The Soyuz TMA-2 craft landed at 05:40 am Moscow time (0240 GMT) as planned, in a secluded spot some 35 kilometers (21 miles) south of the town of Arkalyk, the agency's officials said, adding that "the cosmonauts felt fine."

Malenchenko and Lu, who spent six months on board the International Space Station, were replaced last week by British-born American Michael Foale and Russian Alexander Kaleri.

SPACE.WIRE