Earlier this month, the International Space Station exceeded its 21-year milestone of constant human presence, supplying opportunities for distinct research study and technological presentations that assist prepare for long-duration missions to the Moon and Mars and likewise improve life in the world. During that time, 251 individuals from 19 nations have actually visited the orbiting lab, which has actually hosted almost 3,000 research examinations from scientists in 108 locations and countries.
At center, Soyuz Commander Alexander Misurkin and spaceflight individuals Yusaku Maezawa (left) and Yozo Hirano (right) posture for individual preflight pictures.
Russian cosmonaut Alexander Misurkin along with spaceflight participants Yusaku Maezawa and Yozo Hirano landed on Earth around 10:13 p.m. EST Sunday, December 19, 2021, in Kazakhstan (around 9:13 a.m. Monday, December 20, Kazakhstan time). The trio departed the International Space Station in their Soyuz MS-20 spacecraft at 6:50 p.m
. The Soyuz MS-20 crew ship with cosmoanut Alexander Misurkin and spaceflight participants Yozo Hirano and Yusaku Maezawa pulls back from the station. Credit: NASA
Misurkin, now a three-time space visitor, commanded the Soyuz MS-20 spacecraft, which launched the visitors to the spaceport station from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on December 8.
Cosmonaut Alexander Misurkin and spaceflight individuals Yusaku Maezawa and Yozo Hirano are pictured aboard the station on December 8, 2021. Credit: NASA TV
The Soyuz spacecraft undocked from the International Space Station at 6:50 p.m. EST, carrying three individuals back to Earth. Remaining aboard the orbiting station are Expedition 66 leader and Roscosmos cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov, Roscosmos cosmonaut Pyotr Dubrov, NASA astronauts Mark Vande Hei, Raja Chari, Thomas Marshburn, and Kayla Barron, and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Matthias Maurer.