NASA is working hard to get more into space! He could be the only American on the Space Station for an extended amount of time. On October 30th, NASA announced that Chris Cassidy will fly to the station next April and his second long-duration mission, and it will be Cassidy’s third flight into space. He is taking the Soyuz Spacecraft.

Going along with Chris Cassidy are two Russian astronauts, Nikolai Tikhonov and Andrei Babkin, their starliner mission will likely be an extended duration stay and last about six months. Although the mission is planned, there is not a set date for a test mission; the date is depending on the outcome of upcoming tests to make sure the mission is secure.

According to the Space News website, the goal, as Cassidy states is “just being able to make sure [they] can maintain the ISS in all its dimensions.” He will fly on the last Soyuz seat that NASA has currently reserved with the Russian State Space Corporation Roscosmos. Cassidy, the 500th person in space, is not making any goals to be the last American to be flying on the Soyuz spacecraft. This goes to show, he is just hoping for a successful mission and not worrying about setting any records.

While Cassidy has had experience with space walking, his crew mates are not planning on performing any themselves, unless one is required for urgent repairs. Cassidy overall has had more space experience than his other crew members, because Tikhonov and Babkin will be conducting their first space trip. Since there is a reduced crew and Cassidy has the most experience, he will be conducting the majority of the research. This includes getting information by planning a space walk.

In October 2020, the Soyuz spacecraft will take off from Washington. Hoping this is a success, Cassidy, Tikhonov, and Babkin have been constantly training for the trip. Cassidy and his two Russian crewmates are preparing to run the ISS for an extended amount of time.