Sergei Remezov / Reuters

The Soyuz TMA-05M spacecraft is seen shortly after it landed with the International Space Station crew of Japanese astronaut Akihiko Hoshide, Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko and U.S. astronaut Sunita Williams near the town of Arkalyk in northern Kazakhstan on November 19, 2012.

The Associated Press reports from Almaty, Kazakhstan — Three astronauts touched down in the dark, chilly expanses of central Kazakhstan onboard a Soyuz capsule Monday after a 125-day stay at the International Space Station.

Eight helicopters rushed search-and-recovery crew to assist the crew, whose capsule did not parachute onto the exact planned touchdown site due to a minimal delay in procedures. Read the full story.

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Kirill Kudryavtsev / AFP - Getty Images

Soyuz TMA-22 capsule with Expedition 30 aboard lands in a remote area outside the town of Arkalyk in Kazakhstan, on April 27. US astronaut Dan Burbank, Russian cosmonauts Anton Shkaplerov and Anatoly Ivanishin, landed today safely in the Kazakh steppe aboard a Russian Soyuz capsule after a stay of over five months aboard the International Space Station.

Kirill Kudryavtsev / AFP - Getty Images

Russia's space agency ground personnel help US astronaut Dan Burbank shortly after the landing of Soyuz TMA-22 capsule near the town of Arkalyk in Kazakhstan, on April 27. US astronaut Dan Burbank, Russian cosmonauts Anton Shkaplerov and Anatoly Ivanishin, landed today safely in the Kazakh steppe aboard a Russian Soyuz capsule after a stay of over five months aboard the International Space Station.

A Russian space capsule touched down on the steppes of Kazakhstan in Central Asia Friday, safely returning a joint U.S.-Russian crew to Earth after months aboard the International Space Station.

The Soyuz TMA-22 spacecraft landed at 7:45 a.m. ET, less than four hours after undocking from the space station. Riding home aboard the space capsule were NASA astronaut Dan Burbank and Russian cosmonauts Anton Shkaplerov and Anatoly Ivanishin, who were reintroduced to the strong tug of Earth's gravity after spending 165 days, or nearly five and a half months, in orbit.

Burbank, Shkaplerov and Ivanishin launched into space in mid-November. The three men formed half of the space station's six-person crew. Their homecoming brought the outpost's Expedition 30 mission to a close and marked the beginning of Expedition 31.

Continue reading.

-- space.com

Kirill Kudryavtsev / AFP - Getty Images

Russia's space agency ground personnel help Russian cosmonaut Anatoly Ivanishin shortly after the landing of Soyuz TMA-22 capsule near the town of Arkalyk in Kazakhstan, on April 27. US astronaut Dan Burbank, Russian cosmonauts Anton Shkaplerov and Anatoly Ivanishin, landed today safely in the Kazakh steppe aboard a Russian Soyuz capsule after a stay of over five months aboard the International Space Station.

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Shamil Zhumatov / Reuters

Makpal Abrazakova trains her golden eagle Akzhelke outside her home village of Aksu-Ayuly in central Kazakhstan.

Shamil Zhumatov / Reuters

Makpal Abrazakova, 25, carries her golden eagle Akzhelke at her home in Aksu-Ayuly in central Kazakhstan.

Makpal Abrazakova, 25, who is professionally trained lawyer, is the only female eagle hunter in Kazakhstan. She started learning falconry from her father at the age of 13. These pictures were taken by Reuters' photographer Shamil Zhumatov  on Feb. 23, but were made available to msnbc.com today.

-- Reuters

Related links:

• Kazakhs revive eagle hunt tradition
  

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Shamil Zhumatov / Reuters

Makpal Abrazakova trains her golden eagle Akzhelke outside her home village of Aksu-Ayuly in central Kazakhstan.

Mukhtar Kholdorbekov / Reuters

Smoke rises above the Khazret Sultan mosque in Astana, Kazakhstan, Jan. 15. The mosque, which is regarded as the largest in Central Asia, was on fire on Sunday and 20 vehicles were involved in the firefighting operation.

AP reports the blaze was likely caused by welding equipment that set fire to scaffolding installed beneath the central dome of the mosque which is still under construction.

EPA

People watch as firefighters try to extinguish the fire on the Khazret Sultan mosque in Astana, Kazakhstan, Jan. 15.

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Shamil Zhumatov / Reuters

A hunter releases his tamed golden eagle during an annual hunting competition outside Almaty, Kazakhstan Dec. 9, 2011.

