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General Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: nethegauner on 11/04/2005 10:41 am

Title: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 11/04/2005 10:41 am
Does any one know about flight crew assignments beyond STS-115? There must have been a lot of shuffling lately. I guess the original pre-Columbia assigments up to STS-120 are no longer valid -- or are they?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 11/04/2005 11:37 am
STS-121
CDR Steven Lindsey
PLT Mark Kelly
MS1 Michael Fossum
MS2 Lisa Nowak
MS3 Stephanie Wilson
MS4 Piers Sellers
MS5 [up] Thomas Reiter (Germany)

STS-115
CDR Brent Jett
PLT Christopher Ferguson
MS Joseph Tanner
MS Daniel Burbank
MS Steven MacLean (Canada)
MS Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper

STS-116
CDR Mark Polansky
PLT William Oefelein
MS Christer Fuglesang (Sweden)
MS Robert Curbeam
MS Joan Higginbotham
MS Nicholas Patrick
MS [up] TBD
MS [down] Thomas Reiter (Germany)

STS-117
CDR Frederick Sturckow
PLT Lee Archambault
MS Steven Swanson
MS Richard Mastracchio
MS Patrick Forrester
MS James Reilly

STS-118
CDR Scott Kelly
PLT Charles Hobaugh
MS Scott Parazynski
MS Dafydd Williams (Canada)
MS Barbara Morgan   
MS TBD

STS-119
CDR Pamela Melroy
PLT TBD
MS Michael Gernhardt
MS TBD
MS Tracy Caldwell
MS TBD

STS-120
CDR James Halsell
PLT Alan Poindexter
MS Michael Foreman
MS TBD
MS TBD
MS TBD
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 11/04/2005 11:56 am
Thanks, anik. So Halsell is still set to command STS-120? Aha. And Melroy replaces Lindsey on STS-119? That was new to me.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 11/04/2005 12:05 pm
It is a very old plan (May 2005)... There might be changes since then...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: MKremer on 11/04/2005 01:49 pm
I'm a Pam Melroy fan. Good to see she's got a chance at commanding another mission.  :)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: rsp1202 on 11/04/2005 01:55 pm
I didn't know about Melroy. What's the scoop on her, background-wise?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: MKremer on 11/04/2005 02:13 pm
Quote
rsp1202 - 4/11/2005  8:55 AM

I didn't know about Melroy. What's the scoop on her, background-wise?

Her bio is here:
http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/melroy.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: rsp1202 on 11/04/2005 07:57 pm
Thanks. She's got the chops. Hope Tony Blankley leaves her be.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Flightstar on 11/04/2005 08:41 pm
Pam is another Eileen. Great people and great credits to our space program.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 11/05/2005 07:57 am
Interesting, but I've found no official references to Melroy or Caldwell's assignments to STS-119. Unless I've missed something, there's nothing on either of their bios which refers to STS-119, nor any recent NASA press releases.

I also heard some time ago that Halsell, like Wilcutt, had chosen to step down from their pre-107 commands to give others a chance to fly. Also, I understand that Ken Bowersox (the Director of Flight Crew Ops) made an announcement a couple of months ago that more-or-less says four flights is the limit. Wilcutt, Parazynski and Gernhardt have already made four and Halsell has five under his belt.

A link, or press release, for the Melroy-Caldwell-Halsell assignments would be much appreciated, as would any comments about the others. Can anyone help?

Thanks

Ben
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: FransonUK on 11/05/2005 09:40 am
Question of less knowledge alert:

Are all the main NASA astronauts from a Air Force background?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 11/05/2005 10:11 am
I heard recently that Dan Tani may no longer be in the running for Expedition 13. Can anyone verify or counter this?

If Tani is to be dropped, will the 'prime' Russian on Expedition 13 (Vinogradov? or Kondratiev?) be kept with another US astronaut, or swapped for the entire Expedition 12 backup crew of Mikhail Tyurin and Jeff Williams?

Ben
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 11/05/2005 10:24 am
I'll try an e-mail to ISS PR, if no one comes back on this, Ben.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 11/05/2005 11:02 am
Ben,

Current plan:

ISS Expedition 13 crews

Prime
CDR Pavel Vinogradov (launch on Soyuz TMA-8)
FE1/SO Jeffrey Williams (launch on Soyuz TMA-8)
FE2 Thomas Reiter (launch on Discovery [STS-121])

Backup
CDR Fyodor Yurchikhin
FE1/SO Michael Fincke
FE2 Leopold Eyharts

ISS Expedition 14 crews

Prime
CDR Michael Lopez-Alegria (launch on Soyuz TMA-9)
FE1 Mikhail Tyurin (launch on Soyuz TMA-9)
FE2/SO Clayton Anderson (launch on Endeavour [STS-116])

Backup
CDR TBD
FE1 Yury Malenchenko
FE2/SO Garrett Reisman
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 11/05/2005 12:34 pm
Thanks anik.

Do you by any chance have a link to any of this. I'm aware that Lopez-Alegria, Reisman et al were all in 'generic' ISS expedition training, but hadn't heard of any official announcements.

Has anything leaked out as to why Tani was dropped?

Ben
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: MKremer on 11/05/2005 02:37 pm
Quote
FransonUK - 5/11/2005  4:40 AM

Question of less knowledge alert:

Are all the main NASA astronauts from a Air Force background?

The Commander/Pilot positions have always (I believe) been limited to military pilots, and they've all been through test pilot training at some point during their military careers. I think the test pilot training is the main factor - you just don't get that type of training and experience with a commercial pilot background.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 11/05/2005 02:45 pm
Quote
Ben E - 5/11/2005  4:34 PM

Do you by any chance have a link to any of this

The part of this information is official... It was confirmed at session of Multilateral Crew Operations Panel (MCOP) on September 20, 2005 and published in Russian "Novosti kosmonavtiki" magazine (November 2005)... Other part of this information I have received from informal sources...

Quote
Ben E - 5/11/2005  4:34 PM

Has anything leaked out as to why Tani was dropped?

I heard that he had problems with studying of Russian language, but it may be a mistake...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Rocket Guy on 11/05/2005 06:01 pm
Quote

I heard that he had problems with studying of Russian language, but it may be a mistake...

Yes, and also did not understand the Soyuz systems well enough.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 11/05/2005 09:59 pm
Seems a bit late in the day, after having trained as a prime and backup ISS crewmember AND flown a Shuttle-ISS mission, to have only just realised, with five months to go, that his language or Soyuz proficiency aren't up to scratch.

If it's true, it's almost as ludicrous as the Parazynski-Lawrence "too tall-too short" thing from 1997.

Ben
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: rsp1202 on 11/05/2005 10:44 pm
"Are all the main NASA astronauts from a Air Force background?"

John Young, Bob Crippen, Dick Truly, Rick Hauck were naval aviators (retired), to name a few. Of course, the Air Force guys would agree with "main."
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 11/05/2005 11:42 pm
Yes, the 'firsts' are by no means all monopolised by Air Force personnel:

Al Shepard - first American in space - was Navy
John Glenn - first American to orbit Earth - was Marines
Neil Armstrong - first man on the Moon - was civilian
Bruce McCandless - first untethered spacewalker - was Navy
Hoot Gibson - who led the first Shuttle-Mir docking - was Navy
Bob Cabana - who led first Shuttle-ISS mission - was Marines
Bill Shepherd - first ISS commander - was Navy

...but on the other hand...

Ed White - first American spacewalker - was Air Force
Frank Borman - who led the first manned circumlunar mission - was Air Force
Jerry Ross - first person to fly seven space missions - was Air Force

The Air Force also (with Buzz Aldrin) was first to put an active military officer on the Moon's surface (Armstrong being a 'civvie')

As for Shuttle Commanders, of the 114 missions flown so far (including 51L and STS-114), Air Force and Navy are neck-and-neck:

* 44 Shuttle missions have been led by an active Air Force officer
* 44 Shuttle missions have been led by an active Navy officer
* 11 Shuttle missions have been led by an active Marines officer
* 15 Shuttle missions have been led by a civilian

I wouldn't be surprised if there's some good-natured rivalry in there somewhere, though...

Ben


Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: rsp1202 on 11/05/2005 11:52 pm
Good research. Yeah, there's rivalry all right. That goes back to the Schirra/Stafford-Borman/Lovell Gemini 6-7 missions when they exchanged "Go Army, Beat Navy" and visa versa signs in cockpit windows. I believe even shuttle crew had to put up with similar when docking with ISS.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Rocket Guy on 11/05/2005 11:54 pm
Thought out of the service by the time he was with NASA at Edwards, Armstrong also was Navy before that.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Dogsbd on 11/06/2005 12:44 am
GO NAVY!!

 :)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Avron on 11/06/2005 03:31 pm
Quote
Dogsbd - 5/11/2005  8:44 PM

GO NAVY!!

 :)


LOL..

Ben.. overall how do civilians rate in number of flights against non-civilian?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Rocket Guy on 11/06/2005 05:21 pm
Oh I don't know, but at least 2/3 or even 3/4 of all astronauts were in the military at one point or another.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 11/07/2005 08:48 am
Quote
Ben - 5/11/2005  8:01 PM

Quote

I heard that he had problems with studying of Russian language, but it may be a mistake...

Yes, and also did not understand the Soyuz systems well enough.
Oh dear...

How silly is that? I concur — definetly a reminder of the Lawrence/Parazynski jumble.

By the way: I've read that Marcos Pontes of Brazil will fly to the ISS on the next crew exchange mission and return with the current crew. Although he was an international member of the 1998 class of NASA astronauts, he is supposed to get that flight opportunity due to a deal between Russia and Brazil, if I'm not mistaken.

Great to see yet another country to join the ranks of ISS visiting nations! America, Russia, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, South Africa, Japan, Canada — and soon Brazil, Germany and Sweden. Did I forget any nation?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: UK Shuttle Clan on 11/07/2005 01:59 pm
Michael Foale, UK
Piers Sellars, Ex pat UK.  ;)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 11/07/2005 06:55 pm
Would Salizhan Sharipov - a native of Kyrgyzstan (is that spelt right?) - be another possibility?

Ben
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 11/08/2005 07:24 am
Quote
UK Shuttle Clan - 7/11/2005  3:59 PM

Michael Foale, UK
Piers Sellars, Ex pat UK.  ;)
Oh, yes -- of course. If You want it that way, then Andy Thomas would represent Australia, right? So add the UK and Australia to the list. Of course, all three of them are Americans nowadays.

Quote
Ben E - 7/11/2005  8:55 PM

Would Salizhan Sharipov - a native of Kyrgyzstan (is that spelt right?) - be another possibility?

Ben

Hm ...

He's a native of Kirghizia, but he was born when the USSR still existed and -- according to his JSC bio -- he represents the GCTC ...

Hey, could a Russian board member say something about Sharipov?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 11/08/2005 10:12 am
Further to earlier post, has there been any official announcement about assignment of Melroy and Caldwell to STS-119?

It has also been hinted that, because of the paucity of flights, veteran pilots will be promoted to command their second flights. Scott Kelly and Mark Polansky have already had that done. Does this mean that Hobaugh (Kelly's pilot on STS-118) will actually get a command and his seat on 118 taken by a rookie?

It's interesting also that the STS-115 through STS-120 crews have (or at least 'had', in pre-107 days) four Mission Specialists assigned, because of the four planned EVAs on each mission - two alternating teams of . But on all previous multiple-EVA missions, there have been five Mission Specialists (one to operate the RMS and a four-person EVA team). I think the last time we had a five-Mission Specialist, multiple-EVA crew was STS-110, in which Ochoa operated the RMS, while Smith, Walheim, Ross and Morin did the spacewalks. Why has an RMS crew member not been added onto STS-115 through STS-120? Will one of the ISS crew members do the job instead?

Ben
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: rsp1202 on 11/08/2005 01:41 pm
Interesting to note that many of the pilots and mission specialists being mentioned are all young enough now to be assigned to CEV crews if they remain with NASA, especially if development schedule is moved up at all. Wonder how many of these joined the shuttle program in the first place because they would actually "fly" the shuttle. NASA posting is still the top of the pyramid for fliers, and none will probably give up chance to take on an early CEV missions, but capsule work is definitely different than shuttle work.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 11/08/2005 01:50 pm
Quote
rsp1202 - 8/11/2005  3:41 PM

Interesting to note that many of the pilots and mission specialists being mentioned are all young enough now to be assigned to CEV crews if they remain with NASA, especially if development schedule is moved up at all.
Given the fact that only 18 or 19 STS flights are scheduled before the end of the program, I would be surprised if any members of the classes of 2000 and 2004 will actually receive a shuttle flight assignment. Uh, well ... the 2000 guys probably, maybe ...

The 1998 astronauts are only beginning to fly next year -- or has anyone of them flown yet? I don't think so. Marcos Pontes will be the first -- but not on the shuttle ...

Actually, not all of the 1996 class of NASA astronauts have flown yet.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: rsp1202 on 11/08/2005 02:13 pm
It's inevitable there will be a large turnover in crew personnel between now and CEV first launch. Unfortunately, many of these exceptional people will miss their chance to fly on the shuttle; this is not dissimilar to what happened during the Apollo/Apollo Applications phaseout period when some astronauts waited years to be assigned missions only to have them cut. Numbers have been released as to how many KSC workers will be let go or retire in next five years, but there hasn't been a mention of astronauts leaving the program simply because most of them have probably not decided yet on whether they will stay. In a perfect world they should all get their chance, and I hope NASA continues to retain and attract the best of the best.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Dobbins on 11/08/2005 02:31 pm
Quote
rsp1202 - 8/11/2005  9:41 AM

Interesting to note that many of the pilots and mission specialists being mentioned are all young enough now to be assigned to CEV crews if they remain with NASA,

I think that many the Mission Specialists are going to find themselves in the position of "odd man out" once the CEV starts flying. The smaller crew size is going to affect them more than it will the pilot astronauts.

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Dobbins on 11/08/2005 02:40 pm
Quote
rsp1202 - 8/11/2005  10:13 AM

Numbers have been released as to how many KSC workers will be let go or retire in next five years, but there hasn't been a mention of astronauts leaving the program simply because most of them have probably not decided yet on whether they will stay. In a perfect world they should all get their chance, and I hope NASA continues to retain and attract the best of the best.

I'm afraid that a Shuttle assignment is going to be the last chance for many of the Mission Specialists. The smaller crew size of the CEV is going to mean there won't be as many seats for them on future flights once the Shuttle is phased out and I expect this will result in many of the Mission Specialists leaving as the STS program winds down.

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: rsp1202 on 11/08/2005 03:09 pm
Right. Especially the science specialists. I posted earlier that they will be the ones least willing to give up their academic or civilian careers. Many of the younger pilots remaining will have already retired or will be retiring from their miliary careers and will stick it out since it's the only game in town. Many of the CEV moon crews have yet to join NASA. Mars crews are graduating college about now.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 11/08/2005 03:53 pm
Yes, but it's interesting that maybe some of the younger astronauts around at the moment - those in their mid to late 30s, Mike Fincke being one - will certainly be possible candidates, if they stick it out, to fly Moon missions. Using Fincke as an example, he'll only be 50-ish when the Moon missions take place, which was the same age John Young was when he flew STS-1.

I genuinely do believe that at least one of the next generation of lunar explorers is a current, active astronaut already!

As for astronauts from the 1998, 2000 and 2004 groups getting assignments before the end of the Shuttle programme, I do think it's a possibility that they will ALL get at least one flight. If NASA sticks to its informal rule, cited a couple of months ago by Ken Bowersox, that "four flights will be the limit", that automatically cancels out roughly half of the extant corps. With 19 flights to go, flying at a rate of 1-3 veterans + 1-3 rookies per crew, it should be possible to get everyone flown on the Shuttle.

