US-Russian crew arrives at the International Space Station for 8-month mission

MOSCOW (AP) — A U.S.-Russian space crew arrived Tuesday at the International Space Station after launching from the Russia-leased Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

NASA astronaut Anil Menon and Russian crewmates Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina lifted off as scheduled at 7:47 p.m. (10:47 a.m. EDT, 1447 GMT) aboard the Roscosmos Soyuz MS-29 for an eight-month stint on the orbiting outpost. Their spacecraft docked smoothly at the station in automatic mode about three hours after the launch.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman attended the launch, the first visit to Baikonur by a NASA chief in eight years that highlighted the ongoing cooperation in orbit between Moscow and Washington, despite tensions over Russia’s military action in Ukraine.

Before the launch, Isaacman met with the head of Russia's state corporation Roscosmos, Dmitry Bakanov. Speaking during Monday’s meeting with the crew, Isaacman thanked Roscosmos for its efforts to prepare for the mission, saying that “the integrated work performed over the past several months reflects the professionalism and dedication of everyone involved.”

Isaacman also had a meeting with Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov. Manturov's office said they discussed prospective cooperation on the International Space Station and other projects.

The mission is Menon’s first space flight and the second for Dubrov and Kikina.

The trio will join NASA astronauts Jessica Meir, Jack Hathaway and Chris Williams, European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergei Kud-Sverchkov, Sergei Mikaev and Andrei Fedyaev.

Once bitter rivals in the space race during the Cold War, Russia and the U.S. cooperate on the space station and other projects. That relationship was marred by tensions after Moscow sent troops into Ukraine in 2022, but Washington and Moscow have continued to work together, with U.S. and Russian crews flying to the orbiting outpost on each country’s spacecraft.

Plans for broader cooperation, including possible Russian involvement in NASA’s Artemis program of lunar research, have fallen apart. As Russia has become increasingly reliant on China for its energy exports and imports of key technology amid Western sanctions, Roscosmos has started cooperation with China on its prospective lunar mission.

A Soyuz rocket launches to the International Space Station carrying Expedition 75 crewmembers, NASA astronaut Anil Menon, Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina, at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Tuesday, July 14, 2026. (Bill Ingalls/NASA via AP)

In this photo taken from video released by Roscosmos space corporation, the Soyuz-2.1 rocket booster with Soyuz MS-29 space ship carrying NASA astronaut Anil Menon, Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina, a new crew to the International Space Station, ISS, blasts off in Russian leased Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Tuesday, July 14, 2026. (Roscosmos space corporation, via AP)

The Soyuz rocket launches to the International Space Station with Expedition 75 crew members: NASA astronaut Anil Menon, Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov, and Anna Kikina onboard, Tuesday, July 14, 2026 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. (Bill Ingalls/NASA via AP)

Expedition 75 Roscosmos cosmonaut Anna Kikina, top, NASA astronaut Anil Menon, middle, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Pyotr Dubrov, bottom, wave farewell prior to boarding the Soyuz MS-29 spacecraft for launch, Tuesday, July 14, 2026 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. (Bill Ingalls/NASA via AP)

In this photo taken from video released by Roscosmos space corporation, the Soyuz-2.1 rocket booster with Soyuz MS-29 space ship carrying NASA astronaut Anil Menon, Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina, a new crew to the International Space Station, ISS, blasts off in Russian leased Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Tuesday, July 14, 2026. (Roscosmos space corporation, via AP)

In this photo taken from video released by Roscosmos space corporation, the Soyuz-2.1 rocket booster with Soyuz MS-29 space ship carrying NASA astronaut Anil Menon, Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina, a new crew to the International Space Station, ISS, blasts off in Russian leased Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Tuesday, July 14, 2026. (Roscosmos space corporation, via AP)

In this photo taken from video released by Roscosmos space corporation, the Soyuz-2.1 rocket booster with Soyuz MS-29 space ship carrying NASA astronaut Anil Menon, Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina, a new crew to the International Space Station, ISS, blasts off in Russian leased Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Tuesday, July 14, 2026. (Roscosmos space corporation, via AP)

