JAXA/NASA
日本人初の国際宇宙ステーション（ISS）船長を務めた若田光一さんが5月14日、ソユーズ宇宙船で半年ぶりに中央アジア・カザフスタンに帰還する。MSN産経ニュースによると、ロシアのソユーズ宇宙船が日本時間午前7時36分、ISSを離脱した。帰還カプセルで10時35分ごろ大気圏に再突入してパラシュートが開き、10時58分ごろカザフスタン中部の草原に軟着陸する。
【UPDATE】10時58分、若田光一さんがカザフスタン中部の草原に軟着陸に成功した。（2014/05/14 11:07）
若田さんは、3月9日から日本人初の国際宇宙ステーション船長を務めていた。
若田さんは船長を務めた２カ月間、乗員をまとめてステーションの運用や科学実験などの任務を着実にこなし、日本人飛行士に対する評価を高めた。今回の宇宙滞在は１８８日で１回の飛行としては日本人最長、通算の滞在日数は３４８日となる。帰還で全ての任務を完了する。
（47NEWS「宇宙基地船長、若田さん帰還へ 最長の１８８日滞在」2014/05/14 08:37 ）
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