Russia launches Soyuz mission with US astronaut to space station

A Russian Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft successfully launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Thursday, carrying a three-person crew to the International Space Station. The spacecraft, propelled by a Soyuz-2.1a carrier rocket, completed its separation as scheduled and is now en route to the orbiting laboratory with two Russian cosmonauts and one American astronaut aboard.

Expedition 74 Crew and Docking Schedule

The mission, designated Expedition 74, includes Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergey Mikaev alongside NASA astronaut Christopher Williams. The spacecraft is utilizing an ultra-short, two-orbit rendezvous trajectory to reach the ISS, with docking anticipated at the Russian segment's Rassvet module at approximately 12:38 GMT. This efficient flight path significantly reduces the typical travel time to the station.

Mission Duration and Scientific Objectives

The international crew is scheduled to remain aboard the orbital outpost for 242 days, with a planned return to Earth in late July 2026. During their eight-month stay, the crew members will conduct more than 40 scientific experiments across various disciplines, contributing to research in microgravity that benefits life on Earth and future deep space exploration.

Planned Spacewalk Activities

The mission profile includes two extravehicular activities, or spacewalks, by the Russian cosmonauts. The first spacewalk will focus on installing the "Solntse-Tera-Gertz" equipment, a scientific instrument designed to enhance the prediction of solar flares. The second scheduled spacewalk will involve servicing the Zarya module and replacing components that have reached the end of their operational lifespan.