Shamil Zhumatov / Reuters

A hunter with his tame golden eagle sits on a stage during an annual hunting competition outside Almaty, Kazakhstan on Dec. 9, 2011.

I would love to see these eagles in person. What beautiful creatures.

These hunters are continuing their country's ancient tradition that originated in using eagles to hunt for food. According to the BBC, the Kazakhstan government has been encouraging these eagle hunting competitions actually as a way to help the falcon population, which was facing extinction. The audience the golden eagles attract helps fund a falcon conservation center.

Shamil Zhumatov / Reuters

A tame golden eagle is seen during an annual hunting competition outside Almaty, Kazakhstan on Dec. 9.

A hunter releases his tame golden eagle during an annual hunting competition outside Almaty, Kazakhstan Dec. 9.

Shamil Zhumatov / Reuters

An aerial view shows vehicles with their headlights on converging on the Soyuz TMA-02M after the spacecraft landed near the town of Arkalyk in northern Kazakhstan on November 22.

NASA via Getty Images

Russian support personnel help get Expedition 29 crew members out of the Soyuz TMA-02M spacecraft shortly after the capsule landed.

Shamil Zhumatov / Reuters

ISS crew member Russian cosmonaut Sergey Volkov smiles after landing.

The AP reports:

After spending nearly six months aboard the International Space Station, three spacefliers returned home to Earth on Monday.

NASA astronaut Mike Fossum, Japanese astronaut Satoshi Furukawa and Russian cosmonaut Sergei Volkov departed from the space station and landed on the frigid, windy Central Asian steppes of Kazakhstan at about 9:26 p.m. ET Monday (8:26 a.m. local time Tuesday).

After months in orbit, the crew's homecoming featured wintry conditions, with harsh winds, below-freezing temperatures and a layer of snow covering the landing site. When it touched down, the Soyuz capsule landed on its side, which is not uncommon in windy conditions, NASA officials said; otherwise, it was a smooth and successful landing. Continue reading.

Sergei Remizov / AP

Ground personnel carry Japanese astronaut Satoshi Furukawa from the Soyuz capsule minutes after landing.

Previously on PhotoBlog:

• Space station trio makes chilly but safe landing
• Hugs, laughter as crew arrives at International Space Station
• Soyuz spacecraft launched into snow-filled skies
• Russian Soyuz spacecraft takes a train to launchpad

Mikhail Metzel / AFP - Getty Images

Russia's Soyuz TMA-22 rocket stands at a launch pad in the Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, early on November 14.

msnbc.com staff and news services report from MOSCOW:

Three astronauts were lofted into orbit amid heavy snowfall on Monday, on a mission to bring the crew of the International Space Station back to full strength.

The U.S.-Russian crew is the first to enter orbit since NASA ended its 30-year shuttle program in July, heralding a period of several years when the space station's partners will have to rely solely on Russia to ferry crews. Read the full story.

Previously on PhotoBlog: Russian Soyuz spacecraft takes a train to launchpad

Mikhail Metzel / AP

A Russian Soyuz TMA-22 space ship which will carry a new crew to the International Space Station (ISS) is transported to the launch pad of the Russian leased Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, on Nov. 11. The launch of the new Soyuz mission with U.S. astronaut Dan Burbank, Russian cosmonauts Anton Shkaplerov and Anatoly Ivanishin, is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 14.

Vyacheslav Oseledko / AFP - Getty Images

Russian police officers guard the Soyuz TMA-22 rocket during its transportation to the launch pad on Nov. 11.

Vyacheslav Oseledko / AFP - Getty Images

The Soyuz TMA-22 rocket is mounted at the launch pad on Nov. 11.

Mikhail Metzel / AP

The Soyuz TMA-22 rocket is installed at the launch pad on Nov. 11.

A new trio of International Space Station residents, Expedition 29 Flight Engineers Dan Burbank, Anton Shkaplerov and Anatoly Ivanishin, are set to launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 11:14 p.m. ET Sunday aboard the Soyuz TMA-22 spacecraft, according to NASA.

Five days later Expedition 29 will end when crewmates Commander Mike Fossum and Flight Engineers Satoshi Furukawa and Sergei Volkov return home inside the Soyuz TMA-02M spacecraft.

Related content:

• November 8 - Russian mission to Martian moon stuck in Earth orbit
• November 2 - Russian craft delivers supplies to space station
• September 16 - US-Russian space crew returns safely to Earth
• December 4, 2010 - Soyuz crew prepares for trip to International Space Station