2009 Begins Transition To Six-Member Crews, Reliance On Soyuz
For Transport
NASA and its international partners have assigned the
International Space Station's crew members through 2010. The
numbering sequence of expeditions was modified to reflect the start
of six-person crews.
The update to the expedition numbering begins with the docking
of a Soyuz spacecraft in May 2009. That Soyuz will mark the
beginning of six-person crew operations. From that point forward,
expeditions will end with the undocking of a Soyuz. The expedition
number will change every two to four months as new crew members
arrive and depart.
NASA says the new arrangement emphasizes that every six-person
crew living on the station is a cohesive team. A crew member
typically will stay about six months and be part of two
expeditions. In addition to the Russian Soyuz, the space shuttle
will continue to provide transportation for station crew members
through mission STS-129, targeted for the fall of 2009.
With the departure of a Soyuz, command of the station will be
handed over to a crew member remaining aboard, and the next
expedition will begin. Specific backup crew members will not be
announced, though if needed, backups can be selected from
subsequent crews in training.
The groups of assigned crew members, beginning with the first
six-person crew and including newly announced crew members, are
outlined below by expedition.
Expedition 20 begins with the Soyuz 19 docking and the arrival
of three new crew members in May 2009.
- Russian cosmonaut Gennady Padalka, International Space Station
commander, who will launch in March 2009 on Soyuz 18 and return in
October 2009 on Soyuz 18.
- NASA astronaut Michael R. Barratt, who will launch in March
2009 on Soyuz 18 and return in October 2009 on Soyuz 18.
- NASA astronaut Tim Kopra, who will launch on STS-127 and return
on STS-128.
- Russian cosmonaut Roman Romanenko, who will launch in May 2009
on Soyuz 19 and return in November 2009 on Soyuz 19.
- European Space Agency astronaut Frank De Winne, who will launch
in May 2009 on Soyuz 19 and return in November 2009 on Soyuz
19
- Canadian Space Agency astronaut Robert Thirsk, who will launch
in May 2009 on Soyuz 19 and return on STS-129.
- NASA astronaut Nicole Stott, who will launch on STS-128 and
return in November 2009 on Soyuz 19.
Expedition 21 begins with the Soyuz 18 undocking in October
2009. Two new crew members will arrive on Soyuz 20 for the handover
before the previous crew departs.
- ESA astronaut Frank De Winne, the first European station
commander
- CSA astronaut Robert Thirsk
- Russian cosmonaut Roman Romanenko
- NASA astronaut Nicole Stott
- Russian Cosmonaut Maxim Suraev, who will launch in September
2009 on Soyuz 20 and return in March 2010 on Soyuz 20
- NASA astronaut Jeffrey N. Williams, who will launch in
September 2009 on Soyuz 20 and return in March 2010 on Soyuz
20.
Expedition 22 begins with the Soyuz 19 undocking in November
2009. Three new crew members will arrive shortly thereafter on
Soyuz 21.
- NASA astronaut Jeffrey N. Williams, station commander
- Russian cosmonaut Maxim Suraev
- Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kotov, who will launch in December 2009
on Soyuz 21 and return in May 2010 on Soyuz 21.
- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, astronaut Soichi
Noguchi, who will launch in December 2009 on Soyuz 21 and return in
May 2010 on Soyuz 21.
- NASA astronaut T.J. Creamer, who will launch in December 2009
on Soyuz 21 and return in May 2010 on Soyuz 21.
Expedition 23 begins with the Soyuz 20 undocking in March 2010.
Three new crew members will arrive shortly thereafter on Soyuz
22.
- Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kotov, station commander
- JAXA astronaut Soichi Noguchi
- NASA astronaut T.J. Creamer
- Russian cosmonaut Alexander Kaleri, who will launch in April
2010 on Soyuz 22 and return in September 2010 on Soyuz 22.
- Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko, who will launch in April
2010 on Soyuz 22 and return in September 2010 on Soyuz 22.
- NASA astronaut Tracy E. Caldwell, who will launch in April 2010
on Soyuz 22 and return in September 2010 on Soyuz 22.
Expedition 24 begins with the Soyuz 21 undocking in May 2010.
Three new crew members will arrive shortly thereafter on Soyuz
23.
- Russian cosmonaut Alexander Kaleri, station commander
- Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko
- NASA astronaut Tracy E. Caldwell
- Russian cosmonaut Alexander Skvortsov, who will launch in May
2010 on Soyuz 23 and return in November 2010 on Soyuz 23.
- NASA astronaut Shannon Walker, who will launch in May 2010 on
Soyuz 23 and return November 2010 on Soyuz 23.
- NASA astronaut Douglas H. Wheelock, who will launch in May 2010
on Soyuz 23 and return in November 2010 on Soyuz 23.
Expedition 25 begins with the Soyuz 22 undocking in September
2010. Three new crew members will arrive shortly thereafter on
Soyuz 24.
- NASA astronaut Douglas H. Wheelock, station commander
- Russian cosmonaut Alexander Skvortsov
- NASA astronaut Shannon Walker
- Russian cosmonaut Dmitri Kondratyev, who will launch in
September 2010 on Soyuz 24 and return in March 2011 on Soyuz
24.
- Russian cosmonaut Oleg Skripochka, who will launch in September
2010 on Soyuz 24 and return in March 2011 on Soyuz 24.
- NASA astronaut Scott J. Kelly, who will launch in September
2010 on Soyuz 24 and return in March 2011 on Soyuz 24.
Expedition 26 begins with the Soyuz 23 undocking in November
2010. Three crew members will arrive shortly thereafter on Soyuz
25.
- NASA astronaut Scott J. Kelly, station commander
- Russian cosmonaut Dmitri Kondratyev
- Russian cosmonaut Oleg Skripochka
- Russian cosmonaut Andrey Borisienko, who will launch in
November 2010 on Soyuz 25 and return in May 2011 on Soyuz 25.
- NASA astronaut Catherine Coleman, who will launch in November
2010 on Soyuz 25 and return in May 2011 on Soyuz 25.
- ESA astronaut Paolo Nespoli, who will launch in November 2010
on Soyuz 25 and return in May 2011 on Soyuz 25.