Welcome Home! Year-in-Space Astronaut Scott Kelly's Earth Return in Photos

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Scott Kelly: Back on Earth

Scott Kelly: Back on Earth

Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls

NASA astronaut Scott Kelly gives two thumbs up while resting up from a 340-day mission to the International Space Station. Kelly and two Russian crewmates landed their Soyuz capsule in a remote area of Kazakhstan on March 2, 2016 (Kazakh time).

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Soyuz TMA-18M with One Year Crew

Soyuz TMA-18M with One Year Crew

Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls

The Soyuz TMA-18M spacecraft is seen as it lands with Expedition 46 Commander Scott Kelly of NASA and Russian cosmonauts Mikhail Kornienko and Sergey Volkov of Roscosmos near the town of Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan on Wednesday, March 2, 2016 (Kazakh time).

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Year in Space Crew: Back on Earth

Year in Space Crew: Back on Earth

Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls

NASA astronaut Scott Kelly (right) and Russian cosmonauts Mikhail Kornienko and Sergey Volkov are seen in good spirits after their March 2, 2016 landing in a remote area near the town of Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan (March 1 Eastern Time) to end a 340-day flight for Kelly and Kornienko.

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Soyuz TMA-18M with One Year Crew

Soyuz TMA-18M with One Year Crew

Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls

The Soyuz TMA-18M spacecraft is seen as it lands with Expedition 46 Commander Scott Kelly of NASA and Russian cosmonauts Mikhail Kornienko and Sergey Volkov of Roscosmos near the town of Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan on Wednesday, March 2, 2016 (Kazakh time).

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Scott Kelly: Thumbs-Up After 340 Days

Scott Kelly: Thumbs-Up After 340 Days

Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls

NASA astronaut Scott Kelly gives a thumbs-up sign as he is pulled from his Soyuz spacecraft to end a 340-day mission to the International Space Station. Kelly returned to Earth on a Russian Soyuz capsule with cosmonauts Mikhail Kornienko and Sergey Volkov, landing in Kazakhstan on March 2, 2016 local time (March 1 Eastern Time).

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Soyuz TMA-18M with One Year Crew

Soyuz TMA-18M with One Year Crew

Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls

The Soyuz TMA-18M spacecraft is seen as it lands with Expedition 46 Commander Scott Kelly of NASA and Russian cosmonauts Mikhail Kornienko and Sergey Volkov of Roscosmos near the town of Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan on Wednesday, March 2, 2016 (Kazakh time).

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Landing Zone for Year in Space Crew

Landing Zone for Year in Space Crew

Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls

This NASA graphic shows the landing zone for astronaut Scott Kelly and cosmonauts Mikhail Kornienko and Sergey Volkov in their Soyuz space capsule on March 2, 2016 local time (late March 1 ET).

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Soyuz Descent Plan

Soyuz Descent Plan

Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls

A view of the trajectory home for astronaut Scott Kelly and cosmonauts Mikhail Kornienko and Sergey Volkov in their Soyuz spacecraft.

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Recovery Helicopters for Year in Space Crew

Recovery Helicopters for Year in Space Crew

Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls

Russian MI-8 helicopter personnel secure their helicopter after arriving at Zhezkazgan Airport in Kazakhstan Tuesday, March 1, 2016, ahead of the Soyuz TMA-18M spacecraft landing with Expedition 46 Commander Scott Kelly of NASA and Russian cosmonauts Mikhail Kornienko and Sergey Volkov of Roscosmos.

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Year-In-Space Crew Undocks from International Space Station

Year-In-Space Crew Undocks from International Space Station

Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls

Astronaut Scott Kelly and cosmonauts Mikhail Kornienko and Sergey Volkov undocked from the International Space Station at 8:02 p.m. EST (0102 on March 2 GMT) to begin their voyage back to Earth.

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Expedition 46 Crew Members Last Gathering

Expedition 46 Crew Members Last Gathering

Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls

The six Expedition 46 crew members aboard the International Space Station are about to part ways on March 1, 2016. L to R: Yuri Malenchenko, Tim Kopra, Mikhail Kornienko, Sergey Volkov, Scott Kelly and Tim Peake.

