NASA's SpaceX Crew-12 mission returns to Earth after nearly eight months in space

NASA's SpaceX Crew-12 mission returned to Earth on Thursday after nearly eight months aboard the International Space Station (ISS), with the four-member crew splashing down safely in the Pacific Ocean, according to NASA.

The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft undocked from the ISS at 8:05 a.m. Wednesday Eastern Time (1205 GMT) and completed its more than 27-hour return journey with a splashdown at 11:34 a.m. Thursday Eastern Time (1534 GMT) off the coast of Los Angeles, California, marking the end of the mission.

The crew, consisting of NASA astronauts Jessica Meir, the mission commander, and Jack Hathaway; European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev, were assisted out of the capsule one by one.

"We are so excited to be back on planet Earth after an incredible mission on the International Space Station," Meir said.

Launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on February 13, the crew spent 237 days aboard the ISS, conducting scientific experiments and technology demonstrations.

During the mission, Adenot became the first French female astronaut to perform a spacewalk outside the space station. She completed three spacewalks on August 18 and 25 and September 1.

Last week, four new crew members arrived at the ISS and are expected to remain aboard the orbiting laboratory for about six months.

Continuously inhabited for the past quarter-century, the aging ISS is scheduled to be deorbited and brought down into one of Earth's oceans around 2030.

(With input from agencies)