Passing the baton in orbit: how leadership shifts aboard the International Space Station

Space · Published 21 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: When the International Space Station changes commanders, it is more than a mere ceremony. As one crew prepares to undock and return to Earth, the remaining orbital residents must balance the transition with critical biological research, from 3D-printing human tissue to monitoring the effects of microgravity on the human body.

Leadership transitions on the ISS are precisely timed around the departure of departing crews. In July 2021, for instance, the transition from Expedition 74 to Expedition 75 involved a ceremony scheduled for 9:40 a.m. on a Saturday. During this period, the outgoing commander, Sergey Kud-Sverchkov of Roscosmos, handed over leadership to NASA flight engineer Jessica Meir. This change occurred just before the homebound trio—including NASA's Chris Williams and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergei Mikaev and Sergey Kud-Sverchkov—prepared to undock from the Rassvet module in the Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft.

While the command shifts, the station's scientific mission continues without interruption. Crew members like Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway focused on advanced biological hardware, such as installing a specialized microscope in the Destiny laboratory to study how microgravity influences disease and tissue development. They even utilized a bioprinter to mix living cartilage cell samples with bioink, testing the ability to print viable tissues to treat health conditions on Earth.

The remaining crew members also conduct vital physiological and environmental studies. NASA's Anil Menon processed blood samples for the Immunity Assay to monitor cellular immune function, while Anna Kikita measured her own microcirculatory blood pressure and respiratory rates. Meanwhile, ESA's Sophie Adenot tested new exercise techniques using the European Enhanced Exploration Exercise Device, and Roscosmos engineers Andrey Fedyaev and Pyotr Dubrov collected air and surface samples for microbial analysis. These activities ensure that even during the logistical complexity of a crew change, the station remains a robust laboratory for human health and space technology.

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