Russian Mission to the ISS: Launch from Baikonur
Soyuz MS-18 launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on 9 April 2021. It carried NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei and Roscosmos cosmonauts Oleg Novitskiy and Pyotr Dubrov. Together, the three crew members headed for the International Space Station.
According to NASA’s mission report, they reached the station after a journey of about three hours. In addition, their arrival brought the station’s crew to ten people. The mission formed part of the continuing rotation of astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the orbital laboratory.
Crew Changes During the Russian Mission to the ISS
A new crew arrival is one part of a larger handover. For example, the incoming team joins people already living and working aboard the station. Meanwhile, other crew members prepare for their return to Earth.
This overlap helps readers understand why the number of people aboard can change during a mission. Therefore, a launch report and a later crew update may describe different totals. Both can be accurate for the dates they cover.
Following the Mission in Context
The Russian mission to the ISS took place during a busy period for human spaceflight in April 2021. SpaceX also planned a crew launch from Florida later that month. Consequently, several vehicles and teams featured in station news at the same time.
When following these stories, it helps to separate the launch vehicle from the spacecraft carrying the crew. In particular, the mission name identifies the journey, while the crew list tells you who travelled. Checking the date also keeps historical plans in their proper context.
Explore More Spaceflight Stories
This article records a 2021 Russian mission to the ISS rather than a current launch schedule. To follow more stories, browse RocketBreaks news. Alternatively, explore our orbital space experiences and discuss your interests with the team.