Aboard the International Space Station, eight months of research and exploration have come to a successful close as three crew members return to Earth. Russian cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky, along with NASA astronaut Jonny Kim, touched down in Kazakhstan after an eight-month sojourn in low Earth orbit on the Soyuz MS-27 mission.
The descent proceeded smoothly as the capsule, aided by parachutes and braking thrusters, reached the steppe outside Karaganda at 12:03 a.m. EST (05:03 GMT, 10:03 a.m. local time). Ryzhikov and Kim appeared in good spirits and condition, while Zubritsky was transferred directly from the Soyuz to an inflatable medical tent for evaluation.
Upon landing, Ryzhikov offered a traditional acknowledgment: “Congratulations on another successful Soyuz mission. Expedition 73, all tasks complete. The crew is feeling great.”
Recovery teams planned to transport the trio by helicopter to Karaganda, where NASA and Roscosmos personnel coordinate post-flight operations. Kim was slated to board a NASA aircraft bound for Houston, while Ryzhikov and Zubritsky would proceed to the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia.
The return voyage began Monday, when the crew undocked from the station’s Prichal module at 8:41 p.m. EST (01:41 GMT Tuesday), marking the end of Expedition 73 and the start of Expedition 74.
Expedition 74 commanders and crew members—Mike Fincke (NASA), Zena Cardman (NASA), Chris Williams (NASA), Kimiya Yui (JAXA), and Roscosmos cosmonauts Oleg Platonov, Sergey Kud-Sverchkov, and Sergey Mikayev—remained aboard the space station, continuing ongoing science and maintenance as the new mixed international crew settled in.
Earlier in November, Kud-Sverchkov, Mikayev, and Williams arrived on a Soyuz mission that faced scheduling and infrastructure challenges at Russia’s sole launch facility critical to sustained ISS operations. The three new crew members joined station residents to perform hundreds of science investigations, technology demonstrations, and station upkeep, including overseeing arrival and departure of uncrewed cargo ships such as Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus XL and JAXA’s HTV-X.
During their 245 days in orbit, Ryzhikov and Zubritsky conducted two spacewalks to install scientific experiments and relocate a controller for the European Robotic Arm mounted on the exterior of the Russian segment. Ryzhikov, 51, brought a wealth of flight experience to the mission, adding to a career that includes previous long-duration stays on Expeditions 50 and 64.
Kim, 41, widely recognized beyond aviation and medicine for his diverse background, represented a fusion of experience and expertise as a former Navy SEAL and medical doctor who has now joined the ranks of spaceflight veterans.
In reflecting on the mission, Fincke highlighted the milestone relevance of Gemini 7, noting it as an important backdrop to the era of long-duration spaceflight. He also drew attention to the breadth of experience aboard the station, including teammates with hundreds of days logged in space.
In terms of spaceflight history, Zubritsky became the 630th person to fly into Earth orbit, while Kim joined as the 631st. Ryzhikov, who previously flew in 2016, now ranks among a select group of spacefarers with extensive in-space time.
Soyuz MS-27 marked Russia’s 73rd Soyuz mission to the ISS since 2000 and the 156th overall Soyuz flight since the program began in 1967. The crew’s successful return adds to a continuing story of international cooperation and scientific discovery in low Earth orbit.
Robert Pearlman, a space historian and founder of collectSPACE.com, has long chronicled the intersection of space exploration with popular culture. His work and editorial contributions continue to illuminate the evolving narrative of humanity in space.
