Three astronauts return to Earth

Image source, NASA

Image caption, The team has spent nearly 200 days in space

Three astronauts from the International Space Station (ISS) have returned to Earth, one month after a rocket failure delayed an earlier attempt.

Their spacecraft landed safely on Thursday in Kazakhstan.

The commander of Expedition 43, Terry Virts, and his crewmates Anton Shkaplerov and Samantha Cristoforetti had spent six months on board the ISS carrying out scientific research and technology demonstrations.

Video caption, Terry Virts, Anton Shkaplerov and Samantha Cristoforetti waved goodbye as the hatch closed

Samanatha has set the record for most time in space on a single mission by a woman after clocking up more than 200 days.

Before they left they handed control of the ISS over to Russian cosmonaut Gennady Padalka, after nearly 200 days in space.

Image source, EPA

Image caption, Samantha Cristoforetti introduced a coffee machine to the ISS

According to US space agency Nasa, they have travelled more than 84 million miles since their launch into space on 24 November.

Three more astronauts are due to arrive at the International Space Station in July.