Four astronauts have returned to Earth after spending eight months on the International Space Station. They were sent to the station to replace a colleague who was unwell and his crew. The astronauts splashed down off the coast of Los Angeles on Thursday.

Further details about their mission and return are available from the source. The astronauts' time on the station was significant, and their return marks the end of their eight-month stint in space.

The circumstances of their initial trip to the station, including the reason for replacing their colleague, are known but not elaborated on here. For more information, readers can refer to the original report.