A Soyuz capsule carrying two Russian astronauts and one American astronaut has safely landed in Kazakhstan after leaving the International Space Station. The Russian pair, Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub, set a new record for the longest continuous stay on the space station with 374 days in space. American astronaut Tracy Dyson also returned after spending six months on the ISS.
The capsule descended smoothly and landed on the Kazakh steppe, with the astronauts being extracted and placed in chairs to help them readjust to Earth’s gravity. They were then taken to a nearby tent for medical examinations.
Despite the successful return of these three astronauts, there are still eight astronauts remaining on the space station, including Americans Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams. They were supposed to return to Earth earlier, but their trip back was delayed due to technical issues with Boeing’s Starliner capsule.
The Starliner capsule faced problems with thrusters and helium leaks, prompting NASA to deem it too risky for the astronauts’ return journey. Instead, Wilmore and Williams will be returning home with SpaceX next year.
The successful return of the Soyuz capsule highlights the importance of reliable spacecraft for transporting astronauts to and from the International Space Station. With ongoing advancements in space technology, the future of space exploration looks promising for astronauts from around the world.