NASA astronaut Chris Williams and two Roscosmos cosmonauts have returned to Earth after completing an eight-month mission aboard the International Space Station.
Key facts
- •The crew spent 241 days in space, completing 3,856 orbits of the Earth.
- •The mission covered a total distance of more than 102 million miles.
- •This mission marked the first spaceflight for Chris Williams and Sergei Mikaev, and the second for Sergey Kud-Sverchkov.
- •The crew departed the International Space Station at 2:03 a.m. CDT on Sunday.
NASA astronaut Chris Williams and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev landed safely on Earth on Sunday. The crew returned aboard the Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft, touching down southeast of Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan, at 5:27 a.m. CDT. Their return concludes a 241-day mission that began with their launch on November 27, 2025.
By the numbers
Mission Accomplishments and Research
During their time aboard the International Space Station, the crew supported various scientific investigations and technology demonstrations. Astronaut Chris Williams contributed to research focused on new cancer treatments and the manufacturing of materials for high-performance electronics. Additionally, Williams performed two spacewalks to facilitate power system upgrades and replace a faulty joint on the Canadarm2 robotic arm.
Return and Recovery Process
After the parachute-assisted landing, the crew underwent initial medical checks at the landing site. They are scheduled to travel by helicopter to Karaganda, Kazakhstan, for further recovery operations. Following these procedures, Williams will be transported via NASA aircraft to the Johnson Space Center in Houston.
Timeline
- Nov. 27, 2025The crew launched to the International Space Station.
- Sunday, 2:03 a.m. CDTThe crew departed the International Space Station aboard the Soyuz MS-28.
- Sunday, 5:27 a.m. CDTThe spacecraft landed southeast of Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by NASA Breaking News.
