Soyuz-2.1a - Soyuz MS-27 - 8 April 2025 (05:47 UTC)

[Satori]

Thread for the Soyuz MS-27 launch presently schedule for March 2025 to carry new crew members for Expedition 72/73 on ISS

Prime crew:

- Sergei Viktorovich Ryzhikov (Commander, Russia)
- Alexei Vitalyevich Zubritsky (Flight Engineer 1, Russia)
- Jonathan Yong Kim (Flight Engineer 2, USA)

Back-up crew

- Sergei Vladimirovich Kud-Sverchkov (Commander, Russia)
- Sergei Nikolayevich Mikayev (Flight Engineer 1, Russia)
- Christopher Leigh Williams (Flight Engineer 2, USA)

[Satori]

The train with the Soyuz-2.1 launcher for Soyuz MS-27 arrived at Baikonur on October 8.

[ddspaceman]

https://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=6910
GT:
Sergei Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky completed their training at the Space Center. L. Johnson
| Crews
October 30, 2024

The astronauts studied the systems of the American segment of the International Space Station, underwent training on typical operations, and also practiced actions in case of emergency situations.

During the session, training was carried out both as part of the crew of the manned transport spacecraft Soyuz MS-27 (Sergei Ryzhikov, Alexey Zubritsky and Jonathan Kim), and as part of the entire ISS-73 expedition, which also includes Crew-10 crew members Anne McClain , Nicole Ayres, Takuya Onishi and Kirill Peskov.

“In the absence of the Dragon crew on board the ISS, if an emergency situation arises on the American segment of the station, our crew will counter it in full. Also, if necessary, cosmonaut Sergei Ryzhikov and astronaut Jonathan Kim will be able to perform a spacewalk in EMU spacesuits, and they also practiced these actions, so at NASA we had serious training,” Alexey Zubritsky explained the need for such training.

At the end of the preparation, the crew of the Soyuz MS-27 spacecraft took part in a traditional cake ceremony, for which they baked a sponge cake with the symbols of the upcoming long expedition.

“A group gathered: instructors, teachers - everyone who participated in our training at the Center. Johnson in the USA. Then there was an official presentation of the crew, in a response speech we thanked the specialists for their joint work, after which the cake was cut. After the refreshment, everyone had the opportunity to take a photo, ask questions and say warm parting words,” Alexey Zubritsky told the details of this ceremony.

[ddspaceman]

https://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=6911
GT:
A wardrobe is being prepared for the cosmonauts: Alexey Zubritsky tried on flight clothes
| Crews
October 30, 2024

Like preparing for any long journey, preparing for an orbital expedition requires a competent selection of clothing sets that the astronauts will wear during the flight to the ISS.

No mass market, only individual tailoring, taking into account the characteristics of the figure and the personal wishes of the astronauts. For example, a chevron with the initials and surname of the owner can be sewn onto a jumpsuit or T-shirt, and the emblem of the crew or expedition, hometown or region can be placed on it.

“During practical classes, in addition to the assortment, we inform you about the wearing time of flight clothing. When preparing things, the convenience of the astronaut is put first. This takes into account the texture of the fabric, cut, for example, long or short sleeves, fastening elements: zippers, buttons. Experts can tailor any model to the individual wishes of the astronaut, the main thing is that he feels comfortable wearing these clothes. In addition, crews can choose personal hygiene products,” said Natalya Pekarskaya, teacher at the training center.

In everyday life at the station, astronauts wear T-shirts, polos, shorts, trousers, and overalls. Separate sets of clothing are provided for sports activities, as well as sneakers and cycling shoes for exercise.

“I chose light colors: blue, blue, white.  But I ordered T-shirts, polos, and shorts in different colors, because on Earth there are the same preferences, but there (in space), perhaps they will change so that you can choose. In terms of functionality, clothing requires additional devices, for example, on overalls, shorts, trousers there are many pockets, Velcro stripes (in colloquial language they are often called “Velcro” - editor’s note), which will allow you to attach things necessary for work to clothing: a tablet, pen, tools, etc. On Earth, you can simply put them next to you, and there they will fly away, so objects need to be attached,” explained Alexey Zubritsky.

Clothes and shoes will be delivered on board by cargo ship; the weight of the cargo is limited, so for the entire duration of the expedition they take a calculated number of sets, guided by the service life of the items. Underwear (T-shirt, shorts and terry socks) is designed for three days, polo should be worn for no more than 7 days, and shorts - no more than two weeks. The space wardrobe includes two types of overalls: “crew” (for congratulatory video conferences) and personal (for video recording of work processes and experiments). The trousers are sewn with straps so that they do not ride up in zero gravity.

When making clothes, they try to use more natural materials. Thus, the composition of the linen fabric includes 95% cotton and 5% elastane. For overalls, cotton and polyester are used in a 50/50 ratio - the mixed fabric will not wrinkle as much. But to sew sports kits, you will already need synthetics - it more easily releases the liquid that cotton retains, so the astronauts will be comfortable while exercising on the bike path.

The range of flight clothing was developed taking into account the opinions of cosmonauts and specialists from the Cosmonaut Training Center, on orders from RSC Energia, with the participation of the Institute of Medical and Biological Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

[ddspaceman]

The Space Pirate🏴‍☠️🥷🏻🚀
@TheSpacePirateX
🚨 Cosmonauts Sergei Ryzhikov, Alexei Zubritsky, Kirill Peskov & astronaut Jonathan Kim just completed a simulated emergency drill. They practiced ammonia leak response, air purification, & evacuation protocols to stay sharp for any scenario in @Space_Station 🛰️

https://twitter.com/TheSpacePirateX/status/1852368825414517061

[ddspaceman]

Jonny Kim
@JonnyKimUSA
T+19 (9.15.23): There is a lot of work that occurs before performing real operations in space. Meticulous planning, rehearsing, and development are the costs of business. On this day, I got to work with my classmates, @Astro_FarmerBob and @Astro_Raja to aid in the development of an experiment NASA hopes to do soon, which is to sample the exterior of the space station for microorganisms during a spacewalk. The idea is pretty straightforward - swab suspected areas around the space station, namely areas where microbes could have been deposited (e.g., near vents, handrail surfaces, near the airlock) to see if life could survive at vacuum. It's difficult to imagine life could survive in such an environment, but humans have been surprised before by finding life in extreme environments (e.g., hot springs, hydrothermal vents at the bottom of the ocean, etc). These organisms are called extremophiles because they live in extreme environmental conditions that are normally thought impossible for life to adapt to.

One of the coolest parts of this operation is how NASA repurposed an old piece of hardware from Shuttle into a canister caddy to house 6 sterile swabs. Hopefully, we get to see this experiment soon on the @Space_Station .

T+23 (9.19.23): After rehearsing the sequence of events and familiarizing ourselves with the equipment, the day came for Farmer and I to practice in the NBL. I got to practice my "aseptic technique," employed in medical settings to prevent cross-contamination leading to infection. Except in this setting, it's to ensure we get good science.

In our ear is our "TC" (training conductor), Drew Burr, who is an instrumental member of the EVA team responsible for preparing us for EVA missions during flight.

https://twitter.com/JonnyKimUSA/status/1853047032551796764

[ddspaceman]

https://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=6916
GT:
The crew left the “station” due to an accident: the cosmonauts and astronaut worked through several emergency situations
| Crews
November 01, 2024

According to the training scenario, Sergei Ryzhikov, Alexey Zubritsky, Jonathan Kim (crew of the Soyuz MS-27 spacecraft) and Kirill Peskov (crew member of Crew-10), while on the International Space Station, encountered a number of emergency situations. These cosmonauts and the astronaut would soon be working together on the ISS, so it was very important for the instructors to practice team coordination.

The crew carried out a number of scenarios: a “fire” at the station, its depressurization and the release of ammonia on the American segment.

“During training on crew actions in emergency situations, we try to work out various scenarios. It is very important that the crew does not know which emergency situation will occur, which brings its work closer to real conditions. In the final scenario of this training, there was no opportunity to clear the atmosphere of the Russian segment of the ISS and the Soyuz spacecraft, so the crew left the station. And to practice the procedure for putting on spacesuits and descending to Earth, I went to the Soyuz simulator room,” said Ksenia Kakushina, leading cosmonaut training specialist at the Cosmonaut Training Center.

Ammonia is the most toxic substance at the station, negatively affecting the respiratory system, mucous membranes and human skin. In a liquid state, it is present in the external thermal control loops of the American segment; it is not present on the ISS RS. But in the event of an emergency release of a substance, the atmosphere of the entire station is at risk, and the crew must know the procedure for countering such an emergency situation.

After detecting a leak, everyone puts on masks with filters, turns on the station’s atmosphere purification cartridge and, half an hour later, uses special equipment to measure the content of dangerous gas in the air. If the maximum permissible concentration standards are exceeded, the crew must put on spacesuits wearing masks, move to the Soyuz and begin urgent undocking and descent to Earth.

According to the training scenario, Kirill Peskov left the station on the Dragon ship along with his fellow Crew-10 crew members. Meanwhile, Sergei Ryzhikov, Alexey Zubritsky and Jonathan Kim went to the Soyuz spacecraft simulator room and performed a number of operations wearing new emergency masks. The advantage of these protective equipment is that the viewing window does not fog up in them, and it is convenient for the crew to work in them.

When the astronaut is wearing a mask, a certain difficulty arises when putting on a spacesuit: it is impossible to put it on completely. Therefore, each crew member takes turns holding their breath, taking off their mask, putting on the full spacesuit and the same mask, and then preparing for descent. The commander, as a more experienced person, alternately helps the flight engineers and controls their actions, then one of them, in turn, helps the commander.

During training, these actions are practiced to the point of automaticity, so that in the event of a real accident, crew members can perform them “by touch,” maintaining their health, and successfully return to Earth.

“The crew had no questions about putting on new masks; everything was done the first time. The cosmonauts also noted that working in these protective equipment is much more comfortable than in the previous ones. Alexei Zubritsky and Jonathan Kim will be on their first flight, so this training is especially important for them,” summed up Igor Karyukin, leading cosmonaut training specialist at the Cosmonaut Training Center.


The crew left the “station” due to an accident: the cosmonauts and astronaut worked through several emergency situations
https://rutube.ru/video/3fd764c4cb730c25e1cb71c3eb767333

[ddspaceman]

More photos from above source:

[ddspaceman]

More photos from above source:

[ddspaceman]

Jonny Kim
@JonnyKimUSA
T+23 (9.19.23): A requirement that all aspiring NASA spacewalkers have is to be able to conduct a rescue of their teammate within a specific time. Our EMU spacesuits offer the means for mobility and work in the vacuum of space and provide our life support. In the rare possibility anything off-nominal occurs to prevent a spacewalker from returning safely to the airlock on their own, they must rely on their partner to bring them safely back to the airlock. It's no different from many other lines of work relying on teammates in emergencies.

To train for this, we rehearse numerous scenarios of incapacitated crew members. We also have a lot of help, such as a cuff checklist of emergency action responses, the memorized portion of which we call "boldface," and dedicated experts in MCC-Houston feeding us data and recommendations on the next steps. The initial steps for a rescue involve assessing the situation and communicating with both the partner and MCC-H as able. Working with MCC, the rescuer develops and executes a rescue plan. The priority is always the crew first, followed by the station and the mission.

On this day, Farmer simulated an "incapacitated" crew member (we switch places throughout the day). After assessment, I translated to my partner, Farmer, quickly and safely completed any remaining action steps to put his spacesuit in as safe a condition as possible, and then safely and methodically translated him back to the airlock, ensuring that he has a safe load-path to station at all times and is not going to bump into anything along the way (especially his visor). Once at the airlock, it's a carefully coordinated ballad of actions to connect the "incapacitated crew member" and myself to the internal airlock tether point and then unhook ourselves to the external tether points (the external airlock hatch will not close if there is a tether line in the way). In some situations, connecting the incapacitated member to a service umbilical for resources (air, water, electrons) may be appropriate. Finally, we close the external airlock hatch and begin repressurizing the airlock to get our crew member the medical attention they may need inside the International Space Station.

Fortunately, we have great trainers, fantastic divers, and ground support to assist us in the rare chance this occurs. NASA is a forward-thinking organization, and we prepare for various outcomes despite numerous fault tolerances. EVA rescue is one of the more fun, challenging, and exhausting things we train for! And it's a significant team effort.

https://twitter.com/JonnyKimUSA/status/1853545405541236889

[ddspaceman]

https://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=6924
GT:
Cosmonaut Sergei Ryzhikov takes part in the “Virtual” experiment
| Crews
November 13, 2024

Specialists from the Cosmonaut Training Center, the Institute of Medical and Biological Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences, TsNIIMash and RSC Energia are studying how human sensory systems adapt to microgravity conditions.

Under normal earthly conditions, information about the position and movement of the body in space, coming from the vestibular apparatus to the central nervous system, coincides with that received from other sensory organs, primarily from the organ of vision. In weightlessness, this evolutionarily developed interaction is disrupted, as a result of which a person may develop a cosmic form of motion sickness. Its symptoms: dizziness, nausea, difficulty visually following an object, illusions of the position or movement of the body in space, etc. They negatively affect the performance of astronauts. Adverse reactions can be especially pronounced during adaptation to microgravity (the first few days of space flight) and upon return to Earth.

During the second stage of the “Virtual” space experiment, specialists are studying visual tracking disorders in astronauts in conditions of weightlessness, how they are related to disturbances in vestibular function and the development of visually induced illusions (distorted perception of real objects) and vectations (sensations of the human body moving in space during observation behind a moving object).

In addition to training sessions, before a long expedition, cosmonauts undergo research twice (60 and 30 days before launch). Then the experiment is carried out on board the Russian segment of the ISS on days 2–3, 5–7, 15, 30 of the flight and then once a month. After landing, studies are performed on days 1–2, 4–5 and 9–10. The experiment is carried out in the first half of the day, no earlier than an hour after meals, before sports training, away from bright light sources.

During the lesson, Sergei Ryzhikov performed computer tests using virtual reality glasses, and attached sensors recorded the main forms of visual tracking of the stimulus target. The equipment recorded the astronaut's eye movements while smoothly tracking this object, as well as fast, coordinated movements behind a jumping target and holding his gaze after it stopped.

Testing was carried out in two modes: in the absence and against the background of additional visual interference - blurry ellipses moving across the entire screen. The whole procedure took about 100 minutes.

The first stage of the space experiment “Virtual” was completed in 2015. Unique data were obtained on the functioning of two subsystems of the vestibular apparatus (otoliths and semicircular canals) under conditions of long-term space flight. According to the observations of specialists, in the group of first-time cosmonauts, vestibular disorders after returning to Earth were more pronounced than among experienced colleagues, and the recovery period was longer.

Now Sergei Ryzhikov is preparing for his third flight. And the astronaut confirmed the conclusions of medical specialists:

“During dynamic influences at the start, during induction, and during sharp deviations, some slight vestibular disorders may be felt, which in no way affect the performance of functional duties, and the less experience the crew member has, the more pronounced these reactions are. After the 2nd flight it was much easier for me to deal with them.”

The results obtained during the “Virtual” experiment will make it possible to more accurately assess the risks of disorders of vestibular function and visual tracking, their impact on the well-being and work of astronauts during long-term space flights.

[ddspaceman]

https://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=6931
GT:
Cosmonauts Sergei Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky carried 150 kg of scientific equipment into “zero gravity”: how did the training go in the hydro laboratory of the Cosmonaut Training Center?
| Crews
November 20, 2024

Today, November 20, 2024, the main crew of ISS-73 had the first of the planned training sessions to complete the target tasks that the cosmonauts will have to accomplish during their upcoming extravehicular activities. Prior to this, at the duplication stage, Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky worked out typical EVA operations and actions in calculated emergency situations, including when working with the ERA manipulator. Now the cosmonauts have started training under the VKD-64 program:

“It includes the installation of scientific equipment for molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), other scientific equipment for the Phoenix experiment on the service module and dismantling the high-resolution camera with subsequent repulsion also from the service module, and removal of the removable cassette from MIM-2. The number of tasks is small, but in terms of volume they are quite serious and impressive,” said Sergei Ryzhikov.

Before this training, the Center’s specialists conducted three experiments in the hydro laboratory and developed a methodology for performing the target tasks of the upcoming spacewalk:

“The astronauts took out the molecular beam epitaxy unit assembled with a mechanical adapter from the airlock compartment. This is a large, heavy package weighing about 150 kg. Then they transported it manually along the outer surface of first the small research module (MIM-2) “Poisk”, then the multifunctional laboratory module (MLM) “Science”. The crew installed the mechanical adapter with the MLE unit at the base point on the surface of the MLE, connected the electrical cables and prepared it for work,” Igor Tarasov, head of the 1st laboratory of the 30th department of the Cosmonaut Training Center, explained the details of the training.

The molecular beam epitaxy unit, which is to be installed by Sergei Ryzhikov and Alexei Zubritsky during a real spacewalk, is intended to perform the Ekran-M experiment. This equipment is designed for growing semiconductor materials in the ultra-high vacuum of outer space. The essence of the technology is that a substance evaporated in a molecular source is deposited onto a crystalline substrate. MBE is already in demand on Earth in the field of solar energy and the production of various devices, including laser and microwave technology. In the future, this technology will be able to be introduced into pilot industrial production in space.

During training in the hydro laboratory, Sergei Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky successfully completed all the tasks assigned to them and showed a high level of interaction. During the 73rd long-term expedition, two spacewalks are planned, so the crew will have one more training on the VKD-64 program and two on the VKD-65 tasks.

GT:
Training in the hydro laboratory of cosmonauts Sergei Ryzhikov and Alexei Zubritsky
https://rutube.ru/video/e1cfee3972b055bbe2973de6986bb3ae/

[ddspaceman]

https://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=6933
GT:
Preparing for a marathon in orbit: cosmonaut Alexei Zubritsky had training on a treadmill
| Crews
November 25, 2024

The launch of the long-term ISS-73 expedition consisting of cosmonauts Sergei Ryzhikov, Alexei Zubritsky and astronaut Jonathan Kim is planned for March 2025. This will be Alexey’s first space flight, and in preparation for work at the station, he is now undergoing a series of training sessions on the BD-2 treadmill, which he will have to perform in orbit.

The state of weightlessness negatively affects human health. The skeletal and muscular systems are especially affected, since in microgravity conditions the body experiences neither axial loads (vertical pressure on the spine) nor support ones. Walking and running are not possible on board, except on the treadmill.  Therefore, locomotor training, which prevents bone and muscle degradation, is considered the main means of prevention, and all astronauts, without exception, perform them.

The regulations for such training are prescribed in the on-board documentation for three days; they differ in the modes of execution. After three days, the training is repeated, and this continues until the end of the flight: every day the astronaut spends 32 to 42 minutes on the treadmill.

