SpaceX Dragon Capsule Splashes Down

In this photo provided by SpaceX, the Dragon spacecraft floats on the surface of the Pacific Ocean about 500 miles off Mexico's Baja California after its mission to the International Space Station (ISS), May 31, 2012.

The SpaceX Dragon cargo ship has completed a historic journey to the International Space Station (ISS), splashing down in the Pacific Ocean after becoming the first commercially operated vehicle to travel to the orbiting outpost.

The Dragon arrived back on Earth Thursday, after its successful demonstration flight.

The International Space Station crew released the Dragon capsule early Thursday from the station's long robotic arm to begin the final leg of its flight.  The unmanned ship re-entered Earth’s atmosphere and splashed down in the Pacific Ocean southwest of the California coast at midday Thursday.

This NASA graphic depicts the location of the splashdown for the SpaceX Dragon capsule in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Baja California, May 31, 2012.

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This NASA graphic depicts the location of the splashdown for the SpaceX Dragon capsule in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Baja California, May 31, 2012.

The Dragon departed the ISS less than a week after becoming the first privately-owned spacecraft to deliver supplies to the station. The U.S. space agency NASA has reached deals with a number of private companies to take over the duties of the retired space shuttle fleet to deliver cargo and, eventually, astronauts to the ISS.

The Dragon departed the ISS less than a week after becoming the first private spacecraft to deliver supplies to the station.  The U.S. space agency NASA has reached deals with a number of private companies to take over the duties of the retired space shuttle fleet to deliver cargo and, eventually, astronauts to the ISS.