A capsule with three astronauts successfully landed in Kazakhstan – TASS

MOSCOW, King / Moscow region /, 2 March. / TASS /. The lander spacecraft “Soyuz TMA-18M” with the Russian cosmonauts Mikhail Kornienko and Sergei Volkov and US astronaut Scott Kelly landed in Kazakhstan, told Tass in the Mission Control Center

“There is a landing,” -. Said MCC representative.

to the place of landing lander sent search and rescue forces, who will take “Union” under protection. Unlike previous planting they will not provide the astronauts when opening the hatch and the outlet of the capsule. Kelly and Kornienko, ISS tries to 11 months, will have to leave their own re-entry capsule, thus simulating a landing on Mars, where there will be greeting the rescuers.

“Welcome home!”

The joint 11-month space flight of Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko and American astronaut Scott Kelly is very important for relations between Russia and the United States, especially in the period of the existing differences between the two countries, said US Ambassador to Russia John Tefft.

“at that time, both in relations between the US and Russia have disagreements, I am proud that the Americans and the Russians continue to work side by side on such an important task,” – he said he Tass return the crew to the ISS

.

“Welcome home!” – He added, referring to the astronauts

“I am very pleased that the astronaut Scott Kelly and cosmonauts Mikhail Kornienko and Sergei Volkov returned safely to Earth Kelly and Kornienko were on board the International Space Station for almost a year they participated… research, opening up new prospects for the development of advanced technologies in the development of outer space “, – he said

Tefft admitted that the entire year watching the messages participants 11-month expedition to the ISS, their photographs of the Earth and video greeting for. . the occasion

“The team spirit, dedication and perseverance allowed the researchers to successfully complete their mission,” – said the ambassador

Spaceflight

Kornienko and Kelly. We went to the space mission March 27, 2015. On orbit they were launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome (Kazakhstan) on board the spaceship “Soyuz TMA-16M”. By the time of departure of the astronauts stayed at the station for a total of 340 days.

The third crew member Volkov spent 182 days on the ISS.

For the US, this is the first experience of long-term space mission. At the same time, Soviet and Russian cosmonauts have worked in orbit for a year. In 1999, Sergey Avdeev made a flight duration of 379 days, and in 1995, Valery Polyakov was in orbit 437 days and installed in such a way the world record of the longest spaceflight.