NASA astronaut, two Russian cosmonauts return to Earth from space station

December 16, 2025

TL;DR

NASA astronaut Jonny Kim and two Russian cosmonauts returned to Earth after an eight-month mission on the ISS.
The Soyuz MS-27/73S spacecraft undocked from the ISS and landed on target in Kazakhstan.
The crew endured re-entry temperatures of 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit.
Recovery crews met the lander, extracted the crew, and provided initial medical checks.
Kim received a matryoshka doll as a gift from recovery crews.
The crew will undergo further medical checks before flying home or returning to Star City, Russia.
During their mission, the crew traveled 104 million miles over 3,920 orbits.
Kim reflected on the bond shared with his crewmates and the importance of love in space exploration.
New crews have already arrived at the ISS to replace the returning astronauts.

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