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Expedition 46 Crew Members Part Ways #3

Expedition 46 Crew Members Part Ways #3

Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls

Scott Kelly, Mikhail Kornienko and Sergey Volkov prepared to close the hatch to their Soyuz craft before returning to Earth from the Internatinoal Space Station on March 1, 2016.

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Scott Kelly’s Last Sunrise From Space

Scott Kelly's Last Sunrise From Space

Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls

NASA astronaut Scott Kelly tweeted this photo on March 1, 2016, from the International Space Station, calling it his “last sunrise from space.”

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Scott Kelly Reclining in ISS

Scott Kelly Reclining in ISS

Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls

After 340 days in space, the most time spent in orbit by an American, Scott Kelly is scheduled to return to Earth on March 1, 2016.

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Scott Kelly in Soyuz Spacecraft

Scott Kelly in Soyuz Spacecraft

Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls

Scott Kelly, Mikhail Kornienko and Sergey Volkov completed leak checks in their Soyuz spacecraft March 1 in preparation to return to Earth. Kelly and Kornienko, returning from a nearly yearlong mission to the station, have window seats.

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Orbital Sunrise, Feb. 29, 2016

Orbital Sunrise, Feb. 29, 2016

Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls

Out-going space station commander Scott Kelly shared this photo of an orbital sunrise to celebrate leap day, Feb. 29, 2016. He is scheduled to return to Earth on March 1, 2016.

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Scott Kelly’s Last Moon Photo from Space

Scott Kelly's Last Moon Photo from Space

Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls

NASA astronaut Scott Kelly posted his photo of the moon taken from the International Space Station on Feb. 28. He noted on Twitter that it would likely be his final moon photo taken in space.

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Scott Kelly in ISS Cupola

Scott Kelly in ISS Cupola

Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls

Scott Kelly, shown here in the cupola of the International Space Station, is about to complete his yearlong mission in space.

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Scott Kelly PBS Documentary

Scott Kelly PBS Documentary

Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls

NASA astronaut Scott Kelly, who is wrapping up an unprecedented 340-day mission aboard the International Space Station.

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Scott Kelly in Space Back to Earth

Scott Kelly in Space Back to Earth

Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls

NASA astronauts Scott Kelly and Tim Kopra are slated to vote March 1, but only Kopra will have a say in Texas’ primary elections; Kelly is returning to Earth that day.

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Scott Kelly in ISS Crew Quarters

Scott Kelly in ISS Crew Quarters

Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls

NASA astronaut Scott Kelly is photographed inside his crew quarters, where he has spent almost half of his yearlong stay on the International Space Station.

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Scott Kelly Talks to Reporters from Space Station

Scott Kelly Talks to Reporters from Space Station

Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls

NASA astronaut Scott Kelly talks to reporters on Feb. 25, 2016, less than a week before the end of his 340-day stay aboard the International Space Station.

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Scott Kelly Twitter Photo of Earth

Scott Kelly Twitter Photo of Earth

Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls

With one day left before returning to Earth, NASA astronaut Scott Kelly posted this photo of Earth taken from the International Space Station on Feb. 29, 2016.

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Canada from the ISS by Astronaut Scott Kelly

Canada from the ISS by Astronaut Scott Kelly

Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls

NASA astronaut Scott Kelly took this image from the ISS on Feb. 26, 2016 and posted on his Twitter account. He wrote, “Snow and ice make #Canada #EarthArt nice. #YearInSpace”

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Water Seen from Space by Scott Kelly

Water Seen from Space by Scott Kelly

Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls

With a few days left before returning to Earth, Scott Kelly tweeted this photo of water on Earth as seen from the International Space Station on Feb. 28, 2016.

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Ice from Space by Scott Kelly

Ice from Space by Scott Kelly

Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls

With a few days left before returning to Earth, Scott Kelly tweeted this photo of ice on Earth as seen from the International Space Station on Feb. 28, 2016.

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Desert Dunes from ISS by Scott Kelly

Desert Dunes from ISS by Scott Kelly

Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls

NASA astronaut Scott Kelly took this image from the ISS on Feb. 26, 2016 and posted on his Twitter account. He wrote, “#EarthArt Desert dunes. #YearInSpace”

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