[ISS] Soyuz TMA-16M Prepares for Return Home with Hatch Closure

The Russian Soyuz TMA-16M with three crew members onboard has begun it's return home back on Earth. Crew closed hatches between the Soyuz and International Space Station, onboard the Soyuz returning home is Russian cosmonaut and Soyuz commander Gennady Padalka who has been onboard the ISS since he arrived with year long crew members Scott Kelly and Mikhail Korniyenko in March.

Also onboard the Soyuz TMA-16M departing today is two short term visitors to the ISS, European Space Agency astronaut Andreas Mogensen and Kazakh cosmonaut Aidyn Aimbetov who only arrived to the complex last week on September 2nd taking advantage of two spare seats which allow the year long crew to return later next year.