The ISS Expedition 15 crew members, Flight Engineer Clay Anderson, Commander Fyodor Yurchikhin, and Flight Engineer Oleg Kotov have been working together for a considerable period of time. But a new crew, Expedition 16 is headed for docking at the International Space Station on Friday. Yuri Malenchenko will command the Soyuz as it ferries the replacement crew members to the ISS, and serve as Flight Engineer aboard the ISS. Peggy Whitson will become the first female Commander of the International Space Station. [To learn more about these remarkable people check out each of their names, that are linked to Space.com Astronaut/cosmonaut biographies].
The crew was launched yesterday morning from Russia in Soyuz three-person spacecraft. Russia's RIA Novosti had an interesting conclusion to its launch story. It concerns the third member of the crew, a Malaysian doctor. To quote:
The head of the Russian Space Agency, Anatoly Perminov, said he is sure Whitson will cope with her duties as well as a man would.
"I think you will cope with your responsibilities no worse than your male colleagues. Although there are some prejudices in Russia regarding female commanders of astronaut crews, I think after your flight this negative attitude will vanish," he told the NASA astronaut shortly before liftoff.
. . . Russia and Malaysia concluded a $900 million deal in 2003, stipulating that Malaysia would buy 18 Russian Su-30MKM Flanker fighters and that Russia will prepare and launch a Malaysian astronaut toward the ISS.
"New space station skipper is bringing a whip; Outpost’s first woman commander jokes around during launch preparations," was the MSNBC headline Tuesday. Quoting from the pre-launch story,
Watching the launch in Russia on NASA TV, was a great pleasure. We heard that the crew also received a traditional Russian Orthodox blessing before leaving their hotel for the launch pad. The space crew participant from Malaysia, Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor, will observe Ramadan while he is in space for 9 days, according to Space.com. To quote,
References: International Space Station Special Report coverage from Space.com/.
Technorati tags: news nasa russia ISS space program
My topical post today at South by Southwest and The Reaction is about domestic surveillance.
Cross-posted at Southwest Blogger
The crew was launched yesterday morning from Russia in Soyuz three-person spacecraft. Russia's RIA Novosti had an interesting conclusion to its launch story. It concerns the third member of the crew, a Malaysian doctor. To quote:The head of the Russian Space Agency, Anatoly Perminov, said he is sure Whitson will cope with her duties as well as a man would.
"I think you will cope with your responsibilities no worse than your male colleagues. Although there are some prejudices in Russia regarding female commanders of astronaut crews, I think after your flight this negative attitude will vanish," he told the NASA astronaut shortly before liftoff.
. . . Russia and Malaysia concluded a $900 million deal in 2003, stipulating that Malaysia would buy 18 Russian Su-30MKM Flanker fighters and that Russia will prepare and launch a Malaysian astronaut toward the ISS.
"New space station skipper is bringing a whip; Outpost’s first woman commander jokes around during launch preparations," was the MSNBC headline Tuesday. Quoting from the pre-launch story,
The rocket is set to blast off Wednesday with Whitson, Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko and Malaysia’s first astronaut, Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor, on board.
“The world is one place, and it’s very beautiful” when viewed from space, she said during a news conference at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, which Russia rents from Kazakhstan.
Shukor, who will be the ninth Muslim in space, said he hoped his 12-day trip will be an inspiration to his Southeast Asian nation and Muslims around the world.
“It’s a small step for me but a great leap for the Malaysian people,” he said, rephrasing Neil Armstrong’s legendary words following the Apollo landing on the moon. “I feel a responsibility for all the Muslims in the world.”
Watching the launch in Russia on NASA TV, was a great pleasure. We heard that the crew also received a traditional Russian Orthodox blessing before leaving their hotel for the launch pad. The space crew participant from Malaysia, Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor, will observe Ramadan while he is in space for 9 days, according to Space.com. To quote,
A Malaysian doctor who will spend the last days of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in space has vowed to follow the rituals of his faith even as he hurtles around Earth at 17,000 mph.Later - Oct. 12 - according to a NASA alert - their TV coverage will include these events. Be sure and watch more of the excitement tomorrow:
. . . Still, the mission initially presented a dilemma about fulfilling religious duties such as fasting, kneeling for prayers in zero gravity or facing Mecca to pray.
. . . To get around these problems, 150 Malaysian scholars, scientists, and astronauts brainstormed and published an 18-page booklet of guidelines for Muslim astronauts.
10 a.m. - Live coverage begins of Soyuz docking to the station with the Expedition 16 crew and spaceflight participant, and the post-docking news conference from Moscow (docking is scheduled at 10:47 a.m.).Update - 10/12/07: Marcia Dunn for the AP reports on MSNBC that "NASA considers delaying shuttle launch - Managers assessing whether three heat shield panels need replacement."
12 p.m. - Live coverage begins from Moscow of the Expedition 16 crew and spaceflight participant hatch opening to enter the station (hatch opening is scheduled at 12:30 p.m.).
1:30 p.m. - Video file of the docking and hatch opening for the Expedition 16 crew and spaceflight participant.
References: International Space Station Special Report coverage from Space.com/.
Technorati tags: news nasa russia ISS space program
My topical post today at South by Southwest and The Reaction is about domestic surveillance.
Cross-posted at Southwest Blogger
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