A group of astronauts from the United States and Russia touched down safely in Kazakhstan after spending eight months aboard the International Space Station. The crew included NASA astronaut Chris Williams, Russian cosmonauts Sergei Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev. They landed in the Soyuz MS-28 capsule in a field southeast of Dzhezkazgan. The mission lasted 241 days, during which the crew orbited Earth more than 3,856 times. This was the first space mission for both Williams and Mikaev. Kud-Sverchkov had previously spent about 185 days on the station in a mission from 2020 to 2021.
After landing, the astronauts were quickly taken for medical checks and given fruit and phone calls to their families. Kud-Sverchkov said he was feeling better and better with each moment. Williams carried a small gift from Russian recovery crews, a matryoshka doll that contained vodka inside. The crew was then flown by helicopter to the city of Karaganda. From there, Williams was flown to Houston for a return trip to NASA’s Johnson Space Center. Kud-Sverchkov and Mikaev were scheduled to travel to Star City near Moscow.
Williams took part in two spacewalks. One was to replace a joint in the station’s robotic arm. The other was to prepare for installing new roll-out solar blankets.
Williams said he had a good team and enjoyed working with his colleagues. He also mentioned that he was fascinated by space and had always been curious about it.
The crew had a change-of-command ceremony before leaving the station. They hugged and said goodbye as they prepared to depart.
The crew that stayed behind included NASA astronaut Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, along with ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot and Russian cosmonaut Andrei Fedyaev. They were joined by a new group that arrived on July 14. That group included NASA astronaut Anil Menon and Russian cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina. The new crew was launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman attended the launch. This was the first visit to Baikonur by a NASA chief in eight years.
The partnership between the United States and Russia in space has been under pressure since Russia began its military actions in Ukraine. Despite this, the two countries continue to work together on missions like this one.
The space station continues to be a symbol of international cooperation in science and exploration.
IMAGE: Bill Ingalls / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)