Washington: The unmanned Dragon capsule from US firm SpaceX undocked from the International Space Station on Sunday, on it's way back to Earth.
The fully loaded vessel - carrying more than 3,500 pounds (1,580 kilograms) of science samples - disengaged from the space station's robotic arms as planned at 1326 GMT above the ocean near southern Australia, according to video streamed live on NASA television.
The cargo ship had spent 28 days at the orbiting outpost, after arriving on April 20.
It is expected to land in the Pacific Ocean six hours after undocking, at 1902 GMT, some 480 kilometers (300 miles) from the Mexican coast.
After three delays, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket blasted off with the Dragon capsule from Cape Canaveral in Florida on April 18. Dragon's last launch before that had been in March 2013.
NASA is relying on SpaceX and other private firms to replace the Space Shuttles, which were finally retired in July 2011, and had brought supplies and astronauts to and from the space station.
SpaceX has a $1.6 billion contract with NASA for a total of 12 of supply missions.
The US space agency has a second $1.9 billion contract to supply the space station with Orbital Sciences Corporation, whose Cygnus capsule completed its first delivery in January 2014.
SpaceX, Boeing and Sierra Nevada have also been hired by NASA to develop private space ships capable of transporting people to the space station and other destinations in orbit, with a rollout expected in 2017.
That would end the US dependence on Russia's Soyuz capsules to transport US astronauts to and from the space station, at a cost of $70 million a seat.
The fully loaded vessel - carrying more than 3,500 pounds (1,580 kilograms) of science samples - disengaged from the space station's robotic arms as planned at 1326 GMT above the ocean near southern Australia, according to video streamed live on NASA television.
The cargo ship had spent 28 days at the orbiting outpost, after arriving on April 20.
After three delays, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket blasted off with the Dragon capsule from Cape Canaveral in Florida on April 18. Dragon's last launch before that had been in March 2013.
Advertisement
SpaceX has a $1.6 billion contract with NASA for a total of 12 of supply missions.
Advertisement
SpaceX, Boeing and Sierra Nevada have also been hired by NASA to develop private space ships capable of transporting people to the space station and other destinations in orbit, with a rollout expected in 2017.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Elon Musk Has A Favourite Job Interview Question That Experts Say Can Catch Liars "Guilty Of High Treason": Russia Jails US-Origin Ballet Dancer For 12 Years Neeraj Chopra vs Arshad Nadeem Javelin Series? Ex-Pakistan Star Says It'll Be Bigger Than... Rahul Gandhi's Seat At Red Fort Triggers Fresh Congress Attack On BJP 2 French Rafale Jets Collide Mid-Air, Instructor, Pilot Missing CBI Summons 5 Doctors For Questioning In Kolkata Rape-Murder Case UP Man Rapes 13-Year-Old Daughter In Amethi: Cops Top Medical Body Suggests Not More Than 74 Hours Work Week For Medics NASA Shares Rare Picture Of South Africa's Largest River As Seen From Space Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.