Recovery crews battle wintry conditions to extract Soyuz crew. Photo Credit/NASA TV
A three-man, U. S. and Russian Soyuz crew descended to a wintry landing in Kazakhstan early Wednesday, ending a 159-day voyage to the International Space Station for NASA’s Scott Kelly and cosmonauts Alexander Kaleri and Oleg Skripochka.
The landing, under parachute at 3:54 a.m., EDT, occurred just north or Arkalyk.
The fliers were quickly joined at the snow covered, sub-freezing landing site by helicopter born Russian search and rescue crews, accompanied by several NASA personnel, including a flight surgeon.
“This is Arctic conditions, at it best,” said NASA spokesman Rob Navias, who was on the scene. “No doubt about that.”
Because of the high winds, the recovery team dispensed with extended medical checks at the landing site.
All three men appeared to be in good shape, said Navias. “Scott Kelly is looking remarkably well,” he added.
The Soyuz 24S crew was to fly to Kustanai in Kazakstan. There, Kaleri and Skripochka were to depart for Star City, Russia, and Kelly for Houston, Tex., aboard a NASA aircraft