NASA Astronaut to Lift Off in Kazakhstan Rocket Launch To...

A rocket is set to lift off from the the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan this morning. NASA astronaut Chris Williams will lift off aboard the Roscosmos Soyuz MS-28 rocket to the International Space Station on Thursday November 27 at at 4:27 a.m. EST. Williams will be accompanied by astronauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev. They will spend approximately eight months aboard the space station as Expedition 73/74 crew members to help advance scientific research, before returning to Earth in summer 2026.

What To Know

Rocket Soyuz to lift off at 4:27 a.m. EST from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan to the International Space Station
Live launch and docking coverage will be available on various online channels and platforms
Spacecraft will dock to the station’s Rassvet module at approximately 7:38 a.m.
Shortly after docking, hatches will open between Soyuz and the space station
Williams, Kud-Sverchkov, and Mikaev will spend approximately eight months aboard the space station as Expedition 73/74 crew members
The team will return to Earth in summer 2026

Stay with Newsweek for the latest on the NASA rocket launch.

Nov 27, 2025 at 04:39 AM EST

Solar Arrays and Navigational Antennas Deployed

Everything is nominal following third stage seperation, the ground control is reporting.

Nov 27, 2025 at 04:34 AM EST

Four Minute Mark of Flight

Sergey Kud-Sverchko reports "Everything's fine on board; we're feeling great."Meanwhile, the rocket's extetnal cameras have captured a view of a cloudy Earth receding behind it.

Nov 27, 2025 at 04:29 AM EST

Soyuz MS-28 Launch Has Lift-Off

Nov 27, 2025 at 04:27 AM EST

How to watch today’s rocket launch

Coverage of the launch of rocket Roscosmos Soyuz MS-28 is available on various channels and platforms.

Both the live launch and docking coverage can be viewed on NASA+, Amazon Prime and the agency’s YouTube channel.

NASA has a useful guide on how to watch NASA content through a variety of platforms, including social media.

Launch coverage began at 3:30 a.m on NASA+, Amazon Prime, and YouTube. The launch itself is due to take place at 4:27 a.m.

At 6:45 a.m., rendezvous and docking coverage will begin, with docking to the space station expected at 7:38 a.m. and the hatch opening and welcome remarks coverage beginning at 9:50 a.m. The hatch will officially open at 10:10 a.m.

Nov 27, 2025 at 04:26 AM EST

Is there a NASA rocket launch today? What to know

A NASA rocket launch will lift off at 4:27 a.m. EST (2:27 p.m. Baikonur time) from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan in pursuit of the International Space Station.

NASA astronaut Chris Williams will launch aboard the Roscosmos Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft accompanied by cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev.

Williams, Kud-Sverchkov, and Mikaev will spend approximately eight months aboard the space station as Expedition 73/74 crew members, before returning to Earth in summer 2026.

This will be the first spaceflight for Williams and Mikaev, and the second for Kud-Sverchkov.

Once aboard, the trio will join NASA astronauts Mike Fincke, Zena Cardman and Jonny Kim, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Kimiya Yui and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergei Ryzhikov, Alexey Zubritsky and Oleg Platonov.

While aboard station, Williams will conduct scientific research and technology demonstrations to help advance human space exploration and life on Earth. He will help install and test a new modular workout system for long-duration missions, support experiments to improve cryogenic fuel efficiency and grow semiconductor crystals in space, according to NASA.

He will also assist NASA in designing new re-entry safety protocols to protect crews during future missions.

Nov 27, 2025 at 04:24 AM EST