NASA's Space-X Dragon Capsule Returns To Earth, Passing Green Country

People across Green Country got to see something extraordinary in the sky around 4:30 a.m. on March 12: NASA's Space-X Dragon Capsule returning to Earth.

Spectators all along a path stretching from Nebraska to Mississippi captured pictures and videos to share.

News On 6 talked to several people, and they all said they were shocked to see the capsule pass by so clearly, leaving them with a different perspective on life.

"All of a sudden, I could see it coming from the west there across the sky and it was like, 'Oh, I couldn't have missed that,’” said Samantha Lee from Bristow. “It was huge and bright and had like a pink hue to it, so it was like really pretty, too."

Lee is a photographer and said she is glad she was able to capture the moment from her backyard.

"I was in kindergarten when the Challenger exploded, and then the Columbia exploded as a young adult, and so a lot of what I remember from space exploration or whatever is the negative part of it, so to see this and see how far technology has come,” said Lee.

Derek Smith from Bixby said the whole experience is a learning moment he passed on to his kids.

"Depends on which level of child you're talking about,” said Smith. “The six-year-old, it was just a spaceship coming back to earth, and my older sons, I got into a little bit, like the speed it was traveling, and there's people on it and stuff and how cool it was."

Smith said seeing the successful return gives him a different perspective.

"Whenever I think of looking at earth from the outside and looking in, it's like it just makes me feel more humble and grateful to be in this planet and be alive,” said Smith.

Melissa Newkirk from Tulsa said she is grateful the four-passenger crew made it home safely and thanks them for their important work.

“They're doing something great and for the rest of us to learn more and do more,” said Newkirk.

Everyone News On 6 talked to also said they are impressed that the mission was a public-private partnership, and they cannot wait to see the future of space exploration.