A U.S.-Russian crew successfully docked on Thursday to the International Space Station on the Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft about three hours after the liftoff.

NASA astronaut Chris Williams and two Russian crewmates, Sergei Mikaev and Sergei Kud-Sverchkov joined the ISS crew after lifting off from the Russia-leased Baikonur launch facility in Kazakhstan in a Russian Soyuz rocket.

All three are scheduled to spend about eight months at the orbiting outpost, before returning to Earth in summer 2026.

This is the first spaceflight for Williams and Mikaev, and the second for Kud-Sverchkov.

Williams will conduct scientific research and technology demonstrations at the orbiting outpost aimed at advancing human space exploration and benefiting life on Earth, NASA said.