MISSION/STUDY INFORMATION

Expedition 64 began on October 21, 2020 as the Expedition 63 crew undocked their Soyuz MS-16 from the International Space Station (ISS) and returned to Earth. The first three of seven expected Expedition 64 crewmembers stayed behind to continue settling in. The crew included Expedition 64 commander Sergey Ryzhikov (RSA), flight engineer Kate Rubins (NASA), and flight engineer Sergey Kud-Sverchkov (RSA).

The Expedition 64 crew was complete with the arrival of Crew-1, the first operational mission utilizing the SpaceX Crew Dragon. Crew-1 launched to the ISS on November 15, 2020. Onboard the Dragon were Crew Dragon commander Michael Hopkins (NASA), pilot Victor Glover (NASA) and mission specialists Shannon Walker (NASA) and Soichi Noguchi (JAXA). Upon their arrival at the ISS, all four assumed the role of flight engineer.

While operating and maintaining the space station's systems, the Expedition 64 crew continued to operate the many science experiments in progress as well as initiate new investigations and undertake technology demonstrations. Five NASA spacewalks and one RSA spacewalk were also completed. Several unpiloted spacecraft brought needed supplies to the station.

As the end of Expedition 64 approached, on April 09, 2021, three Expedition 65 crew members launched to the station. Expedition 64 commander Ryzhikov handed command over to Expedition 65 commander Shannon Walker a week later.

Ryzhikov, Rubins, and Kud-Sverchkov undocked their Soyuz MS-17 spacecraft from the ISS and returned to Earth on April 16, marking the end of Expedition 64.