Minnesota native returns to Earth following record-setting trip on ISS
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As Minnesotans woke up Thursday morning, Mark Vande Hei – an astronaut and Minnesota native – returned to Earth after his record setting journey on board the International Space Station.
Vande Hei landed in Kazakhstan around 6:30 a.m. Thursday CT with two Russian cosmonauts, after some worried about his safe return. He will now travel to NASA headquarters in Houston.
The Associated Press reports a small NASA team of doctors and other staff was on hand for the touchdown, and planned to immediately return to the United States with the 55-year-old.
Despite the differences on the ground between the two countries, Vande Hei and the two cosmonauts came together in space as colleagues for their safe trip home.
Just before midnight, Vande Hei – who grew up in the Twin Cities – boarded Russia’s Soyuz Spaceship to land in Kazakhstan, beginning his long-awaited homecoming after spending a U.S. record of 355 days in space.
Astronaut Mark Vande Hei aboard the International Space Station. (Courtesy of NASA)
He spoke on the accomplishment last week.
“Really, the important thing was recognizing I had to stay focused on what I was doing at the moment. One more thing – trying to look for things to be grateful for as opposed to griping. That goes a long way to make whatever you’re doing more palatable,” said Vande Hei.
Earlier this month, the head of the Russian Space Agency posted on social media, threatening to abandon Vande Hei on the space station as tensions rose due to the war in Ukraine.
RELATED: Fate of Minnesota astronaut’s return remains up in the air
Those tensions weren’t seen onboard the ISS more than 200 miles above Earth – instead, there was a show of unity as the group departed.
During the traditional Change of Command ceremony, the Russian commander on the space station said “people have problems on earth, in orbit, we are one crew.”
Then, the Russian cosmonaut and the American astronaut hugged as the symbolic space-station key was handed over to the new commander.
University of Minnesota Bell Museum planetarium manager Sally Brummel believes the relationship between the United States and Russia in space will continue.
“The International Space Station is a collaboration of a dozen countries,” Brummel said. “I have faith it will continue despite the challenges we’re having right now.”
A top Russian official is expected to discuss any potential future Russian-American space flights sometime Thursday.
RELATED: Earthly politics tinge with Minnesota native’s journey on ISS with Russian cosmonauts
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In this photo taken from video footage released by Roscosmos Space Agency, rescue team members carry NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei shortly after the landing of the Russian Soyuz MS-19 space capsule southeast of the Kazakh town of Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan, Wednesday, March 30, 2022. The Soyuz MS-19 capsule landed upright in the steppes of Kazakhstan on Wednesday with NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei, Russian Roscosmos cosmonauts Anton Shkaplerov and Pyotr Dubrov. (Roscosmos Space Agency via AP) 
In this photo taken from video footage released by Roscosmos Space Agency, NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei sits in a chair shortly after the landing of the Russian Soyuz MS-19 space capsule southeast of the Kazakh town of Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan, Wednesday, March 30, 2022. The Soyuz MS-19 capsule landed upright in the steppes of Kazakhstan on Wednesday with NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei, Russian Roscosmos cosmonauts Anton Shkaplerov and Pyotr Dubrov. (Roscosmos Space Agency via AP) (Roscosmos Space Agency via AP) In this photo taken from video footage released by Roscosmos Space Agency, the Russian Soyuz MS-19 space capsule lands, southeast of the Kazakh town of Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan, Wednesday, March 30, 2022. The Soyuz MS-19 capsule landed upright in the steppes of Kazakhstan on Wednesday with NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei, Russian Roscosmos cosmonauts Anton Shkaplerov and Pyotr Dubrov. (Roscosmos Space Agency via AP) FILE – In this Aug. 17, 2021 photo made available by NASA, astronaut and Expedition 65 Flight Engineer Mark Vande Hei inspects a spacesuit in preparation for a spacewalk at the International Space Station. (NASA via AP, File) FILE – In this photo provided by NASA, U.S. astronaut and Expedition 66 Flight Engineer Mark Vande Hei peers at the Earth below from inside the seven-windowed cupola, the International Space Station’s window to the world on Feb. 4, 2022. (Kayla Barron/NASA via AP, File)
