Jonny Kim, a NASA astronaut, took off successfully with two Russian cosmonauts on Tuesday to begin a long mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
The trio—Kim, Sergey Ryzhikov, and Alexey Zubritsky—launched from Kazakhstan’s Baikonur Cosmodrome. The Soyuz MS-27 spacecraft, carried by a Soyuz rocket, lifted off on schedule and entered orbit shortly after. They are expected to dock at the ISS in just over three hours.
Kim and his Russian colleagues will spend around eight months on the space station. During this time, they will conduct scientific research and test new technology. NASA said these activities will help prepare astronauts for future space missions and improve life on Earth.
Jonny Kim is from Los Angeles and serves as a U.S. Navy lieutenant commander. He is also trained as both a naval aviator and flight surgeon.
A Growing Crew in Space
Once they arrive, the three new astronauts will join a larger crew already stationed on the ISS. This includes NASA astronauts Don Pettit, Anne McClain, and Nichole Ayers; Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi; and Russian cosmonauts Alexey Ovchinin, Ivan Vagner, and Kirill Peskov. NASA highlighted Kim’s role, noting that his work will focus on supporting long-term space travel goals.
