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Station news conference
The five crew members aboard the International Space Station answer questions from reporters in the U.S. and Europe during this in-flight news conference. (20min 26sec file)
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Expedition 9 arrives
The Soyuz TMA-4 spacecraft carrying the Expedition 9 crew docks to the space station's Zarya control module as seen by a video camera on the capsule. (4min 40sec file)
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Soyuz docking
The elbow camera on the space station's robotic arm provides this view of the Soyuz capsule's docking to the Zarya module. (2min 45sec file)
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Expedition 9 launch
The next space station crew is safely launched aboard the Russian Soyuz rocket from Baikonur Cosmodrome. (3min 32sec file)
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Soyuz brings station crew back to Earth
BY WILLIAM HARWOOD
STORY WRITTEN FOR CBS NEWS "SPACE PLACE" & USED WITH PERMISSION
Posted: April 29, 2004

Outgoing space station commander Michael Foale, flight engineer Alexander Kaleri and Dutch astronaut Andre Kuipers returned to Earth aboard a Soyuz ferry craft this evening, safely touching down on target in Kazakhstan at 8:12 p.m. EDT (0012 GMT).

 
Foale gives a thumbs up after exiting the Soyuz capsule. Credit: NASA
 
Recovery crews had the spacecraft in sight during the latter stages of its descent and helicopters carrying flight surgeons and other personnel were on the scene in minutes. Within 15 minutes of landing, all three crew members had been assisted out of the cramped, upright Soyuz and helped into reclining chairs. Support crews offered hot tea and congratulations.

"A bullseye touchdown for the crew," reported NASA spokesman Rob Navias, on the scene in north central Kazakhstan. "It's a brilliant morning, the sun is just beginning to rise, crystal clear skies, just perfect weather, no wind at all.

"Again, Andre Kuipers in the process of being extracted, Mike Foale flashing me a smile, I'm standing right in front of him at the moment. Alexander Kaleri is in the process of talking to former cosmonaut Alexander Alexandrov from RSC Energia as he takes a sip of tea, having guided the Soyuz TMA-3 capsule to an on-target, bullseye touchdown. ... A very jubilant scene here in north central Kazakhstan."

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Additional coverage for subscribers:
VIDEO: THURSDAY'S FAREWELL CEREMONY BEFORE UNDOCKING QT
VIDEO: CREW MEMBERS BOARD SOYUZ AND CLOSE THE HATCH QT
VIDEO: SOYUZ CAPSULE UNDOCKS FROM THE SPACE STATION QT
VIDEO: CAPSULE FIRES THRUSTERS TO INCREASE SEPARATION SPEED QT
VIDEO: CREWMATES WELCOMED IN KUSTANAI, KAZAKHSTAN QT
VIDEO: THE CREW SPEAKS ABOUT THEIR RETURN TO EARTH QT
VIDEO: POST-LANDING INTERVIEW WITH CHIEF NASA ASTRONAUT QT
VIDEO: POST-LANDING INTERVIEW WITH EXPEDITION 10 COMMANDER QT

VIDEO: PREVIEW THE EXPEDITION 9 MISSION QT
VIDEO: MEET THE NEW STATION CREW IN THIS NARRATED MOVIE QT
MORE SPACE STATION VIDEO COVERAGE!
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