NASA astronaut Chris Williams has arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) alongside Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev after a smooth, three-hour flight from Kazakhstan aboard the Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft. The trio docked with the ISS at 7:34 a.m. EST on Thursday, expanding the station’s crew as work begins for Expeditions 73 and 74.
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🛰️ NASA Astronaut Chris Williams: Launch and Docking Sequence
The crew lifted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome at 4:27 a.m. EST, beginning a two-orbit chase toward the ISS.
Their approach and docking were completed without issues, marking another successful Soyuz mission to the station.
After hatch opening, Williams and his crewmates were welcomed aboard by astronauts and cosmonauts already living on the ISS, including members from NASA, JAXA, and Roscosmos.
For the next two weeks, the station will temporarily host 10 people, one of the largest crew totals of the year.
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🔬 What Chris Williams Will Work On in Orbit
During his long-duration mission, Williams will support several experiments and technology demonstrations aimed at improving future space travel and benefiting life on Earth. His work includes:
- Testing a new modular workout system for long missions
- Research on cryogenic fuel efficiency, crucial for deep-space propulsion
- Growing semiconductor crystals in microgravity
- Supporting new re-entry safety studies designed to protect crews returning to Earth
First-time flyers Williams and Mikaev will gain hands-on experience with microgravity research, while Kud-Sverchkov brings valuable prior mission expertise.
🔄 Expedition 74 Begins Soon
A crew rotation will take place in early December.
Expedition 74 officially begins on December 8, following the return of several long-duration crew members who have spent the past eight months on the station.
NASA will broadcast the change-of-command ceremony live on NASA+, giving viewers real-time access as leadership transitions between crews.
🌐 Learn More
For official updates, mission details, and research highlights, visit NASA’s ISS portal:
🔗 https://www.nasa.gov/station
