Article Posted on : - Oct 11, 2009

Soyuz TMA-14 is photographed from the International Space Station on March 28. Image credit: NASA

KOROLYOV (BNS): Russian spacecraft Soyuz TMA-14, carrying Expedition 20 crew, safely touched down Earth at 10:32 am Kazakhstan time (4.30 GMT) on Sunday.

Expedition 20 Commander Gennady Padalka, Flight Engineer Michael Barratt and Canadian spaceflight participant Guy Laliberte returned to Earth, landing on the steppe of Kazakhstan in their Soyuz TMA-14 spacecraft, NASA said.

All three Soyuz crewmembers have exited their Soyuz spacecraft and are recuperating on the ground. The crew appeared in good spirits.

Padalka and Barratt stayed aboard the International Space Station (ISS) for 197 days.

The duo arrived at the station in March to begin Expedition 19 then transitioned to the six-member Expedition 20 crew in May. Padalka commanded both Expedition 19 and 20 crews.