The 241-day journey of the Soyuz MS-28 crew
After orbiting Earth 3,856 times and traveling over 102 million miles, a specialized crew is preparing to leave the International Space Station. This mission marks a significant milestone for NASA astronaut Chris Williams and his international colleagues as they conclude their long-duration stay in low Earth orbit.
The Soyuz MS-2undock mission, featuring NASA astronaut Chris Williams alongside Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergey Mikaev, is nearing its conclusion. For Williams, this flight represents his first mission in space, following a career that saw him join the 23rd astronaut class in 2024. The crew's journey is part of the broader Expedition 73 and 74 operations, a period of continuous human presence aboard the International Space Station that has spanned more than 25 years.
The return process is a precisely timed sequence of events. On Sunday, July 26, the Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft is scheduled to detach from the station's Rassvet module at 3:03 a.m. EDT. This undocking marks the official start of Expedition 75. The descent involves a critical deorbit burn at 5:31 a.m., leading to a parachute-assisted touchdown on the Kazakh steppe, southeast of Dzhezkazgan, at approximately 6:25 a.m. Following the landing, the crew will be transported via helicopter to Karaganda, Kazakhstan.
The mission also facilitates a transition in orbital leadership. During the change of command ceremony on July 25, Sergey Kud-Sverchkov will pass responsibility for the orbital complex to NASA astronaut Jessica Meir. While the crew members head to different destinations—Williams to Houston's Johnson Space Center and the Roscosmos cosmonauts to Star City, Russia—the work they performed in orbit continues to support the foundations of the Artemis program, aiming toward future lunar and Martian exploration.
Source: NASA Astronaut Chris Williams Soyuz MS-28 Docking
