NASA astronaut Chris Williams and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergei Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev landed safely in the Kazakhstan steppes on Sunday, July 26, 2026. The crew returned via the Soyuz MS-28 capsule after a 241-day mission aboard the International Space Station, touching down southeast of Dzhezkazgan.
The descent concluded at 1:27 p.m. The landing was assisted by parachutes in a designated area of the Kazakh steppe.
The Soyuz MS-28 Flight Path and Orbit Data
Before returning to Earth, the trio completed 3,856 orbits and traveled more than 102 million miles, NASA reported. The mission served as the first space mission for both Williams and Mikaev, while it was the second mission for Kud-Sverchkov.
The return sequence began on Saturday, July 25, with a change of command ceremony where Kud-Sverchkov transferred control of the orbital complex to NASA astronaut Jessica Meir. The Soyuz MS-28 officially undocked from the Rassvet module at 3:03 a.m. EDT on Sunday, followed by a deorbit burn at 5:31 a.m. and a final landing at 6:25 a.m. EDT.
Recovery Operations in Karaganda and Star City
Following the touchdown, recovery teams transported the crew by helicopter to Karaganda. From there, the crew split for their respective home bases: Williams boarded a plane for NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, while Kud-Sverchkov and Mikaev flew to their training facility in Star City, located just outside Moscow.
Post-landing imagery released by the Roscosmos space corporation showed Williams resting in a chair shortly after the capsule’s arrival near Zhezkazgan. According to AOL, Williams was also presented with a traditional Russian wooden Matryoshka doll during his recovery.
Expedition 75 and the New Crew Rotation
The returning crew has been replaced by a new team that arrived at the station on July 14. This new group consists of NASA astronaut Anil Menon and Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina, who launched from the Russia-leased Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
This transition marks the start of Expedition 75.
- NASA: Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway
- Roscosmos: Andrei Fedyaev
- European Space Agency: Sophie Adenot
The July 14 launch was notable for the attendance of NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, marking the first time a NASA chief has visited Baikonur in eight years, as CNN reported.
US-Russian Cooperation Amid Geopolitical Tension
The successful return of the Soyuz MS-28 crew underscores a complex but enduring partnership. While the U.S. and Russia were Cold War rivals, they have maintained a cooperative framework on the International Space Station and other projects. This relationship faced significant strain after Moscow sent troops into Ukraine in 2022, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Despite these tensions, both nations have continued to exchange personnel, with crews flying to the orbiting outpost on each other’s spacecraft. This operational continuity allows for ongoing scientific research and technology demonstrations, such as those conducted by Williams to advance human space exploration.
Long-term Objectives for Low Earth Orbit
The continuous human presence on the station for over 25 years is designed to provide the foundation for more ambitious goals. NASA states that the station is critical for understanding the challenges of human spaceflight and expanding commercial opportunities in low Earth orbit.
These efforts are directly linked to the Artemis program, which seeks to build the necessary experience for long-duration missions to the Moon and eventually to Mars. The research and operational milestones achieved during the 241-day stint of Williams, Kud-Sverchkov, and Mikaev contribute to this broader trajectory of deep-space exploration.
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