Three astronauts leave space station

[United Press International]

KOROLYOV, Russia, April 29 (UPI) -- Russia's Soyuz capsule
with three astronauts undocked from the International Space Station
Thursday in a first stage of its return to Earth.
Russian Alexander Kaleri and British-born Michael Foale, who
manned the space station for six months, are returning with Dutchman
Andre Kuipers, who came up for an 11-day stay in orbit.
American astronaut Michael Fincke and Russia's Gennady
Padalka will remain behind as the new crew for the space station.
The BBC reported that ground teams are on stand-by for the
Soyuz's landing in Kazakhstan's steppe early Friday morning.
Since the Columbia shuttle disaster last year, the Soyuz
craft has taken over trips to and from the space station.

[United Press International]

KOROLYOV, Russia, April 29 (UPI) -- Russia's Soyuz capsule

with three astronauts from the International Space Station returned
safely to Earth early Friday morning.

Russian Alexander Kaleri and British-born Michael Foale, who

manned the space station for six months, returned with Dutchman

Andre Kuipers, who came up for an 11-day stay in orbit.

The Soyuz space capsule landed safely in Kazakhstan's
steppes at 0011 GMT (8:11 p.m. EDT), Russia's mission control
centre in Korolyov, outside Moscow, reported according to the BBC.

American astronaut Michael Fincke and Russia's Gennady

Padalka remained behind as the new crew for the space station.