#OTD 16 years ago (Kazakhstan Time) - SWIPE ⬅️ - Expedition 6 crew Soyuz landing. While the Russians had been using the Soyuz for decades and American astronauts had flown into space twice before on the craft, NASA had never before put one of its own on a Soyuz for a landing. The capsule touched down in a ballistic landing about 276 miles from its planned landing zone on Sunday, May 4, 2003 in Kazakhstan (May 3rd EDT). All Images Credit (NASA/Bill Ingalls) . Pic 1 - From the seat of a Russian Helicopter, Bob Cabana, left, and Director of Flight Crew Operations and Astronaut Michael Foale look out over the Kazakh terrain for the Expedition Six Soyuz capsule after it's landing. . Pic 2 - Bob Cabana Director of Flight Crew Operations, left in door, talks with NASA colleagues on the satellite phone from a Russian helicopter while Bill Gerstenmaier I.S.S. Program Manager and J.D. Polk Expedition Six Flight Surgeon, right, wait to get word if they will be continuing on to the landing site after a refueling stop in Arkalyk, Kazakhstan. . Pic 3 - Expedition Six Commander Ken Bowersox, right, and Flight Engineer Nikolai Budarin, left, are seen after their Soyuz landing sharing a meal with Kazakh Cosmonaut Talgat Musabayev onboard a flight to Moscow. . Pic 4 - Expedition Six Commander Ken Bowersox of NASA, left, NASA ISS Science Officer Don Pettit, center, and Flight Engineer Nikolai Budarin celebrate the end of their successful mission while onboard a flight from Kazakhstan to Moscow. . . . . . . . @nasa #soyuz #expedition6 #landing #billingalls #Қазақстан @roscosmosofficial @gctc_official @nasaastronauts #Kazakhstan #OTD #KenBowersox #DonPettit #NikolaiBudarin #BobCabana #MichaelFoale #cosmonaut #astronaut #helicopter #SoyuzTMA-1spacecraft #SoyuzTMA-1 https://www.instagram.com/p/BxCXJ-Rl3bV/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=16y400ei2d44d