ISS boosts orbit to prepare for Soyuz MS-27 crew launch on April 8th, carrying NASA's Jonny Kim and Roscosmos cosmonauts for an eight-month research mission.
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| The International Space Station successfully adjusted its altitude, setting the stage for the arrival of NASA astronaut Jonny Kim and two Russian cosmonauts aboard Soyuz MS-27 next week. Image: NASA |
Washington , USA – April 3, 2025:
The International Space Station (ISS) has successfully performed an orbital reboost today, elevating its altitude to the optimal level for the upcoming arrival of the Soyuz MS-27 spacecraft and its three-member crew. The crucial maneuver was executed by the Progress 91 cargo vehicle, which fired its engines for over 17 minutes while docked to the station's Zvezda service module.
This precise orbital adjustment ensures a smooth and timely docking for the Soyuz MS-27, scheduled to launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 1:47 a.m. local time on April 8th. The spacecraft will carry NASA astronaut Jonny Kim and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexander Zubritsky on a journey that will see them orbit Earth twice before docking with the Pirs docking compartment, approximately three hours after liftoff. The trio will then reside and conduct research aboard the ISS for an extensive eight-month mission.
The arrival of the new crew will precede the departure of three current Expedition 72 residents by less than two weeks. NASA Flight Engineer Don Pettit, along with Expedition 72 Commander Alexey Ovchinin and Flight Engineer Ivan Vagner, both of Roscosmos, are preparing to return to Earth. They will board the Soyuz MS-26 spacecraft, undock from the Rassvet module, and execute a parachute-assisted landing on the steppes of Kazakhstan in under three-and-a-half hours, marking the end of their seven-month stay in space.
In the lead-up to this crew rotation, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Takuya Onishi is set to take command of the space station from Ovchinin. The official handover will occur the day before Ovchinin, Pettit, and Vagner depart, signifying the transition from Expedition 72 to Expedition 73 the moment Soyuz MS-26 undocks from Rassvet.
The current ISS crew has been diligently carrying out essential tasks. On Wednesday, Onishi focused on maintaining the orbiting laboratory, including the installation of an air quality monitor in the Zarya module and the organization of food supplies within the station's U.S. segment. Pettit dedicated his time to cleaning crew quarters and installing airflow sensors in the Harmony module, while Ovchinin was occupied with gathering items for their return trip aboard Soyuz MS-26. Cosmonaut Vagner collaborated with Kirill Peskov to inspect electronic systems within the Nauka science module, and Peskov also conducted a hearing test and deployed hardware designed to capture images of Earth's nighttime atmosphere in ultraviolet wavelengths. NASA Flight Engineers Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers were also actively involved in servicing life support systems and conducting laboratory maintenance.