Russian, U.S. Aviation Officials Upbeat About Iss Crew’s Landing

MOSCOW. Oct 24 (Interfax) – Mission control experts, the Federal Space Agency and the U.S. Aeronautics and Space Administration are upbeat about the International Space Station crew’s successful landing on Sunday morning.

“The descent proceeded almost perfectly along the designated trajectory. The crew landed about 80 kilometers from Arkalyk [Kazakhstan] as planned. All the objectives have been fulfilled,” Federal Space Agency chief Anatoly Perminov told a news conference at mission control after the landing.

He said the crew members had dealt well with the flight program.

Head of the Rocket-Space Corporation Yury Semyonov said the crew had done a very good job.

“The crew has fulfilled its mission and repaired the Elektron system which generates air, so the system is in working condition now,” Semyonov said.

He added that the Soyuz TMA 5 had landed perfectly.

NASA chief Sean O’Keefe highly commended the crew’s work on board the ISS, and the Federal Space Agency’s efforts to fulfill the ISS program.

He said the long-duration mission, led by Russian cosmonaut Gennady Padalka, was extremely productive and successful. The crew carried out a great deal of work on board the ISS, he said.

The cosmonauts thanked everyone for the warm welcome they received upon landing.

“We were greeted cordially, gently and hospitably. The landing was perfect,” Padalka said.

NASA astronaut Michael Fincke said at a press briefing in Kustanai [Kazakhstan] that he was pleased with the landing and with the welcome.

“I would like to convey special thanks to the search and rescue team. It’s a pleasure to be back home,” said Space Troops cosmonaut Yury Shargin.

At the Kustanai airport, Padalka, Fincke and Shargin were greeted with flowers by Kazakh girls, dressed in national customs, an Interfax correspondent reported.

Governor of the Kustanai region Nuraly Saduakasov and his deputy Viktor Meister presented the cosmonauts with Kazakh tunics and embroidered caps.