US and Russian crews launch joint mission to International Space Station
NASA astronaut Anil Menon and Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina arrive at orbital outpost, increasing crew size to 10 ahead of Expedition 75
A joint US-Russian crew has launched aboard a Soyuz spacecraft for an eight-month mission to the International Space Station, underscoring a continued operational partnership between Washington and Moscow despite broader geopolitical friction. The Soyuz MS-29 spacecraft lifted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 10:47 a.m. EDT (7:47 p.m. local time) on Tuesday, carrying NASA astronaut Anil Menon alongside Russian cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina.
The trio completed a three-hour, two-orbit journey to the orbital outpost, arriving safely on Tuesday. Their arrival increased the station’s crew complement to 10 members. The launch was described as a rare event, with the NASA chief in attendance at the Russian spaceport to witness the departure of the crew.
Upon docking, the incoming team will join the existing crew, bringing the total number of inhabitants on the ISS to 10 for approximately the next two weeks. The mission is designated as part of the ongoing scientific operations at the station, with the crew set to remain in orbit for the duration of their eight-month assignment.
Station command is scheduled to transfer from outgoing commander Pyotr Kud-Sverchkov to Anil Menon during a ceremony set for 9:40 a.m. on Saturday, July 25. This transition precedes the official start of Expedition 75, which is scheduled to begin on Sunday, July 26.
The expedition will commence following the departure of the previous crew, comprising Williams, Kud-Sverchkov, and Mikaev, who are concluding their own eight-month science mission. The handover of command and the start of the new expedition mark a significant operational milestone for the joint US-Russian presence on the International Space Station.
