CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Safely back on the ground in Kazakhstan, NASA astronaut Ed Lu enjoys a well earned nap aboard a Russian helicopter in this image captured by NASA photographer Bill Ingalls and released by the space agency today.

Lu and fellow Expedition Seven crewmember Yuri Malenchenko landed on the Kazakh steppes at 9:41 p.m. EST on Oct. 27, having spent 185 days in space. Also on board was European Space Agency astronaut Pedro Duque.

Immediately greeted by a contingent of helicopters, the trio was initially brought to Arqalyk, Kazakhstan.

From there they were to fly to Astana, Kazakhstan -- but bad weather kept everyone grounded for several hours. Grabbing a bunk in one of the helicopters, Lu autographed the cabin wall and then soon fell asleep to wait out the storm. Another grounded helicopter can be seen through the window.

The former space station crew is now in Star City outside of Moscow. Lu will spend a couple of weeks there before returning to the United States.

CREDIT: NASA/Bill Ingalls