ISS astronauts return to Earth after six months in space

The three-man multinational crew returned to Earth Monday aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft, after spending 165 days working together at the International Space Station. Among those who returned was space station commander, Russia’s Maxim Surayev. American Reid Wiseman and German Alexander Gerst also returned. Surayev flashed a V for victory sign while Wiseman pumped his fist as they waited to regain their land legs after nearly half a year of weightlessness.

Everything was in the spirit of cooperation, so I think that everybody needs to learn and follow the example of the ISS crew members.

Maxim Surayev, ISS comander

While in space the crew traveled more than 112.7 million kilometres, NASA said. The “bulls-eye” touchdown was executed amid low clouds and fog “following a flawless descent back into the atmosphere.” Another three-person crew remains on the space station and will be joined by three more astronauts who launch from Kazakhstan on November 23.

Science ISS