A Russian Soyuz capsule carrying three astronauts from the International Space Station (ISS) safely touched down in Kazakhstan’s vast steppes this weekend, wrapping up a months-long mission—and a dramatic, last-minute detour.
The crew—Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Novitsky, NASA’s Loral O’Hara, and Belarusian participant Marina Vasilevskaya—landed southeast of Dzhezkazgan at 12:17 p.m. local time. Their return marks the end of O’Hara’s 204-day stint in space, one of the longest among the team.
But the journey wasn’t all smooth sailing: Their original March 21 launch was aborted seconds before liftoff due to a voltage issue, delaying the mission by two days. The crew ended up completing a marathon 34-orbit trip to the ISS instead of a quick two-orbit ride—proving space travel still packs surprises!
Seven astronauts remain onboard the ISS, including NASA’s Tracy Dyson, who joined the Soyuz crew later after the technical hiccup. Russia continues to rely on its upgraded Soviet-era rockets for ISS missions, blending legacy tech with modern grit.
Whether you’re a space geek or just love a good comeback story, this landing is a reminder: Even when plans go sideways (literally), science finds a way.
