NASA Astronaut Chris Williams, Crewmates Arrive at Space Station
On November 27, 2025, NASA astronaut Chris Williams, along with Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev, successfully launched aboard the Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The launch occurred at 4:27 a.m. EST, marking the beginning of their journey to the International Space Station (ISS). After a swift three-hour ascent and two orbits around Earth, the spacecraft docked with the ISS at 7:34 a.m. EST, expanding the station’s crew to ten members for the next two weeks. This influx of astronauts is particularly significant as it demonstrates ongoing international collaboration in space exploration and research.
Upon arrival, the trio was welcomed by the current Expedition 73 crew, which includes NASA astronauts Mike Fincke, Zena Cardman, and Jonny Kim, alongside JAXA astronaut Kimiya Yui and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov, Alexey Zubritsky, and Oleg Platonov. The hatch opening was scheduled for approximately 10:10 a.m. EST, with NASA providing live coverage of the event across multiple platforms, including NASA+, Amazon Prime, and YouTube. During his time aboard the ISS, Williams will engage in a variety of scientific research and technology demonstrations aimed at enhancing human space exploration. His responsibilities will include testing a new modular workout system designed for long-duration missions, supporting experiments that aim to improve cryogenic fuel efficiency, and assisting in the growth of semiconductor crystals in microgravity. These initiatives not only advance space exploration but also hold potential benefits for life on Earth.
The Expedition 74 mission is set to officially commence on December 8, following the return of the Expedition 73 crew, who will have completed an extensive eight-month science mission aboard the ISS. A change of command ceremony will take place on December 7, where leadership of the station will transition from Ryzhikov to Fincke. This ongoing series of missions underscores the ISS’s role as a hub for international cooperation in scientific research, paving the way for future advancements in space exploration and technology. For more information on the ISS and its missions, visit NASA’s official website.
The Soyuz rocket launches to the International Space Station with Expedition 74 crew members: NASA astronaut Chris Williams, and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev, on Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025, at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
NASA/Bill Ingalls
NASA astronaut Chris Williams, accompanied by Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev, safely arrived at the International Space Station on Thursday, expanding the orbiting laboratory’s crew to 10 for the next two weeks.
The trio launched aboard the Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft at 4:27 a.m. EST (2:27 p.m. Baikonur time) from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. After a three-hour, two-orbit journey, the spacecraft docked at 7:34 a.m. to the space station’s Rassvet module.
Following hatch opening, expected about 10:10 a.m., the new arrivals will be welcomed by the Expedition 73 crew, including NASA astronauts Mike Fincke, Zena Cardman, and Jonny Kim; JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Kimiya Yui; and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov, Alexey Zubritsky, and Oleg Platonov.
NASA’s live coverage of hatch opening begins at 9:50 a.m. on
NASA+
,
Amazon Prime
, and
YouTube
. Learn how to
watch NASA content
through a variety of platforms, including social media.
During his stay aboard the space 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, as well as assist NASA in designing new
re-entry safety protocols
to protect crews during future missions.
Expedition 74 is scheduled to begin on Monday, Dec. 8, following the departure of Kim, Ryzhikov, and Zubritsky, as they conclude an eight-month science mission aboard the orbital outpost.
Watch the change of command ceremony at 10:25 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 7, as station leadership transfers from Ryzhikov to Fincke, live on
NASA+
.
Learn more about International Space Station, crews, research, and operations at:
https://www.nasa.gov/station
-end-
Jimi Russell
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1100
james.j.russell@nasa.gov
Sandra Jones / Joseph Zakrzewski
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111
sandra.p.jones@nasa.gov
/
joseph.a.zakrzewski@nasa.gov
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Last Updated
Nov 27, 2025
Location
NASA Headquarters
Related Terms
Humans in Space
International Space Station (ISS)