“Today Alexey Zubritsky has training according to the regulations of the second day of on-board documentation.  All astronauts know that the second day is the most difficult. The fact is that the treadmill belt can move in active mode, due to the motor, and in passive mode - the astronaut pushes the belt with his feet, which, of course, increases the load on the body.

The first day, according to on-board documentation, is more aimed at maintaining speed, because there are intervals of fast running. The second day is to maintain strength qualities, because there is a lot of passive mode, and the third day is to maintain endurance,” said Natalya Lysova, senior researcher at the Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences, leading researcher at the Center for Training.

On the first training day, the astronaut runs about three kilometers in orbit, on the second - about four, and on the third - five. The speed also depends on the day of training and the mode of the treadmill. For example, in the passive, more labor-intensive version, the required maximum speed is 8 km/h. And in active mode, maximum running speeds are 12–14 km/h, depending on the day of the training microcycle.

In order not to “fly away” from the simulator in zero gravity, you need the so-called “pull”: the workout is performed in a special training-load suit, which provides attraction to the treadmill. In the first month of the flight, the “pull” value is about 60% of the astronaut’s weight, then throughout the flight - 70%.

It is also important to run according to the pattern that is displayed on the screen of the simulator. Alexey Zubritsky successfully completed the second introductory stage of the training; the cosmonaut has a third day ahead, aimed at testing the body's endurance.

GT:
21.11.24. Zbts. Treadmill for the site
https://rutube.ru/video/618db20796afffb189e4eecefdb1e3bd/?r=plemwd

[ddspaceman]

To anyone who doesn't know who Jonny Kim is and where he came from you need to watch this.
It's quite long, like over 4 and a half hours so you might need to pause and restart a few times but watch it.
Very inspiring guy.   Very poor start in life but it doesn't need to continue on that path.

Jocko Podcast 221: Jonny Kim. Navy SEAL, Doctor, Astronaut. The Unimaginable Path.

[ddspaceman]

https://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=6940
GT:
Cosmonaut Alexey Zubritsky successfully completed training at the European Space Agency (ESA)
| Crews
December 03, 2024

The International Space Station currently consists of 17 modules. Among them is the Columbus scientific laboratory, designed to conduct physical, materials science, biomedical and other experiments. In the city of Cologne (Germany), Alexey Zubritsky held a training session on this module.

Russian cosmonauts are studying Columbus equipment at the user level. For example, where are the cooling or power supply systems located, what racks are used for various experiments. In addition, Alexey became familiar with the placement of emergency equipment, its features and differences from American modules, and actions in emergency situations.

“As part of this session, there was an hour and a half final training session, during which I performed work with the video camera that is installed in this module and with the ESA control laptop.  The cyclogram also included working out an emergency situation. In my case, it was a fire that I needed to eliminate and demonstrate the knowledge and skills of how I would act in the event of a fire in this particular module,” Alexey Zubritsky shared details about the training.

Let us remind you that the cosmonaut is currently undergoing training as part of the ISS-73 crew. The start of the long-term expedition is scheduled for March 2025.

[ddspaceman]

https://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=6941
GT:
Cosmonaut Sergei Ryzhikov is preparing for a biological experiment on growing spirulina on board the ISS
| Crews
04 December 2024

Spirulina is a blue-green microalgae that is used as a dietary supplement on Earth as a source of protein and vitamins. Scientists also conducted experiments that showed that this green mass, being in an ecosystem closed in gas and water, can provide humans with oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide.

The data obtained make spirulina a very promising “candidate” for food and for providing oxygen to crews during long-term flight conditions. Therefore, on board the Russian segment of the ISS, astronauts grow algae using special equipment.

Sergey Ryzhikov had already taken part in this biological experiment during previous flights, so in a practical lesson he honed his skills in working with a “photobioreactor” - equipment that studies the effect of microgravity conditions on the cultivation of spirulina.

The monoblock in which algae is grown is equipped with sensors, LED lighting, a pump and a thermostat. Three bioreactors are located inside, each of them is supplied with a nutrient medium from the capsule using a separate pump. These capsules, like the nutrient medium, require periodic replacement. To do this, the cosmonaut uses Glavbox-S special-purpose equipment, the main task of which is to ensure the sterility of the process and the biosafety of the crew.

In addition to the scientific significance of this bioexperiment, growing algae in zero gravity conditions also has a psychotherapeutic effect: in space conditions there is a lack of familiar earthly plants, and spirulina partly compensates for this. According to the experiment’s directors, space “gardeners” take this process very seriously.

[Targeteer]

https://www.military.com/benefits/how-navy-seal-doctor-astronaut-jonny-kim-used-generous-military-benefits-help-his-career-take-off.html

How Navy SEAL-Doctor-Astronaut Jonny Kim Used 'Generous' Military Benefits to Help His Career Take Off

Before he served as a combat medic and sniper on Navy SEAL teams in the Middle East, before he ever thought of becoming an officer or going to medical school, and before he even dreamed he'd become a NASA astronaut, military benefits were the "last thing" on Jonny Kim's mind.

[ddspaceman]

https://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=6955
GT:
Preparation for extravehicular activity: the ISS-73 crew installed a pulsed plasma injector and other scientific equipment during training
| Crews
December 16, 2024

Cosmonauts Sergei Ryzhikov and Alexei Zubritsky will perform several dozen scientific experiments and two spacewalks during the upcoming space expedition. Today, December 16, 2024, the crew worked on the target tasks of extravehicular activities (VKD 65) during training at the hydro laboratory.

The cosmonauts installed mock-ups of scientific equipment: a monoblock pulsed plasma injector and equipment for monitoring vacuum and electrical parameters. This equipment will allow for comprehensive experimental studies of geophysical effects and phenomena during plasma injection into the ionosphere by pulsed sources in order to determine the transport properties of ionospheric plasma.

This scientific experiment, in addition to the interests of fundamental physics, will be useful and in demand for communication purposes in the formation of coherent satellite communication systems. For them to function successfully, it is important to take into account the effects in the Earth's ionosphere and magnetosphere.

During training in the hydro laboratory, Sergei Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky also dismantled and disposed of the TKK-KM scientific equipment complex. TKK-KM is a transformable space structure made of composite materials. The purpose of the experiment: to develop technology for unfolding and fixing the shape of space structures made of layered polymer composite materials with shape memory effect and remote control over the behavior of materials and structural elements in real space flight conditions.

During training in the hydrolab, the cosmonauts successfully completed all the tasks assigned to them and showed a high level of interaction. Let us recall that Sergei Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky are preparing for a space flight as part of the long-term expedition ISS-73.

[PM3]

April 8

https://kosmodrom.space/raspisanie-zapuskov#form

[ddspaceman]

Jonny Kim
@JonnyKimUSA
T+24 (9.20.23): We use different mediums and modalities to aid our study and preparation for a mission. A pretty cool one is our use of VR. We have the entire international space station and its components mapped in a VR environment. Couple this with physical hardware on a system of pulleys and levers to mimic the same mass handling qualities you'd find on orbit and we get a pretty cool "feel" of what it's like to move stuff around on orbit. This can be particularly helpful in building our sense of how a payload will feel in space translating with it or installing it.

T+29 (9.25.23): Who do you call when the toilet breaks?

In space, you are the plumber.

That's why @NASA_Astronauts are trained to repair and maintain all vital equipment on the @Space_Station. And the toilet, officially called the Waste and Hygiene Compartment (WHC), is pretty vital on board the space station. It's a vacuum-based system that is comprised of pumps, fans, valves and special chemicals to safely process urine in a multi-step process that converts it to potable water. Thanks to our excellent systems instructors, we're well prepared. Thanks Ryan!

https://twitter.com/JonnyKimUSA/status/1869693524557316556

[ddspaceman]

https://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=6961
GT:
Inventory of forest areas: cosmonaut Alexey Zubritsky is preparing for the Dubrava experiment
| Crews
December 25, 2024

The cosmonaut worked on methods for monitoring forests and determining the impact of natural and man-made factors on forest cover from aboard the ISS using visual instrument observations (VIO).

The Dubrava space experiment (SE) is a series of sessions of observing and recording conditions and situations, for example, fires associated with the forest resources of the planet in the vicinity of the trajectory of the International Space Station.

One of the main types of practical training for conducting the Earth’s VPN is training at the “VIN Simulator” stand. They are carried out at all stages of cosmonaut training.

“At the stage of general space training, cosmonaut candidates study the physical and geographical features of the observation region.  In group classes, the orbit around the Earth is taken as a basis, and the astronauts study objects located along the route of the orbit. And in the crews they are already preparing for the tasks of the spacecraft for a specific expedition,” Sergei Maksimov, leading cosmonaut training specialist, told the details.

During the lesson, Alexey Zubritsky worked on a radiogram that was carried out on board the ISS during one of the expeditions. The astronaut received information about which objects needed to be photographed on a tablet. For example, this time Alexey had to record forest areas on the Crimean peninsula.

The radiogram indicates not only the names of objects and the coordinates of forest areas, but also the time when the station will fly over them, and the location on the geographical map is shown. The simulator allows you to take photos with a simulated focal length of 1200 millimeters, similar to the photographs that the crew takes on board. The navigation system helps you find the desired object, but visual orientation is still necessary.

In this work, Alexey Zubritsky used the skills that the cosmonaut acquired while studying navigation and during his flight service.

“I have experience in terrain orientation: how to move from large objects to smaller ones, to linear ones: roads, rivers, and then use them to get to those objects that you need. There is a radiogram here, pictures of the Earth of various scales. You need to select some large object, for example, a lake, coastline, sea, river, mountain, and proceed to search relative to it. First, the object to be found and photographed is identified visually, and then through the camera lens.

The trainer is very convenient. Because you control both the long lens and the camera, and you can change the focal length.  This is displayed on the monitor or lens viewfinder and instills a useful skill that will help in the future to carry out these experiments at the station,” the cosmonaut explained.

Let us remind you that Alexey Zubritsky is now preparing for a space flight as part of the long-term expedition ISS-73.

Here is a link to a video: 
Cosmonaut Alexey Zubritsky is preparing for the Dubrava experiment
https://rutube.ru/video/1299fbac604c72e89c1311a1988aaf3a/?t=0&r=plemwd

[ddspaceman]

Jonny Kim
@JonnyKimUSA
T+31 (9.27.23): Besides being amateur plumbers, we're also the cleaners! Taking care of our home in space means dedicated cleaning from the crew at least once a week. On this day, we reviewed the various cleaning tasks we can expect. As you can imagine, dust becomes a major issue in a closed atmospheric environment like the @Space_Station.

We also reviewed the different electrical and mechanical tools on board that can aid us in repairing things on the station. Some of these tools may already be in your garage.

T+32 (9.28.23): To prep for mission success, we try to train for our missions with as much fidelity as possible. One relatively new tool is AR (augmented reality). This upcoming mission is slated for 2025 and is part of a series of spacewalks to upgrade the alpha magnetic spectrometer (AMS). NASA engineers constructed a wood platform to replicate much of the surrounding structure of AMS, and we use AR to "overlay" the more intricate details of AMS. Think of it as adding additional virtual layers of detail over existing real but plain structures (e.g. wood) when you put the glasses on. We got to use our friend, @AstroDrewMorgan to play around with different body positions for the best angles.

https://twitter.com/JonnyKimUSA/status/1873791794636370166

[ddspaceman]

Katya Pavlushchenko
@katlinegrey
Roscosmos presented the emblem of #SoyuzMS27 which is set for launch to the ISS on April 8 with Sergey Ryzhikov, Anatoly Zubritskiy and Jonny Kim.
The crew names are written with the font in Old Russian style, in the middle you can see silhouettes of homes and threes… ⤵️

… “as a symbol of the hearth and the foundations of family well-being” (don’t look at me that way, this is a quote from the official description). In the middle is a daisy, a symbol of the not long ago invented “Day of love, family and fidelity” (remind me to tell you… ⤵️

… this story once, it is amazing). The letter "F" on one of the rays is for “Favor”, the crew's call sign. This is the Russian pronouncement for the Mount Tabor and Sergey Ryzhikov’s permanent choice of a call sign. He’s a very religious person. ⤵️

On the top you can see a Roscosmos emblem, Russian and American flags and the ship’s name written on the background of a Georgian ribbon, which became in the latest years a most popular patriotic symbol in Russia, and a symbol of the victory in the Great Patriotic War. ⤵️

On the bottom are the names of the crew and a miniature emblems of the 60th anniversary of the first human spacewalk and the 50th anniversary of the Apollo-Soyuz joint flight.

https://twitter.com/katlinegrey/status/1879144149062140363

https://twitter.com/katlinegrey/status/1879144155580121180

https://twitter.com/katlinegrey/status/1879144161863176308

[Satori]

According to Roscosmos, pre-flight tests have started on January 13.

On this day, Roscosmos specialists inspected the ship and checked the onboard systems, performed operations to prepare the products and ground testing equipment for the upcoming electrical checks of the equipment.

[ddspaceman]

Katya Pavlushchenko
@katlinegrey
The first and second stages of Soyuz 2.1a rocket to launch the #SoyuzMS27 crewed spacecraft with Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexei Zubritsky, and NASA astronaut Jonny Kim to the ISS has been assembled on Baikonur. The launch is scheduled for April 8.

If you look at the picture closely, you'll see another "package" of the first two Soyuz stages. The second one is for #ProgressMS30 which is scheduled for flight on February 28.

https://twitter.com/katlinegrey/status/1885428809089860095

[zubenelgenubi]

SFN Launch Schedule, updated February 5:
8 April 8:47 a.m. MSK = 05:47 UTC

[ddspaceman]

https://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=7004
GT:
Accuracy is the key to success: the crew of the Soyuz MS-27 spacecraft received an excellent rating for manually approaching the spacecraft with the station
| Crews
February 10, 2025

Cosmonauts Sergei Ryzhikov and Alexei Zubritsky are in the midst of an examination session. Last week, the crew of the Soyuz MS-27 successfully passed the examination training on manual mooring and redocking of the Soyuz manned transport spacecraft (TPV) on the Don-Soyuz 2 simulator. Today, February 10, 2025, on the same simulator, the cosmonauts had an examination training on manual rendezvous of the TPK with the International Space Station.

In a real flight, the approach of a manned transport ship to the station occurs automatically. But in the event of an emergency, the astronauts control the spacecraft manually.

The ship's commander, Sergei Ryzhikov, chose exam ticket number 3. The ticket included 4 modes, each of which started in automatic mode, after which emergency situations were introduced: failure of the on-board computer system (BVS) or failure of the Kurs radio system.

When switching to manual control mode, the cosmonauts must, first of all, report to Earth about the occurrence of this emergency situation, recognize it and proceed to parry actions.

The operation of manually approaching the ship is carried out by two crew members. Commander Sergei Ryzhikov, while in the descent module, directly controlled the movement of the TPK. In this he was helped by flight engineer Alexey Zubritsky, whose workplace is in the service compartment, where the necessary equipment is installed to determine parameters regarding the movement of the ship. This is an LDI - a pulse laser rangefinder designed to determine the range of the TPK to the ISS, and a coordinate calculation unit to determine the speed of movement. The commander used the data received from the flight engineer to control the Soyuz.

During the manual rendezvous modes of the TPK with the station, the commander regulates the speed in the longitudinal channel and dampens the lateral speed, and also maintains the orientation of the spacecraft relative to the ISS. After the end of the rendezvous, the TPK flies to the docking station specified in the examination ticket. The flight takes place at a distance ranging from 250 to 160 meters. Next, a roll turn is performed and a hover opposite the docking station is performed.

When performing a manual approach, the crew performs actions in accordance with the onboard instructions and the requirements of the manual control procedure.

The work of the crew and the quality of manual control of the ship is assessed by fuel consumption and time spent, and the hovering accuracy in range, speed in the longitudinal channel and angular speed of the line of sight are also taken into account. They are specified in the regulations.

The level of crew preparedness was assessed by an examination committee consisting of specialists from the Cosmonaut Training Center and RSC Energia.

Sergei Ryzhikov and Alexei Zubritsky acted according to the onboard instructions, the examination committee had no comments on their work, and the cosmonauts received an excellent rating.

Following the main crew of ISS-73, examination training for the rendezvous of a manned transport spacecraft with the International Space Station took place with their backups, cosmonauts Sergei Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev. This crew also showed the examination committee excellent skills in performing actions in manual control mode during the rendezvous of the TPK with the ISS.

[ddspaceman]

https://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=7011
GT:
Progress MS docked to the ISS: cosmonauts Sergei Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky successfully completed examination training on the Teleoperator simulator
| Crews
February 14, 2025

Today, February 14, 2025, at the Yu.A. Gagarin cosmonauts Sergei Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky, members of the main crew of ISS-73, performed examination training on manual control of the Progress MS transport cargo ship (TCV) in the teleoperator control mode (TORU). Their work was evaluated by a commission consisting of representatives of the Cosmonaut Training Center and RSC Energia.

The astronauts selected exam papers and, according to tradition, signed the envelopes. Then the crew took their seats on the Teleoperator simulator and began preparing for the training by opening on-board documentation on tablets.

During the training, each crew member performed 4 docking modes to different nodes on the ISS. These are MRM1 (small research module “Rassvet”), MRM2 (small research module “Poisk”), hub module “Prichal” and service module “Zvezda”. Two dockings were made in the light, and in two modes - in the shade. The examination commission, chaired by V. G. Korzun, observed the actions of the astronauts and evaluated the actions of the astronauts.

According to the flight program, transport cargo ships moor and dock with the ISS in automatic mode, but in the event of an emergency, the crew switches to manual control in TORU mode. The astronauts, while on board the ISS, remotely control the spacecraft in order to moor and dock at a given node. During this process, various emergency situations may arise that need to be countered.

For example, while performing one of the modes during the examination training, Sergei Ryzhikov and Alexei Zubritsky lost their television image, that is, visual control over the approach of objects was lost. To ensure safety, the cosmonauts moved the “truck” away from the station. In another mode, the manual controls failed, and the crew switched to backup power, restoring their functionality.

It is important to remember that manual control in TORU mode is the last reserve for berthing and docking of the TGC with the ISS. If the crew is unable to perform manual control, the ship will be lost.

Each of the cosmonauts was able to identify an emergency situation and cope with the task, earning an excellent rating from specialists.

[Alter Sachse]

"Testing of the Soyuz MS-27 manned spacecraft in an anechoic chamber was completed today in the assembly and test building of pad 254 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome.

The anechoic chamber is a specialized room covered with radio-absorbing material and designed to test the functioning of radio-technical systems of Progress MS and Soyuz MS spacecraft.

