Russian Soyuz lands safely back on Earth

MOSCOW – Three astronauts from the International Space Station have arrived back on Earth.

A Soyuz space capsule, slowed by a parachute, touched down in Kazakhstan Sunday afternoon with members of Expedition 31 from the ISS. The Soyuz undocked from the Space Station earlier Sunday.

The astronauts, including American Don Petit, Russian Oleg Kononenko and Dutchman Andre Kuipers were returning home after completing their mission of more than six months aboard the orbiting space station.

The astronauts were attended to by support teams after taken from the Russian built space capsule. Three other astronauts remain on the ISS.

Russia is currently the only nation transporting crews to and from the space station since the United States retired its space shuttle program in July.
 
Source: Agencies