Soyuz TMA-15 is ready for blast off from Baikonur - Expedition 20 ISS crew

JMJMC.OVERSTEYNS — Wed, 27 May 2009 07:37:00 GMT

A Soyuz TMA-15 spacecraft is to lift off from the Baikonur today Wednesday May 27th 2009 for a mission to the ISS.

Crew: Belgian astronaut Frank De Winne, Canadian astronaut Bob Thirsk (his first space flight took place in 1996 aboard of a space shuttle mission STS-78) and Russian cosmonaut Roman Romanenko (his father was cosmonaut Joeri Romanenko).

It will be the second space flight for astronaut Frank De Winne, first space flight took place in 2002 when he spent 9 days aboard ISS this time he will stay for half a year, after 4 months he will be the first European to take over as commander of the ISS.

It will also double the ISS permanent crew from 3 to 6.

Frank will serve as flight engineer on Expedition 20 and as commander on Expedition 21.