Russia's manned Soyuz capsule lands safely in Kazakhstan

The Soyuz TMA-05M spacecraft is seen shortly after it landed with the International Space Station (ISS) crew of Japanese astronaut Akihiko Hoshide, Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko and US astronaut Sunita Williams, near the town of Arkalyk in northern Kazakhstan, Nov 19, 2012. [Photo/Agencies]

MOSCOW - The Russian Soyuz TMA-05M spacecraft with a crew of three has landed safely in Kazakhstan Monday, Russia's Mission Control Center said.

The space capsule carried back to the earth Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko, American astronaut Sunita Williams and Japanese astronaut Akihiko Hoshide who have completed their 126-day mission on the International Space Station (ISS).

The spaceship undocking was operated at 02:23 Moscow time Monday (2223 GMT Sunday) and the landing was conducted at 05:53 Moscow time (0153 GMT) as planned, said the mission control.

The crew landed some 85 kilometers northeast of the town Arkalyk in Kazakhstan, the center said in a statement on its website.

A rescue team working on the scene confirmed the "satisfactory" health condition of the returnees, according to the center.

During their stay at the ISS, the 33rd crew had conducted spacewalks and carried out dozens of scientific experiments. The 34th crew of two Russian cosmonauts and one US astronaut will remain on the station.

After the retirement of the US shuttle fleet, Russia's Soyuz spacecraft is the only way for astronauts to reach the ISS at least until 2015.