A technical glitch delayed a crew's return from the stars

Space · Published 19 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Watch how the Expedition 24 crew navigated a last-minute mechanical hurdle to complete their six-month journey in orbit. This footage captures the transition from the International Space Station back to Earth.

On 25 September, the voyage ended for Mikhail Kornienko, Tracy Caldwell Dyson, and Alexander Skvortsov, who served as flight engineers and the commander. While they were originally slated to land on September 24, a malfunction in the Poisk module's docking mechanism necessitated a 24-hour delay. The mission highlights the constant technical vigilance required to maintain human presence in space, where even a minor mechanical issue can shift the timeline of a return to Earth.

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