Launch date: Thursday, November 27, 2025
Launch time: 4:27 AM EST (New York time)
Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
Before most of New York wakes up, a fresh crew will already be on their way to orbit. At 4:27 AM EST on November 27, 2025, the Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft is scheduled to lift off from the historic Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, carrying a three-person crew to the International Space Station (ISS).
On board Soyuz MS-28 are NASA astronaut Chris Williams and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev. For Williams, this launch marks his first journey into space and his first long-duration mission on the ISS. The flight underlines the continuing partnership between NASA and Roscosmos, as both agencies work together to keep the orbiting laboratory staffed and operating 24/7.
Shortly after launch, Soyuz MS-28 will follow a fast-track rendezvous profile, aiming to reach and dock with the ISS just a few hours after lift-off. Once the hatches open, the new arrivals will join the current station crew and become part of the next ISS expedition.
During their mission, Williams and his crewmates will support a packed schedule of scientific experiments, technology demonstrations, and maintenance tasks. Research on the ISS ranges from human health in microgravity and new materials to climate and Earth-observation studies, all designed to benefit life on Earth and prepare for future missions deeper into the Solar System.
Space fans can follow the mission live. NASA is providing coverage of the launch, docking, and key milestones on its official channels, including NASA’s website and streaming platforms. Even if the 4:27 AM launch time is too early for some viewers in New York and the US East Coast, replays and highlight clips are expected to be available shortly after lift-off.
For readers who enjoy following NASA’s ongoing missions and sky events, you can also explore how the agency recently captured stunning images of a visiting comet in our feature on NASA 3I ATLAS comet images 2025 . Together with launches like Soyuz MS-28, these stories show how human spaceflight and space science continue to inspire audiences back on Earth.