According to NASA's Astronaut Biographies website (www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios), there are currently 94 active astronauts, of whom 37 are detailed to management responsibilities. If we assume that 'management' astronauts are not immediately eligible for flight assignments, that leaves 57 astronauts, of whom 28 are active Pilots or Commanders and 29 are Mission Specialists. Added to that figure are 13 active international Mission Specialists and 14 candidates (two Pilots and 12 Mission Specialists) from NASA's 2004 intake. All told, that leaves an effectively-active corps of 30 Pilots or Commanders and 54 Mission Specialists

Thirty Pilots and Commanders is clearly more than enough for 19 Shuttle missions, if we assume Pilots fly once or twice before getting a command. Most Shuttle flights have five or six Mission Specialists, so that leaves 95-114 available seats for Mission Specialists. Bearing in mind, too, that many astronauts (Leopold Eyharts, Jeff Williams, Garrett Reisman, Mike Lopez-Alegria, Bill McArthur, Sunita Williams, Clay Anderson et al) will probably hitch a ride on Soyuz for their long-term ISS increments, I really do not see a reason why EVERYONE should not get at least one and possibly two flights before the Shuttle programme ends.    

Unless my maths is wrong, it should work out.

Ben





Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: rsp1202 on 11/08/2005 05:11 pm
Based on Anik's flight/crew outline, I would speculate the earlier STS commanders and pilots might be up for CEV flights. Rather than hijacking this thread, I'll move that over to "CEV Particulars."
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 11/08/2005 06:41 pm
Quote
nethegauner - 8/11/2005  11:24 AM

Hey, could a Russian board member say something about Sharipov?

Sharipov was born in Kyrghyzstan. His nationality - the Uzbek. After the first flight (STS-89) he has received a rank "The Hero of Kyrghyzstan". After the second flight (ISS Expedition 10) Salizhan recently has received a rank "The Hero of Russia"

By the way, the current Expedition 15 prime crew:

CDR Peggy Whitson (launch on Endeavour [STS-118])
FE1 Fyodor Yurchikhin (launch on Soyuz TMA-10)
FE2 Oleg Kotov (launch on Soyuz TMA-10)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 11/08/2005 07:43 pm
Anik,

Do you have a link for the Expedition 15 crew announcement? And also the Expedition 13 and 14 press releases, too? I can't seem to find official confirmation anywhere on the net.

Thanks

Ben
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Rocket Guy on 11/08/2005 10:09 pm
They are real and 'official' internally but none of these will be published soon.

The only discrepancy I have with Anik is I have Whitson as FE and Kotov as CDR(?).
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Flightstar on 11/09/2005 02:48 am
Quote
Ben E - 8/11/2005  2:43 PM

Anik,

Do you have a link for the Expedition 15 crew announcement? And also the Expedition 13 and 14 press releases, too? I can't seem to find official confirmation anywhere on the net.

Thanks

Ben

Anik tends to find information out before it is "on the internet to the public" :)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Rocket Guy on 11/09/2005 05:35 am
So do I...I have a source at JSC who shares all the latest crew changes as soon as they happen, and he has never been wrong once amazingly in the last five or so years I've known him or her :-)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 11/09/2005 09:31 am
Yes, the CDRs of ISS crews do seem to alternate between US and Russian, so if Expedition 13 has a Russian CDR (Tyurin?) then Expedition 15 should have one, too (Kotov?)

BTW I'm aware Kotov is an MD, but is he officially classed as a pilot-cosmonaut or an engineer?

Ben
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 11/09/2005 10:26 am
Quote
Ben E - 8/11/2005  11:43 PM

Do you have a link for the Expedition 15 crew announcement? And also the Expedition 13 and 14 press releases, too?

No, Ben E!... This is unofficial information from Russian “Novosti kosmonavtiki” magazine and Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre (GCTC)…

Quote
Ben - 9/11/2005  2:09 AM

The only discrepancy I have with Anik is I have Whitson as FE and Kotov as CDR(?).

Ben, I heard the American side want that the Expedition 15 Commander was the American…

I also have the following unofficial information:

Expedition 15 backup crew:

CDR TBD
FE1 Mikhail Korniyenko
FE2 Maksim Surayev

Expedition 16 crews:

Prime
CDR Yury Malenchenko
FE1 TBD
FE2 TBD

Backup
CDR Yury Lonchakov
FE1 TBD
FE2 TBD

Expedition 17 crews:

Prime
CDR TBD
FE1 Oleg Kononenko
FE2 Sergey Volkov

Backup
CDR TBD
FE1 Aleksandr Kaleri
FE2 Roman Romanenko

There are many “TBDs” in these crews, but I know that the following astronauts maybe included in the Expedition 15/16/17 crews:

Sandra Magnus, Gregory Chamitoff, Michael Barratt, Timothy Kopra, Robert Behnken, Nicole Stott, Leopold Eyharts (France), Andre Kuipers (Netherlands), Frank De Winne (Belgium), Robert Thirsk (Canada) and Koichi Wakata (Japan)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 11/09/2005 10:56 am
Quote
anik - 9/11/2005  12:26 PM

There are many “TBDs” in these crews, but I know that the following astronauts maybe included in the Expedition 15/16/17 crews:

Sandra Magnus, Gregory Chamitoff, Michael Barratt, Timothy Kopra, Robert Behnken, Nicole Stott, Leopold Eyharts (France), Andre Kuipers (Netherlands), Frank De Winne (Belgium), Robert Thirsk (Canada) and Koichi Wakata (Japan)
Barratt, Kopra, Behnken and Stott? Interesting. They are from the 2000 class ...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 11/09/2005 12:27 pm
Quote
Ben E - 9/11/2005  1:31 PM

so if Expedition 13 has a Russian CDR (Tyurin?)

Vinogradov, not Tyurin!...

Quote
Ben E - 9/11/2005  1:31 PM

I'm aware Kotov is an MD, but is he officially classed as a pilot-cosmonaut or an engineer?

Oleg Kotov will be the Soyuz TMA-10 Commander and the ISS Flight Engineer 2...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 11/09/2005 12:30 pm
Thanks, anik.
It's interesting also that by the time Expeditions 16 and 17 are flown (2007-2008), Columbus will probably have been installed. As some of the later expeditions have two Russians assigned, presumably the other seat will be taken by an American or a European (or Canadian or Japanese). All of this implies that either Destiny or Columbus - or both - will have to operate for at least one increment without a representative astronaut from its 'home' nation aboard.

My thinking was that the crews would change, after Columbus was attached, to something similar to Expedition 13/STS-121 - with one American, one Russian and one European on each increment, expanding to cover Japanese and Canadian astronauts when extra Soyuz return vehicles become available c 2008-2009.

Obviously, I was wrong.

Ben
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: David AF on 11/09/2005 07:45 pm
Quote
nethegauner - 9/11/2005  5:56 AM

Quote
anik - 9/11/2005  12:26 PM

There are many “TBDs” in these crews, but I know that the following astronauts maybe included in the Expedition 15/16/17 crews:

Sandra Magnus, Gregory Chamitoff, Michael Barratt, Timothy Kopra, Robert Behnken, Nicole Stott, Leopold Eyharts (France), Andre Kuipers (Netherlands), Frank De Winne (Belgium), Robert Thirsk (Canada) and Koichi Wakata (Japan)
Barratt, Kopra, Behnken and Stott? Interesting. They are from the 2000 class ...

If this is refering to astronauts fresh out of boot camp, I did hear that the aim was to give as many different astronauts a shot of riding on a Shuttle before retirement of the fleet as opposed to Collins getting two more flights, for example. Can anyone confirm that?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 11/09/2005 09:54 pm
I would hedge my bets with Grunsfeld as CDR of Expedition 17. If the timing's right, it'll be about that time that both Columbus and Kibo are being installed. Great opportunity to have NASA's former Chief Scientist aboard...

I did hear rumours that Grunsfeld may also fly the last Hubble servicing mission. Can anyone confirm or counter that?

Other astronauts involved in ISS increment training, I believe, include Camarda and Robinson from STS-114. I'm sure that Wilson and Caldwell were also doing ISS advanced training at one point, although both (it seems) are assigned to Shuttle crews. Veterans of NEEMO undersea expeditions are also 'prime suspects' for future missions - Nick Patrick, Doug Wheelock, Rex Walheim, Cady Coleman and Dave Williams being a few.

Ben
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Rocket Guy on 11/09/2005 11:47 pm
Collins? She announced her retirement before 114 even launched.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ADC9 on 11/10/2005 04:46 am
He said Collins by way of giving an example. At least that is how I read it.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 11/10/2005 02:59 pm
I didn't think Collins actually announced her retirement before 114 flew; rather she said she didn't expect to fly again, but would wait and see. Having said that, having such a high profile and probably countless job offers, I don't expect her to fly again (but I hope she does).

Ben
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 11/10/2005 03:10 pm
Quote
Ben E - 10/11/2005  1:54 AM

I did hear rumours that Grunsfeld may also fly the last Hubble servicing mission. Can anyone confirm or counter that?

Yes, Ben E... Recently John Grunsfeld trained in ISS Expedition 13 backup crew, but in September he was replaced on Michael Fincke because of preparation to Hubble Servicing Mission (HST-SM-04)...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Rocket Guy on 11/10/2005 06:58 pm
Nah, her exact words were "This is my last flight." at one of the events I was at, maybe crew arrival :-)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 11/10/2005 09:19 pm
Ah, so Grunsfeld's Hubble assignment would explain the sudden "appearance" of Mike Fincke on the upcoming ISS crew roster.

Since Hubble has got to be the most coveted of the remaining Shuttle missions, can anyone speculate on other contenders for crew positions? Altman as CDR again? Nicollier? Massimino?

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: rsp1202 on 11/10/2005 10:14 pm
Thought Altman moved over to management, since he hasn't flown since. Hope he does; it wouldn't be first time a manager moved up.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 11/23/2005 08:07 am
Recently I received the new unofficial information about assignments in ISS Expeditions crews...

Michael Fincke is the commander and Fyodor Yurchikhin is the flight engineer 1 of the Expedition 13 backup crew now...

Garrett Reisman is the flight engineer 2 of the Expedition 14 prime crew now...

Peggy Whitson is the commander and Gennady Padalka (possibly) is the flight engineer 1 of the Expedition 14 backup crew now... The flight engineer 2 in this crew is TBD...

Yury Malenchenko (possibly) is the commander, Fyodor Yurchikhin is the flight engineer 1 and Clayton Anderson is the flight engineer 2 of the Expedition 15 prime crew now...

ISS Expedition 13-19 prime and backup crews will be confirmed at the Multilateral Crew Operations Panel (MCOP) meeting in December 3-6, 2005...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 11/23/2005 10:02 am
Thanks anik,

Does that mean the Expedition 14 roster is Mike Lopez-Alegria (CDR), Mikhail Tyurin (FE) and Garrett Reisman (FE)?

If so, what's happened to Clay Anderson and Sunita Williams?

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 11/23/2005 12:37 pm
Quote
Ben E - 23/11/2005  2:02 PM

Does that mean the Expedition 14 roster is Mike Lopez-Alegria (CDR), Mikhail Tyurin (FE) and Garrett Reisman (FE)?

Yeah, Ben E!... CDR Michael Lopez-Alegria - FE1 Mikhail Tyurin - FE2/SO Garrett Reisman...

Quote
Ben E - 23/11/2005  2:02 PM

If so, what's happened to Clay Anderson and Sunita Williams?

Unfortunately, I dont know why Clayton Anderson is in the Expedition 15 prime crew now instead of the Expedition 14 prime crew and why Sunita Williams was removed from Expeditions crews... :(
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 11/23/2005 06:49 pm
Purely speculating here, but in view of the fact that Chief Astronauts generally get plum mission assignments, what mission do you think Kent Rominger will fly next?

After all, Young got STS-1, Brandenstein got Endeavour's maiden mission, Gibson got Shuttle-Mir and Cabana got the first ISS assembly mission.

I suppose the Columbus mission would be a lead contender, but I personally wouldn't be too surprised if he gets the command of the Hubble servicing mission.

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 11/24/2005 10:10 am
Quote
Ben E - 23/11/2005  8:49 PM

Purely speculating here, but in view of the fact that Chief Astronauts generally get plum mission assignments, what mission do you think Kent Rominger will fly next?
I don't know. With missions 73, 80, 85, 96 and 100 (if I'm not mistaken) he has already flown five times. With all that talk about four missions being the limit nowadays, I don't think he'll fly again.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Super George on 11/27/2005 03:07 am
Also, isn't it now policy that the remaining flights of the Shuttle means they will be trying to give as many rookies a flight as possible, restricting the seasoned astronauts expect for in commander and pilot roles?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ADC9 on 12/06/2005 12:07 am
Quote
Super George - 26/11/2005  10:07 PM

Also, isn't it now policy that the remaining flights of the Shuttle means they will be trying to give as many rookies a flight as possible, restricting the seasoned astronauts expect for in commander and pilot roles?

I'm not so sure about rookies. I would be more inclined to stick with experienced commanders and pilots for the remaining missions and ensure all seasoned and well trained astronauts who are simply waiting in line to fly get their shot. If there's spare places at the end then at least those rookies will have matured into the experienced, well trained astronauts that went ahead of them. That seems only natural to me.

Maybe some more international partners, as token guestures, especially due to the way we appear to be heading with the ISS and our international partners.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: David AF on 12/06/2005 12:04 pm
Quote
ADC9 - 5/12/2005  7:07 PM

Quote
Super George - 26/11/2005  10:07 PM

Also, isn't it now policy that the remaining flights of the Shuttle means they will be trying to give as many rookies a flight as possible, restricting the seasoned astronauts expect for in commander and pilot roles?

I'm not so sure about rookies. I would be more inclined to stick with experienced commanders and pilots for the remaining missions and ensure all seasoned and well trained astronauts who are simply waiting in line to fly get their shot. If there's spare places at the end then at least those rookies will have matured into the experienced, well trained astronauts that went ahead of them. That seems only natural to me.

Maybe some more international partners, as token guestures, especially due to the way we appear to be heading with the ISS and our international partners.

That would be the correct way to carry out the assignments, imho.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 12/08/2005 11:32 pm
Yes, the "Deke Slayton approach", in which astronauts follow a rotation and anyone can fly any mission, is entirely logical and the best way to keep the corps' morale up. Attrition from the astronaut corps and the actual number of Shuttle flight seats available - 19 missions left x 6 crew members per mission = 114 slots - means that there is more than enough opportunity for the 95-odd astronauts who are currently listed as 'active' and not 'management'.

If it were up to me, a veteran Commander, rookie Pilot and one veteran and three rookie Mission Specialists per flight should provide more than enough opportunities to fly everyone from Groups 16, 17, 18 and even a few of 19 too.

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 12/09/2005 08:09 pm
I heard that ISS Expedition 13 and 14 crews were confirmed on the Multilateral Crew Operations Panel (MCOP) meeting in December 2005...

Expedition 13 crews

Prime
CDR Pavel Vinogradov (launch on Soyuz TMA-8)
FE1/SO Jeffrey Williams (launch on Soyuz TMA-8)
FE2 Thomas Reiter (launch on Discovery [STS-121])

Backup
CDR/SO Michael Fincke
FE1 Fyodor Yurchikhin
FE2 Leopold Eyharts

Expedition 14 crews

Prime
CDR Michael Lopez-Alegria (launch on Soyuz TMA-9)
FE1 Mikhail Tyurin (launch on Soyuz TMA-9)
FE2/SO Sunita Williams (launch on Endeavour [STS-116])

Backup
CDR Peggy Whitson
FE1 Yury Malenchenko
FE2/SO TBD
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ras391 on 12/09/2005 09:32 pm
If you are correct on the makeup of the Exp. crews, do we know the makeup of the shuttle crews after the next two?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 12/10/2005 08:39 am
Quote
ras391 - 10/12/2005  1:32 AM

do we know the makeup of the shuttle crews after the next two?

STS-116
CDR Mark Polansky
PLT William Oefelein
MS Christer Fuglesang (Sweden)
MS Robert Curbeam
MS Joan Higginbotham
MS Nicholas Patrick
MS5 [up] Sunita Williams
MS5 [down] Thomas Reiter (Germany)

STS-117
CDR Frederick Sturckow
PLT Lee Archambault
MS Steven Swanson
MS Richard Mastracchio
MS Patrick Forrester
MS James Reilly

STS-118
CDR Scott Kelly
PLT Charles Hobaugh
MS Scott Parazynski
MS Dafydd Williams (Canada)
MS Barbara Morgan
MS TBD
MS5 (up) TBD
MS5 (down) Sunita Williams

STS-119
CDR Pamela Melroy
PLT TBD
MS Michael Gernhardt
MS TBD
MS Tracy Caldwell
MS TBD

STS-120
CDR James Halsell
PLT Alan Poindexter
MS Michael Foreman
MS TBD
MS TBD
MS TBD
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ras391 on 12/11/2005 02:12 am
Thank you for the update!!!  Please post any additions or corrections to ANY crew when you learn of them.  The information is quite useful.

