Russian space agency confirms ISS crew's return on June 11

Moscow, June 5: The return of the International Space Station (ISS) crew is scheduled for June 11, Russian space agency Roscosmos chief Igor Komarov told the media on Friday.

"The ISS expedition 42-43 is returning to Earth on June 11," Komarov said.

Three crew members -- Russia's Anton Shkaplerov, European Space Agency's Samantha Cristoforetti and US astronaut Terry Virts -- are to return to Earth, TASS news agency reported.

Earlier, a source in the space rocket industry mentioned June 11 as a likely return date.

Originally, the re-entry capsule was to bring back three ISS crew members on May 14.

The loss of the Progress M-27M cargo vehicle at the end of April caused a postponement.

At the moment, the ISS has a crew of six -- Russia's Shkaplerov, Gennady Padalka and Mikhail Korniyenko, US astronauts Virts and Scott Kelly and European space agency's Cristoforetti.

IANS