San diego: A SpaceX capsule safely returned its four-person crew from the International Space Station (ISS) to Earth in the early hours of Thursday local time. The emergency landing took place in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California due to an urgent medical need for one of the astronauts.

According to Thai News Agency, the Crew Dragon spacecraft named "Endeavour" deployed its parachute and landed in calm waters off the coast of San Diego at approximately 00:45 Eastern Standard Time (EST), or 15:45 Thai time. This marked the end of its more than 10-hour journey, which began after separating from the International Space Station and plunging through Earth's intensely hot atmosphere.

This early return to Earth, several weeks ahead of schedule, marks the first time in NASA's history that a crew mission on the International Space Station has been terminated mid-scheduled due to a health emergency.

In a radio communication to SpaceX flight control near Los Angeles, 38-year-old NASA astronaut Sena Cardman, commander of the Endeavour spacecraft, briefly stated, "It feels great to be home." She returned with three fellow astronauts: 58-year-old American astronaut Mike Finkey, 55-year-old Japanese astronaut Kimiya, and 39-year-old Russian astronaut Oleg Platonov.

The Crew 11 embarked on a mission to the International Space Station in August of last year, totaling 167 days, before having to return abruptly after NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman announced on January 8th that one of the astronauts was facing a "serious medical condition" and needed immediate medical attention on Earth.

However, NASA officials continue to refuse to disclose the identity of the astronaut with the illness, nor provide details about the condition, citing the patient's privacy.