NASA is offering an exciting chance for the media to interview astronaut Jonny Kim ahead of his first journey into space. Starting at 9 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, March 19, virtual interviews will stream live from Star City, Russia, where Kim is preparing for launch. These interviews will be available on NASA+, the agency’s official streaming platform, along with other NASA social media channels.
How to Join the Interview
Media personnel who want to participate must contact NASA’s Johnson Space Center before 5 p.m. on Monday, March 17. You can call them at 281-483-5111 or email [email protected]. The full media accreditation policy is available online for more information.
Launch Details and Mission Plans
Jonny Kim will launch on Tuesday, April 8, aboard the Roscosmos Soyuz MS-27 spacecraft, along with Russian cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky. The trio will spend around eight months aboard the International Space Station (ISS), where they will carry out important science experiments and technology tests. These activities are meant to help future space missions and improve life on Earth.
Who Is Jonny Kim?
This will be Jonny Kim’s first spaceflight, and it comes after an impressive career both in and out of the military. Born in Los Angeles, Kim is a U.S. Navy lieutenant commander, and uniquely, he is both a naval aviator and a flight surgeon. He started his career as a Navy SEAL, and later earned a Mathematics degree from the University of San Diego and a medical degree from Harvard Medical School.
Before going to space, Kim also completed a medical internship at top hospitals in Boston and took part in astronaut candidate training at NASA. Since then, he has helped with various important roles like mission planning, astronaut training, and working as a space station communicator (capcom).
You can follow Jonny Kim’s journey and updates on social media: @jonnykimusa on X and Instagram.
Why This Mission Matters
The International Space Station has been continuously inhabited for more than 20 years. It is used by astronauts from around the world to conduct research that can’t be done on Earth. These studies include everything from growing food in space to testing how the human body reacts to long stays in microgravity.
This mission also plays a part in NASA’s larger plan. As private companies begin handling human space travel and space tourism in low Earth orbit, NASA can shift more focus to future Moon and Mars missions. Kim’s flight supports both of these goals—helping research for deep space travel while also encouraging commercial activity near Earth.
Astronaut Jonny Kim’s first trip into space is more than a personal achievement—it’s a step forward for science, exploration, and the future of space travel. As he heads to the ISS in April, his mission will bring us closer to understanding how to live and work beyond our planet, and how space research can benefit life here on Earth. His story is also a powerful reminder of what dedication, education, and service can achieve.
