Soyuz launches with US-Russian crew to the ISS

Tuesday 08 April 2025 - 08:31

By: Zahouani Ilham

Soyuz launches with US-Russian crew to the ISS

A Russian Soyuz spacecraft successfully launched on Tuesday from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, carrying a multinational crew bound for the International Space Station (ISS). The MS-27 capsule, specially adorned to commemorate the 80th anniversary marking the end of World War II, lifted off at 10:47 a.m. local time.

Moments after liftoff, the spacecraft reached orbit and is scheduled to dock with the Russian module of the ISS at 0904 GMT.

Aboard the mission are Russian cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky, along with NASA astronaut Jonny Kim. During their stay in orbit, they are set to conduct 50 scientific experiments before returning to Earth on December 9.

Approximately 2,500 visitors gathered at Baikonur to witness the launch in person, marking a record turnout according to Russian space authorities.

The Baikonur facility has been operated by Russia under lease from Kazakhstan since the early 1990s, with Moscow paying an annual fee of $115 million and holding rights until 2050.

Despite escalating tensions between Washington and Moscow since the onset of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, space exploration remains a rare domain of collaboration between the two nations. The recent return of Donald Trump to the US presidency has reportedly contributed to a gradual easing of diplomatic strains.

Following the imposition of sanctions after the conflict began, many Western nations halted space partnerships with Russia. Nevertheless, the Soyuz spacecraft continues to serve as a vital connection to the ISS.

Russia’s once-prestigious space sector has faced growing difficulties in recent years, grappling with underfunding, corruption cases, and technical setbacks such as the failed Luna-25 moon mission in 2023.