Soyuz MS-28 Delivers Three New Crew Members to International Space Station

The International Space Station (ISS) experienced a temporary increase in occupancy on Thursday, November 27, 2025, following the successful docking of Russia's Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft. The arrival introduced three new crew members, elevating the station's total population to ten individuals during the scheduled crew handover phase. The multinational contingent included NASA astronaut Chris Williams and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev, who launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on Thanksgiving Day aboard a Soyuz-2.1a rocket.

The Soyuz MS-28 secured its connection to the station's Rassvet module, joining the already berthed Soyuz MS-27 spacecraft attached to the Prichal module. The newly arrived crew is scheduled to remain aboard the orbital outpost for approximately eight months, with a planned return to Earth set for the summer of 2026. This population surge facilitates the necessary transition of responsibilities between expeditions aboard the collaborative orbital laboratory.

During the week preceding the docking, Expedition 73 crew members conducted various scientific investigations essential for long-duration spaceflight. Flight engineer Kimiya Yui participated in the 'Ultrasound 2' experiment, using a portable device to scan Jonny Kim’s chest to monitor cardiac adaptations in microgravity. Concurrently, Mike Fincke utilized a fluorescence microscope for the 'Droplet' investigation, sampling hardware and observing particle behavior in fluid mediums.

Alongside research activities, essential station maintenance and preparations for upcoming return missions were underway. Expedition 73 commander Sergey Ryzhikov inspected the electronics and communications systems on the Soyuz MS-27, designated as his return vehicle. Preparations for the early December departure accelerated, involving the systematic loading of cargo, including samples and equipment, onto the MS-27 for the return of Ryzhikov, Alexey Zubritsky, and Jonny Kim.

To enable the docking sequence for the incoming Soyuz MS-28, Northrop Grumman's Cygnus XL cargo vessel, the S.S. William C. "Willie" McCool, was undocked and temporarily held in a free-floating configuration, managed remotely by the Canadarm2 robotic system. As of Friday, November 28, the ten individuals aboard represented personnel from Roscosmos, NASA, and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). The ISS maintains an uninterrupted human presence, marking 25 years and 26 days of continuous crewing as of November 29, 2025, sustained by the expertise and manpower provided by successive crews.