Official portrait of NASA astronaut Jonny Kim in an EMU suit. (Image: NASA)

NASA astronaut Jonny Kim is gearing up for his inaugural journey to the International Space Station (ISS) as a flight engineer. He will join the upcoming Expedition 72/73 crew in March 2025, embarking on a mission that promises both scientific exploration and technological advancement.

Preparing for the Journey

Kim, along with Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky, will launch aboard the Soyuz MS-27 spacecraft. The trio will spend around eight months aboard the ISS, contributing to a range of experiments and demonstrations aimed at preparing future crews for long-duration missions and enhancing our understanding of space's effects on the human body.

While at the ISS, Kim's role will involve conducting vital research that could have significant implications for future space exploration and potential benefits for life on Earth. These activities will be part of NASA's ongoing efforts to leverage the ISS as a testbed for understanding the challenges of deep space missions.

From Navy SEAL to Space Explorer

Jonny Kim's journey to space is a testament to his diverse skills and remarkable career. Selected as a NASA astronaut in 2017, Kim has been actively involved in several roles, including serving as the Expedition 65 lead operations officer, T-38 operations liaison, and as the space station’s capcom chief engineer.

Kim, a Los Angeles native, brings a unique blend of expertise to his mission. He is a lieutenant commander in the United States Navy and is both a naval aviator and flight surgeon. His distinguished career also includes service as an enlisted Navy SEAL. Kim holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics from the University of San Diego and a medical degree from Harvard Medical School. He completed his medical internship with the Harvard Affiliated Emergency Medicine Residency at Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

Expanding the Horizons of Space Exploration

For over 20 years, the International Space Station has been a hub of scientific discovery and innovation, providing an environment for research that is not possible on Earth. As part of NASA’s strategy to support a sustainable presence in low Earth orbit, commercial companies are now playing a larger role in providing transportation services and destinations. This shift allows NASA to focus its resources on its next ambitious targets: the Moon and Mars.

Kim's upcoming mission is another step forward in the collaboration between international space agencies and commercial partners, all working together to push the boundaries of what is possible in space exploration.