According to the most recent information forwarded by Valeriy Lyndin, a spokesman for the Mission Control Center in the Russian city of Korolyov, Moscow Region, the Soyuz spacecraft, which undocked from the International Space Station (ISS) early Sunday, has landed safely in the territory of Kazakhstan.

Going by NASA television reports, helicopters have reached the landing site and the hatch of the capsule has been opened.

Accompanying NASA astronaut Michael Barratt and Russian cosmonaut Gennady Padalka, Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberte, was also aboard the capsule. Before the spacecraft's landing, Lyndin had told an RIA Novosti correspondent: "The health and mood of the spacecraft crew and the space tourist are good."

Meanwhile, a six-member crew still remains aboard the ISS. The team is being led by a new commander - the 48-year-old Belgian Frank De Winne, who happens to be the first European commander of the orbiting laboratory.

The others astronauts at the ISS include Russian Roman Romanenko and Canadian Robert Thirsk, who will continue working at the station; and American Nicole Scott, who is likely to remain at the station till the first mission of the US shuttle.

Meanwhile, Russian Maxim Surayev and American Jeffrey Williams - who will expectedly take over as the next commander December 1 - will also join the station's crew.