The departure of the Crew Dragon from the International Space Station, including Russian cosmonaut Anna Kikina, ran into delays caused by weather conditions over the splash zone. NASA provided updates to keep the public informed about the situation. (NASA)
Space agency specialists reviewed the forecast and determined that attempting an early departure could risk the mission. The plan was to launch the crew back to Earth on a scheduled window that would have aligned with US East Coast time. (NASA)
Strong winds and unstable conditions at the landing area were noted as the primary factors affecting the timing and safety of the mission’s return sequence. (NASA)
Anna Kikina’s participation marked a historic milestone for Roscosmos, highlighting her role as a member of the joint mission crew. Post-flight rehabilitation would take place in the United States, a standard process to ensure the recovery and health monitoring of the crew after re-entry. (Roscosmos)
Earlier releases indicated the Crew Dragon crew, including Anna Kikina, had been relocated to the International Space Station in preparation for operations. The docking sequence occurred automatically, reinforcing the reliability of autonomous systems in space rendezvous. (NASA)
Anna Kikina is a test cosmonaut affiliated with the Gagarin Training Center and the Yu A. Gagarin Scientific Research Institute. She is recognized as a pioneering figure in spaceflight, noted for breaking several barriers as a prominent member of Russia’s human spaceflight program. Since 2016, she has stood as the only woman in Roscosmos’ corps during that period, contributing to ongoing efforts in international crewed missions. (Roscosmos)