[FPSPACE] Russia's ISS crewing plans

[Bart Hendrickx]

Novosti Kosmonavtiki's Sergei Shamsutdinov reports that Russian Space
Agency, Star City and RKK Energiya officials have reached preliminary
agreement on the Russian crew members for Expeditions 15 to 19 :

EO-15 (Soyuz TMA-10 N°220 - March 2007) :
prime : Yurchikhin, Kotov
back-up : Romanenko, Korniyenko

EO-16 (Soyuz TMA-11 N°221 - September 2007)
prime : Malenchenko
back-up : Kaleri

EO-17 (Soyuz TMA-12 N° 222 - March 2008)
prime : Volkov, Kononenko
back-up : Krikalyov, Surayev

EO-18 (Soyuz TMA-13 N° 701) - September 2008
prime : Kaleri
back-up : Padalka

EO-19 (Soyuz TMA-14 N° 702) - March 2009
prime : Krikalyov, Surayev
back-up : Sharipov, Skripochka

These assignments are preliminary and subject to change. Kaleri is
reportedly not eager to perform another back-up role and wants to get down
to EO-18 training straightaway. If Krikalyov flies EO-19, he will become the
first Russian to fly seven missions.

Note that EO-18 will mark the introduction of an improved Soyuz TMA with a
new computer system, replacing the old Argon system. The new system will
first be tested on three Progress missions (serial numbers 401, 402, 403)
beginning in late 2007. This is only one in a series of Soyuz modifications
that have been planned since the late 1990s and are now gradually being
implemented. Others (to be introduced later) include a Russian-built Kurs-N
rendezvous system (replacing the Ukrainian Kurs) and an improved cooling
system for the hydrogen peroxide re-entry control thrusters. The latter
modification should allow Soyuz to remain in orbit for one year.

Bart Hendrickx