Iss Command Changes Hands as Expedition 72 Prepares for Earth Return

The International Space Station (ISS) recently underwent a change of command as Cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin of Roscosmos handed over control to Takuya Onishi of JAXA. This symbolic transfer occurred during a ceremony on April 18, marking the transition from Expedition 72 to Expedition 73. Ovchinin entrusted Onishi with the care of the station, emphasizing its importance. Onishi expressed his gratitude and honor in accepting the command. The event preceded the departure of Ovchinin, fellow cosmonaut Ivan Vagner, and NASA's Don Pettit, who are scheduled to return to Earth on Saturday, April 19. Their Soyuz spacecraft will undock, officially concluding Expedition 72, commanded by Ovchinin. Expedition 73, under Onishi's control, will then commence. The Soyuz is expected to land in Kazakhstan around 9:20 p.m. EDT on April 20. This homecoming marks the end of a significant chapter for the returning crew and the beginning of a new phase for the ISS.