Soyuz MS-19 Spacecraft Departs International Space Station

Soyuz MS-19 Spacecraft Departs International Space Station

NASA Astronaut Mark Vande Hei's Ride Home!

The Soyuz MS-19 crew ship, carrying three Expedition 66 crew members, departs the International Space Station after undocking from the Rassvet module on March 30, 2022. The Soyuz crew ship would parachute to a landing in Kazakhstan just over four hours later with NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei and Roscosmos cosmonauts Anton Shkaplerov and Pyotr Dubrov.

Vande Hei arrived at the International Space Station on April 9, 2021, spending 355 days in low-Earth orbit, breaking the previous record held by retired NASA astronaut Scott Kelly by 15 days.

“Mark’s mission is not only record-breaking, but also paving the way for future human explorers on the Moon, Mars, and beyond,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. “Our astronauts make incredible sacrifices in the name of science, exploration, and cutting-edge technology development, not least among them time away from loved ones. NASA and the nation are proud to welcome Mark home and grateful for his incredible contributions throughout his year-long stay on the International Space Station.”

During his 355 days aboard the station, Vande Hei experienced:

Approximately 5,680 orbits of Earth

Approximately 150,619,530 statute miles traveled (equivalent of approximately 312 round trips to the Moon and back)

An international partnership of space agencies provides and operates the elements of the International Space Station (ISS). The principals are the space agencies of the United States, Russia, Europe, Japan, and Canada. The ISS has been the most politically complex space exploration program ever undertaken.

NASA Astronaut Mark Vande Hei's Official NASA Biography

https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/mark-t-vande-hei/biography

Learn more about the important research being operated on the International Space Station:

https://www.nasa.gov/iss-science 

For more information about STEM on Station:

https://www.nasa.gov/stemonstation

Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM) Education

Image Credit: NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC)

Image Date: March 30, 2022

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