Additional Coverage:
Russian Crew Returns from Record-Setting Space Mission
Cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko, the world’s most experienced space traveler, and his fellow astronauts, Nikolai Chub and Tracy Dyson, returned to Earth on Monday after a record-breaking 374-day stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
Upcoming Missions
NASA and SpaceX plan to launch astronaut Nick Hague and cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov to the ISS on Thursday aboard a Crew Dragon capsule. They will join the station’s current crew, including Starliner astronauts Barry "Butch" Wilmore and Sunita Williams.
Starliner Crew’s Extended Stay
Wilmore and Williams were initially supposed to return home on the Starliner, but the spacecraft experienced issues and had to be brought back to Earth without its crew. They will now stay on the ISS for an extended eight-and-a-half months.
Soyuz Crew’s Return
The Soyuz MS-25 spacecraft carrying Kononenko, Chub, and Dyson undocked from the ISS on Monday and landed safely in Kazakhstan after a flawless descent.
Kononenko’s Record
With his latest mission, Kononenko has now spent a total of 1,111 days in space, surpassing the previous record of 878 days.
Crew Rotation Update
NASA’s crew rotation plan was disrupted by the Starliner issues. The Crew 8 astronauts will return in early October, while the Crew 9 mission, which will bring Hague and Gorbunov to the ISS, has been rescheduled for Thursday.