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. ✨
