ESA title
Science & Exploration

Welcome home

12/06/2015 14722 views
ESA / Science & Exploration / Human and Robotic Exploration / Futura / Highlights

ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti, NASA astronaut Terry Virts and Russian commander Anton Shkaplerov landed safely in the Kazakh steppe after a three-hour ride in their Soyuz spacecraft 11 June 2015. They left the International Space Station at 10:20 GMT at the end of their six-month stay on the research complex.

Soyuz TMA-15M braked from the Station’s cruising speed of almost 28 800 km/h and entered the atmosphere shortly afterwards. The small descent module separated as planned and parachutes deployed to slow the vehicle down even more.

The module fired retrorockets moments before landing and springs in the moulded seats reduced the impact of hitting the steppe at 13:44 GMT. Teams were on hand within minutes to help them out.

  • Science & Exploration

    Samantha back on Earth

    12/06/2015 910 views 1 likes
    Open item
    Samantha back on Earth
  • Science & Exploration

    Landing of the Soyuz TMA-15M spacecraft

    12/06/2015 1061 views 5 likes
    Open item
    Landing of the Soyuz TMA-15M spacecraft
  • Science & Exploration

    Landing of the Soyuz TMA-15M spacecraft

    12/06/2015 2090 views 7 likes
    Open item
    Landing of the Soyuz TMA-15M spacecraft
  • Science & Exploration

    Samantha Cristoforetti in the Soyuz TMA-15M spacecraft

    12/06/2015 838 views 1 likes
    Open item
    Samantha Cristoforetti in the Soyuz TMA-15M spacecraft
  • Science & Exploration

    Samantha Cristoforetti in the Soyuz TMA-15M spacecraft

    12/06/2015 1346 views 5 likes
    Open item
    Samantha Cristoforetti in the Soyuz TMA-15M spacecraft
  • Science & Exploration

    Samantha Cristoforetti in the Soyuz TMA-15M spacecraft

    12/06/2015 1070 views 3 likes
    Open item
    Samantha Cristoforetti in the Soyuz TMA-15M spacecraft
  • Science & Exploration

    Samantha back on Earth

    12/06/2015 1381 views 3 likes
    Open item
    Samantha back on Earth
  • Science & Exploration

    Samantha back on Earth

    12/06/2015 1149 views 3 likes
    Open item
    Samantha back on Earth
  • Science & Exploration

    Samantha back on Earth

    12/06/2015 953 views 2 likes
    Open item
    Samantha back on Earth
  • Science & Exploration

    Samantha back on Earth

    12/06/2015 2015 views 7 likes
    Open item
    Samantha back on Earth
  • Science & Exploration

    Samantha back on Earth

    12/06/2015 982 views 5 likes
    Open item
    Samantha back on Earth
  • Science & Exploration

    Samantha back on Earth

    12/06/2015 1024 views 1 likes
    Open item
    Samantha back on Earth
  • Science & Exploration

    Samantha back on Earth

    12/06/2015 2747 views 11 likes
    Open item
    Samantha back on Earth
  • Science & Exploration

    Samantha back on Earth

    12/06/2015 2578 views 12 likes
    Open item
    Samantha back on Earth
  • Science & Exploration

    Samantha back on Earth

    12/06/2015 943 views 4 likes
    Open item
    Samantha back on Earth
  • Science & Exploration

    Samantha back on Earth

    12/06/2015 1110 views 12 likes
    Open item
    Samantha back on Earth
  • Science & Exploration

    Samantha back on Earth

    12/06/2015 918 views 3 likes
    Open item
    Samantha back on Earth
  • Science & Exploration

    Samantha back on Earth

    12/06/2015 966 views 4 likes
    Open item
    Samantha back on Earth
  • Science & Exploration

    Samantha back on Earth

    12/06/2015 837 views 2 likes
    Open item
    Samantha back on Earth
  • Science & Exploration

    Samantha back on Earth

    12/06/2015 1065 views 4 likes
    Open item
    Samantha back on Earth