NASA astronaut Tracy Caldwell Dyson has been announced as part of the crew for the Soyuz MS-25 rocket mission, scheduled to launch in March 2024. This will be Dyson’s third time in space, and she will be accompanied by Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Novitskiy and Belarusian spaceflight participant Marina Vasilevskaya. The mission is set to last for six months, with Dyson returning to Earth in the autumn of 2024.

The agreement between NASA and Roscosmos allows for crew integration, ensuring that properly trained members are aboard the International Space Station (ISS) for maintenance and spacewalks. It also provides contingency plans in case of spacecraft issues or emergencies requiring an early return to Earth.

Dyson’s previous space ventures include a 12-day mission on the space shuttle Endeavour in 2007, as well as a 174-day stint as a flight engineer on Expedition 23/24 in 2010. She also conducted three contingency spacewalks in 2010 to repair a faulty pump module.

Novitskiy, who has been in space three times before, and Vasilevskaya, who will be the first Belarusian in space, will also be part of the MS-25 mission. Novitskiy has accumulated 531 days in orbit and even took part in the filming of a Russian space film called “The Challenge” on the ISS in 2021.

The inclusion of crew members from different countries underscores the importance of international collaboration in space exploration. With NASA and Roscosmos continuing their partnership, the mission is scheduled to further drive scientific research and advancements on the ISS.

Source: NASA, TASS