A NASA astronaut and two cosmonauts launched to the International Space Station (ISS) on Thanksgiving morning, November 27th, marking the start of a planned eight-month mission. The Soyuz rocket lifted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 4:27 a.m. EST (0927 GMT), carrying Chris Williams of NASA, and cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergey Mikayev.
Mission Details
The spacecraft successfully docked with the ISS’s Rassvet module approximately three hours after launch, at 7:38 a.m. EST (1238 GMT). NASA provided live coverage of both the launch and docking events, which can still be viewed on Space.com or NASA’s YouTube channel. The crew officially entered the ISS around 10:10 a.m. EST (1510 GMT), following a welcome ceremony.
Crew Experience
This launch represents the first spaceflight for both Williams and Mikayev. Kud-Sverchkov, however, is a veteran astronaut, having previously lived and worked aboard the ISS during Expedition 64, from October 2020 to April 2021. The trio will participate in Expeditions 73 and 74, conducting long-term research in orbit.
Scientific Objectives
Williams’s primary role will be conducting scientific research and testing new technologies that support human space exploration. This includes evaluating a new modular workout system for extended missions, improving cryogenic fuel efficiency, growing semiconductor crystals in space, and refining re-entry safety protocols. These experiments are designed not only to improve space travel but also to benefit life on Earth through advancements in materials science and engineering.
The Thanksgiving launch highlights the continuing international cooperation in space exploration, even amidst geopolitical tensions, and underscores the ISS’s importance as a long-term research facility for global benefit.
The mission is expected to last approximately eight months, providing valuable data for future deep-space missions and further cementing the ISS’s role in pushing the boundaries of human spaceflight.
