Russia will launch new capsule to return space station crew

The three space station crew members were supposed to return in March in the same Soyuz capsule that took them up last September (Dmitri Lovetsky/AP)

Russia will send up a new capsule next month to bring back three space station crew members whose original ride home was damaged, officials have said.

The two Russians and one American will stay several extra months at the International Space Station as a result of the capsule switch, possibly pushing their mission to close to a year, Nasa and Russian space officials told reporters.