On orbit: Expedition 22


International Space Station (ISS)
Expedition 22

On 20 December 2009, Russian Oleg Kotov, Japanese Soichi Noguchi and American T.J. Creamer blasted off from Baikonur aboard Soyuz TMA-17. On 22 December at 22:48 UT (Universal Time), their spaceship docked with the Station. The air-lock was opened on 23 December at 00:30, once checks had been carried out for leaks. Expedition 22 is now present and correct.

The mission on the NASA site

Jeffrey Williams Commander American - NASA Born: 18 January 1958 in Superior, Wisconsin (USA). Diplomas in science, in aeronautical engineering and in strategic studies from the Naval War College. Navy test pilot, he has worked for NASA, notably on the space shuttle programme since 1987, before being selected as an astronaut in 1996. Space flights -STS-105 (space shuttle Atlantis to the ISS) from 19 to 29 May 2000. -ISS Expedition 13 from 29 March to 28 September 2006 (lift-off and return via Soyuz spacecraft). -Member of Expedition 21 (arrived on Soyuz flight TMA-16 - 30 september 2009). Bio NASA Twitter		Maxim Suraev Flight engineer Russian - Roscosmos Born: 24 May 1972 in Chelyabinsk, Russia. Diplomas in law and in aeronautical engineering, this Air Force test pilot was selected by the Russian Space Agency in 1997. Space flight -Member of Expedition 21 (arrived on Soyuz flight TMA-16 - 30 september 2009). Bio NASA Online blog		Oleg Kotov Flight engineer Russian - Roscosmos Born on 27 October 1965 in Simferopol, Ukraine. Doctor in medicine (Kirov military academy), he has used his medical skills in the Star City training centre, near Moscow, since 1988 before being selected to become a cosmonaut in 1998. Space flights: -ISS Expedition 15 from 7 April to 21 October 2007 (the return trip in Soyuz TMA-10). -Expedition 22 since 20 December (Soyuz TMA-17). Bio NASA Online gallery

Soichi Noguchi Flight engineer Japanese - JAXA Born on 15 April 1965 in Yokohama, Japan. Engineer and researcher in aerospace techniques, he was selected in 1966 as an astronaut by JAXA (the Japanese Space Agency — known as NASDA at the time). Space flights: -STS-114 (space shuttle Discovery to the ISS - first flight after the Columbia catastrophe) from 26 July to 9 August 2005. -Expedition 22 since 20 December (Soyuz TMA-17). Bio NASA Twitter		Timothy J. (T.J.) Creamer Flight engineer American - NASA Born on 15 November 1959 in Fort Huachuca, Arizona (USA). Qualified in chemistry, he followed a career in the American Air Force and obtained a Masters degree in physics at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) before integrating the Army Space Command. In 1995, he became a ground engineer for the space shuttle programme and took part in the preparation of 8 missions. Selected by NASA in 1998. Space flight: -Expedition 22 since 20 December (Soyuz TMA-17). Bio NASA Twitter