A ceremonial change-of-command ceremony took place aboard the International Space Station. Russian cosmonaut Sergei Kud-Sverchkov took over from NASA astronaut Michael Fincke. The transfer of command was accompanied by the traditional striking of the ship's bell, performed by the ISS crew.
Kud-Sverchkov became the 36th Russian commander of the ISS since this position was established in 2000. In 2025, command of the station was handed over twice: in March it was assumed by Aleksei Ovchinin, and in August by Sergei Ryzhikov.
The ISS commander leads all crew members in the Russian and American segments of the station and ensures their safety. The commander is also responsible for informing the Mission Control Centers in Korolyov and Houston in the event of emergency situations.
The appointment of the new commander took place amid significant changes in the flight schedule, including the early completion of NASA's Crew-11 mission for medical reasons. These changes affect the structure and distribution of responsibilities of the current crew; however, the dynamics of commander rotations remain a familiar part of work on the ISS
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