SpaceX cargo spacecraft returns to Earth with science

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft returned to Earth on Tuesday with research and cargo.

The spacecraft undocked with the International Space Station at 11:05 a.m. Monday Eastern Time to start its journey home.

It splashed down off the coast of Florida on Tuesday morning, NASA confirmed.

It completed SpaceX's 31st commercial resupply mission for NASA. The spacecraft returned to Earth with research, including microbial water samples and data on crew radiation exposure, according to NASA.

The resupply mission was launched on Nov. 4 from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. It delivered more than 6,000 pounds of supplies to the orbiting laboratory.