Also, any changes to the make up of any astronaut, cosmonaut, etc. Corp, would be appreciated. :)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 12/11/2005 10:33 am
So now Garrett Reisman has been dropped from Expedition 14.

Has he upset George Abbey or something?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Rocket Guy on 12/11/2005 04:55 pm
I can't tell if you're joking, but Abbey retired about three years ago :-)

Ross and Chang-Diaz would never have had a chance of seven flights with him there.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 12/11/2005 05:16 pm
Yes, I was semi-joking. I think I've read Brian Burrough's DRAGONFLY and taken it a little too seriously... ;-)

Doesn't look like Chang-Diaz will get an eighth flight, having retired in July this year. Jerry's still hanging in there, though.

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Rocket Guy on 12/11/2005 06:19 pm
Dragonfly, while a good read, is full of things which are greatly exaggerated and even made up in some cases, unfortunately.  Whatever you can do for a best-seller!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 12/11/2005 11:07 pm
Is there any news from the Multilateral Crew Operations Panel meeting on future ISS expeditions? I believe it was being held sometime last week.


Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ras391 on 12/13/2005 06:01 pm
Does anyone know what has happened to Garrett Reisman's crew assignment?  Any other changes?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 12/16/2005 08:29 pm
Quote
Ben E - 12/12/2005  3:07 AM

Is there any news from the Multilateral Crew Operations Panel meeting on future ISS expeditions?

ISS Expedition 15-18 prime and backup crews will be confirmed on the MCOP meeting in the first half of 2006...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ras391 on 12/17/2005 02:40 am
You used the word "confirmed" in 2006.  Can you give us the "unconfirmed" crews?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ras391 on 12/19/2005 09:18 pm
ANIK

Did you see my last post? :(
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 12/20/2005 04:55 pm
Current assignments in ISS Expeditions crews...

Expedition 13

Prime
CDR Pavel Vinogradov (Russia) - launch and landing on Soyuz TMA-8
FE1/SO Jeffrey Williams (USA) - launch and landing on Soyuz TMA-8
FE2 Thomas Reiter (Germany) - launch on Discovery (STS-121), landing on Endeavour (STS-116)

Backup
CDR/SO Michael Fincke (USA)
FE1 Fyodor Yurchikhin (Russia)
FE2 Leopold Eyharts (France)

Expedition 14

Prime
CDR Michael Lopez-Alegria (USA) - launch and landing on Soyuz TMA-9
FE1 Mikhail Tyurin (Russia) - launch and landing on Soyuz TMA-9
FE2/SO Sunita Williams (USA) - launch on Endeavour (STS-116), landing on Endeavour (STS-118)

Backup
CDR Peggy Whitson (USA)
FE1 Yury Malenchenko (Russia)
FE2/SO Clayton Anderson??? (USA)

Expedition 15

Prime
CDR Gennady Padalka??? (Russia) - launch and landing on Soyuz TMA-10
FE1 Fyodor Yurchikhin??? (Russia) - launch and landing on Soyuz TMA-10
FE2/SO Michael Fincke??? (USA) - launch on Endeavour (STS-118)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ras391 on 12/20/2005 05:22 pm
Thanks for the reply.  Please keep sending updates as they are known. :)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 12/21/2005 03:27 pm
Is this going to be typical - flying two expedition crew members by Soyuz and then adding the third by Shuttle?

Are we going to see no more pre-107-style missions with a four-person Shuttle crew plus an entire expedition crew?

I notice that several missions which were assigned four crew members in pre-107 days, including STS-116 and (presumably) STS-119, have been boosted up to six crew members. Is there a reason for this?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Justin Space on 12/21/2005 04:21 pm
I think they weren't going to three until they've had at least two STS's go off without problems. Maybe after 121?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 12/21/2005 07:47 pm
Quote
Ben E - 21/12/2005  7:27 PM

Is this going to be typical - flying two expedition crew members by Soyuz and then adding the third by Shuttle?

Yes, Ben E!... If Expedition has two Russians and one American then two Russians will be launched on Soyuz, one American – on Shuttle… If Expedition has two Americans and one Russian then one Russian and one American will be launched on Soyuz, another American – on Shuttle…

Quote
Ben E - 21/12/2005  7:27 PM

Are we going to see no more pre-107-style missions with a four-person Shuttle crew plus an entire expedition crew?

Yeah!… Only one Expedition crewmember (American) will be launched on Shuttle in future…
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 12/21/2005 10:31 pm
Thanks anik.

But why the increased crew sizes? The STS-116 crew, for example, has increased from a 'core' crew of four in 2002-2003 (Wilcutt, Oefelein, Fuglesang and Curbeam) to a new 'core' crew of six since 2005 (Polansky, Oefelein, Fuglesang, Curbeam, Higginbotham and Patrick). Why the two additional crew members? The payload (P-5 segment and Spacehab module) remain the same. Have additional EVAs been added, or is there another reason?

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: STS Tony on 12/29/2005 11:45 pm
Quote
anik - 21/12/2005  2:47 PM

Yeah!… Only one Expedition crewmember (American) will be launched on Shuttle in future…

Hold on, just spotted this. There will never be another Russian flying on a Shuttle flight? Because of Columbia?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jamie Young on 12/30/2005 12:08 am
So the Russians take up their ISS expedition member on a Soyuz and the US takes up theirs on a Shuttle.

Is this so they have another space for a tourist?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Peter NASA on 12/30/2005 12:19 am
They are reserving a seat for a US astronaunt (ISS Exped member) on a Soyuz from Soyuz TMA-8, which will be used, onwards through 2006, in support of STS missions re-starting.

There's a possibility that no ISS exped members will ever travel to or from the station on a STS again.

Of course, that's under review, dependant on ISS crew size increase date, US involvement which is under review contray to what commitments some lawmakers like to note at every occasion, and STS mission frequency.

The Russians also have the option, internal to their own matters, of using any spare capacity for commercial wishes. That is their business.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jamie Young on 12/30/2005 12:49 am
When is the ISS supposed to be up to three crew members?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ras391 on 12/30/2005 12:57 am
They will be at three when ESA astronaut Reiter arrives on the ISS via the next shuttle, 121.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Peter NASA on 12/30/2005 01:04 am
Quote
ras391 - 29/12/2005  7:57 PM

They will be at three when ESA astronaut Reiter arrives on the ISS via the next shuttle, 121.

This may change with the next review.  There's an important need not to over capacitate from the onset of what is still a test flight, with a fluid launch possibility. We'll see.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: STS Tony on 12/30/2005 01:10 am
You mean in case of another event which will ground the fleet again and maybe push flights over the edge and end patience in getting it right with the foam?

So they keep the manifests as they are to show confidence, but it might be too risky to leave an odd number on the ISS if there's no following flight on time for bringing the third member home?

If this stays the same and there's a problem that sees another delay with the Shuttle, could Russia send up another Soyuz in-between regular Soyuz flights to bring him home?

This is all very confusing. A normal launch would be welcome!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 12/30/2005 11:20 am
Quote
STS Tony - 30/12/2005  3:45 AM

There will never be another Russian flying on a Shuttle flight?

Yes… :(

Quote
STS Tony - 30/12/2005  3:45 AM

Because of Columbia?

No!… Because of the agreement between Roskosmos and NASA!…

Quote
STS Tony - 30/12/2005  5:10 AM

If this stays the same and there's a problem that sees another delay with the Shuttle, could Russia send up another Soyuz in-between regular Soyuz flights to bring him home?

If Shuttles will be grounded again after STS-121, then Thomas Reiter will be returned to Earth on Soyuz TMA-8 on September 23, 2006...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 12/30/2005 01:18 pm
Thank Anik.

Peter NASA, please respond to the e-mail I've sent you - sent to the e-mail you used to register. Thanks.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Martin FL on 01/02/2006 12:17 pm
I remember that the Russians have said that if there's a problem with a Shuttle, they have options to help with three Soyuz in close successions to bring them off the ISS.

Is this right, is there a capability to process and launch THREE Soyuz in close succession?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 01/02/2006 03:37 pm
Quote
Martin FL - 2/1/2006  4:17 PM

is there a capability to process and launch THREE Soyuz in close succession?

It is not a problem to prepare and launch three Soyuz TMA spacecrafts in close succession, because there are two launch pads (areas 1 and 31) and the big assembly-testing building (area 254) on the Baikonur cosmodrome... :) In 1969, for example, Soyuz-6 spacecraft was launched on October 11 from area 31, Soyuz-7 - on October 12 from area 1 and Soyuz-8 - on October 13 from area 31!... :o ;)

But now it is a problem to make three Soyuz TMA spacecrafts quickly, because of lack of money... :( I think, that RSC Energiya has not three Soyuz TMA spacecrafts now, which are completely made... :( It is necessary one and a half year for the Soyuz TMA spacecraft manufacturing... :(
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 01/02/2006 04:49 pm
I still don't understand the logic of sending an American up on Shuttle, rather than Soyuz, when that American will potentially have to depend on the Soyuz during the course of his/her expedition anyway. If the crew needs to switch docking ports, the Shuttle-launched American will need a seat liner for it. Similarly, if an emergency evacuation is necessary, the Shuttle-launched American will return to Earth via Soyuz. If the Shuttle-launched American will be reliant upon the Soyuz for 99% of his/her expedition anyway, why not just make it 100% and launch/land on it too?

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 01/02/2006 06:47 pm
Quote
Ben E - 2/1/2006  8:49 PM

If the Shuttle-launched American will be reliant upon the Soyuz for 99% of his/her expedition anyway, why not just make it 100% and launch/land on it too?

Probably because Roskosmos wants to keep the third seat on Soyuz TMA spacecraft (at the launch and the landing) for space tourists and astronauts from other countries (for example, Brazil, Japan, South Korea and Malaysia)... Or because NASA does not want to pay for two seats on Soyuz TMA spacecraft...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: To The Stars on 01/04/2006 12:44 am
Is NASA paying around the same money for that seat as the tourists?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Flightstar on 01/05/2006 06:34 pm
As you know:

RELEASE: 06-002

NASA ANNOUNCES NEXT INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION CREW

NASA and its international partners have selected astronaut Jeffrey
Williams and Russian cosmonaut Pavel Vinogradov as the next crew for
the International Space Station, designated as Expedition 13.

Williams is a U.S. Army colonel and veteran of one space flight. He
will serve as Expedition 13 flight engineer and NASA science officer.
He flew aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis as a mission specialist in
May 2000 on a 10-day space station assembly mission. During that
mission, he performed a spacewalk lasting almost seven hours. He is a
graduate of the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y. He has
master's degrees from the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey,
Calif., and the Naval War College, Newport, R.I. He was selected as
an astronaut in 1996.

Vinogradov, a veteran of one long-duration spaceflight, will command
Expedition 13. He flew aboard a Soyuz spacecraft to the Russian Mir
Space Station as flight engineer for the 24th resident crew in 1997,
a 198-day mission. During the mission, he performed five spacewalks.
A graduate of Moscow Aviation Institute, he was selected as a
cosmonaut in 1992.

Astronaut Mike Fincke and Russian cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin were
selected to train as the back-up crew.

Williams and Vinogradov will launch aboard a Russian Soyuz (TMA-8) in
March 2006. They will discuss their mission during a news conference
Thursday, Jan. 12 at 3 p.m. EST (2 p.m. CST), at NASA's Johnson Space
Center, Houston.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 01/06/2006 09:47 am
Quote
To The Stars - 4/1/2006  4:44 AM

Is NASA paying around the same money for that seat as the tourists?

Yes... For example, NASA will pay about 21.8 million dollars for Jeffrey Williams flight aboard Soyuz TMA-8 spacecraft...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Justin Space on 01/06/2006 01:37 pm
That's a nice suitcase full of Rubles :)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jamie Young on 01/06/2006 10:54 pm
For that money it's the best for all parties. I like this cooperation.

Still a bit disapointed that no Russian will ever travel on a Shuttle again.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SRBseparama on 01/08/2006 03:28 am
Quote
Jamie Young - 6/1/2006  5:54 PM

Still a bit disapointed that no Russian will ever travel on a Shuttle again.

Who was the last Russian to travel on a Shuttle? A bit of historical knowledge, if you please :)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Rocket Guy on 01/08/2006 04:28 am
Expedition 6 on 113; Budarin.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Super George on 01/13/2006 03:33 am
How far ahead have the crews been projected to?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ras391 on 01/19/2006 09:27 pm
I recently saw a projection for Expedition crews to the ISS.  Except for the next two, do we have any updates?  Also, can we expect any new shuttle crew assignments before 121?  Thanks.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Flightstar on 01/19/2006 10:40 pm
I don't think before 121, but it's a fair question. The new manifest due out will hold answers.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 01/20/2006 07:23 am
Quote
Flightstar - 20/1/2006  12:40 AM

The new manifest due out will hold answers.
Yeah, sure. I can't wait to see it. Ich bin gespannt wie ein Flitzbogen...

While waiting for the FAWG manifest: try to find out what that means, everyone!  ;)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 02/25/2006 05:01 pm
According to http://www.spacefacts.de/schedule/e_schedule.htm Tracy Caldwell is in STS-118 crew now!... :o
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Sergi Manstov on 03/07/2006 01:43 pm
Russian Cosmonauts back on Shuttle flights!

http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=4125425&PageNum=0
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 03/07/2006 01:58 pm
Quote
Sergi Manstov - 7/3/2006  3:43 PM

Russian Cosmonauts back on Shuttle flights!

http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=4125425&PageNum=0
An interesting news article. Did I get that right? US astronauts are set to command the Soyuz? Wow...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Captain Scarlet on 03/07/2006 02:45 pm
Nice deal and I'm glad Russia has U-turned on this.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 03/07/2006 03:25 pm
Quote
Sergi Manstov - 7/3/2006  2:43 PM

Russian Cosmonauts back on Shuttle flights!

http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=4125425&PageNum=0

This appears to have been resulting from the talks last week? Certainly happy with the news.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Davros on 03/07/2006 04:27 pm
A good move. I like the cooperation.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Launch Fan on 03/07/2006 05:26 pm
I like Perminov, he's always respectful of the position NASA is in. This is a good sign of willingness and we should play on that over the VSE before they go off with the Chinese.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 03/11/2006 06:55 pm
The information, which is published below, was in L2 section since March 8, because I should receive the permission from my source to place it in an open forum...

