Expedition 32 NASA Flight Engineer Joe Acaba is carried in a chair to the medical tent after he and Expedition 32 Commander Gennady Padalka and Flight Engineer Sergei Revin landed in their Soyuz TMA-04M capsule in a remote area near the town of Arkalyk, Kazakhstan, on Monday, Sept. 17, 2012. Acaba, Padalka and Revin returned from five months onboard the International Space Station where they served as members of the Expedition 31 and 32 crews. Photo Credit: (NASA/Carla Cioffi)

Expedition 32 Russian Flight Engineer Sergei Revin is seen as he rests outside the Soyuz TMA-04M capsule just minutes after he and Expedition 32 Commander Gennady Padalka and NASA Flight Engineer Joe Acaba landed in a remote area outside of the town of Arkalyk, Kazakhstan, on Monday, Sept. 17, 2012. Revin, Padalka and Acaba are returning from five months onboard the International Space Station where they served as members of the Expedition 31 and 32 crews. Photo Credit: (NASA/Carla Cioffi)

Expedition 32 NASA Flight Engineer Joe Acaba is seen as he rests outside the Soyuz TMA-04M capsule just minutes after he and Expedition 32 Soyuz Commander Gennady Padalka and Russian Flight Engineer Sergei Revin landed in a remote area outside of the town of Arkalyk, Kazakhstan, on Monday, Sept. 17, 2012. NASA Astronaut Acaba, Russian Cosmonauts Padalka and Revin are returning from five months onboard the International Space Station where they served as members of the Expedition 31 and 32 crews. Photo Credit: (NASA/Carla Cioffi)

A view inside inside the Russian Search and Rescue helicopter that will carry Expedition 32 Flight Engineer Joe Acaba from the Soyuz TMA-04M landing site in a remote area outside Arkalyk, Kazakhstan to Kostanay, Kazakhstan shortly after he and Expedition 32 Commander Gennady Padalka and Flight Engineer Sergei Revin returned from the International Space Station on Monday, Sept. 17, 2012. Acaba, Padalka and Revin returned from five months onboard the International Space Station where they served as members of the Expedition 31 and 32 crews. Photo Credit: (NASA/Carla Cioffi)

Expedition 32 NASA Flight Engineer Joe Acaba is seen as he rests outside the Soyuz TMA-04M capsule just minutes after he and Expedition 32 Soyuz Commander Gennady Padalka and Russian Flight Engineer Sergei Revin landed in a remote area outside of the town of Arkalyk, Kazakhstan, on Monday, Sept. 17, 2012. NASA Astronaut Acaba, Russian Cosmonauts Padalka and Revin are returning from five months onboard the International Space Station where they served as members of the Expedition 31 and 32 crews. Photo Credit: (NASA/Carla Cioffi)

Expedition 32 NASA Flight Engineer Joe Acaba rests on the Russian Search and Rescue helicopter that is carrying him from the Soyuz TMA-04M landing site in a remote area outside Arkalyk, Kazakhstan to Kostanay, Kazakhstan shortly after he and Expedition 32 Commander Gennady Padalka and Flight Engineer Sergei Revin returned from the International Space Station on Monday, Sept. 17, 2012. Acaba, Padalka and Revin returned from five months onboard the International Space Station where they served as members of the Expedition 31 and 32 crews. Photo Credit: (NASA/Carla Cioffi)

The Soyuz TMA-04M spacecraft is seen as it lands with Expedition 32 Commander Gennady Padalka of Russia, NASA Flight Engineer Joe Acaba and Russian Flight Engineer Sergei Revin in a remote area near the town of Arkalyk, Kazakhstan, on Monday, September 17, 2012. Padalka, Acaba and Revin returned from five months onboard the International Space Station where they served as members of the Expedition 31 and 32 crews. Photo Credit: (NASA/Carla Cioffi)

Expedition 32 NASA Flight Engineer Joe Acaba is attended to by crew support personnel following his landing in the Soyuz TMA-04M spacecraft, Monday, Sept. 17, 2012. Acaba and Russian cosmonauts Padalka and Revin are returning from five months onboard the International Space Station where they served as members of the Expedition 31 and 32 crews. Photo Credit: (NASA/Carla Cioffi)

The Soyuz TMA-04M spacecraft is seen as it lands with Expedition 32 Commander Gennady Padalka of Russia, NASA Flight Engineer Joe Acaba and Russian Flight Engineer Sergei Revin in a remote area near the town of Arkalyk, Kazakhstan, on Monday, September 17, 2012. Padalka, Acaba and Revin returned from five months onboard the International Space Station where they served as members of the Expedition 31 and 32 crews. Photo Credit: (NASA/Carla Cioffi)

