Three astronauts who have spent a year aboard the International Space Station have landed safely back on Earth.

The trio were part of an experiment to measure the impact of lengthy periods in zero gravity on the human body, as part of preparations for future space travel.

The landing took place in a steppe near the city of Zhezkazgan in Kazakhstan at 10:26am local time (4.26am GMT), Nasa reported. A search and rescue team has located the capsule.