The Soyuz MS-23 manned spacecraft is planned to touch down in the Kazakhstan steppes on Wednesday afternoon, bringing to a close the year-long mission of Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergei Prokopyev and Dmitry Petelin, alongside NASA astronaut Frank Rubio. This marks the longest continuous human presence aboard the International Space Station (ISS) to date, according to statements from the Roscosmos press service and covered by TASS. The crew’s return capsule is expected to complete its return to Earth with three crew members aboard after a mission that has underscored the endurance and collaboration central to modern human spaceflight.
The process to remove the spacecraft from orbit will begin at 10:55 Moscow time, followed by a transition to autonomous flight as Soyuz MS-23 initiates braking maneuvers and begins its descent. The burn to re-enter the atmosphere will occur at approximately 13:24 Moscow time. During this phase, the housing and instrument compartments will separate from the descent module and are designed to burn up as they encounter progressively denser atmospheric layers, a standard yet carefully choreographed sequence that ensures the crew remains protected during the final approach.
As the lander penetrates the upper atmosphere, aeroballistic braking will generate a plasma sheath surrounding the vehicle. Temperatures inside this plasma envelope can reach around two thousand degrees Celsius, a reality that causes the spacecraft’s heat shield to darken and occasionally develop burn marks on its surface. In addition, this high-temperature plasma can temporarily disrupt radio communications between the crew and mission control, a condition that ground teams monitor closely to maintain robust contact throughout the re-entry trajectory.
Descent continues beneath a system of parachutes that provide the controlled deceleration needed to reach the ground safely. In the final moments, a set of soft-landing engines will activate just above the surface to cushion the touchdown. The anticipated landing site places the MS-23 capsule southeast of Zhezkazgan in Kazakhstan, with Moscow time pegged at 14:17 for touchdown, after which a dedicated search-and-rescue team will recover the crew and initiate post-landing procedures. This sequence reflects the stringent safety protocols developed through decades of joint spaceflight and tested in countless rehearsals prior to real landings, ensuring a swift and secure recovery for the crew and spacecraft system integrity for future missions.
In related activity, high-level discussions between Russian and potentially international partners continue to shape the broader schedule of space exploration, with officials noting ongoing collaborations and the importance of safe, reliable crew return operations for continuity in ISS operations and future exploration plans. The coordination extends to mission control centers and ground teams around the world, all working in concert to support the countdown, re-entry, and landing phases of such ambitious expeditions. This ongoing diligence reinforces how international partnerships underpin sustained human activity in low Earth orbit and beyond, underscoring the shared commitment to advancing space science and technology across nations. landmark events and routine checks alike are part of the fabric of contemporary crewed spaceflight.
On a separate note, a high-profile visit was reported as President Vladimir Putin prepared to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at the Vostochny Cosmodrome, signaling continued emphasis on Russia’s broader space ambitions and international diplomacy surrounding aerospace developments. This context highlights how milestones in human spaceflight often unfold alongside strategic political and scientific dialogues that shape the future of space exploration. The convergence of leadership visits, testing and readiness activities, and mission rehearsals all contribute to the atmosphere surrounding a major return from space and the anticipation that follows for crews, engineers, and observers on Earth.