Montgomery County astronaut returns to Earth after 8 months in space - WTOP

What the report says

WTOP reported that NASA astronaut Chris Williams, who considers Potomac, Maryland, his hometown, returned to Earth on Sunday after an eight-month mission in space. Williams landed in Kazakhstan aboard the Soyuz MS-28 capsule with Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev, touching down in a remote area near Zhezkazgan on July 26, 2026.

According to the report, the crew spent 241 days off the planet, circled Earth more than 3,800 times and covered more than 100 million miles. The mission was Williams’ first trip to space. While aboard the station, he participated in research connected to cancer treatment, semiconductor manufacturing and spacecraft water systems, and he also carried out two spacewalks involving work on the station’s robotic arm and solar power system.

WTOP noted Williams’ local ties and background: he was born in New York City, graduated from Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring, studied physics at Stanford University and earned a doctorate from MIT. Before NASA chose him for its astronaut corps in 2021, he worked as a researcher focused on improving imaging and radiation therapy for cancer patients.

The return marks the end of a long-duration mission for a Montgomery County-linked astronaut and adds to continuing U.S.-Russian cooperation in human spaceflight through Soyuz operations, despite broader tensions between the two countries. WTOP also reported that Williams is an Eagle Scout, private pilot and former volunteer firefighter and EMT.