A New Face in Space: Chris Williams' Journey to the ISS

Chris Williams, a man with a diverse background, recently embarked on his first space journey. He joined two Russian cosmonauts, Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergey Mikaev, aboard a Soyuz spacecraft. Their mission? To reach the International Space Station (ISS) on Thanksgiving Day. The journey began at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. At 4:27 a. m. Eastern time, the Soyuz 2. 1a booster roared to life, carrying the trio into space. Nine minutes and 45 seconds later, the spacecraft separated from the booster's upper stage. With its solar wings unfurled, it set off towards the ISS. Three hours later, they successfully docked at the lab's Earth-facing Rassvet module at 7:34 a. m. Eastern time. Williams' path to space is quite unique. Before becoming an astronaut, he was a volunteer firefighter and emergency medical technician. He later earned a Ph. D. in astrophysics from MIT and worked as a medical physicist at Harvard Medical School. His selection to join NASA's astronaut corps in 2021 marked another significant milestone in his career. This mission is a first for both Williams and Mikaev. Kud-Sverchkov, however, is a seasoned space traveler, having spent 185 days aboard the ISS in 2020-2021. Williams has praised his crewmates, describing them as kind, intellectually curious individuals. The Soyuz MS-28 crew is replacing another trio who have been on the ISS since April. They plan to return to Earth on December 9, wrapping up their eight-month stay. Meanwhile, the ISS is also home to NASA Crew 11, who arrived last August and plan to return in February or March. Williams' achievements are impressive. He's an Eagle Scout, holds a private pilot's license, and has degrees from Stanford University and MIT. His journey from radio astronomy research to medical physics, and now to space, is a testament to his versatility and dedication. Upon arriving at the ISS, the crew participated in a traditional welcome aboard video call. They then began familiarizing themselves with the station's complex systems. Williams' excitement about contributing to the science and research conducted on the ISS is palpable. He sees his role as an opportunity to push forward important work in space.