NASA Astronaut Jonny Kim Assigned to First Mission to International Space Station

Jonny Kim, a University of San Diego graduate and NASA astronaut, has been assigned to his first mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the upcoming Expedition 72/73 crew, Times of San Diego reports.

Kim is set to launch on the Roscosmos Soyuz MS-27 spacecraft in March, where he will spend approximately eight months conducting scientific investigations and technology demonstrations. NASA officials have said that Kim will serve as a flight engineer during the mission, contributing valuable knowledge to prepare crew members for future space operations.

During his mission, Kim will be joined by Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky.

A native of Los Angeles, Kim holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of San Diego, where he graduated before being selected as a NASA astronaut in 2017. In addition to his academic qualifications, Kim is a Harvard-educated medical doctor and serves as a lieutenant commander in the US Navy. He is also uniquely designated as a naval aviator and flight surgeon.