Returning to Earth from orbit is no easy feat. To do so, spacecraft must endure temperatures of more than 1,650°C (3,000°F) as they hit the atmosphere at 25 times the speed of sound. Thankfully, over the years the technique has been refined to a tee; astronauts can get from the ISS to the surface of Earth in just 3.5 hours. But a GIF has revealed the fiery process that takes place when the manned Soyuz spacecraft first comes into contact with the thick atmosphere - before it makes its daring descent back to Earth. Scroll down for video This GIF shows the moment cosmonauts Oleg Kotov and Sergey Ryazansky, and astronaut Michael Hopkins, returned to Earth in March this year at the culmination of ISS Expedition 38
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The return of three astronauts to Earth is shown from inside Soyuz capsule
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Short clip reveals the capsule's heat shield burning away
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This shield is burnt on purpose to protect the astronauts inside
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Temperatures on re-entry reach 1,650°C (3,000°F) as the spacecraft hits the atmosphere at 25 times the speed of sound
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The journey time from the ISS to Earth takes a total of 3.5 hours
When it is 7.5 miles (12km) behind the @placeholder, it begins the deorbit burn, which slows it down by about 375 feet (115 metres) per second.