Current assignments in ISS Expeditions crews

Expedition 13

Prime
CDR Pavel Vinogradov (Russia) – launch and landing on Soyuz TMA-8
FE1/SO Jeffrey Williams (USA) – launch and landing on Soyuz TMA-8
FE2 Thomas Reiter (Germany) – launch on Discovery (STS-121), landing on Discovery (STS-116)
SFP Marcos Pontes (Brazil) – launch on Soyuz TMA-8, landing on Soyuz TMA-7

Backup
CDR/SO Michael Fincke (USA)
FE1 Fyodor Yurchikhin (Russia)
FE2 Leopold Eyharts (France)
SFP Sergey Volkov (Russia)

Expedition 14

Prime
CDR Michael Lopez-Alegria (USA) – launch and landing on Soyuz TMA-9
FE1 Mikhail Tyurin (Russia) – launch and landing on Soyuz TMA-9
FE2/SO Sunita Williams (USA) – launch on Discovery (STS-116), landing on Endeavour (STS-118)
SFP Daisuke Enomoto (Japan) – launch on Soyuz TMA-9, landing on Soyuz TMA-8

Backup
CDR Peggy Whitson (USA)
FE1 Yury Malenchenko (Russia)
FE2/SO Clayton Anderson (USA)
SFP Arisa (or Arishia) Raishiyan (Japan)  

Expedition 15

Prime
CDR Fyodor Yurchikhin (Russia) – launch and landing on Soyuz TMA-10
FE1 Oleg Kotov (Russia) – launch and landing on Soyuz TMA-10
FE2/SO Clayton Anderson (USA) – launch on Endeavour (STS-118)
SFP TBD – launch on Soyuz TMA-10, landing on Soyuz TMA-9

Backup
CDR Roman Romanenko (Russia)
FE1 Mikhail Korniyenko (Russia)
FE2/SO TBD (USA)
SFP TBD

Expedition 16

Prime
CDR Peggy Whitson (USA) – launch and landing on Soyuz TMA-11
FE1 Yury Malenchenko (Russia) – launch and landing on Soyuz TMA-11
FE2/SO TBD (USA)
SFP TBD (Malaysia) – launch on Soyuz TMA-11, landing on Soyuz TMA-10

Backup
CDR TBD (USA)
FE1 Yury Lonchakov (Russia)
FE2/SO TBD (USA)
SFP TBD (Malaysia)

Expedition 17

Prime
CDR Sergey Volkov (Russia) – launch and landing on Soyuz TMA-12
FE1 Oleg Kononenko (Russia) – launch and landing on Soyuz TMA-12
FE2/SO TBD (USA)
SFP TBD (South Korea) – launch on Soyuz TMA-12, landing on Soyuz TMA-11
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ras391 on 03/11/2006 07:01 pm
Do we have any idea why Fincke is off the board, after being back-up commander?  He should be ahead of Whitson.  Thanks.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 03/12/2006 08:04 pm
Interesting that there's an all-rookie Russian crew on Expedition-17. I thought after Soyuz-25's failed docking to Salyut-6 in 1977, the Russians had declared they'd always have a flight-experienced crew member on each mission from now on?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 03/13/2006 03:52 pm
Quote
Ben E - 13/3/2006  12:04 AM

I thought after Soyuz-25's failed docking to Salyut-6 in 1977, the Russians had declared they'd always have a flight-experienced crew member on each mission from now on?

I want to remind you, that Yuri Malenchenko and Talgat Musabaev aboard Soyuz TM-19 spacecraft in 1994 were also without experience of space flight...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jamie Young on 03/13/2006 05:41 pm
By the way, is the Soyuz retiring when the Kliper comes into service?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jim on 03/13/2006 07:40 pm
Quote
Jamie Young - 13/3/2006  12:41 PMBy the way, is the Soyuz retiring when the Kliper comes into service?

Kliper is not a sure thing
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 03/14/2006 08:20 pm
Quote
anik - 11/3/2006  10:55 PM

SFP Marcos Pontes (Brazil)

It is a truth!… :) His post is really the spaceflight participant (SFP)…

Quote
anik - 11/3/2006  10:55 PM

SFP Sergey Volkov (Russia)

It is my mistake!… :( His post is the flight engineer 2 (FE2)…
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 03/15/2006 04:37 pm
Quote
anik - 11/3/2006  10:55 PM

SFP Arisa (or Arishia) Raishiyan (Japan)

It is a mistake!... :(

You will find new info here: http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=61&start=136
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jamie Young on 04/12/2006 04:59 pm
How many Soyuz flights are there a year and is there an increase expected over the coming years?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 04/13/2006 04:12 pm
Quote
Jamie Young - 12/4/2006  8:59 PM

How many Soyuz flights are there a year?

Two...

Quote
Jamie Young - 12/4/2006  8:59 PM

Is there an increase expected over the coming years?

There will be three Soyuz flights a year from 2009...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SimonShuttle on 04/18/2006 12:07 pm
What's the highest amount of Soyuz launches in a year? Everyone seems to be praising it, but two a year ain't much.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 04/18/2006 01:06 pm
Quote
anik - 13/4/2006  6:12 PM
There will be three Soyuz flights a year from 2009...
What will be the purpose of the third mission? Will it enable an additional research sortie or will the expedition flight duration be reduced from six back to four months in which case a third Soyuz would be required?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ras391 on 04/18/2006 01:12 pm
I believe the idea is to increase the number of crew members on the ISS to six in 2009.  Thus the need for an additional Soyuz.  This way there will be two Soyuz attached to the ISS for emergencies.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Hotol on 04/19/2006 12:14 pm
A third by 2009 seems to ommit the Shuttle flying regular missions for 2009 and 2010?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Flightstar on 04/19/2006 02:56 pm
No, in addition to...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 05/05/2006 03:45 pm
Today at GCTC one of Russian cosmonauts has told to me and Sergey Shamsutdinov (from Novosti-kosmonavtiki magazine) about unofficial assignments of Russian cosmonauts in ISS Expeditions from 15 till 19... :)

Expedition 15 (prime/back-up) crews: Yurchikhin + Kotov / Romanenko + Korniyenko
Expedition 16 (prime/back-up) crews: Malenchenko / Kaleri (but Kaleri does not want to be a back-up again!)
Expedition 17 (prime/back-up) crews: Volkov + Kononenko / Krikalyov + Surayev (instead of Russian may be Canadian!)
Expedition 18 (prime/back-up) crews: Kaleri / Padalka
Expedition 19 (prime/back-up) crews: Krikalyov + Surayev / Sharipov + Skripochka (Krikalyov's seventh flight!)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 05/05/2006 04:00 pm
Krikalyov is becoming the Russian John Young :)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: dcfowler1 on 05/05/2006 05:39 pm
Quote
anik - 5/5/2006  10:45 AM

Today at GCTC one of Russian cosmonauts has told to me and Sergey Shamsutdinov (from Novosti-kosmonavtiki magazine) about unofficial assignments of Russian cosmonauts in ISS Expeditions from 15 till 19... :)

Expedition 15 (prime/back-up) crews: Yurchikhin + Kotov / Romanenko + Korniyenko
Expedition 16 (prime/back-up) crews: Malenchenko / Kaleri (but Kaleri does not want to be a back-up again!)
Expedition 17 (prime/back-up) crews: Volkov + Kononenko / Krikalyov + Surayev (instead of Russian may be Canadian!)
Expedition 18 (prime/back-up) crews: Kaleri / Padalka
Expedition 19 (prime/back-up) crews: Krikalyov + Surayev / Sharipov + Skripochka (Krikalyov's seventh flight!)

Sergey Shamstudinov just wrote me, confirming this information. Also worth noting is that Expeditions 15, 16, and 17 will be on old model Soyuz TMAs (vehicles 220, 221 and 222). Expeditions 18 and 19 will be on the new model Soyuz TMA (vehicles 701 and 702).

The Soyuz TMA numerical designations will remain unchanged.

Dave

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: shuttlefan on 05/07/2006 04:16 pm
Anymore future ISS crews, including American crewmembers, named beyond Expediation 14?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 05/08/2006 03:52 pm
see it, but not official yet:
http://astro.zeto.czest.pl/loty/isscrew1.htm  :)

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 05/09/2006 07:51 am
Quote
SMS - 8/5/2006  5:52 PM

see it, but not official yet:
http://astro.zeto.czest.pl/loty/isscrew1.htm  :)

Hey, I started learning Polish today. Niemcy is Germany (or Deutschland, as we say), right? And dublerzy refers to the back-up crew (Ersatzmannschaft). What about  ladowanie? Is that a landing (Landung)?

Whatever -- that's a good page.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Velomir on 05/09/2006 08:28 am
ladowanie means landing

Greetings / Mit vielen Gruessen
Michal, Warsaw
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: subzero788 on 05/09/2006 01:27 pm
are there going to be any european long-duration stays (besides Reiter's) in the next couple of years?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: astropl on 05/09/2006 06:54 pm
Quote
subzero788 - 9/5/2006  3:27 PM

are there going to be any european long-duration stays (besides Reiter's) in the next couple of years?

Frank De Winne, Leopold Eyharts, Andre Kuipers and Pedro Duque are in (unofficial) european ISS crewmembers pool. De Winne have chance to be a member of Expedition-20.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 05/15/2006 07:37 am

BIG NEWS!

...well, at least I think it is -- for non-L2-members!

Attention, everybody -- www.spacefacts.de has new or updated flight crew assignments online. Some names have been circulating on L2, so I guess that the info is accurate. I have not yet seen a NASA news release confirming the assignments.

STS-118
Scott, Hobaugh, Mastracchio, Caldwell, Williams, Morgan + Andeson (ISS-15)

STS-120
Melroy, Zamka, Foreman, Parazynski, Wheelock, Nespoli

STS-122
Frick, Poindexter, Schlegel, Love, Walheim + Tani (ISS-16)

That's all there is with respect to the SSP. Here are some updated Expedition crews:

ISS-15
Yurchikhin, Kotov, Anderson

ISS-16
Whitson, Malenchenko, Tani

ISS-17
Volkov, Fincke, Kononenko

ISS-18
TBD, Kaleri, Thirsk

ISS-19
Krikalev, TBD, Surayev

www.spacefacts.de  also has back-up crews listed. And don't be afraid: although the project is run by two German speaking individuals, they have all their pages available in English, as well.

The original 2002 news release from NASA announcing the flight crews for STS-118, STS-119 and STS-120 can be found here.

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 05/15/2006 08:20 am

Uppsss -- I forgot a crew...

STS-117
Sturckow, Archambault, Swanson, Reilly, Forrester, Olivas

Half the original crew is now assigned to other flights: Polansky to STS-116, Mastracchio to STS-118 and Higginbotham to STS-116, as well.

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: astropl on 05/15/2006 10:01 am
Quote
nethegauner - 15/5/2006  9:24 AM

STS-118 Scott, Hobaugh, Mastracchio, Caldwell, Williams, Morgan + Andeson (ISS-15)

Scott=Scott Kelly, not Winston Scott or David Scott, of course :)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: astropl on 05/15/2006 10:05 am
Quote
nethegauner - 15/5/2006  9:24 AM

STS-122
Frick, Poindexter, Schlegel, Love, Walheim + Tani (ISS-16)

Leland Melvin is in that crew, too.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 05/15/2006 10:45 am
Quote
astropl - 15/5/2006  11:48 AM
Scott=Scott Kelly, not Winston Scott or David Scott, of course :)
Of course You are right!  ;)

Quote
astropl - 15/5/2006  11:52 AM
Leland Melvin is in that crew, too.
Actually, I was surprised that 1E is now also a crew exchange mission. I thought the crew was limited to six due to weight constraints. Well, if it's seven and if it's Melvin -- fine: that's yet another 98er to get an assignment. Someone on L2 (as the assignments have entered public knowledge, I hope it is OK to mention some quotes from L2) said that Melvin's class would become busy. Seems correct -- Pontes was just the beginning...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 05/15/2006 02:40 pm
It's ironic, isn't it, that Pontes thought he would never fly and actually turned out to be the first 98er to go up!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 05/17/2006 05:49 pm
NASA FINALIZES CREWS FOR UPCOMING SHUTTLE MISSIONS

NASA has finalized crew assignments for two space shuttle missions
targeted for launch in 2007 to continue assembly of the International
Space Station.

Astronaut John D. Olivas will join the crew of shuttle mission
STS-117. Astronaut Tracy Caldwell will join the crew of shuttle
mission STS-118. Olivas and Caldwell will be making their first space
flights.

Astronaut Richard A. Mastracchio, previously assigned to STS-117, has
been reassigned to STS-118. Veteran shuttle flier and spacewalker
Scott Parazynski, previously assigned to STS-118, has left that crew
to prepare for assignment to another mission.

With the changes, the STS-117 crew is commanded by Marine Lt. Col.
Frederick W. Sturckow. The mission's pilot is Air Force Col. Lee J.
Archambault and the mission specialists are James F. Reilly II,
retired Army Col. Patrick G. Forrester, Joan E. Higginbotham, Steven
R. Swanson, and Olivas. STS-117 will deliver the second starboard
truss segment to the space station with the third set of U.S. solar
arrays, batteries and associated equipment.

STS-118 will be commanded by Navy Cmdr. Scott J. Kelly. The pilot will
be Marine Lt. Col. Charles O. Hobaugh. The mission specialists are
Canadian Space Agency astronaut Dr. Dafydd R. Williams, educator
astronaut Barbara R. Morgan, Mastracchio and Caldwell. STS-118 will
deliver to the station the third starboard truss segment; an external
stowage platform; and logistics and supplies in a SPACEHAB single
cargo module.

Olivas was born in North Hollywood, Calif., and raised in El Paso,
Texas. He received a bachelor's from the University of Texas-El Paso,
a master's from the University of Houston and a doctorate in
mechanical engineering from Rice University, Houston. Upon completing
his doctorate, Olivas worked as a senior research engineer at NASA's
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. He was selected as an
astronaut in 1998.

Caldwell was born in Arcadia, Calif. She received a bachelor's from
California State University in Fullerton and a doctorate in physical
chemistry from the University of California at Davis. She was
selected as an astronaut in 1998. Her assignments have included
spacecraft communicator in mission control, shuttle flight software
verification and support of shuttle launch and landing operations.

For complete astronaut biographical information, visit:

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 05/17/2006 05:49 pm
NASA FINALIZES CREWS FOR UPCOMING SHUTTLE MISSIONS

NASA has finalized crew assignments for two space shuttle missions
targeted for launch in 2007 to continue assembly of the International
Space Station.

Astronaut John D. Olivas will join the crew of shuttle mission
STS-117. Astronaut Tracy Caldwell will join the crew of shuttle
mission STS-118. Olivas and Caldwell will be making their first space
flights.

Astronaut Richard A. Mastracchio, previously assigned to STS-117, has
been reassigned to STS-118. Veteran shuttle flier and spacewalker
Scott Parazynski, previously assigned to STS-118, has left that crew
to prepare for assignment to another mission.

With the changes, the STS-117 crew is commanded by Marine Lt. Col.
Frederick W. Sturckow. The mission's pilot is Air Force Col. Lee J.
Archambault and the mission specialists are James F. Reilly II,
retired Army Col. Patrick G. Forrester, Joan E. Higginbotham, Steven
R. Swanson, and Olivas. STS-117 will deliver the second starboard
truss segment to the space station with the third set of U.S. solar
arrays, batteries and associated equipment.

STS-118 will be commanded by Navy Cmdr. Scott J. Kelly. The pilot will
be Marine Lt. Col. Charles O. Hobaugh. The mission specialists are
Canadian Space Agency astronaut Dr. Dafydd R. Williams, educator
astronaut Barbara R. Morgan, Mastracchio and Caldwell. STS-118 will
deliver to the station the third starboard truss segment; an external
stowage platform; and logistics and supplies in a SPACEHAB single
cargo module.

Olivas was born in North Hollywood, Calif., and raised in El Paso,
Texas. He received a bachelor's from the University of Texas-El Paso,
a master's from the University of Houston and a doctorate in
mechanical engineering from Rice University, Houston. Upon completing
his doctorate, Olivas worked as a senior research engineer at NASA's
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. He was selected as an
astronaut in 1998.

Caldwell was born in Arcadia, Calif. She received a bachelor's from
California State University in Fullerton and a doctorate in physical
chemistry from the University of California at Davis. She was
selected as an astronaut in 1998. Her assignments have included
spacecraft communicator in mission control, shuttle flight software
verification and support of shuttle launch and landing operations.

For complete astronaut biographical information, visit:

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 05/17/2006 08:04 pm
Nethegauner,

Presumably Tani has completed his Soyuz training successfully this time if he becomes a member of Expedition 16?

Interesting that STS-118, with the removal of Parazynski, now has NO EVA-experienced crew members on-board.

Why has Zamka been swapped for Poindexter on STS-120?

