Soyuz MS-20 space craft undocking from International Space Station (ISS)Photo feature

A Soyuz MS-20 space craft is seen on a monitor after undocking from the the International Space Station (ISS), starting the landing of the International space crew including Japanese space tourists Yusaku Maezawa and his assistant Yozo Hirano, and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Misurkin, at Mission Control Center in Korolyov, outside Moscow, early on December 20, 2021.

A Japanese billionaire is to return to Earth December 20 after spending 12 days on the International Space Station, where he made videos about performing mundane tasks in space including brushing teeth and going to the bathroom.

Online fashion tycoon Yusaku Maezawa and his assistant Yozo Hirano, who will be shepherded home by Russian cosmonaut Alexander Misurkin, are set to parachute on Kazakhstan’s steppe at 0313 GMT Monday.

Their journey marked Russia’s return to space tourism after a decade-long pause that saw the rise of competition from the United States.

Mission Control Center personnel prepare to start landing the International space crew, including Japanese space tourists Yusaku Maezawa and his assistant Yozo Hirano, and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Misurkin, in Korolyov, outside Moscow, early on December 20, 2021. (Photo by Alexander NEMENOV / AFP)