In this photo taken from video released by Roscosmos space corporation, the Soyuz-2.1 rocket booster with Soyuz MS-29 space ship carrying NASA astronaut Anil Menon, Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina, a new crew to the International Space Station, ISS, blasts off in Russian leased Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Tuesday, July 14, 2026. (Roscosmos space corporation, via AP)

The Soyuz rocket is rolled out by train to the launch pad, Saturday, July 11, 2026, at Site 31 of the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. (Bill Ingalls/NASA via AP)

The Soyuz rocket is raised into position at the Site 31 launch pad of the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Saturday, July 11, 2026. (Bill Ingalls

GALLE, Sri Lanka (AP) — India was heading towards a win over Sri Lanka with six more wickets needed after four days of the first test at Galle International Stadium on Tuesday.

India was all out for 193 in its second innings about midway through the day, setting Sri Lanka an improbable winning target of 372 in four-plus sessions.

By stumps, Sri Lanka was 84-4, trailing by 287 runs. Sonal Dinusha and captain Dhananjaya de Silva thwarted India's charge by safely reaching stumps.

First innings centurion Dinusha was 25 not out off 36 balls and de Silva was on 31 from 73 balls.

In the morning session, India lost four wickets to reach 116-4 at lunch. It kept an eye on quick scoring and possible bad weather in order to force a win.

Rishabh Pant led the way for India on either side of lunch. He hit 50 off 53 balls including eight fours and two sixes. Pant was out for 66 off 69.

Devdutt Padikkal added 44 off 75 and Lokesh Rahul 35 off 47 before India was all out for 193 in 48.5 overs.

Early in the day, Sri Lanka's Dinesh Chandimal injured his right shoulder while fielding on the boundary. He dived and landed hard to save two runs then collapsed on the other side of the boundary. Chandimal was taken to hospital and Sri Lanka Cricket said the scans were clear.

But he was replaced by Pasindu Sooriyabandara as a concussion substitute. Sooriyabandara made his test debut.

Left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya picked two wickets before lunch, including trapping Shubman Gill on 8, while pacer Asitha Fernando took 4-31.

Pant and Ravindra Jadeja (9) combined for 54 off 60 balls until Pant was sent back in the 41st over by Lahiru Kumara. India lost its last four wickets for just 19 runs.

Sri Lanka’s second innings was delayed due to a passing shower, but it didn’t get a good start after play resumed.

Mohammed Siraj bounced out opener Nishan Madushka for 6 and Manav Suthar struck twice. Lahiru Udara was caught on 16 and Suthar trapped debutant Sooriyabandara for a golden duck.

Sri Lanka was 21-3 in the 11th over then 47-4 in the 22nd when Kamindu Mendis was caught on 2 at slip off Prasidh Krishna.

De Silva and Dinusha dug deep to bat out the last hour when bad light was called. They face six more hours on the final day on Wednesday, when there's a threat of rain.

See AP’s full cricket coverage here

India's Rishabh Pant plays a shot during the day four of the first cricket test match between Sri Lanka and India in Galle, Sri Lanka, Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

India's Mohammed Siraj celebrates the dismissal of Sri Lanka's Nishan Madushka during the day four of the first cricket test match between Sri Lanka and India in Galle, Sri Lanka, Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

India's Prasidh Krishna celebrates the dismissal of Sri Lanka's Kamindu Mendis during the day four of the first cricket test match between Sri Lanka and India in Galle, Sri Lanka, Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Sri Lanka's Asitha Fernando, right, celebrates taking the wicket of India's Yashasvi Jaiswal during the day four of the first cricket test match between Sri Lanka and India in Galle, Sri Lanka, Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Sri Lanka's Asitha Fernando celebrates taking the wicket of India's Yashasvi Jaiswal during the day four of the first cricket test match between Sri Lanka and India in Galle, Sri Lanka, Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

India's KL Rahul plays a shot as Sri Lanka's Niroshan Dickwella watches during the day four of the first cricket test match between Sri Lanka and India in Galle, Sri Lanka, Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)