The precise moment a space mission officially ends

Space · Published 19 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: When does a space crew's tenure actually conclude? This video captures the undocking of Expedition 25, illustrating the transition between long-term orbital stays.

At 8:23 p.m. EST, the Soyuz TMA-19 carried Expedition 25 away from the International Space Station (ISS). EST. While a ceremonial change-of-command occurred on the Wednesday prior, the official start of Expedition 26 did not occur until the physical departure of Doug Wheelock, Shannon Walker, and Soyuz Commander Fyodor Yurchikhin.

Commander Scott Kelly along with Flight Engineers Alexander Kaleri and Oleg Skripochka remain on the station following this shift. This highlights the logistical precision of orbital logistics, where the physical undocking serves as the definitive boundary between mission increments.

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