Thanks
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Rocket Guy on 05/17/2006 09:51 pm
NASA has issued a correction on the release today, removing Higginbotham from the release completely. She is still 116 as far as we know, not 117 as they accidentally said today.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 05/19/2006 07:36 am
Quote
Ben E - 17/5/2006  9:51 PM
Why has Zamka been swapped for Poindexter on STS-120?
That's a good question. Poindexter trained alongside Halsell for the Node-2 mission, while Melroy was training with Kenneth Ham at one point for ISS-ULF2 and later, I think, with Zamka for STS-120. Ham's name has not yet surfaced again.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 05/19/2006 11:54 am
But if Melroy and Zamka were working together as a CDR-PLT team, why not give them STS-122 instead and keep Poindexter on a mission that he's been training to fly for nearly four years?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 05/19/2006 12:42 pm
Quote
Ben E - 19/5/2006  1:41 PM
But if Melroy and Zamka were working together as a CDR-PLT team, why not give them STS-122 instead and keep Poindexter on a mission that he's been training to fly for nearly four years?
That's FCOD voodoo, I guess...  ;)

Maybe one of them insiders can shed some light on this issue -- either here or on L2.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 05/22/2006 09:20 pm
Any announcement yet on the Melroy and Frick crews?

Or are they still 'unofficial'?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: dcfowler1 on 05/23/2006 09:12 am
Just because an unassigned CDR and a PLT do sims together (Melroy and Ham), does not automatically mean they are going to be paired together on a flight. It might, but then again, it might not.

Also, re: Poindexter, it would be a big stretch to say he should have stayed on 120 because he trained "for four years" for that flight. After 107 crashed, almost all mission-specific training was halted, and when such training did resume, only the near-term crews did any kind of serious training (114, 121, 115, 116). 117 and 118 only recently resumed significant training. 120 was too far off in people's minds to be given any real consideration in this regard.

Dave

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Rocket Guy on 05/30/2006 10:43 pm
Interesting read:

http://sptimes.com/2006/05/21/Worldandnation/_Ready_for_blastoff__.shtml
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 06/19/2006 03:29 pm
This is now official with ESA:
ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Paolo Nespoli has been assigned to the STS-120
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Rocket Guy on 06/19/2006 05:22 pm
June 19, 2006

Allard Beutel
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-4769

Doug Peterson
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111

RELEASE: 06-242

NASA ASSIGNS CREW FOR SHUTTLE MISSION

NASA has assigned crew members to the space shuttle flight that will
launch an Italian-built U.S. module for the International Space
Station.

Air Force Col. Pamela A. Melroy will command the STS-120 mission to
take the Node 2 connecting module to the station. Melroy, a veteran
shuttle pilot, is the second woman to command a shuttle. Marine Corps
Col. George D. Zamka will serve as pilot. The flight's mission
specialists will be Scott E. Parazynski, Army Col. Douglas H.
Wheelock, Navy Capt. Michael J. Foreman and Paolo A. Nespoli, a
European Space Agency astronaut from Italy. Zamka, Wheelock, Foreman
and Nespoli will be making their first spaceflight.

STS-120 will be Melroy's third shuttle flight. The native of Palo
Alto, Calif., served as pilot of missions STS-92 in 2000 and STS-112
in 2002, both flights to the space station. Zamka, a native of Jersey
City, N.J., has a bachelor's from the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis,
Md., and a master's from the Florida Institute of Technology,
Melbourne, Fla.

Parazynski, who also considers Palo Alto, Calif., his hometown along
with Evergreen, Colo., will be making his fifth shuttle flight and is
a veteran spacewalker. Wheelock, a native of Windsor, N.Y., is a West
Point graduate with a master's from Georgia Tech, Atlanta. Foreman is
a Wadsworth, Ohio, native with a bachelor's and a master's from the
U.S. Naval Academy and the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey,
Calif. Nespoli is a native of Milan, Italy. He has a bachelor's and a
master's from the Polytechnic University of New York.

This crew announcement reflects reassignments of other astronauts to
other missions and to technical and management positions within NASA.

Video of the STS-120 crew members will air on NASA TV's Video File.
For schedules, downlink information and links to streaming video,
visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

For complete astronaut biographical information, visit:

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios

For more information about space shuttle missions and crews, visit

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle

   
-end-
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: shuttlefan on 06/25/2006 04:24 pm
Has it been formally decided by NASA that Sunita Williams will go up on STS-116 to stay for a long-duration ISS mission, STS-116 being the mission Thomas Reiter returns on ( obviously that's been decided!)? ;)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Rocket Guy on 06/25/2006 04:50 pm
Yes. http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2006/may/HQ_06209_14th_ISS_crew.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: shuttlefan on 06/25/2006 06:23 pm
Thanks for the link to that press release, Ben!! :)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Spiff on 08/01/2006 01:58 pm
Quote
dcfowler1 - 5/5/2006  7:26 PM


Sergey Shamstudinov just wrote me, confirming this information. Also worth noting is that Expeditions 15, 16, and 17 will be on old model Soyuz TMAs (vehicles 220, 221 and 222). Expeditions 18 and 19 will be on the new model Soyuz TMA (vehicles 701 and 702).

The Soyuz TMA numerical designations will remain unchanged.

Dave


I was just reading some discussions on space.com about upgraded soyuz that suddenly made me remember this post. (How strange the mind works sometimes, this being 2 months old....) But anyway, that made me wonder. Does anyone know what the differences are between the current Soyuz TMA and the above mentioned new model Soyuz TMA?

Thanks in advance!
Spiff
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 08/01/2006 06:46 pm
Quote
Spiff - 1/8/2006  5:45 PM

Does anyone know what the differences are between the current Soyuz TMA and the above mentioned new model Soyuz TMA?

Current Soyuz TMA has onboard systems, which were developed in 1960-70th years... Our enterprises are terminating the manufacture of old elements for these onboard systems... New Soyuz TMA will have less onboard systems... These onboard systems will be based on modern elements... For example, old Argon digital control system will be replaced by new TsVM-101 digital control system, old five separate radio engineering systems (command, telemetry, orbit control, voice, television) will be converted into single radio engineering system... New Soyuz TMA will fly aboard ISS within one year...

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TALsite on 08/01/2006 06:51 pm
Spiff:

New digital control systems
New telemetry system
New Russian approaching and docking system
Improved cooling system
Improved in orbit storage

Take a look at this link:
http://suzymchale.com/kosmonavtka/soyuz.html

Regards.
Carlos
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Spiff on 08/02/2006 12:22 pm
Thanks guys.
Major improvements. Especially the 1 year in orbit sounds good to me. :)
Now let's hope it works.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TALsite on 08/02/2006 05:28 pm
Now:
One ISS Exp. up = One Soyuz TMA up
One ISS Exp. down = One Soyuz TMA down

The increased lifetime in orbit it’s an advance, but then…

Could we expect less flights of TMA’s vehicles, and less flights opportunities for Russian cosmonauts?
anik?

Thanks and regards

Carlos
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aurora899 on 08/13/2006 06:10 pm
I wonder if the two Group 19 Pilots, Randy Bresnik and Jim Dutton, will ever actually fly on the space shuttle or will go straight onto CEV, which is (after all) what they were mainly selected for. With the recent announcement of the STS-122 (Frick) crew, there may be as few as ten shuttle crews left to be named before the program is terminated in 2010. By my reckoning there are three Group 17 pilots still to be assigned to flights – the two Gregory Johnsons (C and H!) and Kenneth Ham – and seven Group 18 pilots. Now, 3 + 7 = 10, so that might well be it. Of course, those figures also assume that none of the Group 17 pilots fly twice in the “Pilot” position.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 08/14/2006 08:16 am
I think that Hobaugh will be the last astronaut to fly twice in the PLT's seat. With Bowersox' comment that the general rule-of-thumb will be 4 flights per astronaut, I would guess Lindsey and Jett have seen/will be seeing their final flights shortly. I think the Group 17 PLTs will all fly their second missions as CDR. It's strange in a way that, right at the end of Shuttle operations, NASA's reverting to its original, pre-51L practice of flying once as PLT, then receiving a CDR slot.

Who knows? Maybe some of the Group 19 PLTs will get ISS Expeditions, although Jim Dutton is currently working on CEV cockpit displays. Scott Kelly trained for one for a while, and I'm sure Eric Boe, Ron Garan and Terry Virts were doing generic ISS Expedition training at one point, although I could be wrong. I've tried (!) using NEEMO crews as an index of possible future ISS Expedition crew members, which might also remove Reisman, Chamitoff, Magnus, Barratt, Feustel etc from the Shuttle crew mix. Maybe if some of them fly ISS Expeditions, going up via Soyuz, there may still be enough seats for all of Group 19.

Of course, Parazynski, Grunsfeld and Gernhardt will be flying their fifth missions. Obviously Bowersox and Rommel want to keep us guessing ;-)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aurora899 on 08/23/2006 11:45 am
Yes, I’d noticed that a number of sources still list Mike Gernhardt on STS-119 but I haven’t seen Grunsfeld mentioned anywhere. HST Servicing Mission perhaps (if approved)?

Re Group 19 Pilots. I guess there’s always the possibility that in the absence of enough “pilot” seats, Bresnik and Dutton could fly as Mission Specialists. That happened back in the early 1990s with Readdy & McMonagle and Cockrell & Precourt (and pre-Challenger with Steve Nagel and the late David Griggs). Probably unlikely though; Dutton looks a good bet for the first Manned CEV Flight – whenever that occurs!

What do you think the likelihood of the four “veteran” Group 15 Commanders (i.e. Altman, Ashby, Bloomfield and Gorie) flying again is? They’ve only made three flights each so are all potentially eligible for a fourth but could still miss out in favour of the younger guys. I think Ashby is currently based at Colorado Springs as NASA/USAF liaison, and the others seem to hold quite senior positions within the Astronaut Office.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: astronut7 on 08/23/2006 09:24 pm
I think that Astronauts Gorie, Ashby, Altman, Bloomfield and yes even Melroy may get their fouth flights.  Steve Lindsey just completed his fourth flight and I think you will see other group-15 pilots get their second command on a shuttle flight.  I do realize that Melroy is in training for STS-120 but after that flight she could still be selected for another flight.  I have talked to Scott Altman and he is very interested in flying another shuttle flight.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: DwightM on 08/23/2006 09:41 pm
That'd be good :)   Of course, Rick Sturckow might feel left out  ;)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: astronut7 on 08/23/2006 09:55 pm
I'm sorry I forgot about Rick Sturckow.  He would be eligible for another assignment after his STS-117 mission.  That way all of the group-15 pilot astronauts would each have four shuttle flights, except for Rick Husband.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 08/23/2006 11:49 pm
aurora899,
I think the PLTs you mentioned flying as MS2s on their first flights did so on dual-shift missions (ie Spacelab or, in McMonagle's case, a dual-shift DoD flight). Okay, yes, I've just realised that Nagel's first flight (STS-51G) wasn't dual shift - perhaps that was just George Abbey trying to add more confusion to those of us who try to predict crew assignments!

I think with so many eligible MS candidates, all PLT astronauts will fly as PLTs and CDRs.

Incidentally, if Bloomfield is the new Deputy Director of Flight Crew Operations, what has happened to the former incumbent, Ellen Ochoa. Flight assignment pending, maybe? HST, perhaps? She has extensive RMS experience...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: DwightM on 08/24/2006 01:07 am
Ben, I believe Ellen has replaced Ken Bowersox as Director as Sox will move to a Center Staff position in October.  That's per CollectSpace.com.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 08/24/2006 01:20 pm
Thanks DwightM, just checked collectspace and saw it.

Anyone know if Kavandi stays put as deputy chief?

In order of 'rank', is Bloomfield's post more senior than Lindsey's?

Thanks
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jim on 08/24/2006 01:45 pm
yes
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aurora899 on 08/25/2006 11:59 am
Hi,
Spacefacts is now listing Sandra Magnus as Dan Tani's back-up for ISS Expedition 16.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 08/25/2006 01:04 pm
Quote
aurora899 - 25/8/2006  1:46 PM

Hi,
Spacefacts is now listing Sandra Magnus as Dan Tani's back-up for ISS Expedition 16.
Yes, but they've been listing her for quite a while. What I did not know is that Charmitof (did I write that the correct way?) is also an ISS back-up now...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: dcfowler1 on 08/25/2006 04:43 pm
Chamitoff had previously been listed as a support crew-type person for this flight by NASA. The latest news from NK shows him replacing Reisman as backup on the flight.

Dave

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aurora899 on 08/25/2006 06:04 pm
Apparently, an ESA source is suggesting that Leopald Eyharts could "bump" Tani from ISS Expedition 16. Anyone know anything about that?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: dcfowler1 on 08/25/2006 06:35 pm
I can only say that a well-connected ESA person has told me that, but I have not yet seen it in print.

Dave

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aurora899 on 08/26/2006 10:01 am
By my reckoning, all of the Group 16 Mission Specialists have either now flown or are preparing for flights with the exception of Frank Caldeiro and Yvonne Cagle. They’re still both listed as active but appear to have been over-looked. Anyone know why?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aurora899 on 08/28/2006 07:39 pm
Ben E wrote on 05/11/2005:

Yes, the 'firsts' are by no means all monopolised by Air Force personnel:

Al Shepard - first American in space - was Navy etc.
 
As for Shuttle Commanders, of the 114 missions flown so far (including 51L and STS-114), Air Force and Navy are neck-and-neck:

* 44 Shuttle missions have been led by an active Air Force officer
* 44 Shuttle missions have been led by an active Navy officer

I wouldn't be surprised if there's some good-natured rivalry in there somewhere, though...


Hi Ben,
There has also been a degree of bad-natured rivalry between the US Air Force and NASA pretty much since the agency’s inception. Your 50/50 split between USAF and USN Shuttle Commanders (I haven’t included the other figures) is probably unsurprising given that most astronaut pilot intakes were split along similar lines, with the odd US Marine (or civilian test pilot) sneaking in. But if you were to do your analysis on Chief Astronauts, you might fight that there is a certain bias towards the US Navy (or rather against USAF). I have to be honest and say that I don’t know whether Al Shepard was Chief Astronaut continuously from 1963 to 1974 when John Young took over (someone must presumably have at least covered his duties whilst he was training for, and flew, on Apollo 14). If the sequence is something like Shepard, ?, Young, Brandenstein, Gibson, Cabana, Cockrell, Precourt, Rominger then I reckon that Charlie Precourt is the only USAF officer to have served as Chief Astronaut! Cabana was USMC, of course, but even “civilian” Ken Cockrell had a Navy background! As I said, I’m not entirely sure about the late 1960s/early 1970s and I’m more than happy for someone to correct me but even if there is a missing USAF officer in there, it doesn’t really change the overall picture i.e. NASA favours the US Navy over the US Air Force.
Regards,
David.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 08/29/2006 02:47 pm
I'm not sure if Deke Slayton (at the time still US Air Force) might have been the first Chief Astronaut, before Shepard.

Didn't Dave Leestma (US Navy Captain) serve as acting Chief in the months between Brandenstein's retirement (Oct 1992) and the start of Gibson's tenure (Dec 1992)? Admittedly, he was Navy, but I think as a former Mission Specialist he marked the first non-CDR or PLT to head the office, albeit temporarily. Think all the other chiefs have been PLTs.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aurora899 on 08/30/2006 11:37 am
Hi Ben,
I’ve just looked up Deke Slayton’s official bio and it states that he became “Co-ordinator of Astronaut Activities” in September 1962 and “was responsible for the operation of the astronaut office”. In November 1963, he assumed the role of Director, Flight Crew Operations. Shepard’s bio states that he was designated Chief of the Astronaut Office around the same time (i.e.1963), so it may well be that the position was only created around that time. I guess you could argue that from 1962-1963 Slayton was effectively Chief Astronaut in all but name.
I’m not sure about Leestma. I thought he was only ever Deputy Director or Director of FCO (acting or otherwise!). To be honest, I’m not too worried about “acting” chiefs, particularly if their tenures were quite short such as Mike Coats, who covered for Dan Brandenstein whilst he prepared for STS-32. Having said that, Coats was Navy as well….
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 08/30/2006 01:51 pm
http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/leestma.html

"From February 1990 to September 1991, when he started training for his third space mission, Leestma served as Deputy Director of Flight Crew Operations. Following this flight, he served as Deputy Chief and acting Chief of the Astronaut Office. Leestma was selected as the Director, Flight Crew Operations Directorate, in November 1992."

Is there a rule that Chief Astronauts have to be veteran CDRs? Mike Mullane alludes to it in 'Riding Rockets'. Or has it just been a remarkable coincidence?

