Upon completion of a ten-day flight program the Russian-French visiting crew (VC-2) to the International Space Station (ISS) consisting of Viktor Afanasiev (spacecraft commander, test cosmonaut of Yu.A. Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center RSRC), French astronaut Claudie Haignere (flight engineer 1, CNES representative) and Konstantin Kozeev (flight engineer 2, test cosmonaut of S.P. Korolev RSC Enegia) returned to the Earth.

The Soyuz TM-32 spacecraft undocked from the Russian module Pirs at 4:38:30 Moscow time on MCC-M control commands. The spacecraft performed an automatic descending according to the nominal pattern.

The descent module landed in the prescribed area located 180 km to the south-east of Dzhezkazgan, Kazakhstan. The landing time is 7:59:29.

The main objective of the VC-2 flight has been fulfilled. An extensive research program and scheduled replacement of the Soyuz TM-32 transport spacecraft that had been functioning as a crew return vehicle within the ISS since April 4, 2000 for the Soyuz TM-33 have been performed. The Soyuz TM-32 undocked from the Russian Module Pirs at 4:36 Moscow time on control commands from MCC-M.

The VC-2 crew has fulfilled a complete flight program incorporating 10 space experiments under the Andromede program in 33 sessions including 2 geophysical, 4 biomedical, 1 biotechnological and 3 technological experiments.

The geophysical experiments were intended to investigate atmospheric pollution of the Earth areas and optical radiation in atmosphere associated with storm and seismic processes. Biomedical experiments studied changes in a human body in zero-gravity, utilization of new computer technologies to assure psychological crew comfort, effect of microgravity conditions on the bio-objects growth and development. Biotechnological investigations continued similar experiments performed on the Mir Space Station on crystallization of various preparations by using new equipment. The objective of the technological experiments is to study the impact of charged particle flows on the electronic equipment, investigate plasma dust crystals and liquids generation processes and behavior in microgravity conditions, validation of support aids improving a cosmonaut comfort in a long-duration space flight.

During the flight the following events were arranged aboard the ISS: TV communication sessions with the Prime Minister of France Lionel Jospin (October 23), who congratulated the CV-2 on their arrival to the Station and wished them successful implementation of the flight program, the French Research Minister, Roger-Gerard Schwartzenberg (October 25); TV report about the Andromede research program (October 28); TV press-conferences with mass media representatives in Paris (October 24), as well as with the institutor of prise For International Cooperation, Spanish prince Asturias (October 26) due to adjudging this prize to the integrated ISS crew; with schoolchildren from Toulouse (October 27) in the frame of the educational program.

The ISS on-orbit complex continues its flight in a near-earth orbit with an inclination of 51.6°, maximum and minimum altitudes of 413.4 and 379.1 km, respectively, an a period of 92.3 min.

The ISS consists of the functional cargo module Zarya, service module Zvezda, docking compartment Pirs, Soyuz TM-33, Progress M-45 vehicles, as well as U.S. modules Unity, Destiny and airlock Kvest. The total mass of the complex is about 136.5 t.

The onboard systems of the Soyuz TM-33 transport spacecraft and station modules operate nominally.

The ISS prime crew ISS-3 working aboard the Space Station and consisting of Frank Culbertson (Commander), Vladimir Dezhurov (pilot, Soyuz TM crew commander) and Mikhail Tyurin (flight engineer, test cosmonaut of S.P. Korolev RSC Energia) continues to implement the on-orbit flight program activities.

The Soyuz TM-33 spacecraft descending flight was commanded by the Lead Operational Control Team (LOCT) located in Moscow Mission Control Center (MCC-M, Korolev) and working in close cooperation with the specialists from the American Mission Control Center (MCC-H, Houston). The LOCT includes the managers and leading specialists from S.P. Korolev RSC Energia, experts from other enterprises and organizations. The Flight Director is Pilot-Cosmonaut V.A. Soloviev.

During the Soyuz TM-32 spacecraft landing MCC-M was attended by CNES General Director Gerard Brachet, Yu. P. Semenov, Technical Director of Russian Manned Space Programs, General Designer of S.P. Korolev RSC Energia, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, leading specialists of RSC Energia, Rosaviakosmos, NASA, ESA, CNES, Russian enterprises and organizations involved in the ISS Project implementation.

The completion of the Russian-French crew, VC-2 crew flight program is another example of development of the scientific and technical relations and cooperation in the field of space research between Russia and France.