Soyuz MS-23 launched 2023

Soyuz MS-23, launched February 24, 2023, was an uncrewed spaceflight to the International Space Station to replace the damaged Soyuz MS-22.  

A micro-meteoroid impact resulted in a 0.8 mm hole in the radiator of Soyuz MS-22, and doubts about the safety of the spacecraft. It returned to Earth uncrewed, and Soyuz MS-23 was launched.

Soyuz MS-23 docked with the ISS February 26 and returned to Earth in September 2023, with Sergey Prokopyev, Dmitry Petelin, and Francisco Rubio.

Happy birthday, cosmonaut Dmitri Petelin!

Dmitry Petelin, born July 10, 1983 in the former Soviet Union, went into space aboard Soyuz MS-22 to the International Space Station in September 2022. He participated in Expeditions 67-69, and spent over a year in space. Soyuz MS-22 was damaged when it docked with the ISS.  It was finally determined that the spacecraft could not return with a crew.  

Soyuz MS-23 launched without a crew in February 2023 and Soyuz MS-22 returned to Earth unmanned in March 2023. Petelin and the rest of the Soyuz MS-22 crew returned to Earth in Soyuz MS-23 in September 2023.  A six-month assignment was stretched to over a year.

Happy birthday, cosmonaut Sergey Prokopyev!

Sergey Prokopyev, born February 19, 1975 in the former Soviet Union, has been in space twice, spending over 567 days in space.

His first mission was aboard Soyuz MS-09 as commander to the International Space Station in June 2018.  He remained on board, participating in Expeditions 56 and 57, before returning to Earth in December 2018.

His second mission was aboard Soyuz MS-22 as commander in September 2022 to the ISS.  He participated in Expeditions 67-69, spending a year in space, before returning to Earth in September 2023 aboard Soyuz MS-23. 

Happy birthday, astronaut Frank Rubio!

Francisco "Frank" Rubio, born December 11, 1975 in Los Angeles, California, went in to space aboard Soyuz MS-22, in September 2022 to the International Space Station.  While on board he participated in Expeditions 67-69.  His mission was scheduled to last about six months, but damage to the spacecraft extended his mission.  He returned to Earth on Soyuz MS-23 in September 2023, spending almost 371 days in space. He is the first American to spend more than a year in space.  

Record-breaking Soyuz MS-23 missions returns to Earth

Soyuz MS-22 crew (Top-Bottom): Dimitry Petelin, Frank Rubio, Sergey Prokopyev

Soyuz MS-23, which launched back in February 2023, returned to Earth safely yesterday with the crew of Soyuz MS-22, which launched September 21, 2022. The crew consisted of Sergey Prokopyev (Commander), Dimitry Petelin, and Francisco Rubio (NASA).  

While aboard the International Space Station, they participated in Expeditions 67-69. 

Rubio has spent more than 370 days in space, making him the first American to spend more than a full year in space, breaking Mark Vande Hei's record.