Soyuz Landing Photos: 31st Space Station Crew Returns to Earth

Expedition 31: Soyuz Crew Leaves Space Station

The Russian Soyuz TMA-03M space capsule appears small in the distance after undocking from the International Space Station on July 1, 2012, in this camera view from the outpost's exterior. Here, the Soyuz is just about to slip behind the space station's Cupola observation deck (windows closed) in the foreground.

White Clouds and Expedition 31 Crew's Soyuz Capsule

The white clouds of Earth set the scene for the Russian Soyuz TMA-03M space capsule departure from the International Space Station after undocking to return three members of the Expedition 31 crew to Earth on July 1, 2012, in this still from a NASA broadcast.

Rescuers Approach Capsule

The Soyuz TMA-03M spacecraft is seen with Expedition 31 Commander Oleg Kononenko of Russia and Flight Engineers Don Pettit of NASA and Andre Kuipers of the European Space Agency still onboard shortly after it landed in a remote area near the town of Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan. The image was taken when it landed on July 1, 2012.

Getting out of Soyuz Capsule

Russian Search and Rescue crews attach ladders and a slide for access to the Soyuz TMA-03M capsule shortly after it landed with Expedition 31 Commander Oleg Kononenko of Russia and Flight Engineers Don Pettit of NASA and Andre Kuipers of the European Space Agency in a remote area near the town of Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan, on Sunday, July 1, 2012.

NASA Astronaut Don Pettit Lifted Out of Soyuz Capsule

Support and medical personnel assist Expedition 31 Flight Engineer Don Pettit of NASA out of the Soyuz TMA-03M capsule shortly after he and Expedition 31 Commander Oleg Kononenko of Russia, and Flight Engineers Andre Kuipers of the European Space Agency landed in a remote area near the town of Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan, on Sunday, July 1, 2012.

Commander Oleg Kononenko Carried by Support Team

Expedition 31 Commander Oleg Kononenko of Russia is carried by support personal from the Soyuz TMA-03M capsule to a chair shortly after he and Flight Engineers Don Pettit of NASA and Andre Kuipers of the European Space Agency landed in a remote area near the town of Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan, on Sunday, July 1, 2012.

Expedition 31 Flight Engineer Andre Kuipers Carried Out of Soyuz

Expedition 31 Flight Engineer Andre Kuipers of the European Space Agency is carried by support personal from the Soyuz TMA-03M capsule to a chair shortly after he and Expedition 31 crew members landed near the town of Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan, on Sunday, July 1, 2012.