U.S. spaceship returns to Earth in Pacific Ocean splashdown

A commercial cargo ship, operated by private U.S. space firm SpaceX, splashed down in the Pacific Ocean Thursday afternoon, bringing back science samples and other goods from the International Space Station, U.S. space agency NASA said.

The Dragon capsule fell into the ocean about 250 kilometers southwest of Long Beach, California, where it was retrieved by SpaceX engineers. The splashdown occurred at 12:42 p.m. EDT (1642 GMT), marking the end of the California-based company's sixth cargo resupply mission to the orbital laboratory.

There were about 3,100 pounds, or about 1,400 kilograms, of cargo on board, including research on how spaceflight and microgravity affect the aging process and bone health.

"Spaceflight-induced health changes, such as decreases in muscle and bone mass, are a major challenge facing our astronauts, " Julie Robinson, NASA's chief scientist for the International Space Station Program Office said in a statement. "We investigate solutions on the station not only to keep astronauts healthy as the agency considers longer space exploration missions but also to help those on Earth who have limited activity as a result of aging or illness."

Spaceship Dragon was launched on April 14 on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida. It arrived at the space station three days later, with more than two metric tons of supplies and research equipment, including a coffee machine.

Its seventh cargo mission is scheduled for June 26. Endite