Soyuz MS-19 launched 2021

Soyuz MS-19 crew (L-R): Klim Shipenko, Yulia Peresild, Anton Shkaplerov

Soyuz MS-19, launched October 5, 2021, carried the first mission to the International Space Station with an all-Russian crew.  It was also the first time in 21 years a Soyuz mission was launched without an American astronaut on board.  Its crew consisted of Commander Anton Shkaplerov, Klim Shipenko (film director), and Yulia Peresild (actress).  The ship had to be upgraded so it could be piloted by a single person.  

Shipenko and Peresild spent about 12 days on the ISS filming the movie The Challenge, and returned to Earth on Soyuz MS-18.  Shkaplerov remained in space for over 176 days and returned with cosmonaut Pyotr Dubrov and astronaut Mark Vande Hei in March 2022.

Happy birthday, cosmonaut and actress Yulia Peresild!

Yulia Peresild, born September 5, 1984 in the former Soviet Union, is an actress and astronaut.  She went into space aboard Soyuz MS-19, launched October 5, 2021 to the International Space Station.  She traveled with her producer/director Klim Shipenko.  They stayed aboard the ISS for over 11 days, filming scenes for the Russian movie The Challenge.  She had to train to be a cosmonaut in order to do the movie.

She returned to Earth on Soyuz MS-18 October 17, 2021. 

Happy birthday, cosmonaut Pyotr Dubrov!

Pyotr Dubrov, born January 30, 1978 in Russia, went into space aboard Soyuz MS-18 in April 2021 to the International Space Station.  He participated in a long duration missions from Expeditions 64-66.  He returned to Earth aboard Soyuz MS-19 in March 2022 with fellow astronaut Mark Vande Hei.  He spent over 355 days in space. 

Soyuz MS-18 launched today!

Soyuz MS-18 crew (L-R): Mark Vande Hei, Oleg Novitskiy, Pyotr Dubrov

Mission patch

Soyuz MS-18, launched today, carried members of Expedition 65 to the International Space Station.  Its crew consists of Commander Oleg Novitskiy, Pyotr Dubrov and Mark Vande Hei.  They will also participate in Expeditions 64 and 66.