Russians Novitsky and Tarelkin, NASA astronaut Ford approved as main crew to ISS - commission
BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan. Oct 22 (Interfax-AVN) - The government commission at its Monday session approved members of the crew of Soyuz TMA-06M spacecraft that will take off for the International Space Station (ISS) on Tuesday, October 23.
The main crew will consist of Russian cosmonauts Oleg Novitsky and Yevgeny Tarelkin and NASA astronaut Kevin Ford. The standby crew consists of cosmonauts Pavel Vinogradov and Alexander Misurkin and astronaut Christopher Cassidy.
At the commission session head of the Cosmonauts' Training Center Sergei Krikalyov said: "The program of training the crew has been carried out in full. The conclusion of the medical commission is that all members of the main and standby crews are fit for the flight"
President and General Designer of Energia rocket and space corporation Vitaly Lopota said that "general tests have been completed" on the launch vehicle installed on the launch pad on Sunday and there are no issues obstructing takeoff.
Crew commander Oleg Novitsky reported that "the crew completed prelaunch training in Baikonur in full and is ready for the mission."
Meanwhile, Kevin Ford thanked the ground services for preparing the crew for the flight.
"Are fully prepared to do our job," he said in Russian.
The takeoff of Soyuz-FG launch vehicle with Soyuz TMA-06M spacecraft to ISS is due at 2:51 p.m. Moscow time on Tuesday from pad 31 at Baikonur. The previous human mission was launched from it in 1984.
The docking of Soyuz with ISS is slated for Wednesday.
Kevin Ford is the most experienced member of the main crew. He has flown to ISS three times on a U.S. space shuttle. Neither Oleg Novitsky, nor Yevgeny Tarelkin have a record of space flights.
