Soyuz MS-26 Returns Safely After 220 Days in Space
At 9:20 p.m. EDT on Saturday, April 19 (6:20 a.m. local time on Sunday, April 20), the Soyuz MS-26 spacecraft safely landed with the help of parachutes. The touchdown occurred on the steppe of Kazakhstan, southeast of the town of Dzhezkazgan.
The Soyuz MS-26 space capsule carrying the International Space Station (ISS) crew of NASA astronaut Don Pettit, Roscosmos cosmonauts Alexei Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner lands in a remote area near Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan April 20, 2025. NASA/Bill Ingalls/Handout via REUTERS
A Long Journey Around Earth
NASA astronaut Don Pettit and Roscosmos cosmonauts Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner spent 220 days aboard the International Space Station. During their mission, they circled the Earth 3,520 times and travelled approximately 93.3 million miles. Their journey began when the Soyuz MS-26 launched and docked to the space station on 11 September 2024.
The Soyuz MS-27 spacecraft, carrying the crew formed of NASA astronaut Jonny Kim, Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritskiy blasts off to the International Space Station (ISS) from the launchpad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, April 8, 2025. REUTERS
Experienced Crew Members Complete Another Mission
This marked Pettit’s fourth spaceflight, contributing to his career total of 590 days in orbit. He served as a flight engineer during Expeditions 71 and 72. Ovchinin also completed his fourth mission, reaching a total of 595 days in space. Vagner, now with two missions to his name, has spent 416 days in orbit.
Crew members Roscosmos cosmonauts Commander Sergey Ryzhikov (C), Flight Engineer Alexey Zubritsky (R), and NASA astronaut Flight Engineer Jonny Kim (L) attend a send-off ceremony before the launch of the Soyuz MS-27 spacecraft at the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, 08 April 2025.
Return Plans Underway
After landing, the three astronauts will be transported by helicopter to Karaganda, a staging city in Kazakhstan. From there, Pettit will fly back to Houston on a NASA aircraft. Ovchinin and Vagner will travel to their training centre in Star City, Russia.
The Soyuz MS-26 space capsule carrying the International Space Station (ISS) crew of NASA astronaut Don Pettit, Roscosmos cosmonauts Alexei Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner lands in a remote area near Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan April 20, 2025. Roscosmos/Ivan Timoshenko/Handout via REUTERSGround personnel work at the site of the Soyuz MS-26 space capsule landing in a remote area near Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan April 20, 2025. Roscosmos/Ivan Timoshenko/Handout via REUTERSThe Soyuz MS-26 space capsule carrying the International Space Station (ISS) crew of NASA astronaut Don Pettit, Roscosmos cosmonauts Alexei Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner descends by parachute before landing in a remote area near Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan April 20, 2025. Roscosmos/Ivan Timoshenko/Handout via REUTERS
A multi-faceted professional with a diverse range of skills and experiences. He currently works as a Producer, Digital Marketer, and Journalist for several well-known media outlets, namely StratNewsGlobal, BharatShakti, and Interstellar. With a passion for storytelling and a keen eye for detail, Aditya has covered a wide range of topics and events across India, bringing a unique perspective to his work.When he's not busy producing content, Aditya enjoys exploring new places and cuisines, having traveled extensively throughout India. He's also an avid writer and poet, often penning his thoughts and musings in his free time. And when he wants to unwind and relax, Aditya spends time with his two loyal companions, Zorro and Pablo, his beloved dogs.Aditya's dynamic personality and varied interests make him a unique individual, always eager to learn and experience new things.
A multi-faceted professional with a diverse range of skills and experiences. He currently works as a Producer, Digital Marketer, and Journalist for several well-known media outlets, namely StratNewsGlobal, BharatShakti, and Interstellar. With a passion for storytelling and a keen eye for detail, Aditya has covered a wide range of topics and events across India, bringing a unique perspective to his work.When he's not busy producing content, Aditya enjoys exploring new places and cuisines, having traveled extensively throughout India. He's also an avid writer and poet, often penning his thoughts and musings in his free time. And when he wants to unwind and relax, Aditya spends time with his two loyal companions, Zorro and Pablo, his beloved dogs.Aditya's dynamic personality and varied interests make him a unique individual, always eager to learn and experience new things.
