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Space Station Welcomes New Crew: NASA Astronaut and Russian Cosmonauts Arrive at ISS. A NASA astronaut, along with two Russian cosmonauts, has successfully reached the International Space Station (ISS), marking the start of their eight-month mission aboard the orbiting laboratory.
Astronaut Jonny Kim and Cosmonauts Dock at ISS
NASA astronaut Jonny Kim and his two counterparts from Roscosmos have successfully docked at the International Space Station (ISS). The Soyuz spacecraft, carrying Kim, Sergey Ryzhikov, and Alexey Zubritsky, completed its docking maneuver with the space station on Tuesday, April 8, at 4:57 a.m. EDT (0857 GMT).
Swift Journey to the Orbital Outpost
The trio’s journey to the ISS was notably quick, commencing with the launch aboard a Soyuz rocket from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan earlier on Tuesday. The launch occurred at 1:47 a.m. EDT (0557 GMT; 10:47 a.m. local time in Kazakhstan), initiating their rapid ascent to the orbiting outpost.
Hatch Opening and Expedition 72/73 Begins
The hatches separating the Soyuz spacecraft and the International Space Station are scheduled to open around 7:20 a.m. EDT (1120 GMT) on Tuesday. This event will officially mark the new crew’s entry into the ISS and the beginning of their mission as part of Expedition 72 and 73.
Watch Live Coverage of ISS Activities
Live coverage of the hatch opening and subsequent activities on the ISS is available via NASA’s official channels. Viewers can tune in to witness this milestone event as it unfolds.
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First Spaceflight for Kim and Zubritsky, Third for Ryzhikov
This mission represents a historic first spaceflight for both NASA’s Jonny Kim, a physician and former Navy SEAL, who becomes the first Korean-American astronaut to visit the ISS, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexey Zubritsky. Sergey Ryzhikov brings extensive experience to the crew, embarking on his third mission to the orbiting complex, having previously served on two expeditions in 2016-2017 and 2020-2021.
Eight-Month Mission on ISS
The newly arrived astronauts and cosmonauts are set to spend approximately eight months in orbit as integral members of the International Space Station’s Expedition 72 and Expedition 73. Their mission is currently planned to conclude with a return to Earth in December.