In pictures: Two Russians and one US astronaut land in capsule from International Space Station

Three astronauts land in capsule from Space Station. Credit: APTV

A Soyuz capsule carrying two Russians and one US astronaut landed in Kazakhstan, ending the crew's nearly six months aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

The capsule carried Russians Alexander Samokutayev and Elena Serova and NASA's Barry Wilmore, who blasted off for the space station on 26 September.

All three appeared in good condition. Credit: APTV

Returning to earth, the capsule landed upright in heavy fog southeast of the town of Dzhezkazgan on the Kazakh steppes.

The capsule window. Credit: APTV

Despite poor visibility, recovery workers arrived within several minutes and all three astronauts were extracted within half an hour.

Recovery workers arrived within several minutes. Credit: APTV

They were taken to chairs set up near the capsule, to begin their readjustment to gravity and undergo brief medical tests.

All three appeared in good condition, and Serova smiled broadly as she sat in the chair bundled up against temperatures a few degrees below freezing.

Three other astronauts remain aboard the space station.

They will be joined by three others on 27 March.

Two of those - Scott Kelly and Mikhail Kornienko - are to spend a full year on the ISS.