JSC2012-E-057802 (31 May 2012) — This is the first picture from the Pacific Ocean showing the SpaceX Dragon following its splashdown at 11:42 a.m. (EDT) west of Baja California, Mexico. It was released earlier in the day from the Earth-orbiting International Space Station following a precedent-setting stay at the orbital outpost. The Dragon spent 5 days, 16 hours and 5 minutes berthed to the station. The mission began May 22 as the capsule launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Following a series of tests of its maneuverability and abort systems, the capsule was grappled and berthed to the space station by the crew members of Expedition 31. Photo credit: Michael Altenhofen/SpaceX
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