Sun, Apr 05, 2009
Targeted Landing Date Now April 8
The Expedition 18 and 19 crews wrapped up a busy week of joint
operations aboard the International Space Station Friday.
Throughout the week, the newly-arrived Expedition 19 crew
members spent much of their time familiarizing themselves with
their new home and conducting handover activities with the outgoing
Expedition 18 crew. Expedition 18 Commander Mike Fincke officially
handed over control of the station to Expedition 19 Commander
Gennady Padalka and his crew during the traditional
Change-of-Command ceremony Thursday.
Fincke and Flight Engineer Yury Lonchakov are targeted to return
to Earth on April 8... one day later than originally planned, due
to waterlogged ground at the projected landing site on the steppes
of Kazakhstan. Russia Today reported Saturday a reconnaissance
helicopter sent to observe conditions at the landing site found it
to be flooded; the helo was able to land, but reportedly had
difficulties taking off again from the muck.
The flood-related delay will give Expedition 18 crewmembers one
more day in orbit. That works out well for paying spaceflight
participant Charles Simonyi -- who will receive an extra "free" day
in orbit, as well.
Staying aboard the station with Padalka are flight engineers
Koichi Wakata and Michael Barratt.
NASA reports crews kept busy Friday with a variety of science,
maintenance and handover activities. They also went over Soyuz
undocking procedures with specialists to prepare for the departure
of Fincke, Lonchakov and Simonyi next week.
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