Via a Soyuz MS-27 spacecraft
Nasa astronaut Jonny Kim, accompanied by Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky, arrived safely at the International Space Station (ISS) on April 8, 2025.
Their arrival increased the number of ISS residents to 10 for the next two weeks. The historic Soyuz MS-27 spacecraft, carrying Kim, Ryzhikov, and Zubritsky, docked with the Prichal module of the ISS at precisely 4:57 a.m. EDT, following a smooth, three-hour, two-orbit journey.
The spacecraft launched earlier that day at 1:47 a.m. EDT (10:47 a.m. Baikonur time) from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Once the hatches opened at approximately 7:20 a.m., the trio joined the current Expedition 72 crew. This crew includes Nasa astronauts Nichole Ayers, Anne McClain, and Don Pettit, along with Jaxa astronaut Takuya Onishi and Roscosmos cosmonauts Kirill Peskov, Ivan Vagner, and Alexey Ovchinin.
The Expedition 73 mission will begin on April 19, following Pettit, Ovchinin, and Vagner’s departure. The crew will conclude a remarkable seven-month science mission aboard the orbiting laboratory. The change of command ceremony, marking the leadership transition, will occur on April 18 at 2:40 p.m. EDT. During this ceremony, Ovchinin will transfer the leadership role to Onishi.
Throughout his eight-month stay aboard the ISS, astronaut Jonny Kim will engage in various scientific research projects, including projects in technology development, Earth science, biology, and human health research. Kim’s mission is a significant milestone, marking his first flight into space. For Ryzhikov, this is his third space mission, while Zubritsky embarks on his inaugural space journey.
The triumphant arrival of Kim and his fellow cosmonauts marks a significant chapter in international cooperation and the ongoing efforts to push the boundaries of human exploration in space. As the ISS continues to serve as a platform for vital scientific discovery, astronauts like Jonny Kim play a pivotal role in advancing humanity’s knowledge of space and science.
Image: A Soyuz rocket launches to the International Space Station with Expedition 73 crew members: Nasa astronaut Jonny Kim, and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritskiy, onboard, on April 8, 2025, at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Credit: (Nasa/Joel Kowsky)
