Washington - The private space cargo carrier Dragon returned to Earth on Saturday, finishing its fourth official trip to the International Space Station and splashing down into the Pacific Ocean west of Mexico's Baja California peninsula.
Dragon will be recovered and brought to land in a port near Los Angeles.
Dragon delivered nearly 2 300 kilograms of supplies and experiments to the station after its September launch - including 20 mice who have been dubbed “Mousetronauts.”
It also delivered a 3D printer.
Dragon carried home 1 500 kilograms of scientific experiments and other material.
SpaceX and Boeing have been tasked by Nasa to fly US astronauts into space beginning in 2017 - the first commercial spacecraft to do so.
Since retiring its aging shuttle fleet in 2011, Nasa has had to rely on Russia's Soyuz to ferry its astronauts to the ISS. - Sapa-dpa