4 Astronauts from Four Countries Return to Earth after Six Months in Orbit

Four astronauts from four countries caught a lift back to Earth with SpaceX on Tuesday to end a half-year mission at the International Space Station.

A capsule carrying the four astronauts splashed down off the southern US state of Florida on Tuesday. Their capsule streaked across the US in the predawn darkness and splashed into the Gulf of Mexico. They moved into the space station last August. Their replacements arrived last week in their own SpaceX capsule.