During the tests, specialists from the Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia and the Yuzhny Space Center of the Ground Space Infrastructure Operation Center (part of Roscosmos State Corporation) tested the equipment of the Kurs-NA radio-technical system that will ensure the approach and docking of Soyuz MS-27 with the International Space Station. After that, the spacecraft was transported to the workplace to prepare for complex tests.

The launch of the Soyuz-2.1a launch vehicle with the Soyuz MS-27 manned spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome is scheduled for April 2025. It will carry the crew of the 73rd long-duration expedition consisting of Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexei Zubritsky and NASA astronaut Jonathan Kim to the ISS."

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

[ddspaceman]

https://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=7022
GT:
Exact exit to the designated point: cosmonauts Sergei Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky passed the manual controlled descent exam
| Crews
February 24, 2025

The main crew of the ISS-73 expedition, consisting of Soyuz MS-27 commander Sergei Ryzhikov and flight engineer Alexei Zubritsky, completed examination training in manual controlled descent (RMD) on the TsF-7 centrifuge. This simulator helps to reproduce the overloads that occur during the launch of a spacecraft and the return of the descent vehicle (DV) of the manned Soyuz spacecraft to Earth.

According to the space flight program, the process of returning the crew to Earth occurs automatically, but in the event of an emergency, the crew must switch to a manual controlled descent in the atmospheric section. Every cosmonaut must possess such control skills, honing them in training under the guidance of instructors.

At the beginning of the RUS exam, commander Sergei Ryzhikov pulled out a ticket, which indicated the implementation of four modes: two static and two dynamic. Dynamic mode simulates the overloads that astronauts experience when returning to Earth. Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky took turns performing the indicated regimes.

The SA is controlled using a special handle, which is called the trigger control handle. The main task that needs to be successfully solved is to land the descent vehicle as close as possible to the design point with minimal overloads. And achieving such a result depends on the actions of the astronaut.

“The astronauts performed the regimes very well. During the passage of the fourth mode, Sergei Ryzhikov made a mistake of only 800 meters when opening the main parachute system (OSP). Alexey Zubritsky finished the regime with an error of 100 meters. A member of the examination committee, cosmonaut Sergei Treschev, noted that he had not seen such precise exits to the designated landing point for a long time. There are no comments on the work of the crew,” said leading cosmonaut training specialist Igor Karyukin.

The cosmonauts received an excellent assessment for their work for actions that ensured a minimum miss at the end of the regime and did not allow the permissible overload limits to be exceeded. The amount of overload for each mode depends on the miss and is measured in units. So, in the event of a near miss, the overload value should not exceed 4 units. This will ensure normal control of the aircraft and landing at a given point. If an astronaut goes beyond the limit of 4 units during training, then for every tenth unit of overload the score is reduced by 0.3 points. For example, the crew scored 4.2 units of overload instead of 4 units, then the score will decrease by 0.6 points.

A similar rating system also applies to flight errors. Severe overloads should be avoided, as they are difficult for the human body to tolerate, which can affect the health of astronauts.

The stand-ins for the ISS-73 prime crew, Sergei Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev, also showed very good results at the RUS examination training. They earned grades of 5.0 and 4.98 points from the examination committee, respectively.

Video like here: https://rutube.ru/video/5226082e881ea90b41d0e3fc18514eab/?r=plemwd
Cosmonauts Sergei Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky passed the manual controlled descent exam

[ddspaceman]

A few more images from the above source:

[Alter Sachse]

Roscosmos:
" Today in the assembly and test building of the 254th site of the Baikonur Cosmodrome, leak tests of the Soyuz MS-27 manned spacecraft began in preparation for launch to the International Space Station.

Specialists of S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia and other enterprises of Roscosmos State Corporation performed transportation and loading of the spacecraft on the vacuum chamber beds.

The cycle of pneumovacuum tests using helium-air medium in the tested volumes is designed for qualitative control of the tightness of the spacecraft and its onboard systems in ground conditions.

The launch of the Soyuz-2.1a launch vehicle with the Soyuz MS-27 manned spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome is scheduled for April 2025. It will carry the crew of the 73rd long-duration expedition consisting of Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexei Zubritsky and NASA astronaut Jonathan Kim to the ISS."

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

[ddspaceman]

Anatoly Zak
@RussianSpaceWeb
Soyuz MS-27 completes vacuum tests in preparation for launching a fresh crew to ISS on April 8: https://www.russianspaceweb.com/2025.html#soyuz_ms27

https://twitter.com/RussianSpaceWeb/status/1896962892005835235

[ddspaceman]

https://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=7029
GT:
Cosmonauts from the ISS-73 crew are recognized as fit for space flight
| Crews
04 March 2025

Today, March 4, 2025, a meeting of the Chief Medical Commission (CMC) was held at the CPC. It included representatives of the Federal Medical-Biological Agency, the Institute of Medical-Biological Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, as well as specialists from the medical department of the Center for Clinical Practice.

MMC analyzed data from medical examinations of cosmonauts of the main and backup crews of the 73rd long-term expedition to the ISS during the pre-flight preparation period.

Based on the results of the meeting, a conclusion was made on the suitability of cosmonauts Sergei Ryzhikov, Alexei Zubritsky, Sergei Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev for space flight.

The launch of the Soyuz MS-27 manned transport spacecraft with ISS-73 crew members from the Baikonur Cosmodrome is scheduled for April 8, 2025.

[ddspaceman]

NASA Astronaut Jonny Kim Training Resource Reel

[ddspaceman]

Jonny Kim
@JonnyKimUSA
Back in Star City, for the final time. I'm here at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC) with my Soyuz crew mates, Alexei and Sergei, completing our final training and qualification sims before entering quarantine for our upcoming launch on April 8th.

It will be 9 months before I’m back home in Houston. It was hard to say goodbye to my family, and even harder to communicate to my kids why I have to be gone for so long. But I think it’s important to show kids that working towards something you believe in is important and sometimes requires sacrifices. The last time I was on a long deployment I didn't have kids, so this entire experience makes me appreciate the men and women of our service branches, and the public servants that sacrifice so much on behalf of others.

I will miss my wife and kids, and a lot of things in no particular order … gaming with the family, morning PT with the boys, being a girl dad, cooking the kid’s favorites: tacos and SoCal inspired burgers (iykyk), answering hundreds of “Appa, who would win in a fight …” questions, and Peppa, our beloved rescue (see shameless dog pic). My family says there is a >0% chance there will be a “George” when I return.

I wouldn’t be where I am today without my family. And I also wouldn’t be where I am if it wasn’t for my E73 crew mates (Sergei, Alexei, Anne, Tak, Nichole, Kirill), our amazing instructors, engineers, mentors, flight controllers, international partners, and numerous other people I can’t fit in these margins to get us ready for the expedition. I’ll do my best to share some of these training stories that led us here in the coming weeks.

But as challenging as the next 9 months will be, my wife will have it at least 2x harder. Thanks hun, I can’t do this without you.

https://twitter.com/JonnyKimUSA/status/1898098572857315832

[ddspaceman]

Jonny Kim
@JonnyKimUSA
T+50 (10.16.23): Study/plan, brief, execute, debrief. We iterate this cycle for many operations at NASA, especially for spacewalks.

One of the more enjoyable things about our jobs is training for spacewalks because of how quickly we get to put into practice the things we learn in the classroom. It's also a great chance to work together, and this week I got to work with Japanese astronaut Kimiya-san. One of the things that is hard to appreciate is how much hard work and service is done behind the scenes - engineers, divers, instructors, techs, so many people work together so that Kimiya and I can have an awesome opportunity to hone our craft. Teamwork!

T+51 (10.17.23): Fire is a very real concern for astronauts in space, which is why NASA focuses our fire response on protecting ourselves, detecting and isolating the source, and eliminating it. The instructors help us rehearse and debrief our communication and teamwork. Did you know that CO2 is one of the ways we extinguish fires? CO2 displaces oxygen which is one of the required elements for a fire. That's what is in the orange pressurized tanks.

https://twitter.com/JonnyKimUSA/status/1898107865627336891

[ddspaceman]

Jonny Kim
@JonnyKimUSA
T+58 (10.24.23): This man here is Regan Cheney, one of the coolest and absolutely the most knowledgeable instructors and engineers I have ever met regarding EVA systems. He's one of two EVA systems instructors (shoutout to Christian Vu) I have and is responsible for ensuring I understand how a spacesuit works to keep astronauts alive during a spacewalk.

Officially, the "Extravehicular Mobility Unit" or EMU for short. The design is decades old, but the design remains robust. In summary, it can support a 7 hour spacewalk assuming an average metabolic rate of 1,000 Btu/hr. To understand how a spacesuit keeps an astronaut alive during a spacewalk, let's step back and state the normal things a human needs. Oxygen, a way to remove CO2, thermal control, and an atmosphere are the big ones. The EMU takes care of all of these plus more (provides comms, radiation protection and other stuff). For my closed-circuit rebreather divers reading this, the following will sound familiar because a spacesuit is basically a closed-circuit rebreather with some more bells and whistles. Pure oxygen is provided by a highly pressurized tank. This same oxygen provides the atmosphere, or specifically, 4.3 psi which is about 1/3 the pressure on Earth. Astronauts breathe the 100% oxygen and breathe out a mixture of oxygen and carbon dioxide, the CO2 being a byproduct of metabolism. This air now has a mixture of O2 and CO2 and goes through a canister where a chemical reaction takes place that sequesters the CO2, leaving only pure O2 coming through the canister. The pure O2 recirculates and now gets breathed up by the astronaut again. The cooling and water pressure loops are a bit more complex, but basically the astronaut is the only thing generating heat (if you want to be super technical, some heat is generated by the exothermic chemical reaction of CO2 removal and the electrical components but that is negligible), and the EMU cooling system is water-based. Astronaut generates heat, which transfers to the water loops, which then offload the heat to a heat exchanger/sublimator. Sublimation is the conversion of a substance from a solid (in this case ice) to its gaseous state (water vapor) without becoming a liquid (how does that happen? see water phase diagram for more info). At a high level, water forms an ice layer on the sublimator and then becomes a gas due to the reduced pressure of space. This reaction removes heat from the EMU. Cool 🧊, right?

T+64 (10.30.23): Sometimes things break and sometimes things need regular maintenance. This day was dedicated to various troubleshooting and maintenance tasks inside the ISS airlock. We also reviewed closing hatches. We don't close hatches too often but astronauts need to be able to close them quickly in an emergency.

https://twitter.com/JonnyKimUSA/status/1898405421792346572

[ddspaceman]

Jonny Kim
@JonnyKimUSA
T+71 (11.6.23): Water! It's very valuable in space, so we do everything to reclaim it. In addition to sometimes transferring large tanks of water, we also have to maintain our brine processor assembly.

What is the brine processor? You may already know, but the urine astronauts create is processed back into potable water. But not 100% of the urine can be reclaimed, a small amount of it remains as brine, basically super concentrated urine. This brine still has some water left in it, so the brine processor bakes/distills the brine to reclaim the water vapor, eeking just a little bit more water out of the brine, helping achieve 98% water recovery.

T+72 (11.7.23): We trained with hardware we may see during a spacewalk. But I was most interested in the computer running the solar array simulator. It looked like Windows 95 and it even had a 3.5" floppy drive! You know you're a nerd when you get excited by a floppy drive 🤣

https://twitter.com/JonnyKimUSA/status/1898447790432260576

[Steven Pietrobon]

The design is decades old, but the design remains robust. In summary, it can support a 7 hour spacewalk assuming an average metabolic rate of 1,000 Btu/hr.

With units from the steam age! 1,000 Btu/hr is 293 watts.

[SnowyOwl]

computer running the solar array simulator

AFAICT SAES == Stand-Alone Engine Simulator, indeed made by Rocketdyne

[ddspaceman]

Jonny Kim
@JonnyKimUSA
T+73 (11.8.23): All the emergency procedures astronauts are expected to execute at a moment's notice? For me, that is thanks to these two, Lydia and Emily, awesome instructors and NASA public servants. Lydia and Emily ensured I knew all of the emergency procedures by heart, and that includes everything from donning masks correctly to executing procedures. Lydia later moved on to become my chief training officer and I owe her and the rest of the team so much. They also made great visual theatrics (e.g., fake smoke) for our fire cases!

T+80 (11.15.23): Imagine having to pack for a 6 month camping/field trip. That's kind of what it's like for a long-duration mission. A lot of NASA folks work hard to support the logistics required for a long space flight that you probably wouldn't think about. The smallest details have to be thought out months in advance in order for it to be ready for astronauts when they arrive. Stuff like what astronauts will wear, their toiletries, notebooks, even highlighters. Astronauts make their selections over a year in advance to ensure this stuff is ready on a space delivery vehicle.

https://twitter.com/JonnyKimUSA/status/1898677458750058834

[ddspaceman]

Jonny Kim
@JonnyKimUSA
T+74 (11.9.23): This was the 1st of 9 evaluated NBL runs required to qualify an astronaut as EVA ready before a spaceflight. The syllabus is structured to build on the basics and expose astronauts to enough variability to adapt to any number of unknown spacewalks that may be required, leading to a final evaluation on #5. Runs 6-9 are generally more tailored to prep astronauts for the specific spacewalks that are expected to occur during the expedition.

This run is memorable for me not just for being the 1st run of the assignment, but for getting to work with my E73 crew mate, Anne McClain (@AstroAnnimal), CDR of crew-10. She's been a great mentor and friend, and has set an excellent example on professionalism and competence. I'll be lucky if we get to work together for a spacewalk during our expedition.

T+81 (11.16.23): One of the cooler things we can do on orbit is pilot the Canada arm to capture free-flying vehicles. Will go into more technical details of this in a later post. This particular location is modeled after the cupola section of the ISS since that is where most robotic captures are piloted from.

https://twitter.com/JonnyKimUSA/status/1898687735700873360

[ddspaceman]

Jonny Kim
@JonnyKimUSA
T+82 (11.17.23): Astronauts come in all shapes and sizes. The EMU is comprised of multiple components: gloves, arms, upper and lower torsos, legs, helmets, ring spacers, etc. Each component has different sizes available. Here, Regan is teaching me how to resize the EMU to ensure a good fit for the astronaut going on a spacewalk, and how to inspect each component for safety.

T+134 (1.8.24): After a month in Star City training with my Soyuz MS-27 crew mates, I'm back in Houston.

We stack the chips for success as much as possible and that means rehearsing NBL runs before getting in the water, we call these "1G's." This time, I get to learn from experienced spacewalker, Stan Love.

Afterwards, Regan familiarizes me with the Simplified Aid for EVA rescue (SAFER) and how to operate it. SAFER is basically what people would picture as a "jetpack" that is on the back of astronauts during a spacewalk. In the unlikely event an astronaut is separated from the space station during a spacewalk, SAFER allows an astronaut to pilot themselves back to station using compressed nitrogen as thrust in 6 potential degrees of freedom. More on this later. The hand controller to operate SAFER is tucked away in a compartment that is accessible by manipulating a handle.

https://twitter.com/JonnyKimUSA/status/1898736081601777891

[ddspaceman]

https://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=7042
GT:
Cosmonauts "eliminated" ammonia leak: how did the typical flight day go for the ISS-73 prime crew?
|
March 10, 2025

Pre-flight training of the ISS-73 main and backup crews at the Cosmonaut Training Center has entered the home stretch. On March 7, 2025, Sergey Ryzhikov, Alexey Zubritsky, and Johnny Kim spent a typical flight day (TFD) on the simulators of the Russian segment of the International Space Station (ISS RS).

TPS is an eight-hour training session that corresponds to a working day on the ISS RS. Everyday life on the station is scheduled in a cyclogram that the cosmonauts receive from Earth, where all actions are specified minute by minute. The crew's work is structured in a similar way during a typical flight day: performing everyday tasks and space experiment programs.

Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky started the "morning" at the "station" by inspecting it and rebooting the onboard computer system. They then participated in a planning conference with the Mission Control Center, in this case, the CPC instructor team.

During the training, the cosmonauts performed various tasks related to servicing the ISS RS systems. For example, they turned on the Electron oxygen supply system and updated the software on one of the station's laptops.

The crew's schedule, as during the actual flight to the ISS, included space experiments (SE). For example, Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky successfully worked out operations on microbiological control of the ISS RS habitat, collecting air samples using a special pump. The cosmonauts also completed a task on remote sensing of the Earth as part of the Scenario and Dubrava space experiments.

The TPS cyclogram includes time for lunch. The station "cooks" it itself, so during such training all crew members must demonstrate to the commission the skills necessary for a "space chef".

After the lunch break, Sergey Ryzhikov, Alexey Zubritsky and Johnny Kim continued their joint work, recording a TV report on assignment from "Earth".

The cosmonauts interrupted their routine work at the "station" more than once to eliminate emergency situations that were set by their instructors. They mainly concerned violations or failures in the life support systems, and the crew successfully eliminated them.

During a typical flight day, all cosmonauts are given an emergency situation to check the correctness of their actions. This time, at the end of the training, there was a release of ammonia - the most toxic substance on the station, which negatively affects the respiratory system, mucous membranes and human skin.

In liquid form, ammonia is present in the external thermal control circuits of the American segment of the ISS. But in the event of an emergency release of the substance, the atmosphere of the entire station is at risk, and the crew must know the procedure for countering such an emergency.

Sergey Ryzhikov, Alexey Zubritskiy and Johnny Kim successfully identified and eliminated the introduced abnormal situations, demonstrating an excellent level of interaction and earning a high rating. Comprehensive examination training awaits the main and backup crews of ISS-73. They will take place at the Cosmonaut Training Center on March 12 and 13, 2025.

See video link here: https://rutube.ru/video/77adf466171d0c1243759d4f6d3f5964/?r=plemwd
Cosmonauts "eliminated" ammonia leak: typical flight day for the ISS-73 prime crew

[ddspaceman]

Jonny Kim
@JonnyKimUSA
T+136 (1.10.24): Did you know that the ISS orbits the Earth about every 90 minutes? This has the consequence of experiencing ~16 sunrises and sunsets per day, even during a spacewalk. Half a spacewalk is spent in daylight, the other half in darkness. For those who have worked in the field in low vis conditions, you know that night is a different animal.

A pretty cool training tool the NBL uses to expose this environment is to turn off all the lights in the building. This is no small feat, as there are a lot of people, including divers, that are working in the building to keep operations safe. Here's a short video of the transition between "night" and "day." Shoutout to our amazing NASA team working to bring fidelity to our training.

