Russia

Russian Space Capsule Carrying Three Lands Safely in Kazakhstan

Ground personnel carry ISS crew member Drew Feustel of the United States shortly after landing in a remote area of Kazakhstan on October 4. The Soyuz capsule can be seen in the background.

A Russian space capsule landed safely on the steppes of Kazakhstan, returning to Earth two Americans and a Russian after a six-month mission in orbit.

The Soyuz MS-08 capsule touched down late on October 4, local time, according to the U.S. and Russian space agencies.

Russia's Oleg Artemyev and Americans Drew Feustel and Ricky Arnold had spent six months on the International Space Station.

During that time, a mysterious hole was discovered in one part of the station, which led to a brief drop in oxygen levels.

Russian experts are investigating what happened, but Russia's space chief has said it appeared the hole was made deliberately.

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A Russian newspaper, citing unnamed officials, cast blame on the American crew, which prompted an unusually blunt, public retort from Feustel.

A final report is expected in November.

A NASA astronaut and a Russian cosmonaut are set to join the station crew next week with a launch next week from Russia's Baikonur Cosmodrome.