NASA astronaut Chris Williams and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev are returning to Earth after 241 days aboard the International Space Station. The trio will undock their Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft from the station's Rassvet module on Sunday, July 26, at 3:02 a.m. EDT, followed by a parachute-assisted landing at 6:26 a.m. EDT the same morning.
The Soyuz MS-28 capsule carries three crew members home after a lengthy expedition to the orbiting laboratory. Williams represents NASA's presence on the ISS, while Kud-Sverchkov and Mikaev represent Russia's continued involvement in the station partnership despite geopolitical tensions. The 241-day mission reflects the standard expedition duration for ISS crews, who conduct microgravity research, maintain station systems, and support ongoing scientific investigations.
The undocking from Rassvet, one of the station's Russian-built modules, follows established departure procedures. After separation, the crew will perform a deorbit burn to begin their descent through Earth's atmosphere. Parachute systems will deploy during final approach to slow the capsule for touchdown in Kazakhstan, the traditional landing site for Soyuz missions returning from the ISS.
NASA's coverage announcement ensures public visibility into the crew's homecoming. These return operations represent routine but essential operations for the ISS program, demonstrating the technical precision required for safe reentry after extended spaceflight. The successful return of Williams, Kud-Sverchkov, and Mikaev clears the station for the arrival of the next crew rotation, maintaining continuous human presence aboard the orbiting laboratory. The partnership between NASA and Roscosmos continues to function despite broader