ME and Ophelia

SPACE CREW GET READY FOR EARTH
It's a massive recovery operation

Six months ago, I blogged about British-born Michael Foale and Russian Alexander Kaleri's journey to the International Space Station. Now they are getting ready for their return to Earth. Dutchman Andre Kuipers returns with them from an 11-day stint.

It's a massive recovery operation. Ground teams are preparing to rescue the men from the Russian Soyuz capsule, set to land on Kazakhstan's grasslands. The operation to recover the capsule from its landing position would involve 160 people, as well as eight helicopters, two aircraft and two all-terrain vehicles.

They will be hoping to avoid a repeat of events last May, when the returning capsule had to be hunted for several hours after slipping off course on its way down...

God bless and good luck to all the astronauts and ground crew. Thinking of you.