T+137 (1.11.24): This is Drew and he is part of my awesome EVA task training team (including Miranda and Jenna) familiarizing me with various large EVA tools. There are a lot of tools, some are multifunctional and some have single, specific jobs. Some are also very intense looking.  It's hard to appreciate, but the task board has pressurized lines to mimic the rigidity that an astronaut might encounter on orbit. These rigid, pressurized lines are very difficult to manipulate on the ground, so I can only imagine how hard they are on orbit. Technique >> brute strength for successful mating of these lines.

https://twitter.com/JonnyKimUSA/status/1899474654252708150

[ddspaceman]

cross post

NASA Space Operations
@NASASpaceOps
.@NASA will provide interview opportunities with astronaut Jonny Kim beginning at 9 a.m. EDT, Tuesday, March 18, to highlight his upcoming mission to the @Space_Station in April. The virtual interviews from Star City, Russia, will stream live on NASA+.

Learn more: https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-astronaut-jonny-kim-to-discuss-upcoming-launch-mission/

https://twitter.com/NASASpaceOps/status/1899569548720013460

[ddspaceman]

https://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=7049
GT:
Space session has started: ISS-73 crews have begun comprehensive examination training
|
March 12, 2025

The cosmonauts' comprehensive examination training (ECT) can be compared to state examinations in higher education institutions. This is the most important stage of training at the Cosmonaut Training Center, where the results of all the work are summed up. ECT takes place over two days, on the Soyuz transport manned spacecraft (TPK) simulator and on the simulators of the Russian segment of the International Space Station. The main and backup crews take exams there in turns.

On March 12, 2025, at 8:20 a.m., Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergei Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikayev, as well as NASA astronaut Christopher Williams, the backup crew of ISS-73, began working on the Soyuz spacecraft simulator. Commander Sergei Kud-Sverchkov reported to the members of the examination committee that he was ready to begin training and pulled out a ticket that listed emergency situations that could occur during a "flight" on the ship. But, unlike the students, the crew does not know what tests they will have to face; the instructor team introduces emergency situations during training.

Sergey Kud-Sverchkov has experience of space flight as a flight engineer. This time he has been assigned the role of the ship commander:

"For me, this is a new role and a great responsibility, both for the entire crew, first of all, and for the flight program. In terms of life on the station, I shared all the experience that I gained during the first flight with my crew members. It seems to me that it is the responsibility and duty of every cosmonaut to pass on their experience."

At the same time, only on the ISS RS simulators, the members of the ISS-73 prime crew began the ECT: Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergei Ryzhikov, Alexei Zubritsky and NASA astronaut Johnny Kim. The procedure for passing the exam is similar: the crew chooses a ticket without knowing its content and begins to perform tasks, encountering introduced abnormal situations and parrying them during the training.

Traditionally, before the start of work, the cosmonauts and astronauts answered questions from the media. In the main crew of ISS-73, Alexey Zubritsky and Johnny Kim are to make their first space flight, so the journalists were interested in how commander Sergey Ryzhikov assessed their level of training:

"Everyone has gone through this stage at some point, and I am no exception. And, of course, the first training is more exciting, so you approach it more responsibly in terms of personal readiness. The guys are at their best, and so I have no doubts not only about the successful completion of the training, but also the flight itself."

In turn, Alexey Zubritsky and Johnny Kim talked about what gives them confidence before the exam.

"I think it's intensive training, first as part of the backup crew, then as part of the main crew. That's why we go to the exams with confidence and are ready to show everything that the instructors and teachers taught us," said Alexey Zubritsky.

“Each of us is a professional and we are accustomed to working in such conditions, but the answer to this question is actually that we are all great friends,” shared Johnny Kim.

The media representatives were interested in the question of how identical the Center's training base is to the spacecraft and the Russian segment of the ISS. A comprehensive answer was given by the cosmonaut, who has experience of 5 space flights and the commander of the detachment Oleg Kononenko.

“When you board a real ship, which is installed on a real rocket, the boarding committee closes the hatch behind you, you feel a little nervous: you can hear the valves knocking, the rocket rocking, but after about five minutes you get the feeling that you are in a simulator, because our simulators have a very high degree of similarity. The same with the ISS RS: when you arrive, you have an image of the station in your head. And when the hatch opens, you fly in, you understand where is up, where is down, what is on the left, what is on the right. Of course, it takes time to adapt, but there is no confusion, of course,” said Oleg Kononenko.

The examination complex training for the main and backup crews will last the entire working day.

Video link here: https://rutube.ru/video/0321ce1b34df83ebf69427f9d981e420/?r=plemwd
Cosmonaut detachment commander Oleg Kononenko answered journalists' questions

[ddspaceman]

https://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=7050
GT:
Two excellent marks: results of the first day of examination complex training of the ISS-73 prime crew and their backups
|
March 12, 2025

At the start of the examination complex training (ECT), the members of the main crew, cosmonauts Sergei Ryzhikov and Alexei Zubritsky, inspected the "station" where they were to spend the working day and held a conference with Earth. In real space flight conditions, this is how every morning on the ISS begins.

Then the cosmonauts began to perform other tasks prescribed in the cyclogram. Every day on board they will have to perform scientific experiments, if necessary, do repairs, install equipment, take photos and videos.

During the training, Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky performed various tasks related to servicing the ISS RS systems. For example, they turned on the Electron oxygen supply system and updated the software on one of the station's laptops.

Among the tasks on the EKT, the cosmonauts had to work on monitoring the microsphere of the habitat. Sergey Ryzhikov also carried out the space experiment (SE) "Scenario" to observe and photograph the earth's surface. Alexey Zubritsky carried out the SE "Dubrava" - monitoring forest areas from the ISS using visual and instrumental observations. In addition, the cosmonaut demonstrated his skills in working with a “photobioreactor” – equipment that studies the impact of microgravity conditions on the cultivation of spirulina algae.

During the ECT, Johnny Kim demonstrated to the examination committee the everyday skills of living on the Russian segment of the station: turning on the lights, preparing and heating up lunch, using the toilet, working with the formats of the Russian control laptop and with the hatches of the ISS RS.

After lunch, the cosmonauts and astronaut recorded a joint TV report and transmitted it to Earth.

In addition to the regular work, the crew dealt with various emergency situations throughout the working day. First, the connection between the Russian and American segments of the ISS was lost, but the cosmonauts recognized the problem in time. Then the Electron oxygen supply system was switched off. The onboard computer network also failed, and the toilet broke down.

And in the final exam on the Russian segment of the ISS, the instructors assigned an emergency situation - an ammonia release on the American segment of the ISS. In a liquid state, this gaseous substance is present in the external thermal control circuits of the ISS AS. But in the event of an emergency release, the atmosphere of the entire station is at risk, and the crew must know the procedure for countering such an emergency.

Sergey Ryzhikov, Alexey Zubritskiy and Johnny Kim successfully identified and eliminated the introduced abnormal situations, demonstrating an excellent level of interaction and earning a high rating of 5:0.

In parallel, the backup crew of ISS-73, consisting of Sergei Kud-Sverchkov, Sergei Mikayev and Christopher Williams, performed ECT on the Soyuz manned transport spacecraft simulator. The crew drew a ticket, according to which they performed a two-orbit scheme of the TPK approach to the International Space Station, with a transition to a two-day scheme upon instructions from Earth.

The ticket also prescribed manual docking to the station in the RODK - manual orientation occurs in a discrete circuit, and then it was necessary to perform undocking, the ISS standby orientation and the standard descent.

During the ship's "flight" to the ISS and on the "return trip," the crew dealt with emergency situations. For example, the cosmonauts discovered a leak in the oxygen line in the descent vehicle (DV) with a leak inside the DV along the ascent contact. During the start of the communication session on the second orbit, the main acoustics unit, which is responsible for communication with the Mission Control Center in the main communication unit, failed.

Then they encountered a dynamic uncontrollability - an accident during the stage of the ship's approach to the station, in which, on instructions from Earth, the crew switches to manual mode for docking.

During the "descent", the computer system failed, and the cosmonauts issued commands to control the ship manually. Also, during the "descent" stage, the SKD engine thrust was reduced by 60%. The SKD is the main engine, so in the event of insufficient thrust, it is necessary to switch to the backup option for processing the impulse on the docking and orientation engines. Further actions during the descent are performed by the crew manually.

Sergey Kud-Sverchkov, Sergey Mikaev and Christopher Williams successfully dealt with all emergency situations, demonstrated real teamwork to the examination committee and received an excellent grade.

Tomorrow, the ECT of the main and backup crews of ISS-73 will continue. Cosmonauts and astronauts will "swap places": Sergey Ryzhikov, Alexey Zubritsky and Johnny Kim will take the exam on the simulator of the Soyuz transport manned spacecraft, and Sergey Kud-Sverchkov, Sergey Mikayev and Christopher Williams will demonstrate their skills and abilities on the simulators of the Russian segment of the ISS.

Video link here: https://rutube.ru/video/af70d93e1f6933ac10fbd4b45d23d98c/?r=plemwd
Space session has started: ISS-73 crews have begun comprehensive examination training

[ddspaceman]

https://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=7048
GT:
The second day of the session has begun: the main and backup crews of ISS-73 are again undergoing comprehensive examination training
|
March 13, 2025

Today, March 13, 2025, Sergey Ryzhikov, Alexey Zubritsky and Johnny Kim (ISS-73 prime crew) demonstrate their ability to control a manned transport spacecraft on the Soyuz spacecraft simulator, and their backups Sergey Kud-Sverchkov, Sergey Mikayev and Christopher Williams will work all day on the simulators of the Russian segment of the International Space Station.

During the examination complex training (ECT), the results of the pre-flight training of the crews at the Cosmonaut Training Center are summarized, their readiness for a long-term space expedition and the level of interaction in solving the assigned tasks are assessed.

The procedure for conducting the EKT is similar to what the crews went through the day before: a report from the examination committee, drawing a ticket, and a press approach before starting work. The media representatives were interested in how the first day of training went and the grades received (let us recall that both crews passed the EKT yesterday with flying colors).

Journalists asked whether the cosmonauts exchanged impressions, and whether there was a possibility of "pulling out" a similar examination ticket. The commander of the backup crew, Sergei Kud-Sverchkov, answered this question:

"The point of the ECT is to check the crew's actions in all possible cases, so it is unlikely that there will be any similar abnormal situations. Our task today is to live a working day at the "station", performing standard work, station maintenance work, scientific experiments. But during training, various system failures occur that the crew must cope with. Anything can fail, we must be prepared for everything, including emergency situations that can be life-threatening."

Journalists asked the commander of the main crew, Sergei Ryzhikov, to tell about the meaning behind the crew's emblem.

"The round emblem symbolizes the Earth and the Universe, the perfection of all that has been created. We see the trees that surround us. The dominant feature is the light source. And since we started the preparation last year – it was the Year of Family and Fidelity, a daisy appeared, which symbolizes this,” said Sergey Ryzhikov.

After talking to the media, the crews began EKT: standard work, as well as the elimination of emergency situations.

[ddspaceman]

A few more photos from the above source:

[ddspaceman]

https://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=7051
GT:
Straight A students: ISS-73 main and backup crews successfully completed comprehensive examination training
|
March 13, 2025

The second day of the space session of the ISS-73 prime crew was held on the Soyuz manned transport spacecraft simulator. Sergey Ryzhikov, Alexey Zubritsky and Johnny Kim drew an examination ticket, which outlined the task: to perform a two-orbit approach of the spacecraft to the International Space Station.

After the TPK was launched into orbit, an abnormal situation occurred - the main VHF transmitter failed, i.e. there were problems with communication. Then, at the docking stage, the orientation docking engine sensors failed. For this reason, the cosmonauts docked the ship to the "station" manually.

After lunch, the crew began the "return" to Earth. During the undocking of the TPK from the station, the descent vehicle became depressurized. For this reason, the crew was forced to begin an emergency descent. Then, the orientation sensors failed, and the crew performed it manually.

Then, a minute before the SKD (main) engine was turned on, the angular velocity measurement unit used during descent failed to operate, and the cosmonauts also turned it on manually. And during the impulse processing, this engine failed, which led to the transition to impulse processing on the docking and orientation engines.

Sergey Ryzhikov, Alexey Zubritsky and Johnny Kim successfully dealt with all emergency situations, “returned” the ship to Earth and received an excellent grade from the examination committee.

"All tasks in the examination training have been completed," crew commander Sergei Ryzhikov reported to the examination committee. "The crew's interaction was excellent. We will work in the same way during the flight on the ship and at the station," added Alexei Zubritsky. "Thank you for the preparation!" Johnny Kim thanked.

While the main crew of ISS-73 demonstrated to the examination committee their skills in operating a manned transport spacecraft, the backups spent the working day at the “station” – the simulators of the Russian segment of the ISS.

The morning for Sergei Kud-Sverchkov, Sergei Mikayev and Christopher Williams began as usual. The cosmonauts inspected the station and rebooted all laptops, tested the alarm consoles – all these operations the crew performs daily during a real flight on board.

Then, during the ECT, a daily planning conference was held, after which the crew began standard operations at the "station" and experiments. For example, Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergey Mikayev completed a task on remote sensing of the Earth, and conducted control of the microsphere of the habitat.

Christopher Williams demonstrated to the examination committee his level of knowledge of the ISS RS, where and what life support systems are located and how to use them: he turned on the lighting, took out and heated up food, opened and closed hatches, etc. And after lunch, the astronaut, together with his Russian colleagues, recorded a television report on assignment from the Mission Control Center (this role was performed by instructors).

The backup crew had some emergency situations during their work, which were indicated in the examination ticket. First, the connection between the Russian and American segments of the ISS was lost, but the crew was able to restore it. Second, there were problems with the Electron oxygen supply system – the cosmonauts had to disconnect the power from the system and reset the emergency indicators. Thirdly, the laptop lost connection with the BRI, i.e. there was a failure in the internal computer network on the Russian segment. There were also problems with the toilet at the station due to the urine tank filling up.

The examination ticket also included a written emergency situation: an ammonia release was recorded on the American segment of the ISS.

"It's quite a rare case - the backup crew pulled out the same emergency situation in the ticket as the main one. For the examination committee, this was an additional opportunity to check and compare the actions of both crews in the same emergency situation," said the head of the department Andrey Malikov.

Having received a signal from Earth, the crew put on emergency masks. In such a situation, it is important to determine the concentration of this gas and, depending on this, either clear the atmosphere on the station or, putting on gas masks, go into the ship.

The backup crew, consisting of Sergei Kud-Sverchkov, Sergei Mikaev and Christopher Williams, successfully recognized and countered the introduced abnormal situations, demonstrated an excellent level of interaction to the examination committee and earned a high rating.

[ddspaceman]

A few more photos from the above source:

[ddspaceman]

Jonny Kim
@JonnyKimUSA
T+138 (1.12.24): As mentioned before, the SAFER can be used to pilot an astronaut in an emergency back to the ISS in the highly unlikely event they become untethered from station (would require independent mechanical and procedural errors so really unlikely). I find the handling controls to achieve this fascinating. The hand controller module (HCM) has two modes, with each mode controlling 4 of the 6 degrees of freedom (DOF). What are the 6 DOFs? It's a representation of movement through 3d space by either moving linearly (X, Y, Z) or rotating axially (Pitch, Yaw, Roll). If you play a first person video game, you are controlling 5 of the 6 DOFs without probably even thinking about it (WASD keys do the X,Y,Z translations while the mouse controls pitch/yaw).

One HCM mode is for translational control, moving in the X, Y and Z planes plus pitch (in other words, straight forward, backward, right, left, up and down). The other mode is for rotational control, allowing motion for pitch, yaw, roll plus X. There's also a button, auto attitude hold (AAH) that is super important. What it does is nullify all rotational motion. Remember Newton's 1st law (an object at rest remains at rest and an object in motion remains in motion at a constant velocity unless acted on by an external force)? Say I'm accidentally removed from station, and I am spinning with an initial rotational velocity in all 3 axes (pitch/yaw/roll), then I need to introduce an acceleration in the opposite directions to stop spinning. The AAH button allows the SAFER to understand its rotational velocity and introduce the thrust in the opposite direction to stop that motion. In our VR piloting exercises, we setup an artificial situation where we get forcefully removed from station, at which point we have to enable the HCM and pilot back to the ISS. Our flight paths are captured to show how efficient and accurate we were. There is only enough compressed gas for one shot - if you miss, it's not good.

Attached pictures show the flight path of a "good" flight path and a "mediocre" one where I completed the objective, but took a bit of a sportier path. The technique to save yourself is all based in vector math, which I'll explain in a later post.

correction, most 1st person games only control 4 DOFs, since WASD doesn't usually control the Z axis.

T+141-173 (1.15-2.16.24): Second major trip in Star City, learning to work in the Soyuz as a flight engineer. One of the highlights of the trip was getting to work closely with my NASA backup and building relationships with our Russian colleagues. We particularly enjoyed our winter survival training, learning from our instructors how to survive off the land in a harsh environment until help arrives should the need arise.

https://twitter.com/JonnyKimUSA/status/1901550052415242303

[ddspaceman]

Jonny Kim
@JonnyKimUSA
I'd be remiss if I didn't mention one of the highlights of the training was discovering my love for Tvorog, which is a component of the Russian food survival kit, basically a Russian version of the MRE. Never had it before, hard to describe, but so delicious.

T+183 (2.26.24): No "i" in team. So much of what we do is support each other. Which is why we train so much in helping each other suit up before an EVA. When we say we put our lives in each other's hands, we mean it. That means being meticulous with each connection, following checklists, and backing each other up.

https://twitter.com/JonnyKimUSA/status/1901556291408920678

[ddspaceman]

Jonny Kim
@JonnyKimUSA
T+192 (3.6.24): Strength training is required for astronauts to fight bone loss and muscle atrophy in space. Leading up to a spaceflight, we have a dedicated astronaut strength, conditioning & rehabilitation coach (ASCR) to teach us how to use our on-orbit resistive device, ARED, and ensure we're following an optimized strength routine. Most of the exercises are compound movements, though we also do isolation exercises too. The squat is probably the most common and famous compound exercise on Earth, as it is on orbit.

Did you know that ARED uses two vacuum cylinders with pistons as the source of constant resistance? This constant resistive load can be changed from 50-600 pounds by adjusting the length of the lever arm. If you're having trouble imagining the source of resistance, pretend you have a small syringe, then push the plunger and cover the opening tip with your finger. If you pull back on the plunger, you will feel resistance because of the vacuum you created. Now attach that plunger to a complex series of lever arms and you have ARED. This is a major simplification of clever engineering but it captures the main concept.

T+194 (3.8.24): From one classroom to another. For run #3, I had the pleasure of working with and learning from Mike Fincke. Mike is one of the few US astronauts that has real EVA experience in both the US and Russian spacesuits.

https://twitter.com/JonnyKimUSA/status/1901579325373030881

[ddspaceman]

Jonny Kim
@JonnyKimUSA
T+194 (3.8.24): But the highlight of the day was getting suited up by none other than my classmate and friend, Zena, who I hope to see up on the ISS soon. Also a shoutout to my two EVA systems instructors, Regan and Christian!

