International Space Station's crew returns to Earth after one year

The pair's near year-long stay in space was the longest by any astronauts aboard the ISS

KAZAKHSTAN: US astronaut Scott Kelly and Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko returned to Earth Wednesday after spending almost a year in space in a ground-breaking experiment foreshadowing a potential manned mission to Mars.

"We have landing," Russian Mission Control confirmed after the trio touched down southeast of the settlement of Dzhezkazgan in central Kazakhstan at 0427 GMT.



Kelly and Kornienko, who both spent 340 days in space, returned with Russia's Sergei Volkov, who was stationed at the ISS for over five months.

Scott Kelly gives thumbs up as he's pulled out of capsule pic.twitter.com/sboUmpZCFu

— Igor Bobic (@igorbobic) March 2, 2016

The "one-year crew" mission saw Kelly break the record for the longest single stay in space by a US astronaut, while Kornienko is now fifth on the list for lengthiest mission by a Russian cosmonaut.

The pair's near year-long stay in space -- which started on March 27 last year -- was the longest by any astronauts aboard the ISS and seen as a vital chance to measure the effects of a prolonged period in space on the human body.

#Thanks for following our #YearInSpace The journey isn't over. Follow me as I rediscover #Earth! See you down below! pic.twitter.com/7byNy6fMG4

— Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) March 1, 2016

Kelly was also part of an experiment comparing his development and changes in space with his identical twin brother -- Mark -- back on Earth.

"Spaceflight is the biggest team sport there is, and it's incredibly important that we all work together to make what is seemingly impossible possible," Kelly said when handing over command of the ISS to fellow NASA astronaut Tim Kopra on Monday.



In his year aboard the space station Kelly has been an avid Internet poster, capturing stunning views on his Instagram page and tweeting regularly to nearly a million followers while travelling some 143 million miles (230 million kilometres).

My last #sunrise from space! 5 of 5. #YearInSpace pic.twitter.com/p9ZOvS4HcN

— Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) March 1, 2016

In one particularly eye-catching stunt the bald-headed astronaut posted a short video of himself dressed up in a gorilla suit and floating through the ISS in pursuit of a colleague.

"Needed a little humour to lighten up a year in space," he wrote on Twitter on February 23, when he posted the video.

"Go big, or go home. I think I'll do both."

Here's a look at the amazing pictures Kelly took of Earth from space:

Karachi

#Karachi, #Pakistan, Greetings from @Space_Station! #YearInSpace pic.twitter.com/VvB1gHSuVm

— Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) October 9, 2015

Makkah

#GoodMorning to the Holy City of #Mecca #Makkah! #YearInSpace pic.twitter.com/pEeRKPla0G

— Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) September 23, 2015

Iran

The snowy foothills of #Iran. #YearInSpace pic.twitter.com/YYW3ruMCaW

— Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) February 12, 2016

Arabian Gulf

Day 181. Arabian night over the the Arabian Gulf. #GoodNight from @space_station! #YearInSpace pic.twitter.com/qWhKZ2N4JF

— Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) September 24, 2015

Himalayas

#Himalayas, moonlight enhances how you separate the Indo-Gangetic Plain from the Tibetan Plateau (thanks Wikipedia!) pic.twitter.com/KXT15yg43z

— Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) September 25, 2015

The cracking blue ice of the #Himalayas. Brilliant! #YearInSpace pic.twitter.com/AF7uifF9bg

— Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) February 6, 2016

Africa

Day 321. Beautiful #Earth. Beautiful #Africa. #GoodNight from @space_station! #YearInSpace pic.twitter.com/wmDjH28zej

— Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) February 12, 2016

Egypt

Good afternoon #Egypt! Hope to see you up close some day. #YearInSpace pic.twitter.com/tNqye6i5gf

— Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) February 11, 2016

Vegas

To all my friends in #Vegas for #SB50, sorry I couldn't make it this year.See you soon! #YearInSpace pic.twitter.com/lAy3OByE9k

— Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) February 8, 2016

San Francisco

#SanFrancisco, Looks like a great night down there after #SB50! #SuperBowl #YearInSpace! pic.twitter.com/VHrAlWkxKs

— Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) February 8, 2016

Australia

Day 314. Tonight over morning in #Australia. #GoodMorning, mates! And #GoodNight from @space_station! #YearInSpace pic.twitter.com/rILPRlEAhU

— Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) February 4, 2016

Japan

Day 322. #Japan at night this morning. #GoodNight from @space_station! #YearInSpace pic.twitter.com/lZcmu5aPKS

— Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) February 13, 2016

Macedonia

Day 329. One night over #Macedonia. #GoodNight from @space_station! #YearInSpace pic.twitter.com/uJHAXG1maK

— Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) February 20, 2016

Bahamas

Refreshing sight of #Bahamas blues! #YearInSpace pic.twitter.com/l3AxFrnDPE

— Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) February 15, 2016

Korean Peninsula

The #Korean Peninsula. #Pyongyang the capitol the lone spot of light in an otherwise dark #NorthKorea. #YearInSpace pic.twitter.com/9NUmdDwrd7

— Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) September 26, 2015

Shanghai

Day 318. Over a #Shanghai night. Wishes for a happy #ChineseNewYear! #GoodNight from @space_station! #YearInSpace pic.twitter.com/T4JD0z55it

— Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) February 9, 2016

#Countdown We're down to a wakeup. #Earth. I'm coming for you tomorrow! #GoodNight from @space_station! #YearInSpace pic.twitter.com/kLe2755XyG

— Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) March 1, 2016

Likely my last pic of the #moon from space. Reminded me of my friend, #GeneCernan the @lastmanonmoon! #YearInSpace pic.twitter.com/4YCHj6s5E9

— Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) February 28, 2016

Of all the sunrises I've seen on my #YearInSpace, this was one of the best! One of the last too. Headed home soon. pic.twitter.com/AD4YEiN5kR

— Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) February 27, 2016