(Korolyov, Russia) -- Three crew members from the International Space Station are back on solid ground today.

A Russian Soyuz space capsule carrying two astronauts and a cosmonaut has touched down safely in the open plains of northern Kazakhstan at 1:17 a.m. Central time.

Inside the space capsule were Frank de Winne of Belgium, Robert Thirsk of Canada and Roman Romanenko of Russia.

Officials with the Russian space program have received word that all three are in "good shape." Their return to earth leaves a two-man crew to operate the ISS.

An American astronaut, a Japanese astronaut and a Russian cosmonaut are expected to join them later this month.

They are slated to blast off onboard a Soyuz spacecraft on December 21st.

　

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