T+197 (3.11.24): This contraption is called POGO (partial gravity simulator) and helps us appreciate the importance of body position and countering forces during a spacewalk. In a previous post, I talked about the importance of Newton's 3rd law and this is our practical way of understanding how that affects us. As you can see, takes a village of instructors and engineers to train astronauts for flight.

https://twitter.com/JonnyKimUSA/status/1901587076467900789

[ddspaceman]

https://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=7059
GT:
From the use of artificial intelligence in spacesuits to food on the ISS: ISS-73 crews answered questions from journalists and subscribers
| Crews
March 18, 2025

Today, March 18, 2025, a pre-flight press conference of the ISS-73 main and backup crews was held at the Cosmonaut Training Center. Sergey Ryzhikov, Alexey Zubritsky, Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergey Mikayev, as well as Jonathan Kim and Christopher Williams answered questions from professional journalists, readers and subscribers of our social media channels.

The press conference of cosmonauts and astronauts coincided with a significant date in the history of cosmonautics – the 60th anniversary of the first manned spacewalk. This feat was accomplished by cosmonaut Alexei Leonov. Therefore, on such a day, the first question from journalists concerned the extravehicular activity program that awaits the main crew of ISS-73.

"Our expedition has two spacewalks planned. And they are both connected with the long-awaited scientific program in terms of installing equipment for space experiments on the outer surface of the Russian segment of the ISS," said Sergei Ryzhikov.

Alexey Zubritsky continued the topic of scientific work at the station. He explained that more than 40 experiments are planned for the duration of their expedition: "These are various experiments within the framework of biotechnological and astrophysical research, research of the Earth from space. We were well prepared at the Cosmonaut Training Center, and we are ready to work productively. We hope that the scientists will get a decent result, the necessary amount of information, which they will then be able to process and use for further space exploration."

In addition to scientific activities, the cosmonauts on board are engaged in educational work: they talk about everyday work, daily life on the station, and share with earthlings photographs of our planet from a cosmic height. For several years now, there has been a tradition - one of the crew members is hired as a correspondent for the TASS news agency. Alexey Zubritsky will be the space blogger in the ISS-73 expedition. He was presented with a certificate by Hero of Russia, Russian pilot-cosmonaut, and commander of the cosmonaut corps Oleg Kononenko:

“I want to say that the TASS news agency was the first of the world’s media outlets to open its permanent office at the International Space Station. A large number of people were given the opportunity to receive information about work in space, about scientific research, about the specifics of space flight directly from the participants – Roscosmos cosmonauts. "And I myself was such during my space flight. Alexey, you have been given the great honor of informing the readers of the state information agency about the work of your crew in space, and I want to wish you truthful, objective and very interesting reports," said Oleg Kononenko.

It so happened that on the day of the press conference, Alexey Zubritsky became the owner of another important document. The international cosmonaut certificate of the Russian Cosmonaut Federation, number 160, was handed over by FAI sports commissioner Nikolay Bodin. The last pages of the document, in five languages, set out a request to provide assistance to the cosmonaut in various situations.

"Alexei Vitalyevich will take this cosmonaut certificate with him on his first space flight, and he will take it on his subsequent space flights. In accordance with the established tradition, he will put the appropriate onboard stamps in it on board the ISS. And in conclusion, I would like to say a parting word, which we always say to you: 450 kilometers under the side of your ship!” Nikolai Bodin wished the cosmonauts.

The Center's press secretary Irina Rogova asked the crews several questions from our readers and subscribers on social networks. The backup crew commander Sergei Kud-Sverchkov answered Marina Ostapenko's question about whether it is possible to implement the Internet of Things technology to create a smart spacesuit:

“Modern technologies, including artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things, are increasingly entering our lives, and everything is moving towards making human life easier. But from the point of view of the space industry, we rely, first of all, on reliability and safety, so I think that over time, when all the technologies that are just entering our lives prove their effectiveness in terms of reliability and safety for humans, then I think they will be applied - it's a matter of time."

Sergey Mikayev answered a question from twelve-year-old Makar Leonov from Orenburg. The boy wants to become an astronaut in the future and is interested in what steps can be taken in childhood?

"Being interested in cosmonautics at such an age is already a big step for our profession. Now, of course, a young person needs to study, be interested in space and not give up on their hopes of becoming an astronaut. First of all, focus on education, sports and take care of their health," Sergey shared his opinion.

In the year of the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War, this topic could not fail to be heard at the press conference of the crew, who will celebrate this significant holiday in orbit.

“It was thanks to the victory in the Great Patriotic War, the feat that our grandfathers accomplished, that there was an opportunity to realize centuries-old human aspirations for the stars, for the sky, for space flights. For me, this is such an internal, powerful spiritual connection, which is not only gratitude, a deep bow, an awareness of the greatness of that feat, those people, that era that guides us on our life’s path,” said crew commander Sergei Ryzhikov.

"We have personal polo shirts that will be delivered to the station, and several of these shirts are made in the style of the 80th anniversary of the Victory, dedicated to this memorable date. I hope that we will celebrate this solemn day of May 9 in these shirts," Alexey Zubritsky supported the commander.

After the press conference, the main and backup crews of ISS-73 visited memorial sites associated with the history of Russian cosmonautics.

[ddspaceman]

A few more photos from above source.

[ddspaceman]

A few more photos from above source.

[ddspaceman]

https://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=7057
GT:
A meeting of the commission to assess the crew's readiness for space flight was held at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center
| Crews
March 18, 2025

According to the commission's conclusion, the main and backup crews of the 73rd expedition to the International Space Station are prepared to perform a space flight on the Soyuz MS-27 manned spacecraft and work on the Russian segment of the ISS. The crews can begin the final stage of pre-launch preparation at the Baikonur Cosmodrome.

The commission includes representatives of the Cosmonaut Training Center, RSC Energia, Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center, Zvezda Research and Production Enterprise, FMBA, and IBMP.

First  Pic - ISS-73 CREW

Sergey Nikolaevich RYZHIKOV – Hero of the Russian Federation, pilot-cosmonaut of the Russian Federation, commander of the Soyuz MS-27 spacecraft, flight engineer of the ISS, commander of ISS-73b, Roscosmos (Russia).

Alexey Vitalyevich ZUBRITSKY – test cosmonaut, flight engineer of the Soyuz MS-27 spacecraft, flight engineer of the ISS, Roscosmos (Russia).

Jonathan KIM – Soyuz MS-27 Flight Engineer 2, ISS Flight Engineer, NASA (USA).

ISS BACKUP CREW-73

Sergey Vladimirovich KUD-SVERCHKOV – Hero of the Russian Federation, pilot-cosmonaut of the Russian Federation, commander of the Soyuz MS spacecraft, flight engineer of the ISS, Roscosmos (Russia).

Sergey Nikolaevich MIKAEV – test cosmonaut, flight engineer of the Soyuz MS spacecraft, flight engineer of the ISS, Roscosmos (Russia).

Christopher WILLIAMS – Soyuz MS Flight Engineer 2, ISS Flight Engineer, NASA (USA).

In accordance with the International Space Station flight program, the Soyuz MS-27 manned transport spacecraft is scheduled to launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on April 8, 2025. The planned duration of the ISS-73 crew's work on board will be 245 days.

[ddspaceman]

https://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=7062
GT:
Striving for the Future, Paying Tribute to the Past: ISS-73 Crews Visited Memorial Sites Associated with the History of Cosmonautics
| Crews
March 19, 2025

Cosmonauts and astronauts visited the Yuri Gagarin Memorial Study. There, Sergei Ryzhikov, Alexei Zubritsky, Sergei Kud-Sverchkov, Sergei Mikayev, as well as Jonathan Kim and Christopher Williams left memorable entries in the Book of Pre-Launch Crew Records.

Then the main and backup crews, as well as accompanying rocket and space industry workers, went to Moscow and visited historical monuments located on Red Square.

The delegation laid flowers and honored the memory of Sergei Korolev, Yuri Gagarin and the cosmonauts buried in the necropolis near the Kremlin wall.

The cosmonauts and astronauts also visited the Memorial House-Museum of Academician S.P. Korolev.

Video link here: https://rutube.ru/video/286aa19cf1556c4bf55bdbd889f48929/?r=plemwd
SS-73 crews visited memorial sites associated with the history of cosmonautics

[ddspaceman]

A few more photo's from above source.

[Satori]

From Roscosmos Telegram: Testing the solar panels of Soyuz MS-27.

Roscosmos specialists have opened solar panels and irradiated them with powerful lamps to test the efficiency of converting light energy into electrical energy.

The installation of special equipment and gear is also being completed in the spacecraft's compartments.

[ddspaceman]

Interviews with Expedition 73 Flight Engineer Jonny Kim – Wednesday, March 19, 2025

[ddspaceman]

https://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=7068
GT:
Baikonur received cosmonauts for pre-launch training
| Crews
March 21, 2025

On March 21, 2025, after the ceremonial farewell of the crews of the 73rd long-term expedition to the ISS in Star City, the cosmonauts and astronauts went to the Chkalovsky airfield near Moscow, from where they flew on two special flights to Kazakhstan to undergo the final stage of pre-launch preparation. A few hours later, the planes landed safely at the Krayniy airfield near the city of Baikonur.

The cosmonauts and astronauts, as well as the CPC staff providing pre-launch training, have settled into the training center, where they will have a busy training program for the next two weeks.

Tomorrow, the prime crew, which includes Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergei Ryzhikov, Alexei Zubritsky and NASA astronaut Jonathan Kim, as well as the backup crew, consisting of Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergei Kud-Sverchkov, Sergei Mikayev and NASA astronaut Christopher Williams, will conduct the first "fitting" of the Soyuz MS-27 spacecraft.

A video link here: https://rutube.ru/video/0df691d74c2e91c29d0ed0d435624db8/?r=plemwd
Baikonur received cosmonauts for pre-launch training

[ddspaceman]

https://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=7066
GT:
One Step from Baikonur: The CTC Hosted a Solemn Farewell to the Cosmodrome for the ISS-73 Crews
| Crews
March 21, 2025

The morning of March 21, 2025, for the main and backup crews of ISS-73 began with a traditional breakfast among colleagues. Then the cosmonauts and astronauts went to the Center's alley for a joint photo shoot. The ceremonial event was also attended by relatives and friends of the crew members, the CPC management, and cosmonauts who have already completed their space flights and are preparing for them.

Before taking their seats on the bus, Sergey Ryzhikov, Alexey Zubritsky and Jonathan Kim answered questions from journalists. The media asked about the upcoming space flight of the main crew and the tasks that have been set for them.

“The task is to maintain the station in working order, carry out the program of scientific and applied research, spacewalks, and all dynamic operations associated with the arrival and departure of manned and cargo ships. "It would probably be wrong to single out something more complex, because we are prepared for all tasks. But we would highlight the most interesting tasks, and these are two spacewalks, the arrival of new ships and crews, and, of course, those scientific experiments that are eagerly awaited both in orbit and by scientists on Earth," said the ship's commander, Sergei Ryzhikov.

Journalists were also interested in what emotions the cosmonauts experience before the flight:

"We try not to think about emotions, more about work. Of course, this moment is always exciting. It would probably be more correct to ask my comrades about this. I understand their feelings: once upon a time I also went to Baikonur from Star City for the first time," said Sergei Ryzhikov.

"This is my first flight, so now there is such great excitement and anticipation of something incredible and inspiring. Therefore, I expect to get the maximum of positive impressions and emotions from this flight," Alexey Zubritsky shared his emotions.

A question was also asked of the participant of the cross-flights, astronaut Johnny Kim. He was asked about the instructions that the crew receives during the traditional breakfast.

“We received the best, the kindest wishes from the leadership, the instructors, all those who prepared us, accompanied us, and those who will be with us on Earth during the upcoming expeditions,” Johnny Kim replied.

After the press approach, the cosmonauts and astronauts departed for the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The ISS-73 prime crew includes Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergei Ryzhikov and Alexei Zubritsky, and NASA astronaut Jonathan Kim. The backup crew includes Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergei Kud-Sverchkov, Sergei Mikayev, and NASA astronaut Christopher Williams. The expedition is scheduled to launch on April 8, 2025.

A video link here: https://rutube.ru/video/fce3e93cf38b7c31e8a602e601c82da0/?r=plemwd
The CTC hosted a ceremonial farewell ceremony for the ISS-73 crews to the Baikonur Cosmodrome

[ddspaceman]

A few more pictures from above source:

[ddspaceman]

https://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=7070
GT:
Cosmonauts and astronauts "tried on" the ship: pre-launch training began at Baikonur
| Crews
March 22, 2025

On March 22, 2025, the primary and backup crews of ISS-73 arrived at the assembly and test building of the 254th site of the cosmodrome to undergo their first training (in professional language it is called a “fitting”) in the Soyuz MS-27 manned transport spacecraft.

Under the supervision of specialists from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, the crews familiarized themselves with the cargo placement locations in the living compartment and the descent vehicle, performed work with the equipment they would have to work with in space, and other actions envisaged by the training plan. At the same time, the cosmonauts and astronauts worked out some of the operations in spacesuits.

A flag-raising ceremony for the countries participating in the launch of the Soyuz MS-27 spacecraft is scheduled for tomorrow, March 23, 2025. In addition, the pre-launch preparation schedule includes time for the cosmonauts to visit the memorial sites of Baikonur.

Let us recall that the main crew of ISS-73 includes Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergei Ryzhikov, Alexei Zubritsky and NASA astronaut Johnny Kim. The backup crew includes Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergei Kud-Sverchkov, Sergei Mikayev and NASA astronaut Christopher Williams. The launch of the Soyuz MS-27 spacecraft is scheduled for April 8, 2025.

A video link here: https://rutube.ru/video/f27357c2034b23ee7dfd65db17fe29c9/?r=plemwd
Cosmonauts and astronauts "try on" the ship: pre-launch training begins at Baikonur

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A few more photo's from above source:

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A few more photo's from above source:

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A few more photo's from above source:

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A few more photo's from above source:

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Jonny Kim
@JonnyKimUSA
T+205 (3.19.24): Ultrasound is an excellent tool with benefits in human health research, diagnostics, and even space station maintenance. Astronauts work in real-time with experts on the ground to guide ultrasound examinations. In my previous life, I used ultrasound to assist with medical procedures and gain valuable real-time patient information. Now, I'm getting reacquainted with a probe to help NASA with medical research on how spaceflight affects change in the human body. Other uses for ultrasound include air leak
detection.

T+207 (3.21.24): Instructors ensure astronauts have familiarity with the equipment they're likely to encounter on a mission. This day was focused on cameras and freezers.

MELFI is a freezer astronauts use to store science samples for return. There is a window called WORF (Windows Observational Research Facility) on the nadir side of the US LAB facing toward Earth. A clever design allows the window shutter to be actuated from the front of the rack.

https://twitter.com/JonnyKimUSA/status/1903708388833259867

[ddspaceman]

Jonny Kim
@JonnyKimUSA
T+208 (3.22.24): Assembly not always included. Sometimes our job entails putting things together and taking things apart. My EVA systems instructor, Regan, ensures I know how to properly handle the spacesuit and assemble critical components with collaboration from the ground teams.

T+211 (3.25.24): One of the fascinating properties of the Canadarm2 is the platform-agnostic approach to vehicle berthing operations. In other words, the arm can capture any type of space vehicle (or payload) because the attachment mechanism is the same. Space vehicles can connect to the ISS by either docking directly to the space station or berthing, which means it maintains a static distance from the space station while a robotic arm is piloted to attach to the vehicle then bring the vehicle to a docking port. The training environment in the video illustrates what it looks like to pilot a robotic arm to capture a vehicle. Shout out to the amazing robotics team headed by Tux.

https://twitter.com/JonnyKimUSA/status/1903734879650508869

[ddspaceman]

Jonny Kim
@JonnyKimUSA
T+212 (3.26.24): NASA exercise and nutrition physiologists are invested in ensuring optimized health and performance of astronauts for long-duration missions. In addition to tracking the macronutrients astronauts consume during a mission, physiologists calculate our resting metabolic rates by having us breathe in a closed environment connected to a metabolic analyzer that measures oxygen consumption (VO₂) and carbon dioxide production (VCO₂).

Another VO₂ measurement we do is the VO₂ max test, which measures the highest amount of oxygen our body can use during intense exercise (we use a stationary bike), which is an indicator of cardiovascular fitness. The VO₂ max test is repeated on-orbit throughout a long-duration mission to compare with our baseline.

T+213 (3.27.24): Before a launch, astronauts get an opportunity to get in a class-I EMU spacesuit and depress to vacuum in a pressure chamber called SSATA (Space Station Airlock Test Article). SSATA is a human-rated, high fidelity, 1-G Airlock facility located in Johnson Space Center that provides flight-like simulation of Airlock and EVA operations in pressures ranging from vacuum to 1 atmosphere. This was Don's turn and as his backup, I worked with the team to support his suit-donning and airlock depressurization. Depressurizing to vacuum is a big deal and a lot of people at NASA work behind the scenes to make it safe.

https://twitter.com/JonnyKimUSA/status/1903758762474676653

[ddspaceman]

Jonny Kim
@JonnyKimUSA
T+232 (4.15.24): A month of additional training in Star City, Soyuz seat molding, and official pictures with the MS-27 crew: Sergei Ryzhikov as CDR, Alexei Zubritskiy as Flight Engineer-1 and myself as FE-2.

T+248 (5.1.24): The NBL control center is a room above the pool where our EVA task instructors lead us through NBL training runs. If you're ever visiting Johnson Space Center it's a great educational field trip. As mentioned in a previous post, there has been some experimenting with training in the dark to mimic a night pass during a spacewalk. Here, Jenna, one of my task instructors walks us through our 4th NBL run in the series and you can see the contrast between lights on and off in the pool.

https://twitter.com/JonnyKimUSA/status/1903841487688810511

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Jonny Kim
@JonnyKimUSA
T+250 (5.3.24): We're not all business all the time. Sharing fun moments with the training team is one of the best parts of the job.

T+253 (5.6.24): Building strong bonds through shared challenge and vulnerability is a foundational principle of teamwork. The National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) has a history of collaborating with NASA to tailor expeditions to build on good expeditionary behaviors. We spent a week in the beautiful Pacific Northwest to build on these skills. Thank you, Katie and Ben!

https://twitter.com/JonnyKimUSA/status/1903845024363618719

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Jonny Kim
@JonnyKimUSA
T+261 (5.14.24): Stuff breaks in space just like it does on Earth. And sometimes it makes more sense to repair than replace. This is one of the reasons why NASA promotes mechanical and electrical aptitude and awareness. Soldering is one of these skills.

