NASA chief returns to Baikonur as US-Russia space ties thaw
NASA chief's Baikonur visit signals thawing US-Russia space diplomacy amid ongoing ISS cooperation.
Event / Science
US-Russia ISS Crew Missions
US and Russian astronauts conducted coordinated International Space Station missions in July 2026, with one crew completing an 8-month mission and landing in Kazakhstan on July 26, while a new joint crew launched from Baikonur on July 14. These missions demonstrate continued space cooperation despite geopolitical tensions from the 2022 Ukraine invasion.
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2026-08-15 to 2026-11-12 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 27 Jul, 03:18 UTC
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What happened
US and Russia continue space cooperation despite Ukraine tensions
Despite diplomatic tensions following Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the United States and Russia maintain cooperation on the International Space Station, with US and Russian crews continuing to fly to the orbiting outpost on each country's spacecraft.
New US-Russian crew arrives at International Space Station
NASA astronaut Anil Menon and Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina arrived at the International Space Station on July 14 for an eight-month mission after launching from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. They joined the crew of Expedition 75.
First space mission for NASA astronauts Williams and Mikaev
This 241-day mission on the International Space Station was the first space mission for both NASA astronaut Chris Williams and Russian cosmonaut Sergei Mikaev.
US-Russian space crew lands safely in Kazakhstan after 8-month ISS mission
NASA astronaut Chris Williams and Russian cosmonauts Sergei Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev landed safely in their Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft in the steppes of Kazakhstan southeast of Dzhezkazgan after completing a 241-day mission aboard the International Space Station. The landing occurred by parachute in a designated area.
NASA Administrator visits Baikonur for first time in 8 years
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman attended the launch of the new crew to the International Space Station from the Baikonur cosmodrome, marking the first visit to Baikonur by a NASA chief in eight years.
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Successful crew transition marks continued US-Russia ISS cooperation
US-Russian crews completed successful ISS transition with Williams and Mikaev's first mission.