Maine astronaut Jessica Meir takes command of International Space Station

NASA astronaut and Maine native Jessica Meir has officially assumed command of the International Space Station. The transition took place during a formal change of command ceremony held this Saturday. Meir takes the lead of the orbital laboratory from Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Kud-Sverchkov.

Kud-Sverchkov is finishing his mission alongside fellow crew members Chris Williams and Sergei Mikaev. This group is set to depart the station on Sunday morning at 6:25 a.m. EDT to begin their return trip to Earth.

In a message shared before the departure, Meir acknowledged the significance of the shift. She described the period as a bittersweet moment as the team prepares to bid farewell to the Soyuz 74S crew. She noted that Expedition 74 focused heavily on station maintenance, technology testing, and scientific research.

Meir highlighted the strong bonds formed among the crew during their time in space. Her leadership marks a continued commitment to the objectives of the current expedition as the station staff prepares for the upcoming rotation.