T+262 (5.15.24): Our suit engineers work hard to help astronauts get the perfect glove fit. Thank you to our friends at ILC Dover! Getting to try on your EMU gloves before they get loaded on a cargo space vehicle was so fun.

https://twitter.com/JonnyKimUSA/status/1903850848771322104

[ddspaceman]

https://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=7072
GT:
Flags were raised and the memory of the founders of Russian cosmonautics was honored at Baikonur
| Crews
March 23, 2025

There are two weeks left before the scheduled launch of the 73rd long-term expedition to the ISS - it should happen on April 8, 2025. These days are scheduled down to the minute for the cosmonauts: final training, medical examinations and experiments. But, in addition to practical training, the crews participate in ceremonial and memorial ceremonies.

One of them took place today, March 23, 2025. At site No. 17 of the Baikonur Cosmodrome in front of the Cosmonaut Hotel, the flags of the countries participating in the launch of the Soyuz MS-27 manned transport spacecraft – Russia, the United States, and Kazakhstan – were ceremoniously raised on flagpoles. This ceremony symbolizes the official start of the final stage of cosmonaut training for space flight.

The event was attended by representatives of the Roscosmos State Corporation, the Baikonur city administration, specialists from the Cosmonaut Training Center and RSC Energia.

Let us recall that the main crew of ISS-73 includes Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov, Alexey Zubritsky and NASA astronaut Jonathan Kim. Their backups are Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov, Sergey Mikayev and NASA astronaut Christopher Williams.

After the flag-raising ceremony, the backup cosmonauts went on a tour of Baikonur, the history of which is inextricably linked with the names of great people involved in space exploration. The crew laid flowers at the monument to Yuri Gagarin and paid tribute to the legendary designer S.P. Korolev, visited the city museum, where they left autographs.

A link to video here: https://rutube.ru/video/1b3c40b57c466a7608069e6dd240cbed/?r=plemwd
Flags were raised at Baikonur and the memory of the founders of Russian cosmonautics was honored

[ddspaceman]

A few more photo's from above source:

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Jonny Kim
@JonnyKimUSA
T+267 (5.20.24): One of my favorite games with the EVA training team was asking Drew specific questions about the most obscure EVA equipment to see if I could stump him. I haven't won yet. In return, Jenna and Miranda would bend the pressurized hoses to make the quick disconnects as hard as possible to manipulate. Nothing says we care more than altruistic interference Thank you for the training, team!

T+269 (5.22.24): This is what I think is the coolest structural component of the ISS, the Bearing Motor Roll Ring Module, or BMRRM (pronounced "broom"). It's part of the Beta Gimbal Assembly (BGA) on the ISS (see figure). Before explaining why I think it's so cool, it's worth taking a step back to understand why it's important.

To optimize energy collection, the solar arrays on the ISS need to be angled to capture as many photons from the sun as possible. Ideally, it would be perfectly perpendicular to the sun, but that's not always possible for various reasons like shadowing. Since the ISS is constantly orbiting the Earth the solar arrays are constantly rotated to maintain an optimal angle. You can imagine if cables were involved in the data and power transfer, the cables would get twisted and tangled as the arrays kept rotating or the gimbal would need to unwind to prevent breaking the connections.

To get around this, NASA designed the BMRRM to be an all-in-one module. It combines structural support for the solar arrays, a drive motor to rotate the arrays 360 degrees continuously, and contacts to supply power and transfer data (without cables). How? There's a component called the roll ring subassembly, which uses rolling elements and conductive rings to create a 360-degree rotational coupling device that maintains continuous electrical contact allowing the transmission of electrical power and data over the entire rotational range. A similar concept applies for the alpha rotary joint. I think it's cool that a coupler can keep rotating and transfer power/data without cables.

https://twitter.com/JonnyKimUSA/status/1904433973301760437

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Jonny Kim
@JonnyKimUSA
T+269 (5.22.24): As a member of the International Space Station, NASA works with each international partner to ensure every astronaut on board will execute an emergency response uniformly. This predictability and uniformity minimize the chances of confusion and increase cross-compatibility across partners. On this day, our instructors worked with my Soyuz crew to practice these skills.

T+276 (5.29.24): ASCR's are astronaut strength, conditioning, and rehabilitation coaches that work with astronauts to develop a fitness program that optimizes health and performance. Their work is critical for mission success. Bruce is my ASCR and works hard to keep me challenged, correct my form, and give jokes. Thanks Bruce!

https://twitter.com/JonnyKimUSA/status/1904442234952441907

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Jonny Kim
@JonnyKimUSA
T+277 (5.30.24): A continuing theme at NASA is the value of maintenance and when necessary, repair. Kimberlee is one of our NASA subject matter experts on the ARED device, and did a phenomenal job teaching me how to conduct proper maintenance. Thank you Kimberlee!

T+292 (6.14.24): The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has been an international partner with NASA for decades. As part of the training leading to an ISS mission, NASA astronauts visit Tsukuba, a city in Japan just north of Tokyo, to learn operations within the Japanese ISS module, Kibō. It's a wonderful opportunity to visit a beautiful country and work with our Japanese colleagues. The highlight for me was being able to bring my family along to kickstart our kid's summer vacation from school.

https://twitter.com/JonnyKimUSA/status/1904452639795945819

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Jonny Kim
@JonnyKimUSA
T+299 (6.21.24): Water survival is an important skill when traversing over any large body of water since that may be a potential landing spot. This applies to pilots who fly over water as well as astronauts. This trip back to Star City highlighted the importance of teamwork and survival in the unlikely event of a Soyuz landing in water. Photos courtesy of Roscosmos.

T+323 (7.15.24): CIPHER is the name of a large, integrated study that scientists from around the globe are collaborating on to understand how humans adapt to long-duration missions in space. Data is gathered from astronauts pre-flight, in-flight, and post-flight through biological samples, eye and vision exams, cognition and behavioral tests, cardiovascular exercises, ultrasounds, MRIs, and other technologies and techniques.

This was one of the CIPHER studies exploring sensorimotor adaptation to changes in gravity environments. Specifically, examining changes in our vestibular system using eye-tracking software. The test involved spinning in a chair and attempting to focus on the same spot in the vision headset. This test served as a baseline and will be repeated again in-flight and post-flight. For more information about the CIPHER studies, head over to https://nasa.gov/hrp/cipher/

https://twitter.com/JonnyKimUSA/status/1904469527385260042

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Live coverage links on NASA+:

Soyuz MS-27 Launch with Jonny Kim

Coverage of the Launch of the Soyuz MS-27 Crew (Ryzhikov, Zubritsky, Kim) to the International Space Station from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan (Launch scheduled at 1:47 a.m. EDT).

https://plus.nasa.gov/scheduled-video/soyuz-ms-27-launch-with-jonny-kim/

Docking planned on April 8 at 09:03 UTC:

Soyuz MS-27 Docking

Coverage of the Docking of the Soyuz MS-27 Crew (Ryzhikov, Zubritsky, Kim) to the Prichal Module of the International Space Station (Docking scheduled at 5:03 a.m. EDT).

https://plus.nasa.gov/scheduled-video/soyuz-ms-27-docking/

Soyuz MS-27 Hatch Opening

Coverage of the Hatch Opening and Welcoming Remarks by the Soyuz MS-27 Crew (Ryzhikov, Zubritsky, Kim) Aboard the International Space Station (Hatch opening scheduled at appx. 6:44 a.m. EDT).

https://plus.nasa.gov/scheduled-video/soyuz-ms-27-hatch-opening/

[ddspaceman]

Jonny Kim
@JonnyKimUSA
T+325 (7.17.24): Picture day! Thanks to NASA scientific photographers, Josh Valcarcel & Bill Stafford, who do magic with a lens and continue the tradition of capturing astronaut portraits. Getting portraits in our EMU spacesuit is a once-in-a-career opportunity and couldn't happen without our suit engineers in the background. Thanks, y'all. Photo credit: Josh Valcarcel

T+331 (7.23.24): There's an EVA tool for every imaginable task on orbit, including a caulk-style grease gun for lubricating mechanical components. It doesn't get used too often. The last time was with @lunarloral on US EVA 89 greasing the SARJ trundle bearing assembly (which she did amazingly well without making a mess!). There's also an attachment to get grease in difficult locations.

Lucas does a great job demonstrating how the drive lock assembly on the solar alpha rotary joint works. This is a component that allows the truss containing the solar arrays to rotate.

https://twitter.com/JonnyKimUSA/status/1904829668739391876

[ddspaceman]

Jonny Kim
@JonnyKimUSA
T+337 (7.29.24): The 5th NBL run during a training flow for an ISS mission is usually the final evaluation run, where everything counts. The training and evaluation team must ensure that astronauts are safe, competent, and reliable during a spacewalk. The team prioritizes safety above all, while also assessing teamwork, adherence to procedures, and the ability to deviate from the plan when things go off-nominal.

This run is one of the major milestones in the training flow, and I was privileged to share it with @Astro_Ayers, who is currently in space with Crew-10, and Don Pettit on E72. Other than being an evaluation, it’s a fairly standard NBL run with a rescue scenario baked in. Vapor and I passed, and we have our training teams to thank for it. Thanks, y'all!

T+338 (7.30.24): There are several science refrigerators and freezers on the space station. My favorite is MELFI, which stands for Minus Eighty-degree Laboratory Freezer for the ISS. Technically, it has a set point of -95°C, but I think "MNLFI" would probably be hard to say. Here’s the ground-based version we train on before using the real one in space.

It has four storage cylinders, called dewars, and each dewar contains four trays, which are further subdivided into modules. Science samples are frozen in MELFI to ensure they remain preserved for future study upon return to Earth. Cool, right?

https://twitter.com/JonnyKimUSA/status/1905166392262795756

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Jonny Kim
@JonnyKimUSA
T+339 (7.31.24): As part of the CIPHER study, NASA scientists are exploring how changes in gravity affect sensorimotor function to ensure success in future deep space exploration missions. It may seem easy, but tasks as simple as standing, walking, and sitting require extensive coordination across sensory, motor, and cerebellar systems. We take these actions for granted because we don’t have to think about them in our everyday lives. This test serves as a baseline for NASA to compare against my post-flight results. Many thanks to the scientists who work every day to better understand our place in space.

T+339 (7.31.24): Another part of the CIPHER study involves understanding ways to mitigate muscle atrophy in microgravity and the impact this has on functional strength. Exercise scientists at NASA use various tools to study this, and this is one of them. It’s called an isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP), and here’s how it works: you stand on top of a force plate, zero/tare the scale, and then pull as hard as you can against an immovable object—in this case, the barbell, which is strapped down.

The IMTP is well-studied in exercise science because it’s standardized, time-efficient, technique-agnostic, and safer than a 1-rep max. These results will be compared with mid-thigh pulls in space at various times, as well as post-flight after the mission.

The important metric for NASA is not the total force one can generate, but the changes in total force that one can generate across different environmental and gravity factors. A special thanks to Dana Gardner and the Exercise Physiology and Countermeasures Lab at Johnson Space Center. For more information about CIPHER, head to https://nasa.gov/hrp/cipher/ or to check out the JSC Exercise Lab, visit https://nasa.gov/directorates/esdmd/hhp/exercise-physiology-and-countermeasures/#hds-sidebar-nav-4

https://twitter.com/JonnyKimUSA/status/1905182746504470946

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Jonny Kim
@JonnyKimUSA
T+339 (7.31.24): One of the things the people behind NASA are really good at is encouraging each other to develop new skills and refine old ones, embracing a very DIY attitude. Prior to NASA, I had an interest in building computers, servers, and creating my own wired network at home. I never thought that crimping RJ-45 plugs onto Cat5e cables would ever come in handy in the future. My point is that developing new skills and adopting a DIY mindset can not only be fun, but it can also surprise you with how much you learn and grow—and how much that can translate to your everyday life.

T+381 (9.11.24): This trip to Star City was for our Sokol suit fit checks, Soyuz qualification exams, and to support Don as his backup. It was a great opportunity to gain cultural insights and learn from veteran astronauts. I really enjoyed spending time with Don during quarantine, and the highlight was watching his rocket roll out and then launch his crew for Expedition 72. Photos courtesy of Roscosmos.

https://twitter.com/JonnyKimUSA/status/1905208258597380386

[Galactic Penguin SST]

From https://nasa-public-data.s3.amazonaws.com/iss-coords/current/ISS_OEM/ISS.OEM_J2K_EPH.txt

COMMENT  73S Launch            098:05:47:15.000             0.0     423.4     412.6
COMMENT                                                    (0.0)   (228.6)   (222.8)
COMMENT
COMMENT  73S Dock              098:09:03:56.000             0.0     423.4     412.6
COMMENT                                                    (0.0)   (228.6)   (222.8)

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Jonny Kim
@JonnyKimUSA
T+389 (9.19.24): Do you do ham radio? I’d never tried it before, but as part of the training flow before an ISS mission, the crew is given an opportunity to earn their amateur radio license. It’s another way for the crew to share education and outreach with amateur radio enthusiasts and organizations like schools while on the space station. Kenneth, our ham radio project coordinator, helped me get certified—thanks, Ken!

In addition to ARED, we have the T2 treadmill and CEVIS stationary bike for cardiovascular fitness. This was one of my last chances to operate the equipment, and Kimberlee ensures astronauts know how to use it before launch.

T+394 (9.24.24): We’re trusted with a lot of responsibility. We ensure we respect and care for our equipment so it will care for us when we need it. Part of that respect and accountability involves inspecting our gear, like this 85' safety tether reel that will keep us tethered to the space station in the unlikely event we drift off the ISS during a spacewalk. Lifesaving equipment deserves proper attention and respect, so Drew is ensuring I know how to inspect it correctly.

Another area where astronauts are given autonomy is how we customize our working equipment. Attached is a picture of how I typically customize my mini-workstation—we call it “MWS” for short. The MWS attaches to the chest area of the spacesuit, functioning like a harness to hold tools. Uniformity has its strengths, but so does individual autonomy in operating one’s own gear. Back when I was an operator with Naval Special Warfare, I was given a similar level of trust and autonomy over my equipment customization. As long as teammates follow standardized operating procedures (SOPs), as we do at NASA, individual preferences can coexist with uniformity.

NBL runs 6–9 are less focused on evaluations and more focused on familiarizing the crew with the hardware and procedures they may encounter during the expedition. I had an opportunity to work with Andre Douglas as we familiarized ourselves with the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer, which may see an upgrade later this year.

https://twitter.com/JonnyKimUSA/status/1905517697565151642

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Jonny Kim
@JonnyKimUSA
T+408 (10.8.24): One thing that isn’t obvious to the public is how many people at NASA are needed to support our training. It truly takes a village for mission success, and these folks don’t always get the recognition they deserve.

Take a single NBL run, for example. We need instructors and support personnel to prepare a lesson plan covering procedures and equipment in a dry environment. Then an entire team of divers and control center staff briefs the safety plan and oversees the pool rehearsal. Astronauts then brief their personal safety and support divers about the upcoming run. Physicians examine us to ensure we’re medically fit. Finally, suit engineers ensure we’re properly suited up and ready to go before pressurization and gear donning. It might just be a Tuesday for them, but it’s still a lot of work. Thank you to our public servants who work hard each day for the mission!

T+409 (10.9.24): Integrated training and simulations are a cornerstone in developing standardized operating procedures and solid teamwork between crews and mission control on the ground in case of an emergency. On this day, our Soyuz crew (MS-27) practiced emergency scenarios with Crew-10. The major emergencies we train for are fire, depressurization, and a toxic atmosphere. We set aside time to brief and debrief each event with instructors who devise ways to introduce emergencies. If you’re ever touring Johnson Space Center, you might recognize this facility as Building 9. It houses a full-size, 1:1-scale mockup of the International Space Station. It takes a village to coordinate and support these events—huge thanks to our increment training team!

https://twitter.com/JonnyKimUSA/status/1905543182445666385

[ddspaceman]

Jonny Kim
@JonnyKimUSA
T+411 (10.11.24): While you’ve probably heard of Mission Control Houston, the main control center for day-to-day space operations, NASA actually has more than one control center. Another you may not know about is the Payload Operations and Integration Center (POIC), located at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. Think of the POIC as the "Mission Control of Space Station science." It enables astronauts to communicate directly with representatives of the principal investigator overseeing each specific science experiment. Like Houston, the POIC operates 24/7, 365 days a year, ensuring continuous support for ISS science operations. Our crew had a great opportunity to visit the POIC and meet some of the people we’re likely to talk to during our expedition, putting faces to the voices we’ll hear.

T+417 (10.17.24): Astronauts have the opportunity to get into a Class I hardware EMU suit and depressurize to vacuum in a special pressure chamber called SSATA. On this day, I was assisted by my crewmates, Anne and Tak, to inspect the suit and don it, just as we would on the space station. Depressurizing to vacuum is no small feat, but we do it because there is a lot to learn from experiencing real depressurization.

At vacuum, we demonstrate our reach and mobility by actuating different switches, sun visors and valves, on the suit, such as the helmet purge valve. This also helps familiarize us with the natural sounds and vibrations the suit emits throughout the depressurization process. One thing I wasn't expecting was a change in the sound of my voice, which is a side effect of the reduced air pressure. Although the chamber depresses to near vacuum, the spacesuit remains pressurized at 4.3 psi—about 30% of atmospheric pressure at sea level.

Going to vacuum also enabled two fun science experiments: (1) exploring the relationship between water phases, pressure, and temperature, and (2) demonstrating Galileo's famous thought experiment of free fall, showing that two objects of different masses dropped from the same height will hit the ground at the same time if air resistance is negligible.

https://twitter.com/JonnyKimUSA/status/1905586434985111591

[ddspaceman]

Jonny Kim
@JonnyKimUSA
T+417 (10.17.24): Experiment (1) H2O Phase Transitions

Place a bowl of water at room temperature under normal atmospheric pressure. Then, depressurize the chamber to a vacuum. You will observe the water beginning to boil slowly, then more violently, before eventually forming chunks of ice. Why does this happen?

Water exists in three phases: solid (ice), liquid (water), and gas (water vapor, sometimes called steam when above the boiling point). This experiment demonstrates the relationship between water's phase, pressure, and temperature.

At sea level, water boils at 100°C (212°F) under standard atmospheric pressure. If you travel to higher altitudes, where atmospheric pressure is lower, you may have noticed that water boils at a lower temperature. This occurs because a decrease in pressure lowers the boiling point, requiring less energy for water molecules to transition into the gas phase. While boiling is often associated with heat, it simply refers to the phase transition from liquid to gas, which depends on pressure as well as temperature.

