WASHINGTON: An astronaut crew that carried out an eight-month mission aboard the International Space Station splashed down as planned Thursday off the coast of California.
After a more than 27-hour return journey, the Dragon capsule carrying Crew-12 landed safely in the Pacific Ocean, according to space agency Nasa's live broadcast.
"We are so excited to be back on planet Earth after an incredible mission on the International Space Station," said American astronaut Jessica Meir, the mission commander.
The spacecraft was then hoisted onto a specialised ship, and the four occupants -- Meir, American Jack Hathaway, French astronaut Sophie Adenot and Russian cosmonaut Andrei Fedyaev -- were helped out one by one.
