US Ambassador to Russia greeted the astronauts returned to Earth – RIA Novosti

© REUTERS / NASA / Bill Ingalls

MOSCOW, March 2 -. RIA Novosti The US Ambassador to Russia John Tefft welcomed returning from the International space station to Earth Russian and American astronauts.

According to the head of the US diplomatic mission in Russia, “whereas in relations between the US and Russia have disagreements, I am proud that the Americans and the Russians continue work side by side on such an important task “.

© Ruptly

” I am very pleased that the astronaut Scott Kelly and cosmonauts Mikhail Kornienko and Sergei Volkov morning They returned safely to Earth. Kelly and Kornienko were on board the International Space Station for almost a year. They participated in the research, opening up new prospects for the development of advanced technologies in the development of deep space. All year I gladly followed the messages from orbit, especially the stunning photos of our planet and video greeting on the occasion, “- said the US diplomat

Tefft said.” Team spirit, dedication and perseverance allowed researchers successfully complete their mission Welcome home “,”

. “-!. he said,

Earlier, a representative of the mission control Center (MCC), told RIA Novosti that the rescuers evacuated from the descent vehicle “Soyuz TMA-18M” returned from the ISS participants in the annual mission – Scott Kelly and Mikhail Kornienko and Sergei Volkov, spent in orbit for six months

© NASA

Returning to the ISS crew performed in orbit for more than 50 scientific experiments. Many of them have important applications in science, medicine, and humanity as a whole. on board the ISS remained to work in anticipation of the arrival of change on Earth Timothy Kopra (US NASA), Timothy Peak (United Kingdom, ESA) and Yuri Malenchenko (Russia, Roscosmos). Next expedition ISS will start on 19 March. In its structure into orbit will leave Russian cosmonauts Alexei Ovchinin and Oleg Skripochka and US astronaut Jeffrey Williams, who will become the commander of the 47 crew.

Scott Kelly set a record of staying on board the ISS among astronauts USA October 16, 2015, when he made his 382 days in space. twin brothers Kelly are participants in an experiment on the effect of long-term stays in space on the human body. on the ground, NASA experts are monitoring the Mark Kelly, to the example of the analysis of genetically identical organisms brothers, to study the effect of the space environment on the human body.

Kelly brothers were born February 21, 1964 in the state of New Jersey. During the annual visit to the ISS Scott set a record for the total duration of stay in space, as well as the duration of a mission for the American astronaut.