Astronauts safe after failed space launch, emergency landing in Kazakhstan
Two astronauts are in good condition after a capsule carrying them to the International Space Station failed shortly after launch, forcing an emergency landing in Kazakhstan on Thursday.
American astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin blasted off at 2:40 p.m. Thursday, local time, from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
"Shortly after launch, there was an anomaly with the booster and the launch ascent was aborted, resulting in a ballistic landing of the spacecraft," the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) said in a statement.
Search and rescue crews were deployed to the site where the crew made an emergency landing.
The astronauts landed at an unspecified location in Kazakhstan, were removed from the capsule and found to be in good condition, according to NASA.
Hague and Ovchinin are being transported to the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center just outside of Moscow, Russia, NASA said.
The astronauts were scheduled to spend six months at the International Space Station working on scientific experiments, according to BBC News.
"A thorough investigation into the cause of the incident will be conducted," NASA said.
Russia is suspending all manned space launches pending the investigation, according to the Associated Press.
The weather around the time of the incident was clear with light winds.
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