NASA Sets Coverage for Crew Launch to Join Station Expedition
On November 27, 2025, NASA astronaut Chris Williams, alongside Russian cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev, is set to embark on a significant journey to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard the Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft. The launch will take place at 4:27 a.m. EST from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, marking a pivotal moment for the Expedition 73 crew as they continue to advance scientific research in low Earth orbit. This mission will be broadcast live across various platforms, including NASA+, Amazon Prime, and YouTube, allowing audiences worldwide to witness the launch and subsequent docking activities.
Upon arrival at the ISS, expected around 7:38 a.m. EST after a three-hour journey, Williams and his fellow crew members will join an international team of astronauts and cosmonauts already aboard the station. This diverse group includes NASA astronauts Mike Fincke, Zena Cardman, and Jonny Kim, as well as JAXA astronaut Kimiya Yui and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergei Ryzhikov, Alexey Zubritsky, and Oleg Platonov. The newcomers will spend approximately eight months on the ISS, contributing to a range of scientific experiments and technology demonstrations aimed at enhancing human space exploration and improving life on Earth. Notably, Williams will play a crucial role in testing a new modular workout system designed for long-duration missions, conducting experiments to boost cryogenic fuel efficiency, and growing semiconductor crystals in space.
The ISS has been continuously inhabited for over 25 years, serving as a vital platform for scientific research and technological innovation. As NASA shifts its focus towards deep space missions, including the Artemis campaign aimed at lunar exploration and eventual missions to Mars, the ISS remains a cornerstone for understanding the challenges of long-duration spaceflight and fostering a robust low Earth orbit economy. Through collaborations with commercial partners providing transportation services, NASA is ensuring that the ISS continues to be a hub for groundbreaking research while preparing for humanity’s next steps into the cosmos. For more information on the ongoing research and operations aboard the ISS, visit NASA’s official website.
A Soyuz rocket launches to the International Space Station with Expedition 73 crew members aboard, Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
NASA/Joel Kowsky
NASA astronaut Chris Williams will launch aboard the Roscosmos Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft to the International Space Station on Thursday, Nov. 27, accompanied by cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev, where they will join the Expedition 73 crew advancing scientific research.
Williams, Kud-Sverchkov, and Mikaev will lift off at 4:27 a.m. EST (2:27 p.m. Baikonur time) from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Live launch and docking coverage will be available on
NASA+
,
Amazon Prime
, and the agency’s
YouTube
channel. Learn how to
watch NASA content
through a variety of platforms, including social media.
After a two-orbit, three-hour trip to the orbital complex, the spacecraft will automatically dock to the station’s Rassvet module at approximately 7:38 a.m. Shortly after, hatches will open between Soyuz and the space station.
Once aboard, the trio will join NASA astronauts Mike Fincke, Zena Cardman, and Jonny Kim, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergei Ryzhikov, Alexey Zubritsky, and Oleg Platonov.
NASA’s coverage is as follows (all times Eastern and subject to change based on real-time operations):
Thursday, Nov. 27
3:30 a.m. – Launch coverage begins on
NASA+
,
Amazon Prime
, and
YouTube
.
4:27 a.m. – Launch
6:45 a.m. – Rendezvous and docking coverage begins on
NASA+
,
Amazon Prime
, and
YouTube
.
7:38 a.m. – Docking to the space station
9:50 a.m. – Hatch opening and welcome remarks coverage begins on
NASA+
,
Amazon Prime
, and
YouTube
.
10:10 a.m. – Hatch opening
Williams, Kud-Sverchkov, and Mikaev will spend approximately eight months aboard the space station as Expedition 73/74 crew members, before returning to Earth in summer 2026. This will be the first spaceflight for Williams and Mikaev, and the second for Kud-Sverchkov.
During his stay aboard station, Williams will conduct scientific research and technology demonstrations aimed at advancing human space exploration and benefiting life on Earth. He will help install and test a
new modular workout system
for long-duration missions, support experiments to
improve cryogenic fuel efficiency
and
grow semiconductor crystals
in space, and assist NASA in designing new
re-entry safety protocols
to protect crews during future missions.
For more than 25 years, people have lived and worked continuously aboard the International Space Station, advancing scientific knowledge and making research breakthroughs that are not possible on Earth. The station is a critical testbed for NASA to understand and overcome the challenges of long-duration spaceflight and to expand commercial opportunities in low Earth orbit. As commercial companies concentrate on providing human space transportation services and destinations as part of a robust
low Earth orbit economy
, NASA is focusing its resources on deep space missions to the Moon as part of the Artemis campaign in preparation for future human missions to Mars.
Learn more about International Space Station research and operations at:
https://www.nasa.gov/station
-end-
Joshua Finch / Jimi Russell
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1100
joshua.a.finch@nasa.gov
/
james.j.russell@nasa.gov
Sandra Jones / Joseph ZakrzewskiÂ
Johnson Space Center, HoustonÂ
281-483-5111Â
sandra.p.jones@nasa.gov
/
joseph.a.zakrzewski@nasa.gov
Â
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Last Updated
Nov 20, 2025
Location
NASA Headquarters
Related Terms
Humans in Space
International Space Station (ISS)
