Expedition 48

Expedition 48 was a 2016 International Space Station increment commanded by NASA astronaut Jeff Williams. It began after Soyuz TMA-19M departed with the Expedition 47 return crew, then expanded to six people when Soyuz MS-01 delivered Anatoli Ivanishin, Takuya Onishi, and Kathleen Rubins to the station. The crew supported research in biology, human physiology, combustion, materials, and technology demonstrations, including the Biomolecule Sequencer work that enabled DNA sequencing in orbit. Visiting vehicle operations included Progress MS tests, Progress MS-03, SpaceX CRS-9 with the first International Docking Adapter, and Dragon departure. Williams and Rubins also completed two spacewalks for docking adapter installation, external thermal-control work, and high-definition camera upgrades.