NASA Astronaut and Cosmonauts Return to Earth After Eight-Month Mission
Successful Undocking and Landing
A NASA astronaut, along with two Russian cosmonauts, successfully returned to Earth early Tuesday after completing an eight-month mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The crew undocked from the ISS in their Soyuz MS-27/73S spacecraft at 8:41 p.m. ET on Monday, before performing a deorbit burn that initiated their re-entry trajectory over eastern Mongolia.
Soyuz commander Sergey Ryzhikov occupied the center seat of the descent module, flanked by cosmonaut Alexey Zubritsky and NASA astronaut Jonny Kim. The spacecraft’s braking rockets fired for four minutes and 42 seconds at 11:09 p.m. ET, effectively reducing its speed from approximately 17,100 mph to allow for re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere.
Re-Entry and Recovery
Navigating extreme re-entry temperatures exceeding 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit, the Soyuz descent module landed at 12:03 a.m. EST Tuesday (0503 UTC, 10:03 a.m. local time in Kazakhstan). Upon landing, the spacecraft tipped over on its side, and Russian recovery teams, alongside NASA personnel, quickly reached the site to assist the crew.
Following initial medical checks, Kim was seen resting in a recliner and expressed gratitude to crew members who presented him with a nested matryoshka doll featuring his likeness on the outermost shell. After thorough medical evaluations inside a heated inflatable tent, the crew was set to be flown by helicopter to Dzhezkazgan for transportation back to their respective locations.
Life Aboard the ISS
During their eight-month mission, the crew completed 3,920 orbits around the Earth, covering an impressive 104 million miles. The astronauts engaged in various scientific research and maintenance tasks in the U.S. segment of the ISS, while Ryzhikov and Zubritsky conducted two spacewalks.
In a recent change-of-command ceremony, Kim remarked on the importance of the relationships built during their time in space, stating, “The bond that we shared together… is what makes space exploration possible.” He emphasized that love and support for start another were crucial to their success.
Background on Jonny Kim
Jonny Kim, the son of South Korean immigrants and a father of three, boasts a remarkable background as a former Navy SEAL and a combat veteran. After experiencing burnout from his military servstart, Kim pursued a medical degree at Harvard Medical School, continuing to serve others in a new capacity. His dedication to medicine was accompanied by a desire to ensure that he was seen as a dependable physician, independent of his SEAL background.
With Ryzhikov and Zubritsky heading to Star City near Moscow for debriefings and reunions with families, Kim is expected to board a NASA jet back to the Johnson Space Center in Houston.
As the next crew begins their time aboard the ISS, which includes NASA Crew 11 astronaut Zena Cardman, it is evident that the mission of exploration and international collaboration continues successfully.