NASA astronaut Jonny Kim returns to Earth after 8-month ISS mission
NASA's Jonny Kim, along with Russian crewmates Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky, just wrapped up an eight-month stay on the International Space Station.
Their Soyuz capsule touched down safely in Kazakhstan on Tuesday, December 9.
The team spent their time running science experiments and keeping the station in shape.
Why this mission matters
This was Kim's first trip to space, where he worked on research that supports NASA's Artemis plans for future Moon and Mars missions.
Ryzhikov brought his experience as a station commander, while Zubritsky got his first taste of space travel.
After landing, all three go through health checks and rehab—a routine part of life after living off-Earth for so long.
Their mission also highlights how international teamwork keeps big space projects moving forward.