Three Astronauts Return From Space Station

ISS crew members Alexander Gerst of Germany (left), Maxim Surayev of Russia (center), and Reid Wiseman of the United States after their landing in Kazakhstan

A three-man crew has returned to Earth after spending 165 days aboard the International Space Station.

Flight control in Moscow said the Soyuz spacecraft carrying the three -- an American, a Russian, and a German -- landed safely near Arkalyk in north-central Kazakhstan early on November 10.

The U.S. space agency NASA said three more astronauts will blast off later this month to join up with the three crew still aboard the space station.

Based on reporting by AFP and dpa