Is there any rationale behind choosing them? Do they volunteer? Are they chosen because they've just flown a particularly 'pivotal' mission?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jim on 08/30/2006 01:56 pm
office politics.   You have to realize the astronaut office isn't any special.  Stand back and look at it like any other organization (which it is) and it acts like any organization.  There might be some military influences in the way the office was set up.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: spaceshuttle on 08/30/2006 05:24 pm
Quote
aurora899 - 28/8/2006  2:26 PM

Hi Ben,
There has also been a degree of bad-natured rivalry between the US Air Force and NASA pretty much since the agency’s inception. Your 50/50 split between USAF and USN Shuttle Commanders (I haven’t included the other figures) is probably unsurprising given that most astronaut pilot intakes were split along similar lines, with the odd US Marine (or civilian test pilot) sneaking in. But if you were to do your analysis on Chief Astronauts, you might fight that there is a certain bias towards the US Navy (or rather against USAF). I have to be honest and say that I don’t know whether Al Shepard was Chief Astronaut continuously from 1963 to 1974 when John Young took over (someone must presumably have at least covered his duties whilst he was training for, and flew, on Apollo 14). If the sequence is something like Shepard, ?, Young, Brandenstein, Gibson, Cabana, Cockrell, Precourt, Rominger then I reckon that Charlie Precourt is the only USAF officer to have served as Chief Astronaut! Cabana was USMC, of course, but even “civilian” Ken Cockrell had a Navy background! As I said, I’m not entirely sure about the late 1960s/early 1970s and I’m more than happy for someone to correct me but even if there is a missing USAF officer in there, it doesn’t really change the overall picture i.e. NASA favours the US Navy over the US Air Force.
Regards,
David.

i found this from http://collectspace.com/ubb/Forum38/HTML/000445.html

Deke Slayton(sept1, 1962-Nov.1963)
Alan Shepard(Nov1963-July 1969)
Tom Stafford(July 1969-June 1971)
Alan Shepard(June1971-Aug 1, 1974)
John Young(Jan 14, 1974-April 15, 1987) His deputy was Paul Weitz.
Dan Brandenstein(April 27, 1987-Oct 1992) His Deputy was Steven Hawley.
Robert Gibson(Dec.8,1992-Sept. 6, 1994) His deputy was Linda Godwin.
Robert Cabana(Sept. 6, 1994-Oct. 1997) His deputy was Linda Godwin.
Ken Cockrell(Oct.1997-Oct. 1998)
Charlie Precourt(Oct.1998-?) His deputy was Kent Rominger.
Kent Rominger(?-Sept. 2006) His deputies were A. Thomas and P.Whitson.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aurora899 on 08/30/2006 06:39 pm
Space Shuttle wrote: I found this from http://collectspace.com/ubb/Forum38/HTML/000445.html

Deke Slayton(sept1, 1962-Nov.1963)
Alan Shepard(Nov1963-July 1969)
Tom Stafford(July 1969-June 1971)
Alan Shepard(June1971-Aug 1, 1974)

So Tom Stafford is the missing one! And he was actually USAF wasn’t he? The Air Force is gaining ground! I still say there’s a distinctly Navy bias though.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aurora899 on 08/30/2006 06:39 pm
Jim wrote: office politics. You have to realize the astronaut office isn't any special. Stand back and look at it like any other organization (which it is) and it acts like any organization.

Do you know, you’re absolutely right. And that filters through into flight crew selection as well. Shuttle crews aren’t just based on who’s next in line and whose individual skill sets might meet a particular mission’s needs. It’s also about who’s in favour, and who’s lobbying on so and so’s behalf.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: spacedreams on 08/30/2006 08:13 pm

Quote
aurora899 - 30/8/2006 11:26 AM Jim wrote: office politics. You have to realize the astronaut office isn't any special. Stand back and look at it like any other organization (which it is) and it acts like any organization. Do you know, you’re absolutely right. And that filters through into flight crew selection as well. Shuttle crews aren’t just based on who’s next in line and whose individual skill sets might meet a particular mission’s needs. It’s also about who’s in favour, and who’s lobbying on so and so’s behalf.

 

True, and also factor in who was willing to do an ISS rotation to earn their shuttle slot. And the "oh no, we hired too many astronauts and we should probably fly them since we included that in their job description, and let's bring some more on board to satisfy PAO in the meantime. We don't need no stinkin experienced or technical guys, we need more "normal" people" type mentality too.

Reason should not be applied if you are trying to figure out crew assignments and nowadays nothing is written in ink, not even months before flight.  

Just for some perspective, at one point Bill Mcarthur was supposed to be ISS commander of a three man crew (I think Valeri and Suni were supposed to be the other two)for INC-9 that was supposed to do some of the solar array configuration during the STS-115 stage .................

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aurora899 on 08/31/2006 11:37 am
This does raise the question of who ultimately decides on the make-up of a shuttle crew. Clearly, Bowersox, Rominger - and maybe their respective deputies - sit down and select, or perhaps we should say, “recommend”, a crew. But how many layers of upper management does it then have to pass through? Does it land on the desk of the JSC Center Director, for example? I’m sure I read an article in “Flight International” some years ago which suggested that final approval has to come from NASA HQ in Washington DC.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aurora899 on 09/02/2006 08:23 am
Hi,
Apparently "Florida Today" is now reporting that both Bowersox AND Rominger will be leaving their respective positions, the latter to pursue a career in private industry. As expected, Ellen Ochoa will succeed Bowersox as Director, Flight Crew Operations whilst Steve Lindsey will be the new Chief Astronaut.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 09/04/2006 05:28 pm
Quote
aurora899 - 31/8/2006  6:24 AM

This does raise the question of who ultimately decides on the make-up of a shuttle crew. Clearly, Bowersox, Rominger - and maybe their respective deputies - sit down and select, or perhaps we should say, “recommend”, a crew. But how many layers of upper management does it then have to pass through? Does it land on the desk of the JSC Center Director, for example? I’m sure I read an article in “Flight International” some years ago which suggested that final approval has to come from NASA HQ in Washington DC.


Since 1987, when Brandenstein succeeded Young as chief astro, flight assignments are proposed by the chief astronaut and submitted to the director, flight crew operations, for initial approval.  They are then passed by the director of JSC and whoever happens to be head of Shuttle/Station at HQ, for final approval.  In practice, it is the chief astro and director, FCOPS, who make the assignments.  Depending on who is head of JSC, the selections are routinely approved -- or repeatedly sent back for adjustment.  ;)

Michael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 09/04/2006 05:30 pm
Quote
aurora899 - 30/8/2006  6:24 AM

I’ve just looked up Deke Slayton’s official bio and it states that he became “Co-ordinator of Astronaut Activities” in September 1962 and “was responsible for the operation of the astronaut office”. In November 1963, he assumed the role of Director, Flight Crew Operations. Shepard’s bio states that he was designated Chief of the Astronaut Office around the same time (i.e.1963), so it may well be that the position was only created around that time. I guess you could argue that from 1962-1963 Slayton was effectively Chief Astronaut in all but name.

I can tell you that Deke thought of himself as the first chief astronaut.

Michael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aurora899 on 09/10/2006 09:59 am
Re Bowersox and Rominger departing

This raises an interesting point. If the maximum four flight rule was largely a Bowersox/Rominger initiative, could an Ochoa/Lindsey partnership see a change in policy? I suspect that the short answer is probably not because the rationale behind the rule (i.e. to ensure that as many of the newer, younger astronauts get shuttle flights before the program ends) is basically sound. But it will be interesting to see how it pans out.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 09/11/2006 03:34 pm
I can't see it changing, because there simply won't be enough flight opportunities in the next decade. Besides, if you look back historically, most astronauts retire after three or four flights anyway. There's only a handful that stick around for five or six, so presumably they can cater for Parazynski, Gernhardt and Grunsfeld who want to fly again.

A query: Wilcutt and Halsell were removed from their STS-116 and STS-120 commands a few years ago. Does anyone know if they were 'asked' to step down by management or were they 'obliged' to resign their posts?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: dcfowler1 on 09/11/2006 06:38 pm
Both Wilcutt and Halsell were asked to vacate to make way for less experienced PLTs. I understand that Wilcutt went without much fuss, but that Halsell put up a fight.

Dave

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 09/11/2006 08:32 pm
Dave,

So why have Parazynski and Gernhardt been allowed to 'keep' their fifth flights? Too few MS candidates with EVA experience?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: spacedreams on 09/11/2006 10:12 pm
Pilots/commanders are onloan from the military. They have to follow "orders". Parazynski and Gernhardt on the other hand are civilian NASA employees. Sure, their bosses could unassign them but that is unlikely to happen. Besides, those two are very well connected.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 09/12/2006 03:27 am
Quote
spacedreams - 11/9/2006  4:59 PM

Pilots/commanders are onloan from the military. They have to follow "orders". Parazynski and Gernhardt on the other hand are civilian NASA employees. Sure, their bosses could unassign them but that is unlikely to happen. Besides, those two are very well connected.

Nonsense.  Wilcutt was a civilian at the time of his unassignment, and Halsell certainly was by the time it took effect.

As for Parazynski and Gernhardt, both are highly-experienced EVA specialists.   Don't look for a "rule" when what you're seeing is a "guideline".

Michael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 09/12/2006 06:39 am
Quote
spacedreams - 11/9/2006  11:59 PM

Pilots/commanders are onloan from the military. They have to follow "orders". Parazynski and Gernhardt on the other hand are civilian NASA employees. Sure, their bosses could unassign them but that is unlikely to happen. Besides, those two are very well connected.
Sorry, but Your post does not make much sense, I'm afraid...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 09/12/2006 02:00 pm
Yes, I'm sure Wilcutt and Halsell are both retired military. It seems ludicrous, regardless of the 'amount' of flight assignments remaining, why they'd knock highly-experienced guys like those two off pivotal missions at such relatively short notice.

Mike, your comment about rule vs guideline: suppose either Jett or Tanner came off STS-115 and wanted to fly again. Would such a wish be countenanced or would the reaction be "Sorry, you're too old/got too many flights"?

Parazynski and Gernhardt - "well connected"? I'm intrigued! Pray tell more.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: spacedreams on 09/12/2006 05:44 pm


Sorry, I just work with the crew on a regular basis.  Surely the folks here who read the internet all day know a heck of a lot more than I do.

Both Wilcutt and Halsell are active military. If you don't believe me read their bios. http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/astrobio_activemgmt.html . There would be a RET after their military rank if they were retired. Look at Jeff Ashby's bio and you will see he is retired from the Navy but considered active in the astronaut core.

And yes, if Jett or Tanner came off this flight and wanted to fly again they would be told politely no, sorry no more than four flights allowed until everyone else gets at least one. I know this, we've talked about it. Other very good crew has already been told the same. They will have a choice of either retiring quietly like Susan Helms or Leroy Chiao did or staying at NASA as an "active" astronaut in a managerial role for the love of the job and with a very slim chance that they may get chosen again like John Young did until he just recently retired two years ago.

The pilots and commanders who are active military really don't have as much control of their destiny. They pretty much go where they are told. They report to both NASA and their branch of the military.  Paul Lockhart was an excellent pilot who stepped in at the last minute on STS-113 when Loria was removed. Where is he now? (and where is Loria now?) . I think Polansky is actually an exception to the military pilot/commander rule but he quit the military to work at NASA before he was selected and trained the crew how to fly before he was selected so it was special circumstances.  Tanner had a similar situation but he was only selected as mission specialist

There is a little more freedom in what is done with non-military mission specialists. They can pretty much hang around as long as they want and they only have to report to NASA management. They have a lot more latitude than the military guys . The retired military guys are pretty much in the same boat with only having to report to NASA.

As for the Parazynski and Gernhardt situation there were a few factors. Most significantly, the 4 flight rule was made after they were assigned and the MS's that were already assigned were pretty much allowed to finish up their assignments. They are not as harsh with the MS slots. Yes, they both have good EVA experience but that wasn't much of a factor. If it was why would they move Scott P from a somewhat difficult EVA flight, 13A.1,  and leave them with two EVA rookies and put him on a very easy EVA flight. And look at STS-114 which ended up to be a very difficult EVA flight with two rookies that they had plenty of opportunities to modify the crew and they left an experienced EVA guy in Thomas on the inside. And if EVA experience was important they would be giving guys like Tanner, Chiao, Ross, L-A, and Beamer all the flights they want. I'm telling you, crew selection does not follow a logical process.

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: dcfowler1 on 09/12/2006 09:00 pm
Sorry, but you're wrong. Both Wilcutt and Halsell are retired, from the Marine Corps and Air Force, respectively. NASA bios are notorious for being inaccurate, incomplete and out-of-date.

In fact, if you look at the Astronaut Fact Book, dated January 2005, you will see (Ret) next to their ranks. Please try and do a little research before you pull the trigger.

Dave




Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 09/12/2006 10:03 pm
Does anyone know who the current candidates are for ISS missions? I did hear some time ago that there were a lack of 'takers' and that people with four flights or more might get another shot if they accepted an ISS increment. Don't know how true that might be.

The names I've got for ISS expeditions (US crew members) are: Mike Lopez-Alegria, Suni Williams, Clay Anderson, Dan Tani (I think), Peggy Whitson, Garrett Reisman, Mike Fincke, Greg Chamitoff and Sandy Magnus. I've also seen Patrick, Behnken, Feustel, Barratt and Marshburn mentioned, but am not sure. Are NEEMO assignments a reliable predictor of who will do expeditions?

Does anyone know of any others in 'generic' increment training or assigned as backups/primes for upcoming missions?

Thanks
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: tonyq on 09/12/2006 10:20 pm
Nicole Stott has also featured in previous lists of potential ISS expedition members and did a NEEMO earlier this year, so she should be added to you list.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: MKremer on 09/12/2006 10:48 pm
If I can just interject -

I'm just happy Pammy Melroy has a chance to command a mission. :)   Besides Eileen Collins (who should be a hero to most women regardless), she's the best thing NASA currently has going to encourage young women to reach for their dreams and not be intimidate by the usual male-dominated culture.

I would guess she's reluctant to be put in the spotlight, but even as a guy I've admired her (like Eileen) for her dedication to her chosen career, and succeeding despite that 'glass ceiling' that most women have to deal with.

(I do hope more women are encouraged to apply and be accepted into space-centric companies; and that there are more and more women who won't settle for less than being at the leading edge of space development and exploration) :)


Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: DwightM on 09/12/2006 11:05 pm
I'm not sure if the NEEMO assignments translate directly to an ISS increment assignment.  Dave Williams, Scott Kelly, & Michael Gernhardt have done 2 shifts each and they haven't been assigned to one (thought they're all assigned to a shuttle flight).  Karen Nyberg, Tim Kopra, & Tim Creamer have done, or are doing, NEEMO shifts, but I've no idea whether they're in training for ISS missions.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Penguin Tech on 09/13/2006 12:44 am
Quote
MKremer - 12/9/2006  6:35 PM

If I can just interject -

I'm just happy Pammy Melroy has a chance to command a mission. :)   Besides Eileen Collins (who should be a hero to most women regardless), she's the best thing NASA currently has going to encourage young women to reach for their dreams and not be intimidate by the usual male-dominated culture.

I would guess she's reluctant to be put in the spotlight, but even as a guy I've admired her (like Eileen) for her dedication to her chosen career, and succeeding despite that 'glass ceiling' that most women have to deal with.

(I do hope more women are encouraged to apply and be accepted into space-centric companies; and that there are more and more women who won't settle for less than being at the leading edge of space development and exploration) :)



It is very interesting that you should say that- the part about more women being encouraged.  As a female currently working in the space industry, specifically the space shuttle program, I would not encourage other girls to follow in my footsteps because it is still too difficult of a path to take.  I can tell you that it is not easy for us at all, and pretty much every woman I know that works in the industry has several horror stories to tell.  I am not talking small things, either.  I am talking major discrimination, intimidation, harrasment, and so on.  None of us (that I know) are easily offended or intimidated- we do anything and everything we can to fit in, be accepted and show our competence, but this industry is so very behind the times it is like we have gone back to the 1950s.  And despite all the laws to protect against this kind of thing happening, it still does happen on a daily basis and there are no consequences for those who perpetuate it as there is a big network of good ol' boys in place to protect them.  I could start a whole other thread (or even a book!) on the topic of women in aerospace, but I'll leave it at that.  Comments are welcome.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Do Shuttles Dream on 09/13/2006 01:07 am
You should start a new thread as I want to work in the space program, but that is so demoralizing.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aurora899 on 09/16/2006 10:37 am
Sounds as though Joe Tanner is resigned to not flying again judging by his comments at the end of yesterday's EVA:

"Well I guess this is it for me, huh?" he said.

