A New Crew Heads to the Space Station on Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving morning will see a Soyuz rocket lift off from Kazakhstan, carrying a NASA astronaut and two cosmonauts to the International Space Station (ISS). The launch is set for 4:27 a. m. EST, with live coverage starting at 3:30 a. m. EST on NASA's YouTube channel. The crew includes NASA's Chris Williams and cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergey Mikayev. This will be the first spaceflight for Williams and Mikayev, while Kud-Sverchkov has previously spent six months on the ISS. The Soyuz spacecraft is expected to dock with the ISS around 7:38 a. m. EST, with hatch opening and welcome ceremonies following later in the morning. The crew will spend approximately eight months on the station, contributing to Expeditions 73 and 74. During their stay, Williams will be involved in various scientific experiments and technology demonstrations. These include testing a new workout system for long-duration missions, improving cryogenic fuel efficiency, and growing semiconductor crystals in space. Additionally, he will assist in designing new re-entry safety protocols for future missions. The ISS continues to be a hub for international collaboration and scientific advancement. This mission highlights the ongoing efforts to push the boundaries of human space exploration and benefit life on Earth.