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Watch Live: Astronauts Launch to International Space Station (ISS)
A trio of space travelers are preparing to embark on a journey to the International Space Station (ISS). Space enthusiasts can witness the upcoming launch live as a Soyuz rocket propels a new crew, including a NASA astronaut and Russian cosmonauts, to the orbiting laboratory.
Scheduled Launch of Soyuz to ISS
The launch of a Russian Soyuz rocket from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan is slated for Tuesday at 1:47 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), which corresponds to 0557 GMT or 10:47 a.m. local time in Kazakhstan. This mission will transport NASA astronaut Jonny Kim and cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky to the ISS.
Live coverage of the event will be available on Space.com, provided by NASA, and directly through the space agency’s platforms. The broadcast is scheduled to commence at 12:45 a.m. EDT (0445 GMT) on Tuesday.
Docking and Hatch Opening Schedule
If the mission proceeds as planned, the Soyuz capsule carrying the crew is expected to reach the ISS on Tuesday at 5:03 a.m. EDT (0903 GMT). Live coverage will also include the docking procedure, followed by the hatch opening, anticipated at approximately 7:20 a.m. EDT (1120 GMT).
ISS Expedition and Mission Duration
Astronaut Kim and cosmonauts Ryzhikov and Zubritsky are set to spend around eight months aboard the International Space Station. They will participate in Expeditions 72 and 73, conducting research and maintenance on the orbital outpost. Their return to Earth is currently scheduled for December.
Related Spaceflight Information
Further reading on related space exploration topics:
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ISS Arrival: Spaceflyers Reach International Space Station via Russian Soyuz
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First Korean-American on ISS: Jonny Kim, Former Navy Seal, to Make History
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Orbital Laboratory Overview: The International Space Station: Key Facts
Crew Experience
This mission marks the inaugural space journey for both Kim and Zubritsky. Ryzhikov, however, is a veteran of spaceflight. According to NASA, this will be his third mission.
Ryzhikov’s prior ISS assignments involved two six-month stays, from October 2016 to April 2017 and again from October 2020 to April 2021.