Three astronauts, including the first female Belarusian in space, Marina Vasilevskaya, NASA astronaut Loral O'Hara, and Soyuz commander Oleg Novitskiy, have successfully returned to Earth from the International Space Station (ISS). Their journey back aboard the Soyuz MS-24 crew ship began with the undocking from the ISS's Rassvet module, which took place at 11:54pm ET. The crew's return was part of a meticulously planned operation that included a 4-minute 41-second deorbit rocket firing, slowing the spacecraft by approximately 286 mph to initiate the descent back to Earth. The Soyuz descent module touched down near Dzhezkazgan, Kazakhstan, at 3:17:36am EDT, marking the end of a 204-day mission for O'Hara and a 14-day stay for Novitskiy and Vasilevskaya. The departure and subsequent return of the crew were broadcast live, with the ISS team and viewers around the world watching the events unfold.
UNDOCKING of Soyuz MS-24 from the ISS Rassvet module at about 0353:57 UTC Apr 6 https://t.co/XDZUwCjkP0
Soyuz MS-24/70S: The Soyuz spacecraft undocked from the International Space Station's Rassvet module at 11:54pm EDT (0354 UTC Saturday) as the two spacecraft sailed 260 miles above southern Mongolia, kicking off a 3-and-a-half hour return to Earth and landing in Kazakhstan https://t.co/TF0XoMejO0
The orbital crewmates are seated inside the Soyuz MS-24 crew ship nearing their 11:54pm ET undocking from the station live on @NASA TV. https://t.co/zYqGy09o4P
Three orbital crewmates are seated inside the Soyuz MS-24 crew ship nearing their 11:54pm ET undocking from the station live on @NASA TV. https://t.co/qsaIzHBM4P
Live from the @Space_Station, three space travelers aboard their Soyuz spacecraft undock from the orbiting laboratory. https://t.co/GuF1JGbl7E
The Soyuz MS-24 spaceship arrived at ISS last Sept. with astronauts Kononenko, Chub and O'Hara. Later today it will undock and return to Earth with Novitskiy, O'Hara and Vasilevskaya. (visiting crew Novitskiy and Vasilevskaya arrived Mar 25 aboard Soyuz MS-25).
The departing crewmates closed the hatch to their Soyuz MS-24 crew ship at 8:45pm ET today and are now preparing to undock from the station at 11:54pm. https://t.co/zmxs2oi1oz
Soyuz MS-24/70S: If all goes well, the Soyuz descent module will touch down near the town of Dzhezkazgan, Kazakhstan, at 3:17:36am EDT (0717 UTC, 12:17pm local time), closing out a 204-day flight by O'Hara and a 14-day stay in space for Novitskiy and Vasilevskaya https://t.co/KtCswEfTG8
Soyuz MS-24/70S: Undocking from the station's Earth-facing Rassvet port is planned for 11:54pm EDT (0354 UTC Saturday); a 4-minute 41-second deorbit rocket firing is expected at 2:23:55am (0623 UTC), slowing the ship by about 286 mph to kick off the descent to Earth
Soyuz MS-24/70S: Soyuz commander Oleg Novitskiy, Belarusian guest flier Marina Vasilevskaya and NASA astronaut Loral O'Hara bid their space station crewmates farewell and boarded their ferry ship this evening for a fiery plunge back to Earth early Saturday https://t.co/DQE8bD4NEf
Live now on @NASA TV, astronaut Loral O'Hara and two crewmates prepare to depart the station at 11:54pm ET today aboard the Soyuz MS-24 crew ship for a landing in Kazakhstan. Hatch closure is at ~8:30pm. https://t.co/qsaIzHBM4P
LIVE: Space crew returns from ISS https://t.co/GGoTKTYaSE
Live now, @LunarLoral and her crewmates say farewell as they prepare to depart from the @Space_Station. Hatch closure is scheduled for approximately 8:36pm ET (0036 UTC): https://t.co/h9RTPIQbMB
This week on #SpaceToGround, NASA astronaut Loral O’Hara is set to return to Earth on Saturday, April 6. Astronauts aboard the station are getting ready to view the solar #eclipse from space. Join @NASA for live coverage Monday, April 8 as the eclipse moves across North America. https://t.co/9zmo8eQZH0
The 10 residents aboard the station worked a short day resting up before the departure of three crewmates at 11:54pm ET today live on @NASA TV. https://t.co/sX1z1Gb5g0
Watch live as 3 spaceflyers, including 1st female Belarusian in space, depart the ISS tonight https://t.co/i5GFWE9xDn https://t.co/UsTuiJSNOf