I still have a problem with the concept of American astronauts flying around in Soyuz capsules - in a commanding capacity, no less. LOL! I guess that the ISS has really opened up relations between the two old superpowers to a new level. Given that the shuttle program is ending I guess we'll see more of it until Orion is ready to roll.
http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/image...ture_1325.html
Quote:
Expedition 18 Lands
The Soyuz TMA-13 spacecraft, carrying Expedition 18 Commander Michael Fincke, Flight Engineer Yury V. Lonchakov and American Spaceflight Participant Charles Simonyi, lands, Wednesday, April 8, 2009, near Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan. Fincke and Lonchakov return after spending six months on the International Space Station, and Simonyi is returning from his launch with the Expedition 19 crew members 12 days earlier.
Image Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls
|