ISS crew members head back to Earth after 172-day mission
Three crew members who have been on the International Space Station for 172 days will return to Earth on Tuesday.
Those returning to solid ground include one astronaut and two Russian cosmonauts who have completed hundreds of experiments during their time on the station, NASA said Tuesday.
The three conducted research in biology, biotechnology, physical science and Earth science.
It will be the fourth splashdown for Expedition 48 Cmdr. Jeff Williams, who has spent 534 days in space over the course of four missions.
Williams has accrued more time in space than any U.S. astronaut in history, NASA said.
Accompanying him will be Soyuz Cmdr. Alexey Ovchinin and flight engineer Oleg Skripochka from the Russian space agency.
The crew is scheduled to close the hatch on the return capsule at about 2:30 p.m. and undock from the ISS at 5:51 p.m.
The capsule should fire its engines for a de-orbit burn by 8:21 p.m., and the ISS crew members should be back on Earth by 9:14 p.m., NASA said.
