NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 mission returned safely to Earth after 167 days in orbit, completing hundreds of hours of research aboard the International Space Station.

Four astronauts with SpaceX Crew-11 undocked from the International Space Station to make their return to Earth.

The SpaceX Dragon capsule splashed down near San Diego, California, safely returning four astronauts to Earth. Former NASA astronaut David Wolf joins Rahel Solomon to discuss.

(FOX 5/KUSI) — The four astronauts who departed the International Space Station as part of NASA’s first medical evacuation splashed down in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego after midnight on Thursday. The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft carrying Crew-11 landed safely on Earth just after 12:40 a.m.

Skywatchers across the Bay Area will have a rare early-morning opportunity Thursday as a NASA SpaceX Dragon spacecraft makes its final pass over California before returning to Earth.

NASA and SpaceX are preparing to return the Crew-11 astronauts to Earth this week in the first-ever medical evacuation from the ISS.

A Falcon 9 rocket carrying about 40 payloads, including NASA's Pandora exoplanet satellite, launched from California's Vandenberg Space Force Base on Sunday (Jan. 11) at 8:44 a.m. EST (1344 GMT and 5:44 a.m. local California time).