International Space Station Achieves Milestone with All Docking Ports Occupied for First Time in Nearly 30 Years

The International Space Station (ISS) recently reached a significant milestone as the arrival of the Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft on November 27 resulted in all eight of its docking ports being occupied for the first time in nearly three decades of operation. This event also coincided with the 25th anniversary of a continuous human presence aboard the station. Seven vehicles are currently affixed to the ISS, housing a crew of seven as multiple governmental and commercial partnerships ensure an ongoing human footprint in orbit.

Soyuz MS-28 launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome at 9:27 UTC on November 27, propelled into low-Earth orbit by a Soyuz 2.1a rocket. After completing a brief two-orbit journey, the spacecraft autonomously docked with the Russian Rassvet module at 12:38 UTC. The crew aboard the capsule includes Russian cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikayev, alongside NASA astronaut Christopher Williams, and they’re scheduled to spend approximately eight months on the ISS.

However, on the ground, the launch pad experienced damage from the launch, raising concerns about Russia’s future access to the space station. Reports indicated that a maintenance cabin beneath the launch facility at Site 31/6 collapsed, causing significant disruption. This site is the only Russian locale capable of supporting missions to the ISS, but Roscosmos has suggested that they possess spare parts and plan to make repairs soon.

In a notable crew rotation, the Soyuz MS-27 spacecraft undocked from the ISS on December 9, marking the conclusion of Expedition 73 and the commencement of Expedition 74. The returning crew consisted of Russian cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky, along with NASA’s Jonny Kim, landing back on Earth just hours after departing from the orbiting laboratory.

The ISS is also home to SpaceX’s Crew Dragon Endeavour, which has remained docked to the Harmony module since August 2. The spacecraft is currently transporting two NASA astronauts, commander Zena Cardman and pilot Michael Fincke, as well as cosmonaut Oleg Platonov from Roscosmos and Kimiya Yui from JAXA.

Recent announcements from NASA and Boeing revealed a reduction in the planned number of Boeing Starliner missions under the Commercial Crew Program, trimming the previous goal of six crewed missions to accommodate delays stemming from issues encountered during the Crewed Flight Test scheduled for 2024. The upcoming Starliner-1 mission, slated for April 2026, is now expected to be uncrewed.

While two crewed spacecraft are presently docked, five cargo vehicles are also at the station following the departure of Soyuz MS-27. The SpaceX Cargo Dragon C211 is part of the CRS-33 resupply mission and has been docked at the ISS since August 25. Additionally, JAXA’s HTV-X1, the first of its kind, is currently affixed to the nadir port. Two Progress resupply vehicles, Progress 92 and Progress 93, make up the Russian segment, while Northrop Grumman’s NG-23 Cygnus spacecraft has been briefly unberthed for waste collection tasks.

As the ISS continues its vital scientific work, crew members engage in numerous experiments daily. Recently, they focused on cardiovascular research, spacesuit maintenance, and studying stem cells in microgravity to advance medical knowledge for future long-duration missions. These efforts are crucial, as understanding the physiological effects of microgravity on the human body is essential for preparing for longer journeys, such as missions to Mars.

This month not only marks a milestone in occupancy and anniversary celebrations but also highlights continued advancements in collaborative space missions. As the ISS enters a new expedition phase, it stands as a testament to international partnerships in space exploration and scientific research, with its legacy set to expand further in the years to come.