Russia launches Soyuz MS-28 with three astronauts to ISS

A Soyuz-2.1a carrier rocket was launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Thursday, sending the Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft with two Russian cosmonauts and one U.S. astronaut to the International Space Station (ISS).

The spacecraft lifted off at 12:28 p.m. Moscow time. The crew includes Russian commander Sergei Kud-Sverchkov, making his second spaceflight, fellow Russian cosmonaut Sergei Mikayev, and NASA astronaut Christopher Williams, both flying to space for the first time.

The spacecraft docked with the ISS's Rassvet module at 7:34 a.m. EST, according to NASA. The crew will later open the hatches and board the ISS.

For the first time, the crew's work on the ISS will integrate the GigaChat neural network, a large-scale generative AI model developed by Russia's largest bank, Sberbank. Albert Efimov, vice president of Sberbank, said the system will help generate reports, manage databases, and ease the crew's routine tasks.

The mission is scheduled to last 242 days, with a planned return to Earth in summer 2026. During this period, more than 40 experiments will be conducted under the Russian program, with two spacewalks planned for April and June 2026.

The first spacewalk will focus on installing the Sun-Terahertz instrument, designed to enhance the forecasting of solar flares. The second spacewalk will involve maintenance on the Zarya module and the replacement of components that have reached the end of their service life.

Direct descendants of the fruit flies that flew aboard the Bion-M No.2 biosatellite will also be sent to space as part of the mission.

(With input from agencies)