NASA astronaut Jonny Kim launched to the International Space Station (ISS) with two Russian cosmonauts on Tuesday. They traveled aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft.

Launch from Kazakhstan

The Soyuz rocket lifted off on schedule from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Russia leases this launch site. The spacecraft, named Soyuz MS-27, quickly entered orbit. After that, it will dock with the ISS in just over three hours.

Mission Duration and Goals

The crew—Kim, Sergey Ryzhikov, and Alexey Zubritsky—will spend about eight months in space. During this time, Kim will carry out science experiments and test new technology. According to NASA, these tasks will prepare astronauts for future missions. In addition, the research could benefit people on Earth. Jonny Kim is from Los Angeles. He is a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy. He is also trained as a naval aviator and a flight surgeon.

Joining the Space Station Crew

Once they arrive, the three will join the current ISS crew. This team includes NASA astronauts Don Pettit, Anne McClain, and Nichole Ayers. Moreover, Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi and Russian cosmonauts Alexey Ovchinin, Ivan Vagner, and Kirill Peskov are also on board.