In a significant milestone for international space cooperation, three astronauts are preparing to launch towards the International Space Station (ISS) early Tuesday morning. A Russian Soyuz rocket will lift off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 1:47 a.m. EDT (0557 GMT), 11:17 a.m. IST (Indian Standard Time) carrying NASA astronaut Jonny Kim and Russian cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky.The crew’s Soyuz capsule is set to dock with the ISS at 5:03 a.m. EDT (0903 GMT), 2:33 p.m. IST (Indian Standard Time) with a smooth arrival planned if all goes according to schedule.
Following the docking, viewers can also watch the hatch opening at around 7:20 a.m. EDT (1120 GMT) 4:50 p.m. IST (Indian Standard Time), officially welcoming the trio aboard the orbiting laboratory.
This mission underscores the long-standing partnership between NASA and Russia, highlighting their ongoing collaboration in space exploration. Kim, Ryzhikov, and Zubritsky will spend the next eight months aboard the ISS, conducting scientific research and experiments that will contribute to both the station’s work and the future of space exploration, including NASA’s goals of returning humans to the Moon and reaching Mars.Live coverage of the launch begins at 12:45 a.m. EDT (0445 GMT) 10:15 a.m. IST (Indian Standard Time), and you can watch all the action on Space.com or NASA’s streaming platforms. The Soyuz rocket’s successful launch will be a reminder of the reliability of this space vehicle, which has been crucial for transporting astronauts to and from the ISS for decades.
Following the docking, viewers can also watch the hatch opening at around 7:20 a.m. EDT (1120 GMT) 4:50 p.m. IST (Indian Standard Time), officially welcoming the trio aboard the orbiting laboratory.
This mission underscores the long-standing partnership between NASA and Russia, highlighting their ongoing collaboration in space exploration. Kim, Ryzhikov, and Zubritsky will spend the next eight months aboard the ISS, conducting scientific research and experiments that will contribute to both the station’s work and the future of space exploration, including NASA’s goals of returning humans to the Moon and reaching Mars.Live coverage of the launch begins at 12:45 a.m. EDT (0445 GMT) 10:15 a.m. IST (Indian Standard Time), and you can watch all the action on Space.com or NASA’s streaming platforms. The Soyuz rocket’s successful launch will be a reminder of the reliability of this space vehicle, which has been crucial for transporting astronauts to and from the ISS for decades.
As the crew gets settled on the ISS, they’ll be making invaluable contributions to space science. Their mission is scheduled to conclude in December, but until then, they’ll be an integral part of the ongoing research aboard the station, working to expand humanity’s knowledge of life in space.
The Soyuz spacecraft, with its long-standing reliability, continues to play a crucial role in connecting astronauts to the International Space Station, reminding us of the incredible advancements in space exploration and the vital partnerships that make it all possible.
