There’s some exciting space action happening on Thanksgiving Day, November 27. You might need to set your alarm early if you want to catch it live!
A Soyuz rocket will launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 4:27 a.m. EST (9:27 a.m. GMT). NASA astronaut Chris Williams, along with cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergey Mikayev, will be on board, heading to the International Space Station (ISS).
If you want to watch, the coverage will kick off at 3:30 a.m. EST on NASA’s YouTube channel. Just follow this link: Watch on YouTube.
Once in orbit, the Soyuz will dock with the ISS about three hours later, around 7:38 a.m. EST. You can tune in for that milestone at 6:45 a.m. EST. They’ll be spending around eight months on the ISS as part of Expeditions 73 and 74.
This mission is especially notable for Williams and Mikayev, as it will be their first journey into space. Kud-Sverchkov has flown before, spending time on the ISS from October 2020 to April 2021.
During their stay, Williams will conduct various research and technology tests aimed at benefiting life on Earth and advancing human space exploration. These experiments include testing a new modular workout system designed for long space missions, improving cryogenic fuel efficiency, and working on new safety protocols for human spaceflight.
Interestingly, this Thanksgiving launch comes just days after China sent an uncrewed Shenzhou capsule to the Tiangong space station. That craft will soon bring home three astronauts who had been stranded without a lifeboat for ten days due to an incident involving space debris.
This mission highlights the increasing activities in low Earth orbit as countries ramp up their space explorations. Watching it live will surely be a unique way to start your holiday!
