Soyuz MS-28 Spacecraft Completes Final Checks Ahead of Liftoff

As of November 17, 2025, the Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft is fully fueled and stationed at the assembly and test facility in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. The crew, led by Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Kud-Sverchkov, has arrived at the spaceport and begun the final preparations for launch.

The crew recently conducted the "first fitting" of the spacecraft, inspecting the systems, checking the ergonomics, and trying on their spacesuits. They also performed a communications check and ceremoniously raised the flags, marking the official start of their pre-launch training.

Both the prime and backup crews are now engaged in comprehensive training sessions at Baikonur's Site 17. Their activities include preparing for the effects of weightlessness, vestibular stability exercises, and detailed briefings on the spacecraft's systems. They are also reviewing launch procedures and inputting all relevant information into their onboard logbooks.

The launch of Soyuz MS-28 is scheduled for November 27, 2025. The prime crew of ISS Expedition 74 includes Russian cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergey Mikayev, along with NASA astronaut Christopher Williams. Their backups are cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina, as well as astronaut Anil Menon. The mission, expected to last approximately eight months, will include over 40 scientific experiments and two spacewalks.