NASA Astronaut Tracy C. Dyson and Roscosmos Cosmonauts Nikolai Chub and Oleg Kononenko to Return from ISS

NASA astronaut Tracy C. Dyson, along with Roscosmos cosmonauts Nikolai Chub and Oleg Kononenko, are set to return to Earth from the International Space Station (ISS) aboard the Soyuz MS-25 spacecraft. This highly anticipated event will see the trio undock from the ISS and make their way back to our planet.

The undocking will occur at 4:37 a.m. EDT on Monday, September 23, from the ISS’s Prichal module. The spacecraft will then head for a parachute-assisted landing at approximately 8 a.m. EDT (which is 5 p.m. local time in Kazakhstan) on the steppes of Kazakhstan, southeast of the town of Dzhezkazgan.

For those eager to follow this event, NASA will provide live coverage of the return and related activities. The coverage will be streamed on NASA+ and the agency’s official website. This allows enthusiasts and the general public to witness the entire process, from undocking to landing. If you’re new to streaming NASA content, you can learn how to do so through various platforms, including social media, by visiting NASA’s website.

Change of Command Ceremony

In addition to the return journey, a significant event will take place a day prior on Sunday, September 22. At 10:15 a.m. EDT, NASA will stream a change of command ceremony where Oleg Kononenko will hand over the command of the ISS to NASA astronaut Suni Williams. This ceremony marks the beginning of Expedition 72 and will be available for viewing on NASA platforms.

Mission Details and Crew Achievements

Tracy C. Dyson’s mission has been extensive and impressive. Spanning 184 days in space, Dyson has completed 2,944 orbits of Earth, covering a total distance of 78 million miles. The Soyuz MS-25 spacecraft, which launched on March 23 and arrived at the ISS on March 25, carried Dyson along with Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Novitskiy and spaceflight participant Marina Vasilevskaya from Belarus. Novitskiy and Vasilevskaya returned to Earth on April 6 with NASA astronaut Loral O’Hara after a brief 12-day mission.

On the other hand, Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub have had a marathon mission. They launched to the ISS with Loral O’Hara aboard the Soyuz MS-24 spacecraft in September last year. Their mission spanned 374 days, during which they traveled 158.6 million miles and completed 5,984 orbits around Earth.

Crew Profiles

Tracy C. Dyson has been an ISS flight engineer for Expeditions 70 and 71. This mission marks her fourth spaceflight. Oleg Kononenko, who will be concluding his fifth spaceflight, will set a new record with a cumulative 1,111 days spent in orbit. This is a significant achievement, making him one of the most experienced space travelers in history. For Nikolai Chub, this mission was his first spaceflight, marking the beginning of what promises to be an exciting career in space exploration.

After their return to Earth, the crew will be transported by helicopter from the landing site to the recovery staging area in Karaganda, Kazakhstan. From there, Tracy Dyson will board a NASA plane to return to Houston, Texas, while Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub will head to their training base in Star City, Russia.

Live Coverage Schedule

NASA’s coverage of this event will provide detailed real-time updates and insights. Here’s the schedule for the live coverage (all times are in Eastern Daylight Time and subject to change based on real-time operations):

Sunday, September 22

• 10:15 a.m.: Expedition 71/72 change of command ceremony will be streamed on NASA+ and NASA’s website.
  

  Monday, September 23
  

• 12:45 a.m.: Coverage of the hatch closing begins on NASA+ and NASA’s website.
• 1:05 a.m.: Hatch closing.
• 4 a.m.: Coverage of the undocking begins on NASA+ and NASA’s website.
• 4:37 a.m.: Undocking.
• 6:45 a.m.: Coverage of the deorbit burn, entry, and landing begins on NASA+ and NASA’s website.
• 7:05 a.m.: Deorbit burn.
• 8 a.m.: Landing.
  

  The Importance of the ISS
  

  For over two decades, the International Space Station has served as a hub for scientific research and technological advancements that are not feasible on Earth. The ISS is a critical platform for NASA to understand and tackle the challenges associated with long-duration spaceflight. It also plays a vital role in expanding commercial opportunities in low Earth orbit. As commercial companies increasingly focus on providing human space transportation services, NASA allocates more resources towards deep space missions, including the Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the Moon and eventually venture to Mars.

  To learn more about the research and operations aboard the International Space Station, visit NASA’s dedicated ISS page: https://www.nasa.gov/station.

  Conclusion
  

  The return of Tracy C. Dyson, Nikolai Chub, and Oleg Kononenko from the ISS is a significant event in the realm of space exploration. Their missions have contributed valuable data and experiences that will aid future space endeavors. The comprehensive live coverage provided by NASA ensures that everyone can be part of this historic moment. Keep an eye on NASA’s platforms for real-time updates and insights into this extraordinary journey back to Earth.

  For more detailed information and updates, you can always visit the official NASA website.

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