Photos: Astronauts return from space station

Personnel of the Russian space agency secure the Soyuz TMA-10M space capsule shortly after its landing in the Kazakh steppe, Tuesday, March 11, 2014. U.S. astronaut Michael Hopkins, together with two Russian cosmonauts, Oleg Kotov and Sergey Ryazansky, landed safely in the capsule after five months in space. Bill Ingalls/NASA/Reuters

American flight engineer Mike Hopkins gives a thumbs up as he is helped from the Soyuz Capsule just minutes after landing. Bill Ingalls/NASA/Reuters

Former International Space Station commander Oleg Kotov, center is flanked by flight engineers Sergei Ryazansky, left, and Michael Hopkins sit in chairs outside the Soyuz capsule shortly after they landed. Bill Ingalls/NASA/Reuters

Russia space agency photographers documenting the Russian Sokol space suit worn by US astronaut Mike Hopkins. Bill Ingalls/NASA/Reuters

Russia space agency ground personnel document cargo inside the Soyuz capsule. Bill Ingalls/NASA/Reuters

The three astronauts received traditional Kazakh hats, dombras (a traditional Kazakh instrumen) and a commemorative portrait as welcoming gifts upon their arrival. Vasily Maximov/EPA