A solemn ceremony of change of command took place at the International Space Station. Russian cosmonaut Sergey Kud-Sverchkov took it over from NASA astronaut Michael Fincke. The transfer of command was accompanied by the traditional striking of the ship's bell, which was performed by the ISS crew.
Kud-Sverchkov became the 36th Russian commander of the ISS since the creation of this position in 2000. In 2025, command of the station was transferred twice: in March it was accepted by Alexey Ovchinin, and in August by Sergey Ryzhikov.
The ISS commander manages all crew members in the Russian and American segments of the station, ensuring their safety. The commander is also responsible for informing the Mission Control Centers in Korolev and Houston in the event of emergency situations.
The appointment of the new commander occurred against the backdrop of significant changes in the flight schedule, including the early completion of the Crew-11 NASA mission for medical reasons. These changes affect the structure and distribution of responsibilities of the current crew, but the dynamics of changing commanders remains a familiar part of the work on the ISS
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