A U.S.-Russian crew consisting of NASA astronaut Chris Williams alongside Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev is scheduled to undock from the International Space Station aboard the Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft on Sunday at 3:02 a.m. EDT (0702 GMT), according to NASA. The returning trio will touch down on the steppe of Kazakhstan roughly 3.5 hours later at 6:26 a.m. EDT (1026 GMT).
Expedition Handover and Station Leadership Transition
Station operations require a formal change-of-command ceremony prior to departure. According to NASA, Sergey Kud-Sverchkov will hand over the leadership of the orbiting laboratory to NASA astronaut Jessica Meir. This marks the official transition from ISS Expedition 74 to Expedition 75, which begins immediately when Soyuz MS-28 undocks.
NASA scheduled live webcast coverage of the command handover and subsequent crew farewells. Hatches between the ISS and the Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft are slated to close at 11:30 p.m. EDT, according to agency timelines.
Mission Timeline, Milestones, and Cumulative Stats
That flight marked the first space mission for Williams and Mikaev, and the second career flight for Kud-Sverchkov.
By the time the mission concludes, the three spaceflyers will have logged 241 days in space on this specific flight. NASA figures show they will have completed 3,856 orbits around Earth and traveled a cumulative distance exceeding 102 million miles, or 164 million kilometers.
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Landing Logistics and Post-Flight Recovery Plans
Following deorbit burns and atmospheric reentry, the Soyuz MS-28 descent module will parachute down to a touchdown point southeast of the Kazakh city of Dzhezkazgan, as detailed by NASA mission planners. Undocking coverage begins Sunday at 2:30 a.m. EDT, while the deorbit and landing stream resumes at 5:15 a.m. EDT.
According to NASA media advisories, the three spaceflyers will take a helicopter to Karaganda, Kazakhstan. From there, Williams will catch a flight back to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, while Kud-Sverchkov and Mikaev will travel to their training headquarters in Star City, Russia.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the Soyuz MS-28 undock from the ISS?
The Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft is scheduled to undock from the International Space Station on Sunday at 3:02 a.m. EDT (0702 GMT), according to NASA.
Where will the Soyuz MS-28 land?
The spacecraft will land on the steppe of Kazakhstan, southeast of the city of Dzhezkazgan, approximately 3.5 hours after undocking.
Who is flying aboard Soyuz MS-28?
The returning crew includes NASA astronaut Chris Williams and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev.
How long was the Soyuz MS-28 mission?
Upon landing, the trio will have spent 241 days in space, completing 3,856 orbits and traveling over 102 million miles.
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