"Yep. The sun goes down on an era," replied Heidemarie Stefanyshn-Piper.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 09/16/2006 11:32 am
Well after Collins Melroy and Still, there hasn't been many women pilots selected in the following groups (1998, 2000, 2004)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aurora899 on 09/16/2006 04:58 pm
>I could start a whole other thread (or even a book!) on the topic of women in aerospace, but I'll leave it at that. Comments are welcome.

You should also check out the "All Female Space Shuttle Crew" thread in the Historical Spaceflight section. That contains some relevant stuff as well.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: MKremer on 09/16/2006 05:12 pm
Quote
aurora899 - 16/9/2006  5:24 AM

Sounds as though Joe Tanner is resigned to not flying again judging by his comments at the end of yesterday's EVA:

"Well I guess this is it for me, huh?" he said.

Ask him again in another few weeks. :)

If he wants to stay with the program and be a MS for a future flight (along with being a tutor and MS mentor), I'd imagine NASA management would jump at the opportunity to select him for an EVA MS.
That said, I do think it probably could be his last flight.

I do hope, though, that Heidi (if she wants to) will get the chance at another future assembly mission flight. With her Navy diving experience, and now EVA experience, IMO she would be awesome as an EVA lead MS.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aurora899 on 09/16/2006 05:17 pm
I was rather shocked to hear the news about former astronaut Charles Brady. I'd read that he'd died a couple of months ago, according to some sources from an "extended illness". However, I've just received my latest copy of "Spaceflight" magazine and it is reporting that Brady died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.


Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: MKremer on 09/16/2006 06:33 pm
Quote
aurora899 - 16/9/2006  12:04 PM
I was rather shocked to hear the news about former astronaut Charles Brady. I'd read that he'd died a couple of months ago,

There's a couple of threads already about his death - do a site search for "Brady" to find them.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: dcfowler1 on 09/17/2006 06:09 am
Quote
aurora899 - 16/9/2006  12:04 PM

I was rather shocked to hear the news about former astronaut Charles Brady. I'd read that he'd died a couple of months ago, according to some sources from an "extended illness". However, I've just received my latest copy of "Spaceflight" magazine and it is reporting that Brady died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.



Local press reports from Washington state in fact indicate that he did not shoot himself; he was carrying a knife at the time; In any case, there is another thread.

Dave

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aurora899 on 09/17/2006 10:03 am
>I do hope, though, that Heidi (if she wants to) will get the chance at another future assembly mission flight. With her Navy diving experience, and now EVA experience, IMO she would be awesome as an EVA lead MS.

Yes, I’m sure that Heidemarie will fly again, probably within two years. It seems to be NASA policy to give the Group 16 Mission Specialists “early” second flights, even at the expense of some of the older guys. I know that Steve Lindsey was particularly impressed with his two “robochicks”, namely Lisa Nowak and Stephanie Wilson, on STS-121 and I expect to see them assigned to missions again in the not too distant future – especially as Lindsey is now the Chief Astronaut!
I think that the STS-122/Columbus crew is very, very typical of how the remaining shuttle crews will look, with a first-time Commander (Frick), a rookie Pilot (Poindexter), a second time Group 16 Mission Specialist (Walheim), two newbies (Melvin and Love) and an International Mission Specialist, whether Canadian, Japanese or European (Schlegel). That’s not to say that there’ll still be the occasional second-time Commander (Gorie and Altman etc.?) and the “lead” Mission Specialist could still come from Group 14/15 or even be a second-time flyer from Group 17. Interestingly, STS-122 sees a return to repeat pairings i.e. Frick/Walheim, who flew on STS-110 together. Perhaps we will see either Nowak or Wilson on a Mark Kelly-led crew during 2008.
We must only be a few weeks away from learning who the STS-123/Kibo JEM crew will be. Takao Doi has already been assigned but I’m not aware of any other crew members yet, unless anyone has some inside information?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jim on 09/17/2006 12:23 pm
Quote
aurora899 - 17/9/2006  5:50 AM
I think that the STS-122/Columbus crew is very, very typical of how the remaining shuttle crews will look, with a first-time Commander (Frick), a rookie Pilot (Poindexter), a second time Group 16 Mission Specialist (Walheim), two newbies (Melvin and Love) and an International Mission Specialist, whether Canadian, Japanese or European (Schlegel).

no.  You can't make any generalization of crew selection.  It never follows any "rules" or patterns
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: spaceshuttle on 09/17/2006 12:24 pm
Quote
Ben E - 12/9/2006  4:50 PM

Does anyone know who the current candidates are for ISS missions? I did hear some time ago that there were a lack of 'takers' and that people with four flights or more might get another shot if they accepted an ISS increment. Don't know how true that might be.

The names I've got for ISS expeditions (US crew members) are: Mike Lopez-Alegria, Suni Williams, Clay Anderson, Dan Tani (I think), Peggy Whitson, Garrett Reisman, Mike Fincke, Greg Chamitoff and Sandy Magnus. I've also seen Patrick, Behnken, Feustel, Barratt and Marshburn mentioned, but am not sure. Are NEEMO assignments a reliable predictor of who will do expeditions?

Does anyone know of any others in 'generic' increment training or assigned as backups/primes for upcoming missions?

Thanks

Peg may go up AGAIN? this may make her the first astronaut to do 2 iss missions...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jim on 09/17/2006 12:35 pm
long duration missions are not a favorite of the astronaut office.   Example, it was the only way Dave Wolf got a flight
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 09/17/2006 02:24 pm
I thought Bob Thirsk was already supposed to be on STS-123 ?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aurora899 on 09/17/2006 03:03 pm
>I thought Bob Thirsk was already supposed to be on STS-123 ?

I'm not aware of that although you might be right. I've just checked his official NASA bio (which has recently been updated) and it states that he is now in training for an ISS Expedition Crew.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 09/17/2006 10:06 pm
I'm sure Sandy Magnus has done some work on the SPDM Dextre that will be aboard STS-123. I know she's also training for an increment, but maybe she will get a shot at STS-123 as well? Or perhaps Julie Payette?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 09/18/2006 07:16 am
Quote
Jim - 17/9/2006  2:22 PM

long duration missions are not a favorite of the astronaut office.   Example, it was the only way Dave Wolf got a flight
Was a long duration mission also offered to Mark Lee? Never heard again of him following his deletion from the STS-98 crew due to "conduct unbecoming of an astronaut"...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 09/18/2006 10:08 am
Not sure about Mark Lee. Where did you hear that?

"Conduct unbecoming of an astronaut". I heard that about Lee's removal from STS-98, too. Any more info? I heard a rumour it had something to do with his separation from Jan Davis.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 09/18/2006 10:52 am
Quote
Ben E - 18/9/2006  11:55 AM

Not sure about Mark Lee. Where did you hear that?

"Conduct unbecoming of an astronaut". I heard that about Lee's removal from STS-98, too. Any more info? I heard a rumour it had something to do with his separation from Jan Davis.
Jan Davis? No, I don't think so. I didn't even know that the STS-47 honeymooners split up...

I remember NASA Watch reporting that Lee's deletion from the STS-98 roster resulted from a dispute with George Abbey, a.k.a. Darth Vader. They fought over the design of a space suit for short astronauts. Lee was involved in that design process representing the astronaut office. He was also withdrawn from that task and later tried to gain back his seat on STS-98 -- without success.

Officially, NASA considered his removal as "non-punitive" -- once more greatly enhancing my English vocabulary...

Must have been quite a fight over that EMU design if it led to Lee being kicked off STS-98 -- but Abbey has been known for drastic measurements...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aurora899 on 09/18/2006 11:57 am
Lee's removal from STS-98 came at about the same time that his split from Jan Davis was made public, and I know that a number of commentators did link the two events (either rightly or wrongly). He did appeal against the decision and, I believe, Jim Wetherbee (who was the Director, Flight Crew Operations at the time) presided over his appeal hearing, but the original "punishment" stood. It does seem odd if it was only over space suit design, unless there was a stormy meeting in which Lee told Abbey where exactly he could stick his space suit!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Stevo on 09/18/2006 12:17 pm
You wonder if Lee's removal from STS-98 was Abbey's revenge on Lee for roasting him at his going away party as the Director of Flight Crew Operations, as described in "Riding Rockets" by Mike Mullane. Apparently Lee emceed the event and concluded his remarks with "And for those of you who might be feeling a lump in the throat and getting all misty-eyed thinking about George leaving... just remember what an a$$hole he can be!" According to Mullane, as everyone cheered and laughed, Abbey smirked with a look of "...I'll get even with these traitorous *#@!heads if it's the last thing I ever do."

May seem far-fetched but you can't help but wonder given some of the other stories relating to Abbey and the astronaut office over the years.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: oscar71 on 09/18/2006 04:06 pm
I've learned that Shannon Lucid is doing some capcom work, is this indicative of an impending flight assignment?  It would be kind of cool to have Hawley, Lucid and Fisher fly one last mission together seeing as how they are the only members of the 1978 astronaut class to still be active astronauts.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jim on 09/18/2006 04:33 pm
Let's assign crews based only on which astronauts class they are from.  Let's go further and assignment crews based on same school, same military service, same sex, same age, same nation, same race, etc, just because it would be cool.  

Astronaut class date is meaningless.  

They are just people.  Do other vocations make a big deal of "selection" or "graduation" class/date?  No.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: spacedreams on 09/18/2006 04:42 pm
Mr. Abbey was never the type of guy to explain decisions. He and Mark did clash on the small EVA suit issue. That was a heated argument on many levels that I just can't go into here. Jan Davis was well liked by everyone including Mr. Abbey. She is just a very nice, sharp woman. Mark's demise had more to do with Mark Jr. which had nothing to do with the small suit or Jan.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: oscar71 on 09/18/2006 05:09 pm
Quote
Jim - 18/9/2006  11:20 AM

Let's assign crews based only on which astronauts class they are from.  Let's go further and assignment crews based on same school, same military service, same sex, same age, same nation, same race, etc, just because it would be cool.  

Astronaut class date is meaningless.  

They are just people.  Do other vocations make a big deal of "selection" or "graduation" class/date?  No.

Well, let me see here.  I do believe that all male crews have flown shuttle missions and the upcoming STS-117 crew is all male, therefore the same sex category isn't far fetched.

There have been many shuttle missions flown by an all U.S. born crew, so same nation flights have been done.

I also believe that all white crews have flown missions, that would fall under same race.

I also believe that "selection" date (also called date of hire) is important to many vocations as they determine seniority, raises, on the job experience, promotions, pensions, healthcare coverage, etc.

Now, I don't know if this will shock you or not so I hope your sitting down....but my suggestion is something called "wishful thinking".  It happens a lot in these forums, so I thought I would add mine to the fold.  Now take a deep breath, let it out slowly and try to relax  :) .
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jim on 09/18/2006 05:35 pm
Quote
oscar71 - 18/9/2006  12:56 PM
I do believe that all male crews have flown shuttle missions and the upcoming STS-117 crew is all male, therefore the same sex category isn't far fetched.

There have been many shuttle missions flown by an all U.S. born crew, so same nation flights have been done.

I also believe that all white crews have flown missions, that would fall under same race.

Those were not selection criteria.

"wishful thinking" ?  I still ask why?  It serves no purpose.  Just as John Glenn's mission.

"selection" date  is not the hire date.  Many of the astronauts were NASA employees or Military member already.  Anyways I was referring to astronaut groups.

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 09/19/2006 03:00 pm
spacedreams,

"Mark Jr". What/who was that?

It seems unbelievable that, almost regardless of what the dispute was over (or even IF there was a dispute), Abbey and Wetherbee would countenance removing Lee from STS-98. After all, at the time, he was one of NASA's most experienced spacewalks and STS-98 (with Destiny) was among the most critical US assembly missions. Divorce? Arguments? Who cares? Did it really make Lee, all of a sudden, ineligible to complete the job?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: spacedreams on 09/19/2006 07:52 pm
Mark had some new parenting responsibilities arise in that time period that he had to attend to
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aurora899 on 09/22/2006 11:59 am
Re Bob Thirsk

There is an entry in "Wikipedia" (and I have no idea how accurate this is) that does indeed claim that Bob Thirsk will fly on STS-123 as an ISS Expedition Member. It also claims that when Thirsk comes home on STS-124, Japan's Koichi Wakata will replace him on the ISS Expedition Crew.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hoorenz on 09/22/2006 07:12 pm
So, the small suit failed the leak-check? ;-)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: spaceshuttle on 09/23/2006 03:28 am
y'all heard the Heidi P. passed out?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: MKremer on 09/23/2006 03:56 am
Quote
spaceshuttle - 22/9/2006  10:11 PM

y'all heard the Heidi P. passed out?

So?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: spaceshuttle on 09/23/2006 04:12 am
Quote
MKremer - 22/9/2006  10:39 PM

Quote
spaceshuttle - 22/9/2006  10:11 PM

y'all heard the Heidi P. passed out?

So?

ooookay...i heard it on the news, so i posted it...is that wrong?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 09/23/2006 11:38 pm
Returning to the unwritten, but apparently pervasive, 'rule' that astronauts most likely won't fly more than four missions, I'm wondering what NASA's plans are for the last few Shuttle missions.

About half of the available missions (STS-116, 117, 118, 120, 122 and bits of 123 and 119) have been filled or part-filled with crew members. Thinking particularly of astronauts like Mark Polansky, Rick Sturckow, Scott Kelly, Pam Melroy and Steve Frick, who are getting ready to command their first missions, I wonder if they too will lose the opportunity to fly a second CDR mission? Purely speculative, but here's the make-believe CDR-PLT spots available for the remaining missions:

STS-116: Polansky (CDR), Oefelein (PLT)
STS-117: Sturckow (CDR), Archambault (PLT)
STS-118: Scott Kelly (CDR), Hobaugh (PLT)
STS-120: Melroy (CDR), Zamka (PLT)
STS-122: Frick (CDR), Poindexter (PLT)

Now, for sake of argument, let's use the 'available' CDRs and PLTs to fill the remaining slots:
STS-123/ELM-PS: Gorie (CDR), Greg C. Johnson (PLT)
STS-124/Kibo: Jim Kelly (CDR), Ham (PLT)
STS-125/Hubble: Altman (CDR), Greg H. Johnson (PLT)
STS-119/S6: Mark Kelly (CDR), Antonelli (PLT)
STS-126/ULF: Ferguson (CDR), Garan (PLT)
STS-127/ELM-ES: Oefelein (CDR), Virts (PLT)
STS-128/MPLM: Archambault (CDR), Boe (PLT)
STS-129/ULF: Zamka (CDR), Wilmore (PLT)
STS-130/Node-3 and Cupola: Poindexter (CDR), Ford (PLT)

Obviously, I'm speculating and I've picked the CDR-PLT names out of the air, but it makes me think that after JEM-KIBO is installed, there are very few missions remaining. Will NASA continue to refly Polansky, Sturckow, Scott Kelly, Melroy etc until they reach the four-flight maximum or drop them after having done one command in favour of giving as many 'others' (Ferguson, Oefelein, Archambault, Zamka etc) their first commands? Will this mean that, far from 'four' flights being the maximum, most first-time CDRs from now until 2010 will only get one shot at a Shuttle command?

I wonder if the Astronaut Office has any plans about this? Logically, I suppose it might be in the office's best interests to get as many CDR-experienced pilots as possible before the end of the Shuttle. In other words, will they just get one Shuttle CDR slot and then, if they want to stick around and fly up to or beyond four times, be reassigned to CEV or ISS? Furthermore, as my make-believe list shows, it will give as many rookie PLTs (all of Group 17 and most of Group 18) a Shuttle seat and thus spaceflight experience prior to CEV. Mission Specialists, I guess, are not quite so problematic because there are four slots per mission...plenty of room to fly everyone at least once.

