Soyuz Capsule Lands with Expedition 33 Crew (Photos)

Expedition 33 Soyuz Landing Sign

Workers with Russia's RSC Energia company hammer a commemorative sign into place to mark the date and location of the Soyuz TMA-05 capsule landing that returned the Expedition 33 crew to Earth on Nov. 18, 2012 (Nov. 19 local time) on the steppes of Kazakhstan.

Expedition 33 Landing: Soyuz Plasma Trail

This view shows the glowing hot plasma trail created by the Soyuz TMA-05M space capsule heat shield during re-entry as it returned the three-person Expedition 33 crew to Earth on Nov. 18, 2012 EST. The view was captured by a camera on the International Space Station.

Expedition 33: Soyuz Landing Success

This still from a NASA TV broadcast shows the inside of Russia's Mission Control Center near Moscow just after the successful landing of a Soyuz TMA-05M capsule carrying the station's Expedition 33 crew on Nov. 18, 2012, EST. The big screen shows an image that proclaims "They've Landed!" in Russian.

Expedition 33 Crew Landing Site

This NASA graphic depicts the landing zone (target) and backup ballistic landing zone for return to Earth of a Soyuz TMA-05M capsule carrying three Expedition 33 crewmembers home from the International Space Station on Nov. 18, 2012.

Expedition 33 Crew Spacesuit-ed Up

n the International Space Station's Unity node, NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, Expedition 33 commander; along with Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Aki Hoshide (center) and Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko (left), both flight engineers, attired in their Russian Sokol launch and entry suits, take a moment for a photo as they prepare to perform the standard leak check in their spacecraft in preparation for their return to Earth on Nov. 18, 2012.

Expedition 33 Crew Farewells

NASA astronaut Sunita Williams bids farewell to the Expedition 33 crew during a ceremony before departing the International Space Station with the homeward bound Expedition 33 crew on Nov. 18, 2012.

Expedition 33 Landing: Spacesuit Checks

Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko, Soyuz commander and Expedition 33 flight engineer; NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, Expedition 33 commander; and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Aki Hoshide (out of frame), flight engineer, attired in Russian Sokol launch and entry suits, conduct a standard suit leak check in the Soyuz TMA-05M spacecraft in preparation for their return to Earth scheduled for Nov. 18, 2012.

Astronaut Sunita Williams: Thumb's Up!

NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, Expedition 33 commander, attired in a Russian Sokol launch and entry suit, gives a thumbs-up while conducting a standard suit leak check in the Soyuz TMA-05M spacecraft in preparation for her return to Earth scheduled for Nov. 18, 2012.

Expedition 33 Landing: Akihiko Hoshide

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Aki Hoshide, Expedition 33 flight engineer, attired in a Russian Sokol launch and entry suit, conducts a standard suit leak check in the Soyuz TMA-05M spacecraft in preparation for his return to Earth scheduled for Nov. 18, 2012.

Expedition 33 Landing: All Suited Up

In the International Space Station's Unity node, NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, Expedition 33 commander; along with Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Aki Hoshide (center) and Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko (left), both flight engineers, don their Russian Sokol launch and entry suits to perform the standard leak check in their spacecraft in preparation for their return to Earth on Nov. 18. [See full story.]