The capsule sent crucial supplies to the ISS and has now returned with scientific data

Oct 30, 2012 13:24 GMT  ·  By

After spending three weeks parked at the International Space Station, SpaceX's Dragon capsule has splashed down in the Pacific Ocean completing a historic mission, the first commercial resupply mission to the ISS.

The mission went without a hitch, as far as the resupply part and the Dragon capsule are concerned.

There is still the issue of the failed engine of the Falcon 9 rocket that resulted in the secondary payload, the OG2 satellite to be deployed at a lower altitude than intended causing it to burn into the atmosphere.

The Dragon detached from the ISS and began its descent. It deployed its parachutes after entering the thicker atmosphere and glided down to a water landing in the Pacific.

The SpaceX recovery team was nearby, quickly located the craft and loaded it onto a ship. The Dragon is on its way to Los Angeles and then to Texas where the science experiments and other material sent down from space will be unloaded.

The Dragon detaching from the ISS – at 15x video speed

The Dragon detaching from the ISS – at normal video speed

The Dragon spashing down in the Pacific, video from the Space X recovery team

The Dragon landing (3 Images)

The Dragon capsule parachuting down to Earth
The Dragon floating in the PacificThe Dragon safely abord the ship that will carry it to shore
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