New Space Station Crew Members Launch From Kazakhstan

NASA astronauts Doug Wheelock and Shannon Walker, along with Russian cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin, launched to the International Space Station aboard their Soyuz TMA-19 spacecraft at 1635 CDT Tuesday (0335 Wednesday local time) from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

Wheelock, Walker and Soyuz commander Yurchikhin are scheduled to dock with their new home at 1725 Thursday, June 17. They will join Expedition 24 crewmates Tracy Caldwell Dyson, a NASA astronaut, and Russian cosmonauts Alexander Skvortsov, the station commander, and Mikhail Kornienko aboard the orbiting laboratory.

During Expedition 24, the six-person crew will continue scientific research investigations and station maintenance activities. On June 28, Yurchikhin, Wheelock and Walker will climb back into their Soyuz spacecraft and move it to the newly-delivered Mini-Research Module-1, or Rassvet.

The mission also includes three spacewalks, one conducted by Russian cosmonauts Yurchikhin and Kornienko on July 26 and two by NASA astronauts Wheelock and Caldwell Dyson on August 5 and 17.

Soyuz Spacecraft File Photo

Skvortsov, Caldwell Dyson and Kornienko, who launched to the station on April 2, are scheduled to return to Earth on September 24. Before departing, Skvortsov will hand over command of the station to Wheelock for Expedition 25, which begins when the Soyuz TMA-18 undocks September 24.

NASA astronaut Scott Kelly and Russian cosmonauts Alexander Kaleri and Oleg Skripochka will join Wheelock, Walker and Yurchikhin in orbit on Oct. 10 to complete the Expedition 25 crew. Their launch is set for October 8.

FMI: www.nasa.gov