Returning ISS astronauts delayed by uncoupling malfunction

by Steven Mostyn - Sep 24 2010, 05:54

Three astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) have had their scheduled return to Earth temporarily delayed after their docked Soyuz TMA-18 capsule experienced some unexpected problems during its uncoupling procedure.

NASA astronaut Tracey Caldwell-Dyson and Russian cosmonauts Alexander Skvortsov and Mikhail Kornienko were initially expected to touch down in the central steppes of Kazakhstan on Friday morning after completing six months abroad the orbiting science facility.

"Well, when not going to have another attempt today for the undocking," a flight controller relayed to the crew after a number of failed attempts to release the Soyuz capsule. "We're going to give the guys the go for the opening of the hatch and coming back into the ISS."

In light of station-side latch and gear problems aboard the ISS, officials for the Russian space agency in charge of the mission have said the adjusted landing is now expected to take place on Saturday morning at around 9 A.M. local time (1500 AEST).

According to Anatoly Perminov, head of Russia's space agency, the returning station crew members remain in good spirits and the situation is not considered to be critical.

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