SpaceX Dragon returns to Earth from space station, parachutes into Pacific with experiments

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The SpaceX Dragon is back on Earth.

The commercial cargo ship splashed into the Pacific on Sunday, just five hours after leaving the International Space Station. It brought back 3,500 pounds of science samples and old equipment for NASA.

SpaceX said the Dragon capsule came down off Mexico’s Baja California coast. The company is based in Southern California.

The Dragon spent a month at the orbiting lab, delivering a full shipment on Easter Sunday. Astronaut Steven Swanson, the station commander, used the big robot arm to set the Dragon free.

It’s the only supply ship capable of returning items to Earth. The others burn up on re-entry.

This was the fourth Dragon capsule to bring back station goods.

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