Russian cosmonaut Ivan Vagner wears a space mask while welcoming new arrivals
As ISS crew members prepared the capsule for exit, Wagner could be seen floating around wearing a mask, jacket, pants and socks during the “funny moment,” a NASA spokesperson said in a statement to Fox News Digital.
“NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nicole Ayers, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Roscosmos astronaut Kirill Peskov entered the International Space Station shortly after the hatches between the space station and the spacecraft opened.” SpaceX Dragon spacecraft “At 1:35 a.m. EDT,” NASA said in a statement.
Russian cosmonaut Ivan Vagner wears a space mask in port during Crew-10’s arrival at the International Space Station on March 16, 2025. (NASA/SpaceX)
After the hatch was opened by Sonny Williams, the ship’s bell was rung as the new arrivals floated out and shook hands and embraced the Expedition 72 crew after Wagner’s practical joke.
“It’s been a great day. Great to see our friends arriving,” Williams told mission control.
Russian cosmonaut Ivan Vagner wears a space mask and sits in the port during Crew-10’s arrival at the International Space Station on March 16, 2025. (NASA/SpaceX)
Williams and Butch Wilmore are expected to show the new arrivals the ins and outs of the space station before they finally return home after nine months. Their mission was scheduled to last just one week after Boeing’s first astronaut flight, but they remained stranded in space after problems forced NASA to return an empty Boeing Starliner.
A closer look at the light blue alien mask worn by Russian cosmonaut Ivan Vagner during Crew-10’s arrival at the International Space Station. (NASA/SpaceX)
This image from NASA video shows astronauts greeting each other after a SpaceX capsule docked with the International Space Station, Sunday, March 16, 2025. Top row from left: Nick Hague, Alexander Gorbunov, Sonny Williams, Alexei Ovchinin, and Ivan Vagner. Bottom row from left: Butch Wilmore, Takuya Onishi, Anne McClain, Kirill Peskov, Nicole Ayers and Don Pettit. (NASA)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Crew 9 commander Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov are scheduled to leave the station on Wednesday as early as 4 a.m. before landing. Off the coast of Florida.
Fox News Channel’s Landon Munn, The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
Post Comment