In a thrilling development for space exploration, NASA astronaut Jonny Kim has safely arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) along with his Roscosmos crewmates, Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky. Their arrival on Tuesday marks a significant increase in the ISS population, bringing the total number of residents to 10 for the next two weeks!

The trio journeyed aboard the Soyuz MS-27 spacecraft, which flawlessly docked with the ISS's Prichal module after a swift three-hour trip that took them through two orbits of Earth. Their launch was powered from the historic Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, a site renowned for its role in advancing humanity’s quest for space.

Once the hatches are open, Kim and his colleagues will join Expedition 72, an impressive crew comprised of NASA's Nichole Ayers, Anne McClain, and Don Pettit, in addition to JAXA's Takuya Onishi and Roscosmos members Kirill Peskov, Ivan Vagner, and Alexey Ovchinin.

As Expedition 73 prepares to commence on April 19, following the departure of Pettit, Ovchinin, and Vagner, Kim’s adventure is just beginning. Throughout his eight-month mission at the ISS, he will spearhead groundbreaking research spanning technology development, Earth sciences, biology, and human research—pushing the limits of what we know.

It’s noteworthy that this mission marks Kim and Zubritsky’s inaugural flights into space, while Ryzhikov embarks on his third expedition—a true embodiment of international teamwork in the quest for knowledge beyond our planet.

Stay tuned as we continue to follow their remarkable journey and the scientific advancements that will emerge from this awe-inspiring mission!