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Soyuz spacecraft lands off-target Soyuz spacecraft lands off-target
(about 2 hours 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 according to AP news agency. The crew are safe, but were subjected to severe G-forces during re-entry, said a spokesman for mission control.
He said they were being examined on site by medical staff. He said they were examined at the landing site by medical staff.
On board are Yi So-yeon, South Korea's first astronaut, Yuri Malenchenko from Russia and American Peggy Whitson. 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.
The Russian TMA-11 landing capsule touched down some 420km away from its planned landing point in the Kazakh steppe, and some 20 minutes later than scheduled. The Russian TMA-11 landing 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.
Peggy Whitson holds the US record for the most time spent in spacePeggy Whitson holds the US record for the most time spent in space
The three crew are said to be safe, say space officials. "The main thing is that the crew is alive and healthy," said Anatoly Perminov, head of the Russian federal space agency.
However, they are undergoing medical examinations after being subjected to G-forces up to 10 times those present on Earth, said spokesman Valery Lyndin. They underwent medical examinations after landing, having been subjected to G-forces up to 10 times those present on Earth.
Officials said the craft followed 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.
Ms Yi had spent 11 days conducting tests at the International Space Station. He said the crew missed the target because they changed their landing plan at the last minute without telling mission control.
Record breaker
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.
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.
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The handover at the International Space StationThe handover at the International Space Station