The space agency said Thursday the U.S.-Japanese-Russian crew of four will return to Earth in the coming days, earlier than planned.

Crew 11 is expected to splash down off the coast of Southern California at 3:41 a.m. EST, closing out a 167-day stay in space.

Crew-11 is “safe and in good spirits,” a NASA official said. The team was recalled early after a crew member had a medical problem warranting care on Earth.

Crew-11 splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego early Thursday. The crew, which includes two American astronauts, a Japanese astronaut and a Russian cosmonaut, were brought home ...