In this experiment, as the chamber is depressurized to a vacuum, the pressure drops rapidly, lowering the boiling point of water to below room temperature. This causes the water to boil violently. As it evaporates, the process removes heat from the remaining liquid (a phenomenon known as evaporative cooling), causing the water’s temperature to drop quickly. This continues until the water cools below its freezing point, at which point it suddenly turns to ice.

A water phase diagram illustrates this effect: reducing pressure (moving down the Y-axis) transitions water from liquid to gas, while cooling (moving left on the X-axis) transitions it from liquid to solid.

T+417 (10.17.24): Experiment (2) – Galileo's Fall Experiment

Until Galileo, a 16th-century astronomer, people believed that the speed at which an object fell depended on its mass—specifically, that heavier objects always fell faster than lighter ones. However, in the 1600s, Galileo proposed that if air resistance were negligible, objects of different masses would fall at the same rate.

In this experiment, I have two objects inside the depressed vacuum chamber: a piece of mylar (the stuff from helium balloons) and a Teflon block. Under normal atmospheric conditions, the Teflon block would fall faster than the mylar. However, in a vacuum, when both objects are dropped from the same height, they hit the ground simultaneously. Why?

This happens because, in normal atmospheric conditions, air molecules create resistance, and lighter objects like feathers experience more drag relative to their weight, slowing their fall. In a vacuum, with no air molecules to cause resistance, all objects accelerate equally due to gravity.

Astronaut David Scott demonstrated this principle during Apollo 15 when he dropped a hammer and a feather on the Moon, and both struck the lunar surface at the same time.

https://twitter.com/JonnyKimUSA/status/1905621370102255805

[ddspaceman]

NASA's Johnson Space Center
@NASA_Johnson
The Pursuit of Lifelong Learning.

On this week’s #HWHAP, NASA astronaut @JonnyKimUSA discusses his upcoming mission to the International @Space_Station, his experience in the military and medical field, and his journey to becoming a @NASA_Astronauts. https://go.nasa.gov/3DYmtKU

https://twitter.com/NASA_Johnson/status/1905665244975841718

[ddspaceman]

Jonny Kim
@JonnyKimUSA
T+431 (10.31.24): After the launch of Don's Soyuz MS-26 crew, our backup crew (MS-27) became the prime crew. As members of the prime crew, we began a series of reviews leading up to a final qualification exam, which takes place just before quarantine and launch. Similar to how international astronauts receive integrated training when they travel to Houston, American astronauts also collaborate with international instructors on integrated training while overseas. During this trip, our Soyuz crew focused on teamwork in off-nominal situations, both in the Russian segment of the ISS and aboard the Soyuz. Photos courtesy of Roscosmos.

https://twitter.com/JonnyKimUSA/status/1905934751287877674

[ddspaceman]

Jonny Kim
@JonnyKimUSA
T+450 (11.19.24): Here are the basics of how robotic arm capture on the ISS works and how astronauts train for it. The Canadarm2 lives on the outside of the space station, has seven movable joints, and performs tasks such as grabbing payloads, vehicles, and even astronauts during spacewalks. The software can be loaded with instructions for autonomous movement, or it can be piloted manually from inside the space station. It can also be controlled from Mission Control Center-Houston on the ground, though latency makes this less ideal for dynamic events like vehicle capture.

At the end of the Canadarm2 is the Latching End Effector (LEE), a robotic "hand" designed to securely grasp and manipulate objects in space. The arm is carefully aligned with a grapple fixture, a special attachment point on spacecraft or payloads. Cameras and sensors help ensure precise positioning. Once in the correct position, the snares inside the LEE are actuated (with a trigger if flown manually), grabbing the grapple fixture. The LEE’s motor and latches then pull the fixture inward for a tight and secure grip.

The inceptors used for piloting the robotic arm are the Translational Hand Controller (THC) in the left hand, which controls up/down, left/right, and in/out, and the Rotational Hand Controller (RHC) in the right hand, which controls roll, pitch, and yaw. One characteristic of the Canadarm2 is that the longer the arm extends, the greater the moment arm, making it more prone to pilot-induced oscillation (PIO). This happens when overcorrection causes undesirable wobbling at the end of the arm—a situation you definitely want to avoid when trying to stay within a tight capture envelope for the targeted grapple fixture.

David, my instructor, has been instrumental in helping me apply corrections early and smoothly, ensuring no sudden movements as we approach the target. In the video, he's acting as what we call an "M2"—an arm operator dedicated to supporting M1 with situational awareness calls and emergency response. At the end of our training runs, we receive a report card detailing our accuracy, precision, and input smoothness across six degrees of freedom (DOFs), which we strive to keep as controlled as possible.

T+453 (11.22.24): NASA scientists work hard to understand our place in space. As part of the CIPHER study, astronauts participate in multiple sensorimotor tests leading up to spaceflight. One of these tests aims to study neurovestibular and proprioceptive changes that occur with shifts in gravity. The task is simple and straightforward: close your eyes and attempt to turn exactly the requested number of degrees. However, performing this accurately without visual input is surprisingly difficult. These tests will be repeated on orbit aboard the ISS and again post-flight.

Another study we participate in involves imaging our eyes using Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT). OCT captures high-resolution, cross-sectional images of the retina, helping us better understand changes in eye anatomy and health after prolonged exposure to microgravity. This research is particularly important for studying conditions like Spaceflight-Associated Neuro-ocular Syndrome (SANS). We will also undergo these imaging exams pre-flight, during flight, and post-flight.

https://twitter.com/JonnyKimUSA/status/1906261880689353210

[ddspaceman]

Jonny Kim
@JonnyKimUSA
T+467 (12.6.24): Did you know that NASA has a podcast? It was started in July of 2017, right around the time my class, the Turtles, joined NASA. Since then, NASA has released hundreds of episodes spanning everything from space and science to food and life at NASA. It was a great time working with this crew and talking with our own Kenna Pell.

https://www.nasa.gov/podcasts/houston-we-have-a-podcast/the-pursuit-of-lifelong-learning/

T+467 (12.6.24): Another CIPHER study NASA scientists are exploring is what astronauts may realistically be capable of after landing on another planetary body following an extended duration in microgravity. Various metrics were observed in our xEMU suit (a prototype of a next-generation planetary suit), including an AMRAP-type activity, various simulated planetary tasks, and ambulation at different inclines. The pre-flight observations will be compared against the post-flight metrics.

https://twitter.com/JonnyKimUSA/status/1906280682571112938

[ddspaceman]

Jonny Kim
@JonnyKimUSA
T+472 (12.11.24): NASA has an incredible free resource available to the public called DOUG, which enables users to fly around the ISS. Developed in our own VR training lab at JSC, DOUG is a powerful planning tool that allows us to rehearse procedures and familiarize ourselves with a worksite—just like Drew is doing for me here. We used DOUG to support multiple simultaneous users, allowing us to practice the coordination between robotic arm operators and spacewalkers. A big thanks to the JSC VR crew for supporting much of our training for EVA and robotics!

DOUG can be downloaded for free here, courtesy of NASA: https://www.nasa.gov/virtual-reality-lab-doug/

T+520 (1.28.25): Meet our ISS Science Communications team (@ISS_Research)! They help share the incredible science and education astronauts conduct aboard the ISS, including the human biometrics study I’m currently wearing as a headband.

Check out the research findings they post here: https://nasa.gov/international-space-station/space-station-research-and-technology/space-station-research-results/

https://twitter.com/JonnyKimUSA/status/1906519951919202656

[ddspaceman]

Jonny Kim
@JonnyKimUSA
T+522 (1.30.25): Last NBL run—one final opportunity to get hands-on experience with potential hardware we may encounter during the expedition. Grateful to have spent it with friends. Thank you for all the help, team!

T+547 (2.24.25): A multi-decade NASA tradition before a mission is to celebrate and acknowledge the support personnel behind the training. The division(s) that stood out are honored by hanging the expedition plaque in Building 9. This ceremony is repeated after the completion of the mission in Mission Control.

I’d like to express my gratitude to everyone at NASA who helped me along this journey, with a special thank you to my fellow crew members, training integrator Lindsay, and crew admin Andee, for supporting me as both friends and colleagues.

https://twitter.com/JonnyKimUSA/status/1906526641947345353

[ddspaceman]

Jonny Kim
@JonnyKimUSA
T+564 (3.13.25): Final trip to Star City, where our MS-27 crew wraps up training and takes our final Soyuz and ISS qualification exams before receiving the commission's approval. Photos courtesy of Roscosmos.

T+570 (3.19.25): Upon completing our final exams and receiving the commission’s approval, we held a press conference. Following tradition, our crew wrote a message and added our signatures to a book at the local museum—a collection of astronaut and cosmonaut messages, including Neil Armstrong’s—before paying our respects to Yuri Gagarin, the first human in space, and Sergei Korolev, the visionary chief designer behind the space program that enabled Gagarin’s historic flight.

A huge thank you to Dasha, my interpreter, who has supported me over the past 1.5 years—navigating everything from technical translations to cultural discussions—and to my incredible crewmates.

Photos courtesy of Roscosmos.

https://twitter.com/JonnyKimUSA/status/1906661106116091954

[theonlyspace]

What is Jonny Kim  personnal patch for his mission to the ISS. Is there any picture of it?

[ddspaceman]

https://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=7079
GT:
One day in the life of the crews at Baikonur: how was the Press Day?
| Crews
March 31, 2025

Traditionally, during the pre-launch training of the crews, a Press Day is always organized. On a pre-set date (this time, March 31, 2025), media representatives can observe training, theoretical classes, and communicate with cosmonauts and astronauts.

At the 17th site of the Baikonur Cosmodrome, the test training complex of the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, journalists witnessed the process of preparing the ISS-73 crews for space flight.

Let us recall that the main team includes Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov, Alexey Zubritsky and NASA astronaut Jonathan Kim. Their backups are Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov, Sergey Mikayev and NASA astronaut Christopher Williams.

The crews' working day began with a mandatory daily medical examination. Then, according to the schedule, they studied the onboard documentation and trained in manual approach to the ISS on the Soyuz MS mobile computer simulator.

Journalists were shown how practical training of crews for space flight factors takes place, which includes tests for vestibular stability in a Coriolis acceleration chair and hemodynamic training in an orthostole.

Another mandatory item on the training schedule is physical education. Under the supervision of doctors, cosmonauts and astronauts exercise on a treadmill, a bicycle ergometer, and work on strength training machines. In the busy training schedule, the crews at Baikonur also have time to relax. As a rule, this is a game of chess, table tennis, and billiards.

At the end of the day, cosmonauts and astronauts took part in a tree planting ceremony on the Cosmonauts' Alley – a long-standing tradition started by the first cosmonaut on Earth, Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin.

[ddspaceman]

A few more photos from above source:

[Alter Sachse]

Latest photos

[ddspaceman]

Jonny Kim
@JonnyKimUSA
T+572 (3.21.25): Our Soyuz crew departed for quarantine at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, leaving behind our small NASA family in Star City. A big thanks to the Star City NASA crew, especially Sasha, Alla, John, and Kathy, for all their support over the last 1.5 years.

Upon arriving in Baikonur, our crew and specialists got to work quickly. First, we performed fit and leak checks on our Sokol suits. The Sokol suit is an intravehicular activity (IVA) suit, meaning it is not designed for use outside a space vehicle, unlike the Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU). Since it is intended only for use inside the spacecraft, it does not require the same level of protection and life support equipment as the EMU, making it much less bulky than an extravehicular activity (EVA) suit. The primary purpose of an IVA suit is to provide a life-saving pressurized atmosphere in the unlikely event of cabin depressurization.

Next, we inspected our Soyuz spacecraft, took our seats, and checked various system functions, including a communications check. This was the first of two fit checks before launch. Just like NASA, Roscosmos has a dedicated team of specialists and engineers ensuring the crew is safe and well-prepared for success. The checks concluded with a meeting with the commission to discuss any issues.

Photos courtesy of Roscosmos.

https://twitter.com/JonnyKimUSA/status/1906917463142412474

[ddspaceman]

NASA Sets Coverage for Crew Launch to Join Station Expedition 72/73

Tiernan P. Doyle
Apr 02, 2025

NASA astronaut Jonny Kim will launch aboard the Roscosmos Soyuz MS-27 spacecraft to the International Space Station, accompanied by cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky, where they will join the Expedition 72/73 crew in advancing scientific research.

Kim, Ryzhikov, and Zubritsky will lift off at 1:47 a.m. EDT Tuesday, April 8 (10:47 a.m. Baikonur time) from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

Watch live launch and docking coverage on NASA+. Learn how to watch NASA content through a variety of platforms.

After a two-orbit, three-hour trajectory to the station, the spacecraft will dock automatically to the station’s Prichal module at approximately 5:03 a.m. Shortly after, hatches will open between Soyuz and the space station.

Once aboard, the trio will join NASA astronauts Nichole Ayers, Anne McClain, and Don Pettit, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Roscosmos cosmonauts Alexey Ovchinin, Kirill Peskov, and Ivan Vagner.

NASA’s coverage is as follows (all times Eastern and subject to change based on real-time operations):

Tuesday, April 8

12:45 a.m. – Launch coverage begins on NASA+.

1:47 a.m. – Launch

4:15 a.m. – Rendezvous and docking coverage begins on NASA+.

5:03 a.m. – Docking

7 a.m. – Hatch opening and welcome remarks coverage begins on NASA+.

7:20 a.m. – Hatch opening

The trio will spend approximately eight months aboard the orbital laboratory as Expedition 72 and 73 crew members before returning to Earth in December. This will be the first flight for Kim and Zubritsky, and the third for Ryzhikov.

For more than two decades, people have lived and worked continuously aboard the International Space Station, advancing scientific knowledge and making research breakthroughs that are not possible on Earth. The station is a critical testbed for NASA to understand and overcome the challenges of long-duration spaceflight and to expand commercial opportunities in low Earth orbit. As commercial companies focus on providing human space transportation services and destinations as part of a robust low Earth orbit economy, NASA is focusing more resources on deep space missions to the Moon as part of the Artemis campaign in preparation for future human missions to Mars.

https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-sets-coverage-for-crew-launch-to-join-station-expedition-72-73/


The Roscosmos Soyuz MS-27 spacecraft will launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan to the International Space Station with (pictured left to right) NASA astronaut Jonny Kim and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky.
Credit: Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center

[ddspaceman]

https://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=7083
GT:
ISS-73 crew checks out the ship: Soyuz MS-27 spacecraft undergoes a test fit at Baikonur
| Crews
02 April 2025

Today, April 2, 2025, a test "fitting" of the Soyuz MS-27 manned transport spacecraft took place at site #254 of the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The main and backup crews of the upcoming expedition to the ISS took part in it: cosmonauts Sergei Ryzhikov and Alexei Zubritsky; Sergei Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikayev, as well as astronauts Jonathan Kim and Christopher Williams.

First, the crews underwent an introductory briefing, and then took turns taking their places in the ship, checking the equipment being placed and the cargo being delivered in the descent module and the living compartment, and verifying the functionality of the onboard systems in test mode.

After the final “fitting” of the spacecraft that will deliver the crew to the station, the cosmonauts and astronauts handed over their personal belongings for packing into the manned spacecraft.

Then they visited the Baikonur Cosmodrome Museum and, as is tradition, left their autographs there, and visited the houses of Sergei Korolev and Yuri Gagarin, where the chief designer and cosmonaut lived before the world's first manned space flight.

Let us remind you that there is less than a week left before the launch of the Soyuz MS-27 manned spacecraft to the ISS! According to the schedule, it should take place on April 8, 2025. The main crew includes Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergei Ryzhikov and Alexei Zubritsky, as well as NASA astronaut Jonathan Kim. Their backups are cosmonauts Sergei Kud-Sverchkov, Sergei Mikayev and astronaut Christopher Williams.

Here is a link to a related video: https://rutube.ru/video/d7cc1b3876ee70ea85de8b41ee6f10c7/?r=plemwd
ISS-73 crew checks out spacecraft: Soyuz MS-27 spacecraft undergoes test fit at Baikonur

[ddspaceman]

Katya Pavlushchenko
@katlinegrey
#Soyuz2.1a with #SoyuzMS27 spaceship has been assembled on Pad 31 of Baikonur. The rollout is scheduled for April 5. The launch is planned for April 8, at 05:47 UTC. Sergey Ryzhikov, Alexei Zubritskiy and Jonny Kim @JonnyKimUSA will arrive at the ISS on the same day at 09:03 UTC.

https://twitter.com/katlinegrey/status/1908185167895642300

[Alter Sachse]

rollout

[ddspaceman]

The Space Pirate🏴‍☠️🥷🏻🚀
@TheSpacePirateX
The Soyuz 2.1a rocket with the #SoyuzMS27 crewed spacecraft has been rolled out to the launch pad this morning.

https://twitter.com/TheSpacePirateX/status/1908398321414131911

[ddspaceman]

International Space Station
@Space_Station
The Soyuz MS-27 rocket stands at its launch pad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. It will lift off at 1:47am ET on Tuesday carrying @NASA astronaut Jonny Kim and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhigin and Alexey Zubritskiy to the orbital lab. More... https://go.nasa.gov/4jemhWK

https://twitter.com/Space_Station/status/1908561853191794772

[ddspaceman]

https://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=7088
GT:
Final preparation: the launch vehicle is installed at pad #31
| Crews
05 April 2025

Today, April 5, 2025, the Soyuz-2.1a space rocket was rolled out from the Assembly and Test Building (ATB) to site No. 31. With its help, the Soyuz MS-27 spacecraft with the ISS-73 crew consisting of Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergei Ryzhikov, Alexei Zubritsky and NASA astronaut Jonathan Kim will be launched into orbit on April 8.

Traditionally, the procedure of removing and installing the rocket at the launch complex was monitored by members of the backup crew: Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergei Kud-Sverchkov, Sergei Mikayev and NASA astronaut Christopher Williams. In addition to them, the cosmonauts' families, representatives of space agencies and industry enterprises, as well as journalists, observed the events.

All work on the removal and installation of the launch vehicle was carried out in accordance with the work plan at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. Today is the first launch day for the ISS-73 crew.

The launch of the Soyuz MS-27 spacecraft is scheduled for April 8, 2025 at 08:47 Moscow time. The main crew includes Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergei Ryzhikov, Alexei Zubritsky and NASA astronaut Jonathan Kim.

