A crew of three astronauts has successfully returned to Earth after an extensive 245-day mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS). NASA astronaut faces Kim and Russian cosmonaut Evgeny Zubritsky finished their first spaceflights on this mission. They managed to land safely, landing in Kazakhstan, near the city of Dzhezkazgan.
During their mission, the crew completed a record-setting 3,920 orbits of Earth and traveled just shy of 104 million miles. This mission became a historic milestone for the two new space travelers. It highlighted Ryzhikov’s experience, as he made his third journey to space.
The team’s return was on the heels of detailed planning and precise execution by NASA and its international partners. They conducted scientific experiments, collaborated on various research projects, and engaged in routine maintenance of the ISS during their extended stay. Evolving the original proposal Kim and Zubritsky executed their initial missions with great success. Their successes provide rich experience and data about long-duration spaceflight, which will be critical for future missions beyond low Earth orbit.
The landing occurred precisely on time. Recovery teams were on hand almost immediately to help the astronauts as they left their capsule. The safe return is a testament to the rigorous training and preparation that each crew member experienced in the months leading up to their launch.
