NASA Astronaut Returns With Russian Cosmonauts After Spending 245 Days In Space

NASA astronaut Jonny Kim safely landed on Earth with Russian cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky on Tuesday. Their MS-27 Soyuz spacecraft undocked from the International Space Station’s (ISS) Prichal module at 7:11 am IST (8:41 pm EST) and landed in Kazakhstan at 10:33 am IST (12:03 am EST).

Announcing their arrival, NASA shared a video of the Kim as he exited the Soyuz capsule. The trio have returned after spending 245 days in space for the mission which launched in April.

Back from the @Space_Station! @JonnyKimUSA has exited his Soyuz capsule after touching down on Earth at 12:04am ET (0504 UTC), wrapping up eight months of scientific discovery in low Earth orbit. pic.twitter.com/6NkQRON5no
— NASA (@NASA) December 9, 2025

Russian space reporter Katya Pavlushchenko posted on X that Ryzhikov said Zubritsky was “reaching for the bag” when he stepped out of the capsule and was immediately rushed to a medical tent. The status of his health has not been revealed, although, he may have been airsick. Pavlushchenko also claimed that one of the ground crew members said in Russian – “Just don’t say it out loud, otherwise it goes on the air and then it starts.”

NASA MS-27 crew — MS-27 astronauts Jonny Kim, Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky (left to right). Image: NASA

Airsickness among astronauts is common when they return to Earth after spending months in space. The sudden exposure to gravity may cause nausea or vomiting, dizziness, faintness, and difficulty walking. Astronauts flying to space and suddenly entering microgravity could also feel airsick.

NASA MS-27 — The ground support team working around the MS-27 spacecraft after landing. Image: NASA

NASA Russia International Space Station — The MS-27 crew inside the Soyuz capsule. Image: NASA

MS-27 mission comes to an end

The MS-27 mission, launched on April 8 from the Baikonur cosmodrome, has now concluded with the astronauts’ arrival. The crew has been replaced by MS-28 mission which launched on November 27 with NASA astronaut Chris Williams and two Russian cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev. Williams and team will also spend eight months in space.

#ICYMI: Three Soyuz MS-28 crewmates launched and docked on Thanksgiving Day to the orbital outpost for an eight-month research mission. Watch key moments highlighting their holiday journey. pic.twitter.com/VuVKxLj8Iy
— International Space Station (@Space_Station) December 3, 2025

Kim will soon be flown to Houston, Texas whereas his Russian colleagues will be transported to their training base in Star City, Moscow. All three will undergo weeks of training to get used to Earth’s gravity and regain their muscle strength lost in space.

Yesterday, Ryzhikov formally handed over the station’s command to NASA astronaut Mike Fincke who will now lead the Expedition 74 crew of seven astronauts aboard the space station.

My space brothers fly home to Earth today in a shooting star, population three. Godspeed, Soyuz MS-27. @JonnyKimUSA, Alexei, Sergei – I am beyond grateful to have shared this expedition with you. pic.twitter.com/9gWwPC55Vf
— Zena Cardman (@zenanaut) December 8, 2025

In a farewell post, Expedition 74 member and commander of the ongoing Crew-11 mission, Zena Cardman, shared a farewell post in honour of the MS-27 astronauts. “My space brothers fly home to Earth today in a shooting star, population three. Godspeed, Soyuz MS-27. @JonnyKimUSA, Alexei, Sergei – I am beyond grateful to have shared this expedition with you,” she posted on X.

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