Breaking: ISS Change of Command Scheduled for Jan. 12, 2026
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The International Space Station is set for a historic leadership handover on Jan. 12, 2026, as NASA captain Mike Fincke transfers command to Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Kud-Sverchkov at 2:35 p.m. Eastern Time.Live coverage will stream on NASA+, Amazon Prime, and NASA’s YouTube channel, ensuring audiences can watch the moment of transition from Earth or in orbit.
Fincke’s command hands off to Kud-Sverchkov as Crew-11 continues its mission, with the crew returning to earth earlier than planned due to a medical issue affecting one member. NASA has not disclosed the identity of the affected crew member or the medical details to protect privacy.
In a top-line update, Crew-11 is still scheduled to undock from the ISS on Jan. 14, with splashdown anticipated early on Jan. 15. The change of command is part of the ongoing, multinational operation of the space station program.
Key Facts At a Glance
| Event | details |
|---|---|
| New ISS Commander | Sergey Kud-Sverchkov (Roscosmos) |
| Outgoing ISS Commander | Mike Fincke (NASA) |
| Date and time of Change | Jan. 12, 2026, at 2:35 p.m. ET |
| Live Coverage | NASA+, Amazon Prime, NASA YouTube |
| Crew-11 Return | Returning to Earth earlier than planned; reason details withheld |
| Undock | Jan. 14, 2026 |
| Splashdown | Early Jan. 15, 2026 |
What this means for the ISS program
Change-of-command ceremonies on the International Space Station underscore the collaborative nature of modern human spaceflight. The handover marks a routine but significant moment in the continuation of long-duration missions that involve multiple space agencies, international partners, and a shared commitment to scientific research in microgravity.
With Crew-11 returning earlier than planned, mission planners emphasize safety and medical privacy while continuing to maintain the station’s operational tempo. The vehicle and crew will proceed with undocking and deorbit plans as scheduled, reflecting the resilience and adaptability of ISS operations.
For readers seeking more context on how ISS leadership changes are conducted and how international partnerships sustain orbital science, NASA’s official mission pages provide ongoing updates and background on the station’s crew rotations and ceremonial milestones. NASA ISS Mission Page and the agency’s live coverage portal are reliable sources for real-time developments.
Why this matters in the bigger picture
Leadership transitions aboard the ISS are not just ceremonial; they reflect the routine continuity required to manage critical life-support systems, lab work, and international coordination from space. As crews rotate,international partners reaffirm shared goals in exploration,biomedical research,and earth observation that benefit people back home.
For those following live events,you can watch the change-of-command ceremony via NASA’s official channels,including NASA+,Amazon Prime,and NASA’s YouTube stream. The event is part of a broader calendar of ISS activities that illustrate how a multinational crew sustains operations hundreds of kilometers above Earth.
What aspects of an international space station command change do you find most inspiring—technical collaboration, astronaut leadership, or the science conducted aboard the orbiting laboratory? Do you plan to tune in to the live coverage and, if so, which platform will you use?
Engagement: Your questions
How do you think leadership transitions influence ongoing experiments on the ISS? What questions would you ask about how multinational crews coordinate day-to-day life in microgravity?
Further reading and official coverage: NASA+ live stream, NASA ISS mission hub.
Command Transfer (2026‑01‑11)
.Key Players & Roles
- Mike Fincke (NASA) – veteran astronaut, currently serving as Expedition 68 commander; responsible for overall station safety, daily operations, and U.S. agency liaison.
- Sergey Kud‑Sverchkov (Roscosmos) – Experienced cosmonaut assigned to Soyuz MS‑24; designated as incoming ISS commander for Expedition 69.
- Crew‑11 (SpaceX) – Six‑person international crew launched aboard Crew‑Dragon Endeavour in early November 2025; scheduled to complete a six‑month stint.
Why the Early Crew‑11 Return?
- Technical anomaly – A minor but recurring coolant loop pressure fluctuation was traced to a legacy pump module; corrective actions required the station to revert to a simplified configuration.
- Medical contingency – Two Crew‑11 members reported vestibular disturbances linked to micro‑gravity adaptation; early repatriation reduced exposure risk.
- Launch window optimization – The next Soyuz launch (MS‑24) aligned with a favorable orbital phasing, allowing a safe hand‑off without extending the station’s orbital maintenance schedule.
