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| Soyuz spacecraft lands off-target | Soyuz spacecraft lands off-target |
| (3 days later) | |
| 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. | 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 crew are safe, but were subjected to severe G-forces during re-entry, said a spokesman for mission control. | The crew are safe, but were subjected to severe G-forces during re-entry, said a spokesman for mission control. |
| He said they were examined at the landing site by medical staff. | He said they were examined at the landing site by medical staff. |
| On board were Yi So-yeon, South Korea's first astronaut, Yuri Malenchenko from Russia and American Peggy Whitson, who broke Nasa's record for time in space. | On board were Yi So-yeon, South Korea's first astronaut, Yuri Malenchenko from Russia and American Peggy Whitson, who broke Nasa's record for time in space. |
| AMERICA'S PEGGY WHITSON First female commander of ISSSets new US spaceflight recordServed almost 185 days in 2002Latest ISS flight lasted 192377 total passes Michael FoaleUK-born astronaut total: 374 | AMERICA'S PEGGY WHITSON First female commander of ISSSets new US spaceflight recordServed almost 185 days in 2002Latest ISS flight lasted 192377 total passes Michael FoaleUK-born astronaut total: 374 |
| The Russian capsule was returning from a mission to the International Space Station. | |
| It touched down some 420km away from its planned landing point in the Kazakh steppe, and some 20 minutes later than schedule. | It touched down some 420km away from its planned landing point in the Kazakh steppe, and some 20 minutes later than schedule. |
| "The main thing is that the crew is alive and healthy," said Anatoly Perminov, head of the Russian federal space agency. | "The main thing is that the crew is alive and healthy," said Anatoly Perminov, head of the Russian federal space agency. |
| They underwent medical examinations after landing, having been subjected to high G-forces in the descent. | |
| Mr Perminov said the craft followed the back-up landing plan, a so-called "ballistic re-entry" - a plunge with an uncontrollable, steep trajectory. | Mr Perminov said the craft followed the back-up landing plan, a so-called "ballistic re-entry" - a plunge with an uncontrollable, steep trajectory. |
| He said the crew missed the target because they changed their landing plan at the last minute without telling mission control. | He said the crew missed the target because they changed their landing plan at the last minute without telling mission control. |
| In October, a crew returning from the International Space Station had a similar experience, touching down in Kazakhstan 200km (120 miles) from its intended landing site, in temperatures of 6C ( 43F). | In October, a crew returning from the International Space Station had a similar experience, touching down in Kazakhstan 200km (120 miles) from its intended landing site, in temperatures of 6C ( 43F). |
| Ms Yi had spent 11 days conducting tests at the space station. | Ms Yi had spent 11 days conducting tests at the space station. |
| South Korea's Yi So-yeon spent 11 days at the International Space Station | South Korea's Yi So-yeon spent 11 days at the International Space Station |
| South Korea, which paid Russia $20m (£10m) for her trip into space, is investing heavily in space technology and is due to launch its first rocket later this year. | South Korea, which paid Russia $20m (£10m) for her trip into space, is investing heavily in space technology and is due to launch its first rocket later this year. |
| 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 said earlier. | 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 said earlier. |
| This was Yuri Malenchenko's third long-duration spaceflight. He spent 126 days aboard space station Mir in 1994, and 185 days on the ISS in 2006. | This was Yuri Malenchenko's third long-duration spaceflight. He spent 126 days aboard space station Mir in 1994, and 185 days on the ISS in 2006. |
| He also flew on a 12-day shuttle mission in 2000. He has accumulated 515 days in space during his four flights. This is the ninth highest total of cumulative time. | He also flew on a 12-day shuttle mission in 2000. He has accumulated 515 days in space during his four flights. This is the ninth highest total of cumulative time. |