Soyuz Capsule Lands in Kazakhstan, Marking End of Seven-Month Research Assignment
A Soyuz capsule carrying two Russians and one American from the International Space Station landed Sunday in Kazakhstan, ending their seven-month research assignment.
Details of the Landing
According to Russian space agency Roscosmos, the capsule carrying Roscosmos cosmonauts Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner and astronaut Don Pettit of U.S. space agency NASA landed on the Kazakh steppe near the city of Zhezkazgan at 6:20 a.m. (0120 GMT).
Roscosmos said the parachute-assisted landing was a trouble-free descent.
Astronauts' Seven-Month Journey
The trio returned after spending 220 days in space and orbiting the Earth 3,520 times, NASA said in a statement.
The agency noted that, coincidentally, Pettit celebrated his 70th birthday on Sunday.
Post-Landing Medical Checks
NASA said it was following its routine postlanding medical checks, and that the crew will return to the recovery staging area in Karaganda, Kazakhstan.
Pettit will then board a NASA plane bound for the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, while Roscosmos said Ovchinin and Vagner will depart for a training base in Star City, Russia.
Handover of ISS Command
On Friday, Ovchinin handed over command of the ISS to Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi in a change of command ceremony.
Crew's Seven-Month Assignment on ISS
The Russian cosmonauts and NASA astronaut were part of a long-duration mission on the International Space Station, conducting scientific research and performing spacewalks throughout their seven-month assignment.
The crew conducted a series of experiments in various fields, including biology, physics, and astronomy.
Astronauts' Reflections
During their time on the ISS, Ovchinin, Vagner, and Pettit have shared updates and insights into their mission through regular press conferences and social media posts.
The astronauts expressed gratitude for the opportunity to contribute to scientific knowledge and push the boundaries of space exploration.
Conclusion
The safe landing of the Soyuz capsule marks the end of a successful seven-month research assignment on the International Space Station.
The crew's accomplishments will be remembered as significant contributions to the advancement of space science and technology.