The astronauts were more than excited to feel the ground, though standing on it was too hard for them after spending so many days in the state of weightlessness.
After 191 days, Soyuz TMA-11 and its three human occupants returned to Earth from the International Space Station, landing in Kazakhstan, April 19, 2008. A partial separation failure caused a ballistic re-entry that in turn caused the spacecraft to land 475 km from its intended landing site. The occupants, Yuri Malenchenko, Peggy Whitson and Yi So-Yeon, were assisted by local residents who discovered the charred spacecraft resting in their fields.
Love the red and blue blankets. Maybe they'll be raised by a kindly farmer and his wife then move to the big city and fight crime.
Posted by: James S | August 16, 2009 at 13:11
No super-powers though:
"Malenchenko and Whitson face weeks of physical therapy to help them re-adapt to Earth's gravity after six months in weightlessness."
Posted by: sk60 | August 16, 2009 at 13:28
Do the farmers get to keep anything (or anyone) that isn't claimed in 24 hours? "You're my wife now..."
Posted by: Anna | August 17, 2009 at 09:36
I recently developed a school-boyish crush on the utterly charming Yi So-Yeon. I defy anyone to watch the following series of interviews with her and come away feeling differently:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmzIKDK6zVs
Posted by: Ed | August 19, 2009 at 22:58