NASA astronaut Jonny Kim safely arrived at the International Space Station on a Russian spacecraft after taking off from Kazakhstan. The Soyuz MS-27 spacecraft docked at the ISS’s Prichal module after waiting for pressure equalization and leak checks. The hatch between the ISS and the spacecraft opened, allowing Kim, along with Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky, to enter the ISS to the cheers of the Expedition 72 crew. The trio had launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on April 20th. The smooth launch and docking set the stage for an 11-day handover between the newly arrived astronauts and the crew departing on April 19th.
The crew departing the ISS includes the station’s commander, Alexey Ovchinin, NASA astronaut Don Pettit, and cosmonaut Ivan Vagner, all of whom have been aboard the station since September. Pettit is expected to land back in Kazakhstan on his 70th birthday. Kim will now begin an eight-month research mission aboard the ISS. The successful mission comes just before President Trump’s pick for NASA administrator, Jared Isaacman, is set to face his confirmation hearing. NASA spokeswoman Bethany Stevens credited Trump’s intervention in securing the return of two astronauts, Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Suni Williams, who were stranded on the ISS for over nine months.
The arrival of Kim, Ryzhikov, and Zubritsky marks the start of an 11-day handover period with the crew departing the ISS. The successful docking of the Soyuz MS-27 spacecraft and the opening of the hatch between the spacecraft and the ISS allows the new crew to enter the station and begin their research mission. The crew departing the ISS has been on board since September and includes Ovchinin, Pettit, and Vagner. Pettit is expected to land back in Kazakhstan on his 70th birthday. Kim will now begin an eight-month research mission aboard the ISS.
The successful mission comes before Jared Isaacman, President Trump’s pick for NASA administrator, is expected to face his confirmation hearing. Bethany Stevens, a NASA spokeswoman, credited Trump’s intervention in securing the return of two astronauts, Wilmore and Williams, who were stranded on the ISS for over nine months. The safe arrival of Kim, Ryzhikov, and Zubritsky at the ISS is a testament to the cooperation between NASA and Roscosmos in ensuring the safety and success of crewed missions to space. The crew is now ready to begin their research mission aboard the ISS.
The crew departing the ISS includes Ovchinin, Pettit, and Vagner, who have been on board since September. Pettit is set to land back in Kazakhstan on his 70th birthday, April 20th. Kim, who will now begin an eight-month research mission aboard the ISS, arrived safely at the station with his fellow astronauts. The successful mission sets the stage for a smooth handover between the departing crew and the newly arrived trio. President Trump’s intervention in securing the return of stranded astronauts highlights the importance of government support in ensuring the success of space missions. NASA continues to collaborate with international partners to further research and exploration in space.
