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SpaceX capsule with ailing astronaut, three crewmates splashes down off California

By Thomson Reuters Jan 15, 2026 | 2:58 AM

LOS ANGELES, Jan 15 (Reuters) – A SpaceX capsule carrying ‍a four-member crew home from orbit in an emergency return to earth ‌necessitated by an ‌undisclosed serious medical condition afflicting one of the astronauts splashed down safely ​early on Wednesday in the ‍Pacific Ocean ​off California.

The ​Crew Dragon capsule parachuted ‍into calm seas off San Diego at about 12:45 a.m. EST (0845 GMT), ‍capping a 10-hour-plus descent from the International Space ‍Station ‍and fiery ​re-entry through ​Earth’s ⁠atmosphere, carried live ‌by a joint NASA-SpaceX webcast.

(Reporting by Steve Gorman in Los Angeles; Editing by Aidan ⁠Lewis)