Soyuz Capsule Plunges Through Atmosphere

The Soyuz MS-27 spacecraft is now actively decelerating as its crew begins their journey back from the International Space Station. The mission's Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky, along with NASA astronaut Jonathan Kim, are aboard.

As the spacecraft enters Earth's atmosphere, the descent module will detach from its other compartments. These will burn up on re-entry, along with any jettisoned cargo. The descent module itself will create a significant plasma cloud, reaching temperatures of approximately 2,000 degrees Celsius, which is expected to temporarily disrupt communications.

Following this intense phase, parachutes will further slow the module's descent, and final soft-landing engines will engage just before touchdown. The crew's safe return is anticipated in Kazakhstan at 5:04 a.m. GMT.