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Heading HomeThe Soyuz TMA-03M spacecraft floats through the clouds before landing in a remote area near Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan, on July 1.The three-person crew returned from more than six months aboard the International Space Station, where they served as members of the Expedition 30 and 31 crews.(See "After Space Shuttle, Does U.S. Have a Future in Space?")
Photograph by Bill Ingalls, NASA

Space Pictures This Week: Flame Nebula, Star "Bubble," More

A cosmic skyrocket, a "butterfly" seen on Mars, and a disappearing star feature among our editors' picks for this week's best space pictures.

Published July 5, 2012