Tumbled Soyuz Capsule Disgorges Three Astronauts

The last three astronauts of Expedition 29 to the International Space Station returned safely to Earth today, at 8:26 am local time in Kazakhstan (0226 GMT). This image shows the tumbled Soyuz TMA-02M spacecraft that delivered them safely into the frozen landscape all around.

The capsule landed on the outskirts of the town of Arkalyk, in Kazakhstan. Emergency personnel were on site to aid the crew members, who are were weakened by their 167 days in space. About 165 of those days were spent on the space lab.

Russian support personnel is visible in the foreground, helping one astronaut fully exit the capsule. The spartan interior of the Soyuz is plainly visible through the open hatch, as are the cords attaching the capsule to its all-important parachute.

Media is also seen on-site, documented the event. Soyuz TMA-02M carried NASA astronaut and Expedition 29 Commander Mike Fossum, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) taikonaut Satoshi Furukawa and Russian Federal Space Agency (RosCosmos) flight engineer Sergei Volkov.