Only three hours after leaving Earth from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, today, the Soyuz MS-17 spacecraft carrying NASA astronaut Kate Rubins and Russian cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Sergey Kud-Sverchkov docked with the International Space Station (ISS). A perfect start for ISS Expedition 64.
It took the previous crew that was launched to the ISS a full day following its liftoff from Florida, United States in May. Demo-2 required a few more orbits to match the velocity and the altitude of the ISS but today, the timing and conditions were perfect to bring the Soyuz capsule with the help of two fast orbits around the Earth to the ISS.
The crew will start a 6-month research mission in Earth orbit. There are now six crew members onboard the ISS: cosmonauts Anatoly Ivanishin and Ivan Vagner, as well as NASA astronaut Christopher Cassidy, who were already on the station.
The remainder of the crew is scheduled to be delivered shortly afterwards on SpaceX Crew-1, the first operational flight of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program (CCP). As Crew-1 consists of a crew of four instead of three like the Soyuz, Expedition 64 will mark the beginning of seven crew operations on the ISS. The mission is scheduled to end on 18 April 2021 with the departure of Soyuz MS-17.
A recap of the mission start, from launching to the station:
The Exp 64 trio is less than two hours from launching to the station to begin a 6-month research mission in Earth orbit. Live @NASA TV coverage starts at 12:45am ET. https://t.co/yuOTrZ4Jut https://t.co/nbdA4LCRf1
— Intl. Space Station (@Space_Station) October 14, 2020
And liftoff three Exp 64 crewmates, including @NASA astronaut Kate Rubins on her birthday, aboard a very big candle! She and two @Roscosmos cosmonauts will arrive at the station about three hours later. https://t.co/yuOTrZ4Jut pic.twitter.com/8Zg9X8tcic
— Intl. Space Station (@Space_Station) October 14, 2020
Congratulations to Kate Rubins, Sergey Ryzhikov and Sergey Kud-Sverchkov on a safe launch! Looking forward to seeing you on the @Space_Station! https://t.co/qT7bP9hhjX
— Jim Bridenstine (@JimBridenstine) October 14, 2020
There will soon be six people aboard the station as the Exp 64 crew nears the orbiting lab. @dannlsbd wants to know, "How many astronauts can the ISS accommodate?" #AskNASA | https://t.co/yuOTrZ4Jut pic.twitter.com/cb91r5k4CV
— Intl. Space Station (@Space_Station) October 14, 2020
The Exp 64 crew has begun its flyaround of the station inside the Soyuz MS-17 crew ship. They will dock to the Rassvet module at 4:52am ET. #AskNASA | https://t.co/yuOTrZ4Jut pic.twitter.com/CdunRGBNgD
— Intl. Space Station (@Space_Station) October 14, 2020
The Exp 64 crew is on final approach toward the station's Rassvet module where they will soon dock inside the Soyuz MS-17 crew ship. #AskNASA | https://t.co/yuOTrZ4Jut pic.twitter.com/gDbjCUPJGP
— Intl. Space Station (@Space_Station) October 14, 2020
The Exp 64 crew has arrived at the station's Rassvet module docking at 4:48am ET inside the Soyuz MS-17 crew ship. #AskNASA | https://t.co/yuOTrZ4Jut pic.twitter.com/6RKAF8OK8T
— Intl. Space Station (@Space_Station) October 14, 2020
Three hours and three minutes from liftoff to docking – an absolute record in crewed spaceflights to the @Space_Station!
Congratulations to the #SoyuzMS17 on the successful docking! Waiting for the transfer hatches opening! pic.twitter.com/yCYaM4xzsZ
— Ivan Vagner (@ivan_mks63) October 14, 2020
Astronaut Kate Rubins is beginning her second station mission. She sequenced DNA in space for the first time ever during her first mission. @Aaaaaaaaryan is asking, "What kind of research would be taking place on the ISS?" pic.twitter.com/Co4qDXO2o1
— Intl. Space Station (@Space_Station) October 14, 2020
Hatches are open between newly arrived #SoyuzMS17 spacecraft and @Space_Station.
The ISS crew increase to 6 members: Anatoly Ivanishin, @ivan_mks63, Sergey Ryzhikov, @KudSverchkov, Christopher Cassidy and Kathleen Rubins. pic.twitter.com/qvgac4ZnH5
— ????????? (@roscosmos) October 14, 2020
The space station crew expanded to six people today when the Soyuz crew ship hatch opened at 7:07am ET just a few hours after the Exp 64 crew launched from Kazakhstan. More… https://t.co/9L5DaJFRSa pic.twitter.com/skxgdiKKJH
— Intl. Space Station (@Space_Station) October 14, 2020
