arab Emirates.

Wakata, Japan’s spaceflight champion, now has logged more than 500 days in space over five missions dating back to NASA’s shuttle era.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.