NASA astronaut Chris Williams, accompanied by Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergei Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev, arrived safely at the International Space Station on Thursday, increasing the orbiting laboratory's crew to 10 for the next two weeks.
The trio blasted off aboard the Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft at 4:27 a.m. EST (2:27 p.m. Baikonur time) from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. After a three-hour flight in two orbits, the spacecraft docked with the Rassvet space station module at 7:34 a.m.
Upon opening the hatch, expected around 10:10 a.m., the new arrivals will be greeted by the Expedition 73 crew, including NASA astronauts Mike Finke, Zena Cardman and Johnny Kim; JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Kimiya Yui; Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergei Ryzhikov, Alexey Zubritsky and Oleg Platonov.
NASA's live broadcast of the hatch opening will begin at 9:50 a.m. NASA+, Amazon PrimeAnd YouTube. Find out how watch NASA content through various platforms, including social networks.
During his time aboard the space station, Williams will conduct scientific research and technology demonstrations aimed at advancing human space exploration and improving life on Earth. It will help you install and test new modular training system for long missions, support experiments on increase the efficiency of cryogenic fuel And grow semiconductor crystals in space, and also help NASA develop new re-entry safety protocols to protect crews during future missions.
Expedition 74 is scheduled to begin on Monday, December 8, following the departure of Kim, Ryzhikov and Zubritsky as they complete an eight-month science mission aboard the orbital outpost.
Watch the change of command ceremony at 10:25 am on Sunday, December 7, when station leadership passes from Ryzhikov to Finke, live NASA+.
Learn more about the International Space Station, crews, research and operations at:
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Jimi Russell
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1100
[email protected]
Sandra Jones / Joseph Zakrzewski
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111
[email protected] / [email protected]
