Soyuz Capsule Lands with US-Russian Crew: Expedition 34 Photos

By SPACE.com Staff | March 15, 2013 05:33pm ET

Crewmembers Safe on the Ground

The Soyuz crew landed safely on March 15 in a remote area of Central Asia.

Capsule

A Soyuz capsule carrying three space station crew members landed on March 15.

International Space Station from Soyuz

Three crewmembers from the International Space Station get a view of the orbiting laboratory as they fly back to Earth in their Russian Soyuz space capsule.

Space Station Crewmembers say Goodbye

Three international crewmembers from the International Space Station said their goodbyes to their fellow crewmembers before boarding the Russian Soyuz space capsule that brought them back to Earth on March 15, 2013.

Kazakhstan Landing Zone: Expedition 34 Crew

This NASA graphic depicts the landing site in Kazakhstan for NASA astronaut Kevin Ford and Russian cosmonauts Oleg Novitskiy and Evgeny Tarelkin, the Expedition 34 crew, who were returning to Earth on March 15, 2013.

Canada's First ISS Commander Chris Hadfield

Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield (left) accepts command of the International Space Station from NASA astronaut and out-going station commander Kevin Ford, March 13, 2013.

Expedition 34 Crew Landing

Kevin Ford, Oleg Novitskiy and Evgeny Tarelkin (left to right) are scheduled to return to Earth on Friday, March 14, 2013 after a stay on the International Space Station.

Inside Russia's Crewed Soyuz Space Capsule (Infographic)

The workhorse Soyuz spacecraft have been flying for nearly 45 years. See how Russia's Soyuz spacecraft work in this Space.com infographic.

The International Space Station: Inside and Out (Infographic)

This infographic lays out information about the International Space Station.

View from a Russian Helicopter

A view of a Russian Search and Rescue helicopter that was grounded by low visibility at the Arkalyk Airport in Kazakhstan on Saturday, March 16, 2013.

Russian Helicopter Commander Waits for Landing

A Russian helicopter commander waits inside his Search and Rescue helicopter that was grounded by low visibility at the Arkalyk Airport in Kazakhstan on Saturday, March 16, 2013.

Helicopter Crew Member Waits for Landing

A helicopter crew member waits for weather to clear outside his Search and Rescue helicopter that was grounded by low visibility at the Arkalyk Airport in Kazakhstan on Saturday, March 16, 2013.

Outside a Search and Rescue Helicopter

NASA Astronauts Eric Boe, left, and Bob Behnken are seen making contact with other team members outside a Search and Rescue helicopter that was grounded by low visibility at the Arkalyk Airport in Kazakhstan on Saturday, March 16, 2013.

NASA Astronauts Making Contact with Crew

NASA Astronauts Bob Behnken, left, and Eric Boe are seen making contact with other team members outside a Search and Rescue helicopter that was grounded by low visibility at the Arkalyk Airport in Kazakhstan on Saturday, March 16, 2013.

Search and Rescue Team

Search and Rescue helicopters are seen grounded by low visibility at the Arkalyk Airport in Kazakhstan on Saturday, March 16, 2013.

Frost-covered Rotor

A heavily frosted rotor of a Search and Rescue helicopter is seen as it is grounded by low visibility at the Arkalyk Airport in Kazakhstan on Saturday, March 16, 2013.

Grounded Helicopters

A Search and Rescue helicopter is seen grounded by low visibility at the Arkalyk Airport in Kazakhstan on Saturday, March 16, 2013.

Search and Rescue Team Helicopters

Search and Rescue helicopters are seen grounded by low visibility at the Arkalyk Airport in Kazakhstan on Saturday, March 16, 2013.

Expedition 34 Flight Engineer Evgeny Tarelkin of Russia

Expedition 34 Flight Engineer Evgeny Tarelkin of Russia is helped out a Russian Search and Rescue helicopter after flying from his Soyuz TMA-06M spacecraft landing site outside the town of Arkalyk to Kustanay, Kazakhstan on Saturday, March 16, 2013.

Expedition 34 Crew Lands

Expedition 34 Commander Kevin Ford of NASA is helped out a Russian Search and Rescue helicopter after flying from his Soyuz TMA-06M spacecraft landing site outside the town of Arkalyk to Kustanay, Kazakhstan on Saturday, March 16, 2013.

Expedition 34 Commander Kevin Ford

Expedition 34 Commander Kevin Ford of NASA walks from a Russian Search and Rescue helicopter with NASA flight doctors, David Alexander, left, and Blake Chamberlain after flying from his Soyuz TMA-06M spacecraft landing site outside the town of Arkalyk to Kustanay, Kazakhstan on Saturday, March 16, 2013.

Greeted in Ceremonial Dress

Women in ceremonial Kazakh dress prepare to welcome home Expedition 34 Russian Flight Engineer Evgeny Tarelkin, Commander Kevin Ford of NASA, and Russian Soyuz Commander Oleg Novitskiy at the Kustanay Airport a few hours after they landed near the town of Arkalyk, Kazakhstan on Saturday, March 16, 2013.

Expedition 34 Crew Lands on March 16

Cars carrying Expedition 34 Commander Kevin Ford of NASA, Russian Soyuz Commander Oleg Novitskiy and Russian Flight Engineer Evgeny Tarelkin pull up to the terminal at the Kustanay Airport a few hours after the crew landed their Soyuz TMA-06M spacecraft near the town of Arkalyk, Kazakhstan on Saturday, March 16, 2013.

Greeted at Kustanay Airport

Expedition 34 Russian Flight Engineer Evgeny Tarelkin, left with flowers, Commander Kevin Ford of NASA, center with flowers, and Russian Soyuz Commander Oleg Novitskiy are greeted at the Kustanay Airport a few hours after they landed near the town of Arkalyk, Kazakhstan on Saturday, March 16, 2013.

Expedition 34 Astronauts Posing for Photo

Expedition 34 Russian Soyuz Commander Oleg Novitskiy, left, and Russian Flight Engineer Evgeny Tarelkin pose for a photograph with women in ceremonial Kazakh dress at the Kustanay Airport in Kazakhstan a few hours after they, along with Expedition 34 Commander Kevin Ford of NASA, landed their Soyuz TMA-06M spacecraft near the town of Arkalyk on Saturday, March 16, 2013.

Astronaut Kevin Ford Poses for Photo

Expedition 34 Commander Kevin Ford of NASA poses for a photograph with women in ceremonial Kazakh dress at the Kustanay Airport in Kazakhstan a few hours after he, along with Expedition 34 Russian Soyuz Commander Oleg Novitskiy, and Russian Flight Engineer Evgeny Tarelkin, landed their Soyuz TMA-06M spacecraft near the town of Arkalyk on Saturday, March 16, 2013.

Astronaut Kevin Ford With Welcome Home Gifts

Expedition 34 Commander Kevin Ford of NASA poses for a photograph after receiving welcome home gifts at the Kustanay Airport in Kazakhstan a few hours after he, along with Expedition 34 Russian Soyuz Commander Oleg Novitskiy, and Russian Flight Engineer Evgeny Tarelkin, landed their Soyuz TMA-06M spacecraft near the town of Arkalyk on Saturday, March 16, 2013.

Expedition Crew Members Back on Earth

Expedition 34 Russian Flight Engineer Evgeny Tarelkin, left, Russian Soyuz Commander Oleg Novitskiy, center, and Commander Kevin Ford of NASA sit together at the Kustanay Airport a few hours after they landed near the town of Arkalyk, Kazakhstan on Saturday, March 16, 2013.