3 Astronauts Ready to Return Home After 245 Days in Space

Three astronauts are preparing to return to Earth tonight, after nearly 245 days aboard the International Space Station (ISS). NASA astronaut Jonny Kim and cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky are set to undock from the ISS at 8:15 p.m. EST and begin their journey home. The mission, which began in April 2025, has seen the trio orbit Earth nearly 4,000 times and travel over 100 million miles.

The mission has been a milestone for both Kim and Zubritsky, who are making their first spaceflights, and for Ryzhikov, who has completed his third space mission, having served as commander of the ISS’s Expedition 73. The trio arrived at the ISS on April 8, where they contributed to research and various operations, including important scientific experiments.

Livestream Coverage to Capture the Final Moments

NASA will provide live coverage of the astronauts’ departure, beginning at 4:45 p.m. EST. The webcast will show the closing of the hatches between the Soyuz spacecraft and the ISS, with undocking scheduled for 8:15 p.m. EST. The spacecraft is expected to land in Kazakhstan early the following morning, at 12:04 a.m. EST, on the steppe near Dzhezkazgan.

According to reports, viewers will be able to watch every key moment as the Soyuz undocks from the ISS, begins its deorbit burn, and descends toward Earth. This livestream is a rare opportunity for the public to witness the final stages of a space mission, with the undocking process serving as a significant milestone. The event will also offer insight into the complex nature of space travel, showing just how precise and carefully coordinated these moments are.

A Mission of Scientific Discovery

During their nearly eight months aboard the ISS, Jonny Kim, Sergey Ryzhikov, and Alexey Zubritsky contributed to numerous scientific experiments, working in a microgravity environment that is crucial for understanding how living organisms and physical materials behave in space.

The trio’s work has helped advance studies in various fields, including biology, physics, and Earth sciences. Their research will help pave the way for future space missions. According to a statement published by the U.S. space agency:

“Its resources on deep space missions to the Moon as part of the Artemis program, in preparation for future human missions to Mars.”

Crew Changes: A Shifting Roster on the ISS

With Kim, Ryzhikov, and Zubritsky’s departure, seven astronauts will remain aboard the ISS. This group includes cosmonauts Oleg Platonov, Sergey Kud-Sverchkov, and Sergey Mikaev, who arrived on Thanksgiving Day after a Soyuz rocket launch.

This launch, however, was far from routine. Shortly after liftoff, the Soyuz rocket’s service platform collided with the flame trench, causing unexpected damage to the pad at Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. As stated by the same source, it remains unclear how long it will take to repair the pad, which is the only one currently capable of launching Russian spacecraft to the ISS.

Despite the challenges with the launch pad, the remaining crew aboard the ISS will continue to carry out essential operations and scientific research, maintaining the station and preparing for future missions.

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