The three crew members launched to the space station on November 27, 2025. The mission was the first spaceflight for both Williams and Mikaev, and the second for Kud-Sverchkov. Together they orbited the Earth 3,856 times and traveled more than 102 million miles before departing the station.
The Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft undocked at 2:03 a.m. CDT and touched down at 5:27 a.m. CDT, which was 3:27 p.m. Kazakhstan time, southeast of Dzhezkazgan. During the mission, Williams supported a range of scientific investigations and technology demonstrations aboard the orbiting laboratory. He helped advance research for new cancer treatments and improved in-space manufacturing of materials used in high-performance computers and electronics.
Williams also completed two spacewalks. The first prepared the station for power system upgrades, and the second replaced a faulty joint on the Canadarm2 robotic arm. NASA stated that the crew’s work aboard the station helps improve life on Earth and prepares for future human missions to the Moon and Mars.
NASA described the mission as part of a broader effort spanning more than 25 years of continuous human presence aboard the International Space Station. The agency said the station helps it understand and overcome the challenges of human spaceflight, expand commercial opportunities in low Earth orbit, and build the foundation for long-duration missions to the Moon under the Artemis program and to Mars.
Following post-landing medical checks, the crew members will fly by helicopter to Karaganda, Kazakhstan, where recovery teams are based. Williams will then board a NASA aircraft bound for the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.
