Soyuz MS-20 launched 2021

Soyuz MS-20 participants (L-R): Yusaka Maezawa, Alexander Misurkin, Yozo Hirano

Soyuz MS-20, launched December 8, 2021 to the International Space Station, carried one cosmonaut and two Japanese space tourists into space.  Its occupants were Commander Alexander Misurkin (Roscosmos), Yusaku Maezawa (art collector), and Yozo Hirano (Maezawa's production assistant). 

It is the first flight of the Soyuz program that did not take any crew members for rotation on the ISS, and was dedicated entirely for a commercial flight.

They returned to Earth December 20, after more than 11 days in space. 

Happy birthday, cosmonaut Alexander Misurkin!

Alexander Misurkin, born September 23, 1977 in Russia, has been in space three times.  He is a major in the Russian Air Force.

His first trip into space was aboard Soyuz TMA-08M as flight engineer in March 2013, to the International Space Station.  He participated in Expeditions 35 and 36, returning to Earth in September, after more than 166 days in space.

His second trip was aboard Soyuz MS-06 as commander in September 2017, to the ISS.  He participated in Expeditions 53 and 54, returning to Earth in February 2018, after over 168 days in space.

His third trip was aboard Soyuz MS-20 as commander in December 2021 to the ISS.  This time he hosted two space tourists from Japan and only stayed in space just under 12 days. 

Misurkin has performed 4 EVAs for a total time of 28 hours and 14 minutes, including setting the record for the longest Russian EVA - 8 hours, 13 minutes.