On orbit: Expedition 24

International Space Station (ISS)
Expedition 24

With the arrival of Soyuz TMA-19 and its 3 passengers (Yurchikhin, Wheelock and Walker) on 17 June (the blast-off took place on 15 June), the ISS’ Expedition 24 is now complete with its 6 crew members. On 24 September 2010, Skvortsov (the current Commander), Kornienko and Caldwell Dyson will return to Earth in Soyuz TMA-18. This will then signal the beginning of Expedition 25 under the command of Douglas Wheelock.

The mission on the NASA site

Alexander Skvortsov Commander Russian - Roscosmos Born on 6 May 1966 in Schelkovo, Russia. Graduated as pilot and engineer from Stavropol Air Force School and from Zhukov Air Defence Academy. Chief fighter plane instructor, parachute instructor and qualified diver, he was selected as a cosmonaut in 1998. Space flight: -Expedition 23 then 24 since 2 April 2010 (Soyuz TMA-18). Bio NASA		Mikhail Kornienko Flight engineer Russian - Roscosmos Born on 15 April 1960 in Syzran, Russia. Having spent time as a paratrooper, he obtained a degree in engineering from the Moscow Aviation Institute; he then worked for several companies, including RSC Energia (manufacturer of the Soyuz). Selected as a cosmonaut in 1998. Space flight: -Expedition 23 then 24 since 2 April 2010 (Soyuz TMA-18). Bio NASA		Tracy Caldwell Dyson Flight engineer American - NASA Born on 14 August 1969 in Arcadia, California, (USA). Doctor in chemistry from the University of California, Davis. She took part in research which earned her several honours such as the Lyle Wallace Award and the National Science Foundation Research Experience Award. Selected by NASA in 1998. Space flights: -STS-118 (navette Endeavour vers l’ISS) du 8 au 21 août 2007. -Expedition 23 then 24 since 2 April 2010 (Soyuz TMA-18). Bio NASA

Fyodor Yurchikhin Flight Engineer Russian - Roscosmos Born on 3 January 1959 in Batumi, Georgia Mechanical engineer for airspace vehicles, he worked for the company RSC-Energie (constructor of the Soyuz spaceship and rocket) prior to being selected as a cosmonaut in 1998. At the same time, he obtained a PhD in Economics in 2001. Space flights: -STS-112 (space shuttle Atlantis to the ISS) from 7 to 18 October 2002. -ISS Expedition 15 (Commander) from 7 April to 21 October 2007 (taken by and returned with Soyuz TMA-10). -TMA-19 since 15 June (ISS Expedition 24). Bio NASA		Douglas Wheelock Flight engineer Born on 5 May 1960 in Binghampton in the State of New York (USA) Graduated in applied science and engineering from West Point Military Academy and with a Master of Science degree in aerospace engineering from Georgia Tech. Military test pilot, he was selected by NASA in 1998. Space flights: -STS-120 (space shuttle Discovery to the ISS) from 23 October to 7 November 2007. -TMA-19 since 15 June (ISS Expedition 24). Bio NASA Tweeter		Shannon Walker Flight engineer American - NASA Born on 4 June 1965 in Houston, Texas (USA). Having obtained a degree in physics from Houston University and a PhD in space physics from Rice University, she worked as a flight controller on several space shuttle missions and also on the ISS programme (notably robotics). Selected by NASA in 2004, she is the first person born in Houston to become an astronaut. Space flight: -TMA-19 since 15 June (ISS Expedition 24). Bio NASA Blog