A Russian Soyuz capsule carrying three returning astronauts from the International Space Station has touched down safely in the central steppes of Kazakhstan, but not without rattling nerves after a breakdown in communications.

NASA astronaut Ron Garan and Russian cosmonauts Andrei Borisenko and Alexander Samokutyayev landed some 150 kilometers (93 miles) southeast of the city of Zhezkazgan at 10 a.m. local time (0400 GMT) after 164 days in space.

Repeated calls to the Soyuz TMA-21 capsule from Mission Control in Korolyov, outside Moscow, went unanswered for several minutes, well after the craft had de-orbited.

Communication was eventually established between the crew and an Antonov fixed-winged aircraft flying circling the landing site.

The next launch of a manned Soyuz spacecraft to the space station is scheduled for Nov. 12.

In this image provided by NASA the Soyuz TMA-21 spacecraft is seen as it lands with Expedition 28 Commander Andrei Borisenko, and Flight Engineers Ron Garan, and Alexander Samokutyayev in a remote area outside of the town of Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan, on Friday, Sept. 16, 2011. NASA Astronaut Garan, Russian Cosmonauts Borisenko and Samokutyaev are returning from more than five months onboard the International Space Station where they served as members of the Expedition 27 and 28 crews. (AP Photo/NASA - Bill Ingalls)

But, the thing that bothers me is that why would Russia still send another crew after a resupply craft failed to reach the ISS? The ISS has only a couple of months left of supplies, and yet they still insist to increase the supply consumption?

@code1949 (View Post)
the ISS is a space station, not a country.