The Soyuz TMA-04M spacecraft is seen following its landing with Expedition 32 Commander Gennady Padalka of Russia, NASA Flight Engineer Joe Acaba and Russian Flight Engineer Sergei Revin in a remote area near the town of Arkalyk, Kazakhstan, on Monday, September 17, 2012. Padalka, Acaba and Revin returned from five months onboard the International Space Station where they served as members of the Expedition 31 and 32 crews. Photo Credit: (NASA/Carla Cioffi)

The Soyuz TMA-04M spacecraft is seen as it lands with Expedition 32 Commander Gennady Padalka of Russia, NASA Flight Engineer Joe Acaba and Russian Flight Engineer Sergei Revin in a remote area near the town of Arkalyk, Kazakhstan, on Monday, September 17, 2012. Padalka, Acaba and Revin returned from five months onboard the International Space Station where they served as members of the Expedition 31 and 32 crews. Photo Credit: (NASA/Carla Cioffi)

Russian support personnel are seen as they access the crew of the Soyuz TMA-04M capsule shortly after it landed with Expedition 32 Commander Gennady Padalka of Russia and Flight Engineers Joe Acaba of NASA and Sergei Revin of Russia in a remote area near the town of Arkalyk, Kazakhstan, on Monday, Sept. 17, 2012. Padalka, Acaba and Revin returned from five months onboard the International Space Station where they served as members of the Expedition 31 and 32 crews. Photo Credit: (NASA/Carla Cioffi)

The Soyuz TMA-04M spacecraft is seen as it lands with Expedition 32 Commander Gennady Padalka of Russia, NASA Flight Engineer Joe Acaba and Russian Flight Engineer Sergei Revin in a remote area near the town of Arkalyk, Kazakhstan, on Monday, September 17, 2012. Padalka, Acaba and Revin returned from five months onboard the International Space Station where they served as members of the Expedition 31 and 32 crews. Photo Credit: (NASA/Carla Cioffi)

The Soyuz TMA-04M spacecraft is seen as it lands with Expedition 32 Commander Gennady Padalka of Russia, NASA Flight Engineer Joe Acaba and Russian Flight Engineer Sergei Revin in a remote area near the town of Arkalyk, Kazakhstan, on Monday, September 17, 2012. Padalka, Acaba and Revin returned from five months onboard the International Space Station where they served as members of the Expedition 31 and 32 crews. Photo Credit: (NASA/Carla Cioffi)

Expedition 32 Commander is welcomed home upon his arrival in Star City, Monday, Sept. 17, 2012 in Russia. Padalka, NASA Flight Engineer Joe Acaba and Russian Flight Engineer Sergei Revin landed in their Soyuz TMA-04M earlier that day in a remote area outside of Arkalyk, Kazakhstan. They returned home from five months onboard the International Space Station where they served as members of the Expedition 31 and 32 crews. Photo Credit: (NASA/Carla Cioffi)

Expedition 32 NASA Flight Engineer Joe Acaba, left, Expedition 32 Commander Gennady Padalka, center, and Flight Engineer Sergei Revin sit in chairs outside the Soyuz Capsule just minutes after they landed in a remote area outside the town of Arkalyk, Kazakhstan, on Monday, Sept. 17, 2012. Acaba, Padalka and Revin are returning from five months onboard the International Space Station where they served as members of the Expedition 31 and 32 crews. Photo Credit: (NASA/Carla Cioffi)

Expedition 32 Russian cosmonaut Sergei Revin, center, is welcomed to Kostanay, Kazakhstan after he and Expedition 32 Commander Gennady Padalka and NASA Flight Engineer Joe Acaba returned from the International Space Station on Monday, Sept. 17, 2012. Revin, Padalka and Padalka returned from five months onboard the International Space Station where they served as members of the Expedition 31 and 32 crews. Photo Credit: (NASA/Carla Cioffi)

Expedition 32 NASA Flight Engineer Joe Acaba is helped from a Russian Search and Rescue all terrain vehicle (ATV) after he and Expedition 32 Commander Gennady Padalka and Flight Engineer Sergei Revin returned from the International Space Station on Monday, Sept. 17, 2012. Acaba, Padalka and Revin returned from five months onboard the International Space Station where they served as members of the Expedition 31 and 32 crews. Photo Credit: (NASA/Carla Cioffi)

