Soyuz MS-21 launched 2022

 Soyuz MS-21 crew (L-R): Denis Mateev, Oleg Artemyev, Sergey Korsakov

Soyuz MS-21, launched March 18, 2022, carried three cosmonauts to the International Space Station.  Its crew consisted of Commander Oleg Artemyev, Denis Mateev, and Sergey Korsakov. They participated in Expeditions 66 and 67 while aboard the ISS.

The cosmonauts returned to Earth in September 2022, after almost 195 days in space. 

Soyuz MS-21 launch

Soyuz TMA-12M launched 2014

Soyuz TMA-12M crew (L-R): Steve Swanson, Aleksandr Skvortsov, Oleg Artemyev

Mission patch

Soyuz TMA-12M, launched March 25, 2014, carried part of the crew of Expedition 39 to the International Space Station.  Its crew consisted of Commander Aleksandr Skvortsov (Roscosmos), Oleg Artemyev (Roscosmos) and Steve Swanson (NASA).

In May, they transferred to the crew of Expedition 40 upon the departure of Soyuz TMA-11M.  They remained on board until they returned to Earth in September 2014.

Happy birthday, astronaut Ricky Arnold!

Richard "Ricky" Arnold, born November 26, 1963 just down the road from here in Cheverly, Maryland, has been in space twice.  He attended Frostburg State University in Maryland, getting a degree in accounting and then completed teacher certification there.  He got a Master's Degree from the University of Maryland in 1992.

His first flight was aboard Discovery (STS-119) as mission specialist to the International Space Station in March 2009.  He conducted two EVAs during the mission with fellow astronauts Steven Swanson and Joe Acaba.

His second mission was aboard Soyuz MS-08, launched in March 2018 to the International Space Station as part of the crew of Expedition 55 with fellow astronauts Oleg Artemyev and Andrew Feustel.  They spent over 196 days in space, returning to Earth in October 2018.

Happy birthday, cosmonaut Oleg Artemyev!

Oleg Artemyev, born December 28, 1970 in Riga, Latvia, has been in space twice. 

His first mission was aboard Soyuz TMA-12M, which launched in March 2014 to the International Space Station.  He took part in Expeditions 39 and 40, returning to Earth in September after 169

His most recent trip into space was aboard Soyuz MS-08, from March to October of this year.  He was part of Expeditions 55 and 56.  He spent about 197 days aboard the ISS.

He has spent a year and a day total in space

Expedition 56 crew returns safely to Earth!

The three astronauts who make up the crew of Expedition 56 to the International Space Station have returned safely to Earth, touching down in Kazakhstan.  The crew members are Commander Drew Feustel, Flight Engineer Ricky Arnold and Soyuz Commander Oleg Artemyev.  They spent 197 days in space, traveling over 83 million miles.