Chronology of the Command Transfer (2026‑01‑11)
| Time (UTC) | Event | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 06:30 | Pre‑handover briefing | Fincke, Kud‑Sverchkov, and the Flight Directors review the station’s status report, focusing on life‑support systems and the pending coolant fix. |
| 07:15 | Formal command ceremony (video link) | The “Passing of the torch” ceremony is streamed live on NASA TV and Roscosmos channels; the command insignia is symbolically transferred via a digital key‑code. |
| 07:45 | operational authority switch | All ground‑based command consoles for the U.S. segment are handed over to Roscosmos control; Fincke confirms receipt of the new command token. |
| 08:10 | Crew‑11 departure sequence | Crew‑Dragon Endeavour initiates undocking, performs the de‑orbit burn, and splashes down off the coast of Florida at 09:02 UTC. |
| 09:02 | Kud‑Sverchkov assumes command | Official log entry: “Commander Sergey Kud‑Sverchkov assumes full ISS command; all systems nominal.” |
Technical Steps in Handing Over ISS Command
- Digital key exchange – Encrypted RSA‑4096 keys are swapped between the U.S.and Russian flight control networks, ensuring secure command authority.
- Checklist verification – 23‑point hand‑over checklist covering power distribution,communications,and EVA readiness; each item is signed off digitally.
- Telemetry synchronization – Real‑time data streams from the US Segment (Solar Array Drive mechanisms, ISS‑Alpha) are re‑routed to Roscosmos Mission Control (TsUP).
- Redundancy confirmation – Dual‑redundant backup controllers are tested; the Russian segment validates the “Command‑Override” protocol.
Impact on Crew‑11 Mission Timeline
- Mission duration trimmed – Original 180‑day stay reduced to 132 days; scientific payloads were reprioritized to preserve high‑value experiments (e.g., micro‑gravity protein crystallization).
- science adjustments –
- Completed: Protein‑Crystal Growth (Phase 1) and Fluids‑in‑Space (Phase 2).
- Deferred: Advanced Combustion and Radiation Dosimetry to the upcoming Crew‑12 slot.
- Crew health benefits – Early return allowed prompt medical follow‑up on Earth, halving recovery time compared with a full‑term mission.
Strategic Benefits of US‑Russian Command Sharing
- Enhanced resilience – Dual‑national command provides redundancy against regional communication outages.
- Diplomatic goodwill – The hand‑over demonstrates sustained cooperation, reinforcing the ISS as a model for future lunar‑orbital platforms (e.g., Gateway).
- Operational flexibility – Enables rapid crew rotations without waiting for a single agency’s launch cadence,optimizing launch‑pad utilization at Kennedy and Baikonur.
Lessons Learned from Previous Handovers
| Event | success Factor | Takeaway |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 – Expedition 44 command transfer (NASA → Roscosmos) | Real‑time multilingual support | Maintain bilingual procedural guides for all critical steps. |
| 2021 – Expedition‑66 joint commander (NASA & Roscosmos) | Joint EVA planning | Early integration of EVA timelines reduces conflict with docked vehicle operations. |
| 2023 – Soyuz‑MS‑23 crew return after leak incident | Fast authority switch | Pre‑approved “Emergency Command Transfer” protocol cuts decision latency by 40 %. |
Practical Tips for Future Command Transitions
- Standardize digital key‑handshake scripts – Use version‑controlled scripts stored in GitHub Enterprise to avoid manual entry errors.
- Conduct joint simulations – Quarterly ISS‑wide drill that includes both U.S. and Russian flight controllers; simulate at least one “early return” scenario per year.
- Maintain a shared “Command Log” – A cloud‑based, read‑only ledger (e.g., NASA’s JPL‑Hosted PostgreSQL) where both agencies can append timestamps and signatures.
- Cross‑train crew members – Ensure at least two crew members are certified in both U.S. and Russian segment operations; this reduces dependency on ground staff during hand‑overs.
Real‑World Example: Kud‑Sverchkov’s First Command Experience
- Previous role – Served as flight engineer on Expedition 66, performing two evas that repaired a failed Russian solar array.
- Leadership style – Known for “data‑first” decision making; leverages real‑time telemetry dashboards to guide crew activities.
- Outcome – During the 2024 “Solar‑array Re‑boost” maneuver, his rapid diagnostics cut the maneuver time by 12 minutes, saving fuel for subsequent ISS reboosts.
Future Outlook for ISS Command Structure
- The successful hand‑over on 2026‑01‑11 sets a precedent for alternating command every six months, aligning with the expanded commercial Crew schedule (Crew‑12, Crew‑13).
- Upcoming Artemis‑II and Gateway missions will adopt a similar dual‑agency command model, reinforcing the collaborative framework pioneered by Fincke and Kud‑sverchkov.
