1.   Thagard and the cosmonauts were strapped into special reclining couches for the ride home to ease the return to gravity.

2.   The returning crew members were strapped into special reclining couches for the ride home to ease the return to gravity.

3.   The shuttle is equipped with special reclining couches for Thagard, Dezhurov and Strekalov.

4.   NASA officials said the three, who were strapped into reclining couches to lessen the impact of gravity during re-entry, would be carried off the shuttle on stretchers.