NASA and Roscosmos crew launches to ISS on historic 25th-anniversary mission

NASA astronaut Chris Williams and cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev are set to travel to the International Space Station this Thursday. The trio will launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 4:27 a.m. ET, marking Williams' and Mikaev's first spaceflight and Kud-Sverchkov's second. The crew will board the Roscosmos Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft for their journey. The flight to the ISS will take roughly three hours, completing two orbits before automatically docking at around 7:38 a.m. ET. NASA will stream the launch and docking live on NASA+ and its YouTube channel.

Upon arrival, they will join Expedition 73, which includes astronauts from NASA, JAXA, and Roscosmos. During their eight-month stay, Williams will conduct scientific research and technology demonstrations. His tasks include installing a new modular workout system and growing semiconductor crystals in microgravity. He will also assist NASA in developing new re-entry safety protocols for future missions.

This mission coincides with the 25th anniversary of continuous human presence aboard the ISS, celebrated on November 2. The trio will later transition to Expedition 74 for the remainder of their time in orbit. The new crew members will spend approximately eight months on the station. Their work will contribute to ongoing scientific and operational advancements in space exploration. The mission highlights continued international collaboration on the ISS.