Description
The International Space Station's first visitors from India, Poland and Hungary have returned to Earth.
Their SpaceX capsule undocked from the orbiting lab on Monday, and splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego, California on Tuesday.
The privately financed mission marked the first time in more than 40 years that India, Poland and Hungary saw one of their own rocket into orbit. The three astronauts were accompanied by America's most experienced space flier, Peggy Whitson, who works for the Houston company that chartered the flight. They launched from Florida in late June.
India's Shubhanshu Shukla, Poland's Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski and Hungary's Tibor Kapu conducted dozens of experiments during their stay. They also fielded calls from their countries' prime ministers as well as schoolchildren.