On July 14, a Russian Soyuz MS-29 spacecraft launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, carrying U.S. astronaut Anil Menon alongside Russian cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina to the International Space Station.
The ascent occurred at 10:47 a.m. EDT (1447 GMT) from a launchpad that had recently undergone repairs. Around 10 minutes after liftoff, the vehicle and its crew were inserted into orbit, initiating a roughly three-hour orbital transit toward the football field-sized orbiting laboratory.
Docking with the station was scheduled for 1:56 p.m. EDT, after which the trio will serve as the station's 75th rotation crew for a period of about eight months.
The launch was attended by high-level officials from both countries. Roscosmos director Dmitry Bakanov and NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman were present at the Baikonur Cosmodrome to observe the mission - marking the first visit by a NASA chief to Russia's launch site since 2018. The return of crewed flights from the recently repaired pad and the joint attendance by agency leaders underscored the operational resumption at Baikonur.
The return to crewed operations from the repaired launch facility takes place against a backdrop of strained relations that have affected prior engagement. The article notes that tensions related to the Russia-Ukraine conflict had largely prevented Bill Nelson, President Joe Biden's NASA chief, from participating in such visits.
As the Soyuz spacecraft completed its ascent and entered its orbital trajectory, the crew began the prescribed three-hour rendezvous and docking sequence to join the International Space Station. Once docked, the three crew members will commence their assigned duties during the planned eight-month stay as part of the station's 75th expedition rotation.
Contextual note: The movement from launch to docking followed the standard timing provided, with liftoff at 10:47 a.m. EDT, orbital insertion approximately 10 minutes later, and docking at 1:56 p.m. EDT. The mission continues established international crew exchange practices aboard the ISS.