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Space station crew returns to Earth BY WILLIAM HARWOOD STORY WRITTEN FOR CBS NEWS "SPACE PLACE" & USED WITH PERMISSION Posted: October 23, 2004 A Russian Soyuz spacecraft landed in central Asia Saturday, bringing the international space station's ninth crew back to Earth after a six-month stay in space. Making a relatively rare nighttime landing, the Soyuz TMA-4 capsule, carrying Russian commander Gennady Padalka, NASA flight engineer Michael Fincke and cosmonaut Yuri Shargin touched down at 8:36 p.m. EDT, three-and-a-half hours after separation from the space station. "We have confirmation of landing, 36 minutes after the hour," said NASA commentator Kyle Herring, monitoring the descent from the Johnson Space Center in Houston. "Expedition 9 home after 188 days in space, 186 aboard the international space station. Mike Fincke now officially completing his first voyage into space, Gennady Padalka completing his second." Recovery forces had to contend with freezing temperatures and blustery winds at the landing site, but the Soyuz TMA-4 spacecraft completed its descent with no apparent problems, ending up on its side. Fincke returns to a daughter he's never seen in person. His wife, Renita, gave birth to Tarali Paulina Fincke on June 18, two months into Expedition 9's mission. The couple also has another child and all three were in Star City near Moscow, awaiting Fincke's arrival Sunday. "I'm very concerned she doesn't know who her father is," Fincke said of his daughter earlier this week. "She's getting really big without me, so I can't wait to come home." Fincke and Padalka were launched to the lab complex April 18. They were replaced by Expedition 10 commander Leroy Chiao and flight engineer Salizhan Sharipov, who were launched Oct. 14, along with research cosmonaut Shargin, aboard the Soyuz TMA-5 spacecraft. "We really had a spectacular mission," Fincke said earlier in the week. "Everything I really wanted to accomplish in my career I got on my first flight. We went outside four times - three extended - for EVAs or spacewalks. It was amazing, outstanding! Just a few millimeters of fabric and metal between me and the open cosmos. Our planet is beautiful. "And the camaraderie that Gennady and I had together, that we can solve any problem, if something broke, we fixed it, that is a really good feeling to have," he said. "We know we are leaving the station in great shape for Leroy and Salizhan." Fincke and Padalka face a battery of medical checks and physical therapy to help them re-adapt to the unfamilar tug of Earth's gravity. Fincke is not expected to get back to Houston until mid November. But earlier today, he joked about staying in space. "Leroy, I left some toothpaste in the (Zarya module) and Gennady won't let me come back and get it," Fincke radioed after undocking. "We'll send it back," Chiao replied. "We also found Gennady's name tag here." A few moments later, Chaio said: "It was great serving with you and I'd fly again with you any time." "How about tomorrow?" Fincke joked. "I'm free."
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The Expedition 9 crew says goodbye to the International Space Station and the new Expedition 10 residents in this farewell ceremony before undocking. (1min 52sec file)
Expedition 9 commander Gennady Padalka, flight engineer Michael Fincke and visiting cosmonaut researcher Yuri Shargin board the Soyuz capsule to depart the space station. (1min 14sec file)
A camera mounted on the Soyuz TMA-4 capsule provides this view of the craft undocking from the International Space Station to ferry the Expedition 9 crew back to Earth. (4min 30sec file)
An external video camera on the hull of the U.S. Destiny laboratory module shows the Soyuz TMA-4 capsule departing from the Zarya module docking port before orbital sunrise. (4min 57sec file)
The crew announces ignition of the deorbit burn engine firing aboard the Soyuz to brake from space. (40sec file)
A space station camera captured this incredible view of the Soyuz's fiery trail during re-entry in the predawn morning sky. (1min 46sec file)
Mission Control-Houston announces the landing of Soyuz TMA-4 carrying the Expedition 9 crew back from the International Space Station. (60sec file)
Russian recovery forces at the landing site work to open the Soyuz capsule hatch and roll the craft on its side in preparation for the crew's exit. (2min 23sec file)
Expedition 9 commander Gennady Padalka is pulled from the Soyuz capsule following landing in Kazakhstan. (1min 38sec file)
Expedition 9 flight engineer Michael Fincke rests in a reclining chair and speaks to the media about the importance of spaceflight just after exiting the Soyuz. (2min 46sec file)