The work of the 59th long expedition is being completed at the International Space Station (ISS).

The crew members of the “Soyuz MS-11” spacecraft – Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko, CSA astronaut David Saint-Jacques and NASA astronaut Anne McClain are preparing to return to Earth.

On June 23 aboard the “shift change” of crews was performed.

The commander of the 59th long expedition to the ISS – cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko, who headed it since December 2018, and the commander of the 60th expedition – cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin signed the report of the transfer of authority.

By tradition, this ceremony is accompanied by strikes on the ship’s bell.

Currently, Oleg Kononenko, David Saint-Jacques and Anne McClain are engaged in preparatory operations for landing.

In the descent vehicle, the crew will bring with them the equipment to be returned and the containers with the results of the scientific experiments.

The closing of the access hatches between the “Soyuz MS-11” and the ISS is scheduled at 23:10 (Moscow time) on June 24, undocking – at 02:25 (Moscow time) on June 25 and landing of the descent vehicle –
at 05:49 (Moscow time) in 148 km south-east of Zhezkazgan (Kazakhstan).

All operations will be broadcast live in the “Online Broadcast” section of the Roscosmos State Corporation website (www.roscosmos.ru).

Work in near-earth orbit will be continued by an international crew, consisting of cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin and astronauts Nick Hague and Christina Koch.

Before the arrival of the “Soyuz MS-13” spacecraft in July 2019, just three crew members will be aboard of the ISS.