This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/sci/tech/7355912.stm

The article has changed 17 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Soyuz spacecraft returns to Earth Soyuz spacecraft lands off-target
(40 minutes later)
A Russian Soyuz spacecraft has returned to Earth after spending about 11 days at the International Space Station. A Russian Soyuz spacecraft has returned to Earth, but came down more than 400km (250 miles) away from its planned touchdown point, say Russian officials.
The Expedition 16 crew - including South Korea's first astronaut, 29-year-old Yi So-yeon - landed in the Kazakh steppe. The capsule also came down in the Kazakh steppe later than planned, the Russian Mission Control Centre told the news agency Itar-Tass.
Also on board were Yuri Malenchenko from Russia and American Peggy Whitson. On board are Yi So-yeon, South Korea's first astronaut, Yuri Malenchenko from Russia and American Peggy Whitson.
Russian officials said contact had been made and the crew were safe.
Ms Yi spent 11 days conducting tests at the International Space Station.
Ms Whitson now holds the record for the cumulative length of time spent in space by an American at 377 days, the US space agency Nasa has said.Ms Whitson now holds the record for the cumulative length of time spent in space by an American at 377 days, the US space agency Nasa has said.
Before the Soyuz TMA-11 undocked, TV pictures showed the returning crew hugging those they were leaving behind.Before the Soyuz TMA-11 undocked, TV pictures showed the returning crew hugging those they were leaving behind.
They include flight engineer Oleg Kononenko, 43, and Sergei Volkov, 34, the son of a famous Soviet cosmonaut, with whom Ms Yi made the flight to the ISS some 10 days ago.They include flight engineer Oleg Kononenko, 43, and Sergei Volkov, 34, the son of a famous Soviet cosmonaut, with whom Ms Yi made the flight to the ISS some 10 days ago.
Ms Yi, who was chosen from about 36,000 applicants for the mission, has said she hoped it would help warm ties on the divided Korean peninsula.Ms Yi, who was chosen from about 36,000 applicants for the mission, has said she hoped it would help warm ties on the divided Korean peninsula.