Expedition 32 NASA Flight Engineer Joe Acaba is helped from a Russian Search and Rescue all terrain vehicle (ATV) to his helicopter after he and Expedition 32 Commander Gennady Padalka and Flight Engineer Sergei Revin returned from the International Space Station on Monday, Sept. 17, 2012. Acaba, Padalka and Revin returned from five months onboard the International Space Station where they served as members of the Expedition 31 and 32 crews. Photo Credit: (NASA/Carla Cioffi)

ISS033-E-005112 (16 Sept. 2012) --- The Soyuz TMA-04M spacecraft departs from the International Space Station and heads toward a landing in a remote area outside of the town of Arkalyk, Kazakhstan, on Sept. 17, 2012 (Kazakhstan time). Expedition 32 Commander Gennady Padalka of Russia, NASA Flight Engineer Joe Acaba and Russian Flight Engineer Sergei Revin are returning from five months onboard the International Space Station where they served as members of the Expedition 31 and 32 crews.

ISS033-E-005138 (16 Sept. 2012) --- The Soyuz TMA-04M spacecraft departs from the International Space Station and heads toward a landing in a remote area outside of the town of Arkalyk, Kazakhstan, on Sept. 17, 2012 (Kazakhstan time). Expedition 32 Commander Gennady Padalka of Russia, NASA Flight Engineer Joe Acaba and Russian Flight Engineer Sergei Revin are returning from five months onboard the International Space Station where they served as members of the Expedition 31 and 32 crews.

ISS033-E-005131 (16 Sept. 2012) --- The Soyuz TMA-04M spacecraft departs from the International Space Station and heads toward a landing in a remote area outside of the town of Arkalyk, Kazakhstan, on Sept. 17, 2012 (Kazakhstan time). Expedition 32 Commander Gennady Padalka of Russia, NASA Flight Engineer Joe Acaba and Russian Flight Engineer Sergei Revin are returning from five months onboard the International Space Station where they served as members of the Expedition 31 and 32 crews.

ISS033-E-005166 (16 Sept. 2012) --- The Soyuz TMA-04M spacecraft departs from the International Space Station and heads toward a landing in a remote area outside of the town of Arkalyk, Kazakhstan, on Sept. 17, 2012 (Kazakhstan time). Expedition 32 Commander Gennady Padalka of Russia, NASA Flight Engineer Joe Acaba and Russian Flight Engineer Sergei Revin are returning from five months onboard the International Space Station where they served as members of the Expedition 31 and 32 crews.

ISS033-E-005123 (16 Sept. 2012) --- The Soyuz TMA-04M spacecraft departs from the International Space Station and heads toward a landing in a remote area outside of the town of Arkalyk, Kazakhstan, on Sept. 17, 2012 (Kazakhstan time). Expedition 32 Commander Gennady Padalka of Russia, NASA Flight Engineer Joe Acaba and Russian Flight Engineer Sergei Revin are returning from five months onboard the International Space Station where they served as members of the Expedition 31 and 32 crews.

ISS033-E-005180 (16 Sept. 2012) --- The Soyuz TMA-04M spacecraft departs from the International Space Station and heads toward a landing in a remote area outside of the town of Arkalyk, Kazakhstan, on Sept. 17, 2012 (Kazakhstan time). Expedition 32 Commander Gennady Padalka of Russia, NASA Flight Engineer Joe Acaba and Russian Flight Engineer Sergei Revin are returning from five months onboard the International Space Station where they served as members of the Expedition 31 and 32 crews.

ISS033-E-005115 (16 Sept. 2012) --- The Soyuz TMA-04M spacecraft departs from the International Space Station and heads toward a landing in a remote area outside of the town of Arkalyk, Kazakhstan, on Sept. 17, 2012 (Kazakhstan time). Expedition 32 Commander Gennady Padalka of Russia, NASA Flight Engineer Joe Acaba and Russian Flight Engineer Sergei Revin are returning from five months onboard the International Space Station where they served as members of the Expedition 31 and 32 crews.

ISS033-E-005187 (16 Sept. 2012) --- The Soyuz TMA-04M spacecraft departs from the International Space Station and heads toward a landing in a remote area outside of the town of Arkalyk, Kazakhstan, on Sept. 17, 2012 (Kazakhstan time). Expedition 32 Commander Gennady Padalka of Russia, NASA Flight Engineer Joe Acaba and Russian Flight Engineer Sergei Revin are returning from five months onboard the International Space Station where they served as members of the Expedition 31 and 32 crews.