Here is a link to the video: https://rutube.ru/video/8035bee133cd3906883cb676af8161fe/?r=plemwd
Final preparation: the launch vehicle is installed at pad No. 31

[ddspaceman]

Jonny Kim
@JonnyKimUSA
T+588/L-2: The days leading up to launch are a mix of classes, briefings, relaxation, reflection, and time-honored traditions. One of those is planting a tree—every cosmonaut and astronaut who has flown under Roscosmos has one in the garden within the quarantine compound, starting with Yuri Gagarin. Another is watching the rocket roll out to the launch pad, where it’s slowly raised to vertical—a moment shared by the backup crew and guests.
NASA does an incredible job supporting our crews. They send fellow astronauts from the office to personally support the families and guests of those launching. I couldn’t be more grateful to have two of my closest friends (and classmates), Loral and Woody, here for my loved ones. Thanks Turtles.

https://twitter.com/JonnyKimUSA/status/1908800620405858558

[Alter Sachse]

Rollout video

https://www.5-tv.ru/player/5020626

[ddspaceman]

NASA HQ PHOTO
@nasahqphoto
Check out photos from the Expedition 73 State Commission & Press Conference with NASA astronaut @JonnyKimUSA and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritskiy. They are scheduled to launch tomorrow, April 8 to @Space_Station 📷 https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjC7PgC

https://twitter.com/nasahqphoto/status/1909265257513525311

[ddspaceman]

ISS Research
@ISS_Research
As a physician, @JonnyKimUSA brings his expertise of health research to space. He’ll work on CIPHER, a study tracking physiological and psychological changes during missions. Results help researchers understand how microgravity affects the body. More: http://go.nasa.gov/4cfHoFP

Watch on @NASA+ tomorrow, April 8, at 12:45 am ET: https://plus.nasa.gov/scheduled-video/soyuz-ms-27-launch-with-jonny-kim/

https://twitter.com/ISS_Research/status/1909267170120421841

[ddspaceman]

Jonny Kim
@JonnyKimUSA
T+590 / L-0: Launch Day. As Yuri Gagarin famously said: Поехали! (Let’s go!)

Behind every successful astronaut is an extraordinary team of dedicated individuals who truly care. At NASA, we’re renowned for engineering excellence, groundbreaking research, and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. But what truly sets us apart is our people. It’s not the rockets, planes, satellites, or science that define this agency—it’s the remarkable individuals who bring it all to life — always has been, and always will be. So, to those who faithfully serve our public to make this possible: thank you.

To @Astro_ChrisW, my backup: I can’t wait to see you launch. Thank you for your unwavering support and friendship.
To my family: I love you, and I look forward to reuniting with you.

https://plus.nasa.gov/scheduled-video/soyuz-ms-27-launch-with-jonny-kim/

https://twitter.com/JonnyKimUSA/status/1909316988486246579

[ddspaceman]

https://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=7091
GT:
They talked about the scientific program and answered questions: a pre-launch press conference for the ISS-73 crews was held at Baikonur
| Baikonur Cosmodrome
07 April 2025

On April 7, 2025, after the meeting of the State Commission, which approved the crew compositions of the upcoming expedition to the ISS, a pre-flight press conference was held in Baikonur.

It was attended by members of the main crew of the Soyuz MS-27 manned transport spacecraft, cosmonauts Sergei Ryzhikov, Alexei Zubritsky and astronaut Jonathan Kim, as well as their backups, cosmonauts Sergei Kud-Sverchkov, Sergei Mikayev and astronaut Christopher Williams.

During the long expedition ISS-73, there are several significant holidays, both secular and religious, as well as significant dates. On April 20, Easter will be celebrated on board, and on May 9, the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War will be celebrated:

"Even the name of the ship and the launch vehicle reflects the entire meaning of the upcoming mission, since Victory Day can neither be forgotten nor erased from memory. It is a day of mourning, a day of remembrance for the millions of people who died in the terrible fire of war.  In practice, our joint work and international friendship are an example of the fact that there are no linguistic, national, racial or religious differences on the ISS. We work together in a friendly manner, and just as in childhood we lived with the thought that there would be no war, so now we dream of returning to a peaceful planet," said the ship's commander, Sergei Ryzhikov.

The ISS-73 expedition is scheduled to last 245 days. During this period, the crew will have to carry out more than forty scientific studies and experiments:

“We are looking forward to the implementation of the program, and many teams, scientists, specialists and workers in the rocket and space industry on Earth are waiting for the solutions to the tasks set before us. The most interesting tasks for us as operators are related to our extravehicular activities – two spacewalks are planned, during which we must install new equipment for two experiments,” Sergei Ryzhikov shared his plans.

“In addition to experiments, during spacewalks we perform complex work on the surface of the station, and it is dangerous, interesting, and exciting,” Alexey Zubritsky supported his commander.

Astronaut Jonathan Kim also spoke about the contribution that scientific experiments on the ISS make to improving life on Earth:

"All the science we do on the ISS is aimed at this. And I would like to pay special attention to the story about the cancer drug. On the station, thanks to international cooperation, we were able to increase the effectiveness of this drug by changing its structure. I am very proud and inspired by the work that we will do together on the upcoming flight and on the ISS," said Johnny Kim.

In addition to scientific activities, the cosmonauts on board are engaged in educational work: they talk about everyday work, daily life on the station, and share with earthlings photographs of our planet from a cosmic height. According to tradition, one of the crew members is hired as a correspondent for the TASS news agency. In the ISS-73 expedition, this mission will be entrusted to Alexey Zubritsky. Journalists were interested in what he plans to photograph first on the ISS.

"It depends on many factors. In fact, at first I just want to look out the window and enjoy the view of the Earth from space, I think it's an impressive sight. Later, depending on the weather conditions and the orbit, I plan to photograph some city in Russia, for example, Moscow, if possible, Star City," said Alexey Zubritsky.

During the press conference, a question was also asked of cosmonaut Sergei Kud-Sverchkov, the commander of the backup crew. The journalist was interested in the backup crew's communication with the main expedition team:

"Of course, we communicate closely during preparation, support each other. Also during the flight, when the main crew is on the station, we will communicate via e-mail. In addition, you can call from the station if necessary. Of course, communication is not as dense as on Earth. And I think the first message I will send on board will be congratulations to the commander and crew on their arrival at the station. Let's wait for that moment," suggested Sergei Kud-Sverchkov.

In addition, journalists asked the cosmonauts and astronauts about their feelings before and after the flight, how the morning before the launch goes, what the crew's zero-gravity indicator and playlist are. You can watch the answers to the questions in the recording of the pre-launch press conference on the Rutube channel of the Cosmonaut Training Center.

Here is a link to the video:  https://rutube.ru/video/fd4c6112d22059c8b96e7189538eb406/?r=plemwd
Pre-flight press conference of the ISS-73 crews at the Baikonur Cosmodrome

[ddspaceman]

A few more photos from above source:

[ddspaceman]

NEXT SPACE STATION RESIDENTS PREPARE FOR LAUNCH

[Targeteer]

Translated Russian comms on ISS youtube feed.  Sounds like the Cosmonauts are working through checklist to prepare the docking port for arrival.

[ddspaceman]

The Space Pirate🏴‍☠️🥷🏻🚀
@TheSpacePirateX
🚀 The Soyuz-2.1a rocket with the crewed Soyuz MS-27 spacecraft has been cleared for fueling and launch from Launch Pad 31 at Baikonur.

Liftoff is set for 05:47 UTC.

#SoyuzMS27 #Roscosmos #SpaceLaunch #Baikonur #HumanSpaceflight

The crew members of Soyuz MS-27:

1. Sergey Ryzhikov (Roscosmos, Commander) – Third spaceflight.

2. Alexey Zubritsky (Roscosmos, Flight Engineer) – First spaceflight.

3. Jonny Kim (NASA, Flight Engineer) – First spaceflight.

The Soyuz MS-27 crew left the Cosmonaut Hotel for the final preparations ahead of lift-off.

The head of Roscosmos, Dmitry Bakanov, wished good luck to the crew of the Soyuz MS-27 spacecraft —Cosmonaut 👨🏻‍🚀 Sergey Ryzhikov, Cosmonaut 👨🏻‍🚀 Aleksey Zubritsky, and Astronaut 👨🏻‍🚀 Jonathon Kim (@JonnyKimUSA ).

Off to the stars! 🚀✨

Soyuz MS-27 crew members — NASA astronaut @JonnyKimUSA (center), and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov (bottom) and Alexey Zubritskiy (top) — wave farewell as they board their Soyuz spacecraft for launch to the @Space_Station.

Bound for orbit! 👋🏻🚀

https://twitter.com/TheSpacePirateX/status/1909433686304444862

https://twitter.com/TheSpacePirateX/status/1909448796724953313

https://twitter.com/TheSpacePirateX/status/1909456068893176267

[DwightM]

Live coverage has begun with Rob Navias.

[Salo]

Liftoff 05:47:15.039 UTC.

[northenarc]

  Launch success. During the NASA broadcast crew prelaunch B-roll "provided courtesy of Sky News"  , mind blown, and not in a good way.

[Targeteer]

range 67 km, range rate 61.3 m/s

[Targeteer]

range 58, rate 58.9

[Targeteer]

range 38, rate 47.9, no joy on ISS yet

[Targeteer]

range 34, rate 44, sounds like they switched to the backup radio for command data link

[Targeteer]

missed the range, rate 36, still no ISS visual

[Targeteer]

range less than 10 km, rate 30m/s

[Targeteer]

correction range 15 km,  KURS test inwork

[Targeteer]

range 13, rate 19.8, no ISS visual

[Targeteer]

NASA coverage resumes

[Targeteer]

Awesome video of the Soyuz thruster burns

[Targeteer]

fly around underway

[FutureSpaceTourist]

Launch and docking highlights:

[centaurinasa]

April 8, 2025: International Space Station Configuration. Five spaceships are parked at the space station including the SpaceX Dragon crew spacecraft, the Soyuz MS-26 and MS-27 crew ships, and the Progress 90 and 91 resupply ships.

https://www.nasa.gov/international-space-station/space-station-visiting-vehicles/#:~:text=Nov.,84%20and%2085%20resupply%20ships.

[jacqmans]

RELEASE 25-031

APRIL 08, 2025


NASA Astronaut, Crewmates Arrive Safely at Space Station

NASA astronaut Jonny Kim, accompanied by Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky, arrived at the International Space Station on Tuesday, bringing the number of residents to 10 for the next two weeks.

The Soyuz MS-27 spacecraft carrying Kim, Ryzhikov, and Zubritsky docked to the Prichal module at 4:57 a.m. EDT, following a three-hour, two-orbit journey to the space station. They launched at 1:47 a.m. (10:47 a.m. Baikonur time) from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

When hatches open at approximately 7:20 a.m., the trio will join the Expedition 72 crew, including NASA astronauts Nichole Ayers, Anne McClain, and Don Pettit, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Roscosmos cosmonauts Kirill Peskov, Ivan Vagner, and Alexey Ovchinin.

NASA’s live coverage of hatch opening will begin at 7 a.m. on NASA+. Learn how to watch NASA content through a variety of platforms.

Expedition 73 will begin on Saturday, April 19, following the departure of Pettit, Ovchinin, and Vagner, as they conclude a seven-month science mission aboard the orbiting laboratory.

Watch the ceremonial change of command at 2:40 p.m. on Friday, April 18, as Ovchinin transfers the distinction to Onishi, live on NASA+.

Throughout his eight-month stay aboard the orbital outpost, Kim will conduct scientific research in technology development, Earth science, biology, human research, and more. This is the first flight for Kim and Zubritsky, and the third for Ryzhikov.

Learn more about space station activities at:

https://www.nasa.gov/station

[TALsite]

Ready for hatch opening

[TALsite]

And now...chaos 
10 people on board ISS

[TALsite]

Welcoming ceremony

[FutureSpaceTourist]

Hatch opening highlights:

[ChrisC]

During the NASA broadcast crew prelaunch B-roll "provided courtesy of Sky News"  , mind blown, and not in a good way.

Meaning ... NASA didn't send their own staff / assets to cover?  Or something else?

[northenarc]

During the NASA broadcast crew prelaunch B-roll "provided courtesy of Sky News"  , mind blown, and not in a good way.

Meaning ... NASA didn't send their own staff / assets to cover?  Or something else?

  I'm not quite sure, in the past the feed always came directly from Russia so far as I ever knew. NASA often sends somebody over for landing, but I don't recall any for launch in recent years, but the feed of crew activities is generally provided. Yet somehow, this time it came through a foreign news outlet from a country that doesn't participate in the program, and a company that is considered controversial by many people.

[ddspaceman]

afec7032 🇷🇺
@robert_savitsky
Soyuz MS-27 launch photographed by cosmonaut Ivan Vagner from the ISS

Better quality

https://twitter.com/robert_savitsky/status/1909497110749495486

[Satori]

(The simple) press-kit just for the record...

[Satori]

A few launch images (via Roscosmos Telegram)

[Steven Pietrobon]

(The simple) press-kit just for the record...

Thanks, but can someone upload the PDF version?

https://www.roscosmos.ru/37987/

[Targeteer]

https://twitter.com/astro_Pettit/status/1909841414713704577
Don Pettit @astro_Pettit
Changes in attitude, changes in latitude: @Space_Station
 We rotated 180 degrees and flew backwards for yesterday’s Soyuz docking.  This is a bit long but keep watching for the surprise in the middle.

[nsn]

Thanks, but can someone upload the PDF version?

https://www.roscosmos.ru/37987/

Attached.

[ddspaceman]

Scott Parazynski
@AstroDocScott
You really need to meet my friend @JonnyKimUSA - a humble, resilient, highly intelligent American hero... and likely The Most Interesting Man in the World. #NavySEAL, #physician, helicopter #pilot and now an #astronaut aboard the #ISS. Stay thirsty my friends! https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/jonny-kim-nasa-astronaut-navy-seal-harvard-doctor-nasa-astronaut-7ad0e523?reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

https://twitter.com/AstroDocScott/status/1910062158152622522

[ddspaceman]

International Space Station
@Space_Station
Welcome aboard! Three new crew members arrived at the station on April 8, 2025, beginning an eight-month space research mission. @NASA astronaut @JonnyKimUSA and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubrisky launched earlier the same day aboard the Soyuz MS-25 spacecraft from Kazakhstan.

https://twitter.com/Space_Station/status/1910308217759858694

[Targeteer]

Translated Russian comms have started on the ISS Youtube feed in preparation for undocking

[Targeteer]

hatch closure 0130:30 Z

[Targeteer]

US comms moved to SG-3 due to Russian comms on SG-2

[Targeteer]

Rob Navias starts NASA TV coverage

[Yellowstone10]

Views of the Soyuz docked at the nadir port of Prichal.

[Yellowstone10]

Views from MCC-Moscow.

Navias reports that conditions in Kazakhstan will be in the high teens Fahrenheit at time of landing. Chilly!

[Yellowstone10]

First brief view from inside the station.

[Yellowstone10]

Farewell ceremony (in the rear part of Zvezda, I think).

[Yellowstone10]

View from a camera in Prichal looking down into the Soyuz.

[Yellowstone10]

Christmas decorations are up at MCC-Houston. Luca Parmitano has CAPCOM duties tonight.

[Yellowstone10]

Boarding Soyuz.

[Yellowstone10]

Prichal hatch closed.

[Yellowstone10]

Navias reports the Soyuz hatch closed at 5:30 pm US/Eastern.

A couple of screenshots from before hatch closure:
 - Space hugs!
 - Reminds me of a concert, everyone has their mobile devices out to take pictures.

[Yellowstone10]

Undock occurred at 8:41 pm US/Eastern.

[Yellowstone10]

Deorbit burn start.

[Yellowstone10]

Deorbit burn complete. Nominal burn.

[Yellowstone10]

Module separation.

[Yellowstone10]

Descending through about 60 km, in comms blackout.

[Yellowstone10]

Comms regained and beacon is audible.

[Yellowstone10]

Chute deploy sequence should be underway.

[Yellowstone10]

Roscosmos feed has the Soyuz descending under its main chute.

Kazakhstan in December looks chilly.

[Yellowstone10]

Descending through 2,000 meters.

[Yellowstone10]

500 meters, but still no visibility of the Soyuz from the drone feed.

[Yellowstone10]

The Soyuz has landed (12:03:30 US/Eastern), although the recovery crews are still making their way to the site.

[Yellowstone10]

Landing coordinates, per Russian translator: 47°22' N 69°43' E.

[Yellowstone10]

First video from the landing site - spacecraft is on its side.

Edit - hatch is still closed.

[Yellowstone10]

Wide view of the site.

[Yellowstone10]

Hatch open.

[Yellowstone10]

Ryzhikov is out.

Edit - precise landing time now given as 33 seconds past the minute.

[Yellowstone10]

Interviewing Ryzhikov, who's bundled up - sounds like the two rookies had some issues (Kim with his ears, and Zubritsky "reached for the bag").

[Yellowstone10]

They brought one of the chairs over to Soyuz, and then took someone directly to the medical tent - not sure if that's Zubritsky or Kim.

[Yellowstone10]

And there's Jonny Kim! (Nice shades.)

[Yellowstone10]

Ryzhikov signs his capsule, and the feed from the field cut out shortly after that.

[Yellowstone10]

Never mind, feed's back. Ryzhikov's been taken to the tent, Kim is making a phone call.

[Yellowstone10]

Kim is also in the medical tent now. Rob Navias is making closing remarks as the coverage wraps up.

Next up - watch NASA5 on your flight tracking site of choice to see when Jonny Kim returns stateside.

[catdlr]

Kim is also in the medical tent now. Rob Navias is making closing remarks as the coverage wraps up.

Next up - watch NASA5 on your flight tracking site of choice to see when Jonny Kim returns stateside.

Once again, want to thank Yellowstone10 for doing all the coverage for this.  Appreciate the effort.

Tony

[catdlr]

[Yellowstone10]

NASA's Gulfstream V (N95NA, flying as NASA5) left Karaganda at 5:21 pm local, 7:21 am US/Eastern. Expected arrival time at Prestwick, Scotland is 9:51 pm local, 4:51 pm US/Eastern.

https://www.flightradar24.com/NASA5/3d6ef019

[Space Pete]

Kim currently over Turkey (routing around Russian/Ukranian airspace as is now standard).

Approx 8.5hr flight to Glasgow, then a further approx 8hr flight to Ellington.

[Yellowstone10]

Looks like they're diverting to somewhere in the London area - conditions in Glasgow are poor, with light rain and winds at 34 knots gusting to 45 knots.

Update - they've just landed at London Stansted Airport.

[Yellowstone10]

Roscosmos posted a few photos on their Telegram of Ryzhikov and Zubritsky back at Star City.

[Yellowstone10]

NASA5 is now flying from Stansted up to Prestwick, ETA 12:07 am local.

[Yellowstone10]

NASA5 is en route to Ellington Field - FR24 shows an ETA of 4:50 am US/Central.

[Space Pete]

And Kim has just landed at Ellington. Welcome home!

On the ISS traveling halfway round the world takes 45 minutes, back on earth it takes an entire day!