Expedition 72

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Expedition 72

Picture of the International Space Station where the Expedition 72 will take place.
Mission type	Long-duration mission to the ISS
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft	SpaceX Crew-9 Soyuz MS-26, Axiom Mission-4
Expedition
Space station	International Space Station
Began	24 September 2024
Ended	March 2025
Crew
Crew size	18 crew members (not at once)
Members	Expedition 71/72: Zena Cardman Nick Hague Stephanie Wilson Aleksandr Gorbunov Aleksey Ovchinin Ivan Vagner Donald Pettit Expedition 72/73: Anne McClain Nicole Ayers Takuya Onishi Kirill Peskov Sergey Ryzhikov Sergey Mikajew Jonny Kim Axiom Ax-4: Peggy Whitson Shubanshu Shukla Sławosz Uznański Tibor Kapu
Start of mission
Launch site	LC-39A Kennedy Space Center, Site 31 Baikonur Cosmodrome
Mission Insignia of the ISS Expedition 72 ← Expedition 71

Expedition 72 is the 72nd long-duration expedition to the International Space Station. Beginning on 24 September 2024, the expedition is planned to involve crews from multiple space agencies, including NASA and Roscosmos. The specific crew members and their assignments will be announced closer to the launch date.

The expedition is expected to utilize various spacecraft for crew rotation and cargo delivery. The primary transportation methods to the ISS typically include:

• Soyuz spacecraft: Developed by Roscosmos, Soyuz is a three-person spacecraft used for both crew transportation and cargo delivery. It has been the workhorse for ISS crew rotation for many years. ^[1]
• SpaceX Dragon spacecraft: Developed by SpaceX under contract with NASA, Dragon is a commercial spacecraft capable of carrying both crew and cargo to and from the ISS.^[2]
• Progress spacecraft: Another Russian spacecraft, Progress is primarily used for cargo resupply to the ISS.^[3]

Expedition 72 will continue the extensive scientific research conducted aboard the ISS, focusing on a variety of fields including biology, human physiology, physics, and materials science. The crew members will also be responsible for maintaining and upgrading the space station systems.

As with previous expeditions, international cooperation will be essential for the success of Expedition 72. Crew members from different countries will work together to conduct experiments, perform maintenance tasks, and ensure the safe operation of the ISS.