Russian space capsule lands in Kazakhstan with World Cup football

A Russian Soyuz space capsule carrying three astronauts from the International Space Station (ISS) has returned to Earth.

The capsule landed at 6:39 pm local time (8:39 am ET/2:30 pm BST) on Sunday, descending under a red-and-white parachute.

It is believed that the astronauts returned to Earth with a football that will be used in the first game of the World Cup.

 

Footage emerged last week of Mr Shkaplerov and another cosmonaut playing with the football whilst on-board the ISS (pictured)

Onboard were Russian Anton Shkaplerov, American Scott Tingle and Japan’s Norishige Kanai, ending a 168-day mission.  

It is thought that Mr Shkaplerov has returned to Earth with the Adidas Telstar 18 that was taken up by Kazakhstan-born Oleg Artemyev in March.

As reported by Tass, the ball will now be taken to Moscow in time for the opening game of the World Cup.

Fifa has yet to confirm these rumours.  

Prior to the March launch, Russian media focused on Mr Artemyev taking the football to the orbital laboratory.

He said at a pre-flight news conference: ‘We are taking a ball with us.

‘Possibly the one that will be used in the first game.’  

Footage emerged last week of Mr Shkaplerov and another cosmonaut playing with the football whilst on-board the ISS.

It is believed this ball will now be taken to Moscow in time for the World Cup, where it will be used in the first game of the competition 

It is believed this ball will now be taken to Moscow in time for the World Cup, where it will be used in the first game of the competition 

The three returning astronauts landed near the city of Dzhezkazgan and were all removed from the charred capsule in under half an hour. 

Temperatures on reentry exceeded 1,000°C (2,000°F) 

Mr Shkaplerov was lifted out first, followed by Mr Tingle and then Mr Kanai.

The descent to Earth was caught on camera by Russian space agency Roscosmos. 

The astronauts rested in lounge-like chairs as their bodies re-adjusted to Earth’s gravity after their five and a half month venture in space.    

A Russian Soyuz space capsule carrying three astronauts from the International Space Station has landed in the steppes of Kazakhstan. On board were Russian Anton Shkaplerov, American Scott Tingle (pictured) and Japan's Norishige Kanai, ending a 168-day mission 

A Russian Soyuz space capsule carrying three astronauts from the International Space Station has landed in the steppes of Kazakhstan. On board were Russian Anton Shkaplerov, American Scott Tingle (pictured) and Japan’s Norishige Kanai, ending a 168-day mission 

 It is believed that Mr Shkaplerov has returned to Earth with the football taken up by Kazakhstan-born Oleg Artemyev in March

 It is believed that Mr Shkaplerov has returned to Earth with the football taken up by Kazakhstan-born Oleg Artemyev in March

The capsule landed at 6:39pm local time on Sunday without apparent problems, descending under a red-and-white parachute

The capsule landed at 6:39pm local time on Sunday without apparent problems, descending under a red-and-white parachute

‘We’re feeling well,’ Mr Shkaplerov said to the surrounding media ensemble. 

‘A bit tired, at the same time we’re proud to have accomplished (our mission) and glad to be back on Earth. We’re glad that the weather is beautiful. The landing was quote-unquote “soft.”‘ 

The orbiting laboratory now has a crew of three – Americans Drew Feustel and Ricky Arnold and Russian Oleg Artemyev.

Another three astronauts are to be launched to the station on Wednesday.

Mr Shkaplerov was lifted out first, followed by American Scott Tingle and Mr Kanai (pictured) the last man to be removed from the Soyuz capsule.

Mr Shkaplerov was lifted out first, followed by American Scott Tingle and Mr Kanai (pictured) the last man to be removed from the Soyuz capsule.

The Russian Soyuz capsule was blackened by its fiery reentry but landed without any dramatics in Kazakhstan.  The orbiting laboratory now has a crew of three – Americans Drew Feustel and Ricky Arnold and Russian Oleg Artemyev

The Russian Soyuz capsule was blackened by its fiery reentry but landed without any dramatics in Kazakhstan.  The orbiting laboratory now has a crew of three – Americans Drew Feustel and Ricky Arnold and Russian Oleg Artemyev

WHAT IS THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION?

The International Space Station (ISS) is a $100 billion (£80 billion) science and engineering laboratory that orbits 250 miles (400 km) above Earth.

It has been permanently staffed by rotating crews of astronauts and cosmonauts since November 2000.

The space station is currently home to two Russians, three Americans and one Japanese. 

Research conducted aboard the ISS often requires one or more of the unusual conditions present in low Earth orbit, such as low-gravity or oxygen.

The International Space Station (file photo) is a $100 billion (£80 billion) science and engineering laboratory that orbits 250 miles (400 km) above Earth

The International Space Station (file photo) is a $100 billion (£80 billion) science and engineering laboratory that orbits 250 miles (400 km) above Earth

ISS studies have investigated human research, space medicine, life sciences, physical sciences, astronomy and meteorology.

The US space agency, Nasa, spends about $3 billion (£2.4 billion) a year on the space station program, a level of funding that is endorsed by the Trump administration and Congress.

A U.S. House of Representatives committee that oversees Nasa has begun looking at whether to extend the program beyond 2024.

Alternatively the money could be used to speed up planned human space initiatives to the moon and Mars.



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