Today is homecoming day for International Space Station Commander Scott Kelly of NASA and Flight Engineers Mikhail Kornienko and Sergey Volkov of Roscosmos as they prepare for landing in their Soyuz TMA-18M spacecraft at 11:25 p.m. EST tonight, southeast of Dzhezkazgan, Kazakhstan.
At this time, there are no concerns or issues being worked, and hatch closure is scheduled to occur at 4:40 p.m.
Kelly handed over command of the orbiting complex to NASA astronaut Tim Kopra in a ceremony on Monday, Feb. 29. When the Soyuz undocks, Expedition 47 formally will begin.
The landing of Expedition 46 marks the end of a year in space for Kelly and Kornienko. This is the first time that extensive research using exciting new techniques like genetic studies has been conducted on very long-duration crew members. NASA astronaut Scott Kelly is the first American to complete a continuous, year-long mission in space and is now the American who has spent the most cumulative time in space.
NASA Television coverage times for Soyuz activities are listed below. These activities also will stream online at https://www.nasa.gov/ntv.
Here is a timeline of the Expedition 46 undocking and landing.
Tuesday, March 1
EST EVENT
4:15 p.m. NASA TV: Expedition 46 farewell & hatch closure coverage
4:40 p.m. Soyuz TMA-18M/space station hatch closure
7:45 p.m. NASA TV: Expedition 46 Soyuz TMA-18M undocking coverage
8:01 p.m. Soyuz undock command sent
8:02 p.m. Soyuz TMA-18M undocks from space station
8:05 p.m. Soyuz manual separation burn
10:15 p.m. NASA TV: Expedition 46 Soyuz TMA-18M deorbit burn and landing coverage
10:32 p.m. Soyuz TMA-18M deorbit burn (4 minutes, 49 seconds duration)
10:37 p.m. Soyuz deorbit burn complete
10:59 p.m. Soyuz module separation (altitude 87 miles)
11:02 p.m. Soyuz atmospheric entry (altitude 62 miles)
11:10 p.m. Command to open parachute (6.6 miles)
11:25 p.m. Expedition 46 Soyuz TMA-18M landing southeast of Dzhezkazgan, Kazakhstan
Join the conversation on Twitter @space_station and following #ISS. To learn more about all the ways to connect and collaborate with NASA, visit: https://www.nasa.gov/connect.
Safe journey ace crew gods speed home take care thanks for fantastic memories Awesome
Gonna Miss You 3 Astronaut’s Up There! On My NASA Channel & Facebook Post Scott Kelly!
Welcome home!!
Welcome home from the Crawford family in Kansas City, Missouri!! We will be watching!
Class!!!
Safe landing all!! What an amazing journey you have had!! God Bless!!
welcome home…..
All we care about is the safety of these awesome hero’s!!! May the SAFE Force Be With YOU!!! XO From Oregon
Welcome and salute
We have been watching you buzzing around above our Small rural property in south eastern rural Australia over the last 12 months, one of the best things I have seen was when you ripped past the bottom edge of the moon at a speed I could not even guess how fast you were traveling, “what a sight that was, to know you guys were actually in that small bright light”. Thank you for all you have done.
Have a safe landing and we will look forward to watching you on TV.
Welcome home Space travelers!!
These events comprise a huge integration of technologies, mostly human hab. For me it is an emotional time.
Wonderful !!!!. Safe trip home to all.
Have a safe trip
I have been following Scott Kelly and the International Space Station from Maine for the past year. One morning I set my alarm at 4:00 am so I could run outside in my bathrobe and slippers in ten degree weather to wave to Scott as he passed through the morning sky in Maine. Praying for a safe landing and hugs to you for an a accomplished mission in God’s world. Margaret….an old lady in The State of Maine!
Thank you for your amazing work over the past year, for your photographs, for your dedication, and for your commitment for all the work still ahead of you. Safe landings, welcome back to earth!! Love from Boston.
Safe travels. What a brave and wonderful way to contribute to science.
Have a safe trip to you guys! I’m a Filipino fan always updated! 🙂
Welcome home Scott Kelly..thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Awesome!! Welcome Back guys!!
It’s awesome this is live streamed and available for the entire world to enjoy. Thank you NASA, thank you Scott Kelly, thank you Mikhail Kornienko and thank you Sergey Volkov. Each as important as the last for their contributions to an amazing future. Safe travels home!
Welcome home guys!!! What an awesome journey you’ve been on. Looking forward to learning more about your experiences and affects.
Welcome home space travels , Scott Kelly, Mikhail Kornienko and Sergey Volkov. You guys rock !
I’m not going to work this morning couse i want to see you live streaming ( we have so much different time). I’m Resma your huge fan from Indonesia
@Space_Station @NASA @NASA @rocosmos @StationCDRKelly @astro_tim @astro_timpeake @Volkov_ISS Welcome back to Earth # best of luck!!
after a year in space,which I followed with great pleasure, it is now that the
three of you, coming back to our world. It is an honor for me to communicate in this way . thank you (cmdr) Scott Kelly , Mikhail Kornienko
and Sergey Volkov . goodbye Pieter, Amsterdam The Netherlands.
Welcome home men, great job. This country loves all you guys.
SO proud of you Commander Scott Kelly!! I’m a therapist and so curious to hear about your whole experience, including adapting to life back on terra firma. God be with you as you get settled back in to your life here at home base!