![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/jsc2025e047287.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>The event included four NASA astronauts: <\/p>\n
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- Nick Hague, Crew-9 commander and Expedition 72 flight engineer <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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- Butch Wilmore, Boeing Starliner commander and Expedition 72 flight engineer <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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- Suni Williams, Boeing Starliner pilot and Expedition 72 commander <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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- Don Pettit, Soyuz MS-26 and Expedition 72 flight engineer <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
The Expedition 72 crew also included Roscosmos cosmonauts Aleksandr Gorbunov, Aleksey Ovchinin, and Ivan Vagner, who were not in attendance. The cosmonauts served as Crew-9 mission specialist, Soyuz-MS commander, and Soyuz-MS flight engineer, respectively. <\/p>\n
NASA astronaut Matt Dominick kicked off the event by striking the ceremonial bell, a tradition symbolizing the end of the mission for the crew and those that support them. <\/p>\n
Johnson Space Center Acting Director Stephen Koerner recognized the crew\u2019s commitment to the mission and their role in the advancement of human spaceflight. \u201cThese brave men and women make the tough yet rewarding choice to embark on long-duration missions away from their family and friends,\u201d he said. \u201cThey do this to conduct groundbreaking research and inspire generations. Spaceflight is hard, but through togetherness we make giant leaps, going further than ever before.\u201d <\/p>\n
\n\n\n![\"NASA](\"https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/iss072e280736\/iss072e280736~large.jpg?w=1920&h=1280&fit=clip&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n NASA astronauts (from left) Don Pettit and Butch Wilmore, Expedition 72 flight engineers, pack external research hardware which housed a variety of samples exposed to the vacuum of space such as polymers, photovoltaic devices, and more. The samples were returned to Earth to be examined to understand how space radiation, the extreme thermal environment, micrometeoroids, and more affect materials possibly benefitting the space industry. <\/div>\n
- Don Pettit, Soyuz MS-26 and Expedition 72 flight engineer <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Suni Williams, Boeing Starliner pilot and Expedition 72 commander <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Butch Wilmore, Boeing Starliner commander and Expedition 72 flight engineer <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n