Washington, January 15 (QNA) - A SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft safely splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of the US state of California today, carrying a four-member crew on an emergency return to Earth after one of the astronauts suffered an acute medical condition.

The company said the capsule descended by parachute into calm Pacific waters off San Diego, concluding a landing operation that lasted more than 10 hours from the International Space Station back to Earth. The spacecraft's re-entry through the atmosphere was accompanied by intense friction and heating.

This marks the first time that the US space agency, NASA, has ended a mission aboard the International Space Station due to a medical emergency. The agency did not disclose the nature of the health issue affecting the crew member. (QNA)