Historic Mission Combines Human Expertise and AI Innovation
Russia successfully launched the Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft from Kazakhstan's Baikonur Cosmodrome on November 28, 2025, carrying two Russian cosmonauts and a NASA astronaut to the International Space Station (ISS). The mission marks the first integration of generative AI technology into routine space operations.
International Crew and Technical Milestones
Commander Sergei Kud-Sverchkov leads the crew alongside first-time space travelers Sergei Mikayev and Christopher Williams. After docking with the ISS's Rassvet module, the team will begin a 242-day mission featuring over 40 scientific experiments. A key innovation is Russia's GigaChat neural network, developed by Sberbank, which will assist with report generation and database management aboard the station.
Solar Research and Legacy Experiments
Two planned spacewalks in 2026 will install advanced solar flare detection equipment and perform critical maintenance. The mission also continues a unique biological study: descendants of fruit flies from the 2024 Bion-M No.2 biosatellite mission will be observed for multigenerational space adaptation effects.
With this launch, international cooperation in space exploration enters a new phase of technological integration, setting the stage for future AI-assisted missions.
