Crew Dragon Exits Station’s Approach Ellipsoid

Black and white infographic depicting the Crew Dragon return timeline from departure to splashdown.
This infographic illustrates the Crew Dragon return timeline from departure through splashdown. Click the image to view larger version. Image credit: SpaceX

SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft has exited the approach ellipsoid, an imaginary boundary surrounding the International Space Station. Four kilometers long, two kilometers wide, and two kilometers deep, the approach ellipsoid governs all vehicles coming or going from the orbiting laboratory.