Space Capsule Splashes Down

A private unmanned spacecraft returned safely Sunday from a pioneering resupply mission to the international space station, splashing down as scheduled with returning cargo in the Pacific Ocean. Space Exploration Technologies Corp.'s Dragon capsule came back roughly three weeks after it made the first regular commercial delivery of supplies to the orbiting laboratory. On the return leg, it was crammed with nearly a ton of material, including science experiments, medical samples previously collected from astronauts, and various station components. The capsule landed about 250 miles off the Baja California coast. Elon Musk, Space X's founder, chairman and chief technical officer, said in a statement that the reliability of Space X's technology and the strength of partnership with NASA provide a strong foundation for future missions and achievements to come. During the launch earlier this month, one of nine main, liquid-fueled engines on the Falcon 9 rocket, which put Dragon into space, suffered a malfunction and was automatically shut down to prevent greater damage. The remaining first-stage engines had enough power to carry Dragon to the correct orbit.