Image: NASA/Joel Kowsky
Soyuz MS-05
Mission Profile
| Launch date | 2017-07-28 |
|---|---|
| Launch site | Baikonur Cosmodrome, Site 1/5 (Gagarin's Start) |
| Launch vehicle | Soyuz-FG |
| Spacecraft | Soyuz MS (No. 736) |
| Target | Low Earth Orbit |
| Type | Crewed |
| End date | 2017-12-14 |
| Duration | 139 days 4 hours 57 minutes |
| Partners | Roscosmos, NASA, ESA |
Overview
Soyuz MS-05 carried a veteran international trio to the International Space Station for Expeditions 52 and 53. Its human centrepiece was Italian ESA astronaut Paolo Nespoli, who at 60 became one of the oldest people to fly in orbit, returning for his third spaceflight and his second long-duration stay nearly seven years after Soyuz TMA-20. Commander Sergey Ryazansky of Roscosmos and NASA's Randy Bresnik rounded out the crew, lifting off from Gagarin's Start at Baikonur on 28 July 2017. Nespoli's VITA mission ran a packed slate of European science and education outreach, including conversations beamed to students across Italy. After 139 days aloft, the three undocked and landed safely on the snow-dusted Kazakh steppe on 14 December 2017, closing out a textbook Soyuz expedition.
Crew
Sergey Ryazansky
Commander (Roscosmos)
Second spaceflight; landed the descent module
Randy Bresnik
Flight Engineer (NASA)
Second spaceflight; commanded Expedition 53
Paolo Nespoli
Flight Engineer (ESA)
Third and final spaceflight; ESA VITA mission, aged 60 at launch
Key Milestones
2017-07-28
Launch from Baikonur Site 1/5 at 15:41 UTC aboard Soyuz-FG
2017-07-28
Automated docking to the ISS Rassvet module after a six-hour, four-orbit rendezvous
2017-09-02
Crew transitions from Expedition 52 to Expedition 53
2017-12-14
Undocking and parachute landing in Kazakhstan after 139 days in space
Key Achievements
Returned ESA's Paolo Nespoli to orbit for his third spaceflight at age 60
Flew the European VITA long-duration science and outreach mission
Completed a 139-day Expedition 52/53 increment with a flawless steppe landing
