Welcome Home, Expedition 49!
Expedition 49 crew members returned to Earth after spending 115 days aboard the International Space Station. The three space travelers arrived via parachute and executed a flawless landing in a remote region in Kazakhstan at 9:58 a.m. local time on Sunday, Oct. 30 (or 11:58 p.m. EDT on Oct. 29).
Read our full story about the landing here.
A Joyous Occasion
NASA astronaut Kate Rubins, Russian cosmonaut Anatoly Ivanishin of Roscosmos, and astronaut Takuya Onishi of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) rest while getting reacquainted with Earth's gravity after exiting the Soyuz spacecraft. Behind them sits the small Soyuz MS-01 spacecraft that delivered the crew safely to the ground.
Read our full story about the landing here.
Preparing to Deploy
Russian Search and Rescue teams prepared for the return of Expedition 49 crew members. Several helicopters monitored the Soyuz spacecraft's re-entry and landing before meeting the crew at the landing site.
Read our full story about the landing here.
Flying to the Landing Site
Several Russian Search and Rescue helicopters flew to Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan, for the Soyuz MS-01 landing. NASA photographer Bill Ingalls flew along in one of the helicopters to capture the views from the sky before meeting the Expedition 49 crew on the ground.
Read our full story about the landing here.
Coming into View
The Soyuz spacecraft comes into view as it drops through the clouds with its parachute deployed.
Read our full story about the landing here.
Closer to Home
Rays of sunshine beam through the clouds to illuminate the Soyuz spacecraft during its descent.
Read our full story about the landing here.
Picture-Perfect Descent
The morning sky and Kazakh landscape set a glorious scene for the smooth descent of the Expedition 49 crew as they returned from the International Space Station.
Read our full story about the landing here.
Almost Home
Search and Rescue teams hover nearby as the Soyuz MS-01 carrying the Expedition 49 crew comes in for a landing.
Read our full story about the landing here.
Prepare for Impact
The Soyuz MS-01 with the Expedition 49 crew inside, readies for touchdown in a remote area outside the town of Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan.
Read our full story about the landing here.
Touchdown!
The Soyuz MS-01 spacecraft hits the ground, bringing the trio of crew members back to Earth.
Read our full story about the landing here.
Dusty But Clean Landing
As the Soyuz spacecraft met the ground, a large plume of dust was left in its wake. The landing went smoothly with no major problems to report.
Read our full story about the landing here.
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