On April 19, 2025, Soyuz MS -26 spacecraft returned to Earth after a one -month mission on the Worldwide Area Station. Together with cosmonots Alexi Ovachinin and Ivan Vegner, the spacecraft additionally carried out NASA Astronaut Don Petit. Ignored from the ISS, the spacecraft went away and began touchdown in Kazakhstan after three hours. Petit time within the orbit was marked by a number of scientific investigations centered on future house missions, together with metallic 3D printing, superior water hygiene, use on hearth habits in plant biology and microwship.
Again to Earth: Don returns Petits and Crumets after scientific mission in Soyuz Orbit
In accordance with the NASA mission abstract, Petit logged into a whole lot of hours on analysis initiatives aimed toward rising lengthy -term spaceflight applied sciences. The company’s replace acknowledged that 3D printing experiments upgraded superior additive manufacturing underneath weightless situations, whereas hearth dynamics exams provided essential information for onboard security measures. Analysis on water purification and sturdy plant development will assist assist life assist methods on future lunar and martian homes.
Soyuz’s profitable return added one other chapter to the rotation efforts of the common worldwide crew between NASA and Rososmos. The touchdown website in Kazakhstan is a normal restoration space, the place helicopters and floor groups met the crew for medical examination and post-flight evaluation. Regardless of the morning touchdown, the visibility was clear, making certain a easy restoration.
Petit’s mission emphasised how ISS stays an essential platform for microgravity analysis. Their investigation instantly contributes to NASA’s Artemis and Mars-foreverword functions, which contributes to the continuing targets for everlasting house exploration and planetary residence.
Soyuz MS-26 crew safely with house, the ISS program continues with its subsequent stage operation, together with additional Earth science, house expertise exams and worldwide crew cooperation.