The crew returning from the International Space Station landed in the Soyuz MS-19 spacecraft. Anton Shkaplerov, Pyotr Dubrov, and American astronaut Mark Vande Hei completed their mission aboard the station and returned to Earth.
Vande Hei and Dubrov launched to the station on April 9, 2021 and spent 355 days in orbit. With this mission, Vande Hei set a new record for the longest continuous stay in space by an American astronaut. His total time in space across missions reached 523 days. Shkaplerov had previously flown to space three times, while Dubrov accumulated 708 days in space with this expedition, adding to his prior time in orbit.
Before the Soyuz undocked, Shkaplerov handed over command of the ISS to American astronaut Tom Marshburn, signaling a transition of leadership as the crew prepared for home descent.
Upon departure, Dubrov captured the final view of the Russian segment of the ISS with the Nauka module attached. About 13:30 local time, the spacecraft initiated the braking burn. A half hour later, the ship separated from the living and work compartments for atmospheric reentry. The descent occurred as the capsule burned through the dense atmosphere and landed roughly 140 kilometers southeast of Zhezkazgan in Kazakhstan.
The exact landing site could not be predicted in advance, so helicopters located the capsule first, followed by ground teams and medical personnel arriving at the recovery point to assist the crew and conduct postflight assessments.
This mission arrived amid heightened tensions between Russia and Western nations due to Russia’s actions in Ukraine. International sanctions and reciprocal measures affected air traffic and operations, with aviation routes and permissions shifting in response. One detail highlighted by observers was that a NASA-supporting mission control crew would need to operate in Russian airspace during the return, a scenario analyzed by specialists in spaceflight media. Vande Hei was expected to reach Houston within a day of landing.
Despite the broader geopolitical strain, members of the ISS crew emphasized professional cooperation and cordial relations with colleagues from other countries, underscoring the shared goal of successful research and exploration in space.
Shkaplerov voiced a human-centered perspective, noting that space teams worldwide face common challenges. He referenced the historical Kosmos-1408 satellite incident as a reminder that collaboration remains essential for safety in orbit. While asserting that emergencies occurred, he stressed that the team worked through them together and kept the mission safety-focused.
During descent, the capsule did not land perfectly vertical but tilted to the side. Ground crews adapted quickly, and the astronauts emerged without major issues. Shkaplerov was assisted from the capsule amid a moment of light relief when a thermos spilled tea. He quipped that Earth’s homes feel warmer than space, a comment reflecting the palpable adjustment after reentry. Dubrov and Vande Hei followed, with the American adjusting to bright sunlight with a cap and a protective mask, a reminder that post-pandemic health measures remained in practice for some astronauts.
Looking ahead, the next crewed mission to the ISS was planned for early April. A four-person team under American Michael Lopez-Alegria would fly aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon, operated under contract with Axiom Space, marking the next chapter in private-public collaboration for long-duration spaceflight.