Expedition 33 flight engineer Yuri Malenchenko, left, is welcomed home upon his arrival in Star City, Monday, Nov. 19, 2012 in Russia. Malenchenko, Expedition 33 Commander Sunita Williams and JAXA flight engineer Akihiko Hoshide landed in their Soyuz TMA-05M earlier that day in a remote area outside of Arkalyk, Kazakhstan. They returned home from four months onboard the International Space Station where they served as members of the Expedition 32 and 33 crews. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

ISS028-E-033099 (18 Aug. 2011) --- Sicily is featured in this night time image captured by one of the Expedition 28 crew members aboard the International Space Station, approximately 220 miles above Earth. The land mass in upper right corner is part of the "toe" of Italy's "boot." A 32-mm focal length was used to record the image.

ISS021-E-005001 (11 Oct. 2009) --- Backdropped by the blackness of space, the Soyuz TMA-14 spacecraft departs from the International Space Station carrying Russian cosmonaut Gennady Padalka, Expedition 19/20 commander and Soyuz commander; NASA astronaut Michael Barratt, flight engineer; and spaceflight participant Guy Laliberte. Padalka guided the spacecraft to a parachute-assisted landing at 10:32 a.m. (Kazakhstan time) on Oct. 11, 2009, near the town of Arkalyk, Kazakhstan.

ISS021-E-005132 (11 Oct. 2009) --- Backdropped by the blackness of space, the Soyuz TMA-14 spacecraft departs from the International Space Station carrying Russian cosmonaut Gennady Padalka, Expedition 19/20 commander and Soyuz commander; NASA astronaut Michael Barratt, flight engineer; and spaceflight participant Guy Laliberte. Padalka guided the spacecraft to a parachute-assisted landing at 10:32 a.m. (Kazakhstan time) on Oct. 11, 2009, near the town of Arkalyk, Kazakhstan.

ISS034-E-005022 (18 Nov. 2012) --- The Soyuz TMA-05M spacecraft departs from the International Space Station and heads toward a landing in a remote area outside the town of Arkalyk, Kazakhstan on Nov. 19, 2012 (Kazakhstan time). NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, Expedition 33 commander; Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko, Soyuz commander and flight engineer; and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Aki Hoshide, flight engineer, are returning from four months onboard the space station where they served as members of the Expedition 32 and 33 crews.

ISS034-E-005003 (18 Nov. 2012) --- The Soyuz TMA-05M spacecraft departs from the International Space Station and heads toward a landing in a remote area outside the town of Arkalyk, Kazakhstan on Nov. 19, 2012 (Kazakhstan time). NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, Expedition 33 commander; Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko, Soyuz commander and flight engineer; and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Aki Hoshide, flight engineer, are returning from four months onboard the space station where they served as members of the Expedition 32 and 33 crews.

ISS034-E-005005 (18 Nov. 2012) --- The Soyuz TMA-05M spacecraft departs from the International Space Station and heads toward a landing in a remote area outside the town of Arkalyk, Kazakhstan on Nov. 19, 2012 (Kazakhstan time). NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, Expedition 33 commander; Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko, Soyuz commander and flight engineer; and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Aki Hoshide, flight engineer, are returning from four months onboard the space station where they served as members of the Expedition 32 and 33 crews.

ISS032-E-016579 (11 Aug. 2012) --- A strandplain on coastal Peru is featured in this image photographed by an Expedition 32 crew member on the International Space Station. The scale and orientation of landscape features that are difficult to see on the ground often become readily visible from orbit. Numerous subparallel lines (center) along the arid, northern coast of Peru (about five degrees south of the Equator) are close-packed beach ridges, known collectively as a strandplain (for scale, the strandplain is 30 kilometers long). Each ridge shows the position of a prior shoreline. The Chira River delta appears at right, with dark green agricultural fields occupying the delta of the river. A smaller river reaches the sea, without forming a delta, at extreme left. The prominent cape at lower left is Punta Balcones, a region with many oil wells. Strandplains are built by successive additions of beach sand usually from some nearby source. Currents on this coast of South America come from the south, suggesting to scientists that the Chira River delta (right) is the source of the sand. The newest beach is being formed today by the waves?which appear as the thin ragged white line along the strandplain?supplied by the north-flowing current. The regularity of the spacing of the beaches suggests that some episodic influx of sediment controls beach formation. This influx may be determined by floods coming down the Chira River, possibly controlled by the heavy rains of El Nino events which occur irregularly every few years. Two other sets of faint parallel lines can be seen on higher ground inland (between arrows, center and top right), the upper set stretching all the way from the Chira river floodplain. Seen in many places along the coast of Peru, scientists believe these may also be strandplains (i.e. formed at sea level) generated when the land surface was at a lower altitude; both also may have been produced by sand from the Chira River. The land surface is known to be rising along this coast with the rise of the Andes Mts. (outside the top of the image), explaining why the upper shorelines now lie 120 meters above sea level.