A Russian Soyuz spacecraft carrying three crew members from the International Space Station (ISS) has safely landed in the steppes of Kazakhstan, marking the successful conclusion of their space missions.
The Soyuz MS-24 capsule touched down southeast of the remote town of Dzhezkazgan at 12:17 p.m. Kazakh time (0717 GMT) on Saturday. On board were Russia’s Oleg Novitsky, NASA astronaut Loral O’Hara, and Marina Vasilevskaya of Belarus.
The trio’s safe return highlights ongoing international cooperation aboard the ISS, even amidst global geopolitical tensions. Their mission contributions have advanced scientific research and exploration.
O’Hara arrived at the ISS on September 15, 2023, spending a total of 204 days in space. Novitsky and Vasilevskaya joined the ISS crew after launching on March 23, following a two-day, 34-orbit journey caused by a delayed launch due to technical issues.
Their delayed launch was attributed to a voltage drop in a power source, as explained by Yury Borisov, head of Russia’s space agency Roscosmos. This setback extended their journey to the ISS but did not impede their mission objectives.
Remaining aboard the ISS are NASA astronauts Michael Barratt, Matthew Dominick, Tracy Dyson, and Jeannette Epps, along with Russian cosmonauts Nikolai Chub, Alexander Grebenkin, and Oleg Kononenko, continuing their work on various scientific experiments and maintenance tasks.
Russia continues to utilize its modified Soviet-era rocket technology for transporting commercial satellites, crew, and cargo to the ISS, maintaining a vital role in space exploration efforts.
The successful landing of the Soyuz capsule signifies the enduring spirit of exploration and international collaboration in space, offering valuable insights and advancements for humanity.
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Soyuz capsule carrying 3 crew from ISS lands safely in Kazakhstan
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