Any comments?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jorge on 09/24/2006 01:09 am
Quote
Ben E - 23/9/2006  6:21 PM

Now, for sake of argument, let's use the 'available' CDRs and PLTs to fill the remaining slots:
STS-123/ELM-PS: Gorie (CDR), Greg C. Johnson (PLT)
STS-124/Kibo: Jim Kelly (CDR), Ham (PLT)
STS-125/Hubble: Altman (CDR), Greg H. Johnson (PLT)
STS-119/S6: Mark Kelly (CDR), Antonelli (PLT)
STS-126/ULF: Ferguson (CDR), Garan (PLT)
STS-127/ELM-ES: Oefelein (CDR), Virts (PLT)
STS-128/MPLM: Archambault (CDR), Boe (PLT)
STS-129/ULF: Zamka (CDR), Wilmore (PLT)
STS-130/Node-3 and Cupola: Poindexter (CDR), Ford (PLT)

Obviously, I'm speculating and I've picked the CDR-PLT names out of the air, but it makes me think that after JEM-KIBO is installed, there are very few missions remaining. Will NASA continue to refly Polansky, Sturckow, Scott Kelly, Melroy etc until they reach the four-flight maximum or drop them after having done one command in favour of giving as many 'others' (Ferguson, Oefelein, Archambault, Zamka etc) their first commands? Will this mean that, far from 'four' flights being the maximum, most first-time CDRs from now until 2010 will only get one shot at a Shuttle command?

I wonder if the Astronaut Office has any plans about this? Logically, I suppose it might be in the office's best interests to get as many CDR-experienced pilots as possible before the end of the Shuttle. In other words, will they just get one Shuttle CDR slot and then, if they want to stick around and fly up to or beyond four times, be reassigned to CEV or ISS? Furthermore, as my make-believe list shows, it will give as many rookie PLTs (all of Group 17 and most of Group 18) a Shuttle seat and thus spaceflight experience prior to CEV. Mission Specialists, I guess, are not quite so problematic because there are four slots per mission...plenty of room to fly everyone at least once.

Any comments?

Rommel's preference was to spread experience as widely as possible, so his list might have looked a lot like yours (Nit: I think he would have given Hobaugh a command before Zamka).

Lindsey may have other ideas.
--
JRF
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: henrycheck on 09/24/2006 02:30 am
I know that we are not allowed to talk about "rules" or "patterns" in crew assignments, so how about "tendencies." If you look at the end of the Gemini Program, the end of Apollo, and the end of Skylab, there was a tendency to minimize the number of astronauts being trained for flights in dead-end programs.

If this tendency is repeated, we’d find the astronaut cadre being divided into two groups; one to fly out shuttle, and one to work on Orion.


Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aurora899 on 09/24/2006 11:32 am
It will probably have more to do with who is best buddies with Lindsey!
Having said that, your list is not unreasonable, although I agree with Jorge that Hobaugh should be on there.
Will “most first-time CDRs from now until 2010 [e.g. Polanksy, Sturckow, Melroy] only get one shot at a Shuttle command?”
Yes, I suspect they will, although in practise it will probably be a mixture of first and second time CDRs. There are a couple of “contingency” flights on the manifest as well, which could potentially offer a few more seats, although whether these actually take place is a moot point.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jim on 09/24/2006 01:07 pm
The contingency flights are part of the remaining 15 flights
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aurora899 on 09/24/2006 01:29 pm
Thanks Jim, I wasn't aware of that - and I don't think Ben E has included them on his list, so he could have a couple more CDR/PLT combinations.
Just remembered that Hobaugh was Lindsey's PLT on STS-104 so he should be okay for a Command if he wants one!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: henrycheck on 09/24/2006 03:23 pm
Quote
Jim - 24/9/2006  8:50 AM

The contingency flights are part of the remaining 15 flights


The number of remaining flights that Griffin and Hale have been quoting indicate that they are not counting the contingency flights. So fifteen left.

116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 132  ---  fifteen flights

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Rocket Guy on 09/24/2006 03:24 pm
This is incorrect. There are 15 flights left starting with 116 plus two contingency flights, making a total of 17, that would only be flown if time/budget permits. I think they probably will wind up flying.
http://spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts115/fdf/manifest.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Rocket Guy on 09/24/2006 03:25 pm
Yes, what Henry listed, plus the two makes 17.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jorge on 09/24/2006 05:03 pm
Quote
aurora899 - 24/9/2006  8:12 AM

Thanks Jim, I wasn't aware of that - and I don't think Ben E has included them on his list, so he could have a couple more CDR/PLT combinations.
Just remembered that Hobaugh was Lindsey's PLT on STS-104 so he should be okay for a Command if he wants one!

I should hasten to point out that my statement "Lindsey may have other ideas" was not aimed at Hobaugh, though it could be misconstrued as such. I was referring to Rommel's policy of spreading experience as widely as possible. I now believe Lindsey will follow Rommel's approach.
--
JRF
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: henrycheck on 09/24/2006 05:48 pm
Quote
Ben - 24/9/2006  11:08 AM

Yes, what Henry listed, plus the two makes 17.


I don’t think anybody should be too dogmatic on this point.

Two-thousand-ten is a long way off, George Bush won’t be President, Mike Griffin probably won’t be Administrator, and the world can change in a morning.

As I understand the legalese, the shuttle flights stop at the end of fiscal 2010 because there is no shuttle line item in the President’s budget after that.

President Hillary Clinton and NASA Administrator Eileen Collins could change that.

Jim --- as our informed man on the scene at KSC, what's your vision for space exploration circa 2010-2020?

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aurora899 on 09/24/2006 06:17 pm
Hi Jorge,
I hadn’t misconstrued your statement [re Hobaugh] but was making the point that as flight crew selection seems to have as much to do with astronaut office politics and who’s in favour etc., then Hobaugh and Lindsey, having flown together, should be quite good friends. Admittedly, my remark was slightly tongue in cheek but who knows?

On a slightly different issue, how do people see Lindsey’s future panning out? He was not an architect of the maximum four flight rule/guideline and is presumably not bound by it. I can’t help wondering whether Lindsey might, just might, fancy assigning himself to command the last ever shuttle mission, particularly if it’s one of the contingency flights. He might, of course, decide to command the first manned CEV flight (rather like John young did with the shuttle) but that could be a long wait….a very long wait.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jorge on 09/24/2006 06:42 pm
Quote
aurora899 - 24/9/2006  1:00 PM

Hi Jorge,
I hadn’t misconstrued your statement [re Hobaugh] but was making the point that as flight crew selection seems to have as much to do with astronaut office politics and who’s in favour etc., then Hobaugh and Lindsey, having flown together, should be quite good friends. Admittedly, my remark was slightly tongue in cheek but who knows?

On a slightly different issue, how do people see Lindsey’s future panning out? He was not an architect of the maximum four flight rule/guideline and is presumably not bound by it. I can’t help wondering whether Lindsey might, just might, fancy assigning himself to command the last ever shuttle mission, particularly if it’s one of the contingency flights. He might, of course, decide to command the first manned CEV flight (rather like John young did with the shuttle) but that could be a long wait….a very long wait.

I didn't take your remark that way - I just wanted to get the clarification out on the table in case anyone else interpreted it that way.
--
JRF
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 09/24/2006 07:33 pm
The practice of flying PLTs once and giving them a command on their second flight was being 'tried' again at the time of STS-107. In fact, STS-107 Commander Rick Husband was on his second mission and NASA had just assigned Scott Kelly to lead STS-118. This was the first time the practice had been attempted since Sid Gutierrez commanded STS-59 in April 1994. I think the 107 and 118 missions were exceptions at the time, but did NASA have plans, even pre-107, to start giving people commands on their second missions? And if so, why?

If Columbia had not been lost, for example, would the Frick-Walheim-Love-Schlegel-Melvin (minus Poindexter of course) team have actually flown together on the 'original' Columbus installation mission? Or was the policy of giving all PLTs a command on their second mission only implemented in the wake of the 'four-flights-and-you're-out' rule?

What was the rationale for giving Rick Husband and Scott Kelly, alone, a command on their second flights? If you look at the pre-107 roster, it would appear that the two-flights-as-PLT rule would still have stayed in place for most missions (Polansky was PLT on STS-117, Hobaugh on STS-118 and Mark Kelly on STS-119), so clearly Husband and Scott Kelly weren't about to set a definite precedent for future PLT-to-CDR assignments. What was special about Husband and Scott Kelly?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: spaceshuttle on 09/25/2006 06:57 pm
Quote
henrycheck - 24/9/2006  12:31 PM

Quote
Ben - 24/9/2006  11:08 AM

Yes, what Henry listed, plus the two makes 17.


I don’t think anybody should be too dogmatic on this point.

Two-thousand-ten is a long way off, George Bush won’t be President, Mike Griffin probably won’t be Administrator, and the world can change in a morning.

As I understand the legalese, the shuttle flights stop at the end of fiscal 2010 because there is no shuttle line item in the President’s budget after that.

President Hillary Clinton and NASA Administrator Eileen Collins could change that.

Jim --- as our informed man on the scene at KSC, what's your vision for space exploration circa 2010-2020?


JUICY! JUICY! this thread gets more and more interesting by the minute! back to subject, do any of y'all think that the shuttles will EVER go past 2010?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jim on 09/25/2006 07:25 pm
Quote
Ben E - 24/9/2006  3:16 PM

The practice of flying PLTs once and giving them a command on their second flight was being 'tried' again at the time of STS-107. In fact, STS-107 Commander Rick Husband was on his second mission and NASA had just assigned Scott Kelly to lead STS-118. This was the first time the practice had been attempted since Sid Gutierrez commanded STS-59 in April 1994. I think the 107 and 118 missions were exceptions at the time, but did NASA have plans, even pre-107, to start giving people commands on their second missions? And if so, why?

If Columbia had not been lost, for example, would the Frick-Walheim-Love-Schlegel-Melvin (minus Poindexter of course) team have actually flown together on the 'original' Columbus installation mission? Or was the policy of giving all PLTs a command on their second mission only implemented in the wake of the 'four-flights-and-you're-out' rule?

What was the rationale for giving Rick Husband and Scott Kelly, alone, a command on their second flights? If you look at the pre-107 roster, it would appear that the two-flights-as-PLT rule would still have stayed in place for most missions (Polansky was PLT on STS-117, Hobaugh on STS-118 and Mark Kelly on STS-119), so clearly Husband and Scott Kelly weren't about to set a definite precedent for future PLT-to-CDR assignments. What was special about Husband and Scott Kelly?

We will never know because that info isn't released.  Looking for logic where there is none.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: astronut7 on 09/28/2006 01:12 am
May I please add my views?  I think Steve Lindsey will do an excellant job as cheif astronaut and I think that the plt/cdr from group-15 will all fly four missions.  Steve has four flights and I think the rest of his classmates will get four flights as far as plt/cdr.  I have talked to Scott Altman and he said he would like to fly another mission(infact I will meet Scott again next week and will ask him again).  I think that Scott Altman, Pam Melroy, Rick Sturckow, Jeff Ashby, Mike Bloomfield and Dom Gorie will all make four flights(two as pilot/two as commander).  I'm just sorry that Susan Still, Joe Edwards and Rick Husband will never get to have four flights.  I also think that Scott Kelly, Mark Kelly, Jim Kelly and Charlie Hobaugh will also get to command a shuttle flight before the end.  This is my view only.  Thank you.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: astronut7 on 09/28/2006 01:26 am
I just met Mark Lee four days ago and it was a pleasant meeting.  I asked Mark about his STS-98 flight assignment and he told me he was taken off the flight due to politics.  He didn't elaborate on it too much.  I also asked him about his original assignment to STS-61-M in 1986 before Challenger tragedy and if he would of have flown that mission I believe he would of have been the first member to fly from his astronaut group.  In 1996  I met Jan Davis and got to sit next to her at dinner.  Very pleasant person to meet.  I'm just sorry that Mark and Jan are no longer married.  I also got to meet Mark's sister and another very nice person to talk to.  I do know that Mark is now remarried and has two children.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aurora899 on 09/28/2006 10:33 am
Although slightly “off topic”, the crew patch for STS-118 has just been released:

http://www.spacepatches.nl
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: spaceshuttle on 09/28/2006 04:50 pm
Quote
aurora899 - 28/9/2006  5:16 AM

Although slightly “off topic”, the crew patch for STS-118 has just been released:

http://www.spacepatches.nl

oh that's tight! it reminds me of sts-51, you know, a bit videogame-esque! pretty cool  ;)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: martynwilliams on 09/30/2006 05:59 pm
It's been a good year for British born astronauts this year...with Piers Sellers on 121 and Nick Patrick on 116. The only British born astro left to fly now is Greg Johnson (I think he was born on a USAF base in the UK) - I dont think there's anyone else originally from the UK in the astro corps at the moment.

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 09/30/2006 06:36 pm
Quote
martynwilliams - 30/9/2006  6:42 PM

It's been a good year for British born astronauts this year...with Piers Sellers on 121 and Nick Patrick on 116. The only British born astro left to fly now is Greg Johnson (I think he was born on a USAF base in the UK) - I dont think there's anyone else originally from the UK in the astro corps at the moment.


There's one to come (won't be Shuttle obviously), but he's out in the Gulf at the moment flying RAF Tornados. I know him, but won't give any details given he's in active service. Will go to the US, go through the US system, join NASA.

He's a good age, brilliant pilot, could be interesting in the years to come.

Still think it's an absolute disgrace that it's not legal to have UK astronauts. That's Thatcher's fault, right?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 09/30/2006 06:40 pm
There is this legend that she came to ESTEC, received a Columbus / Freedom briefing, and once back in London, shut down all human spaceflight activities in UK.

Maybe urban legend...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Terry Rocket on 09/30/2006 06:55 pm
There's a picture of Thatcher being shown a model of Space Station Freedom by Reagun and after that meeting she shut down what was going to be a really arse-kicking British space program.

We had British Aerospace on the design and engineering, with Hotol and Skylon way advanced over anything the US was producing. We had the scientists, we had the astronaut corp from the Top Gun part of the RAF and we had the money.

Thatcher's relationship with Reagun was full of secret deals. Remember the Falklands War? The US couldn't go against Argentina politically, but we had two fully loaded US Aircraft carriers parked at the Ascention Islands at our disposal. Course, we kicked arse and didn't need them after sending the fleet down to sort it all out :)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jim on 09/30/2006 07:05 pm
Quote
Terry Rocket - 30/9/2006  2:38 PM

We had British Aerospace on the design and engineering, with Hotol and Skylon way advanced over anything the US was producing. We had the scientists, we had the astronaut corp from the Top Gun part of the RAF and we had the money.

Paper rockets are not the same as real ones.  Just as Spacex, there is no proof that it could have been pulled off.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 09/30/2006 07:35 pm
I think the Reagan Thatcher picture was at the G7 summit in London (1984).
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: spaceshuttle on 09/30/2006 09:54 pm
precourt question:

for sts-55, charlie was an MS., but for 71-91 he was PLT turned CDR. was he trained as an MS, and later retrained as a pilot?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: psloss on 09/30/2006 10:18 pm
Quote
spaceshuttle - 30/9/2006  5:37 PM

precourt question:

for sts-55, charlie was an MS., but for 71-91 he was PLT turned CDR. was he trained as an MS, and later retrained as a pilot?
The better question is whether he was selected as an MS (probably not).

This wasn't unique -- a couple of other examples were the late David Griggs (51-D) and Steven Nagel (51-G).

Edit: in fact, already noted more thoroughly in this thread (http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/forum/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=740&posts=271&mid=59184&highlight=&highlightmode=1&action=search#M59184)!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 09/30/2006 11:00 pm
No, Precourt was hired in January 1990 as a PLT. As with Nagel, Griggs, McMonagle, Readdy and Cockrell, he flew as MS2 for his first mission as a 'third PLT'. Usually this was done on missions that required a dual-shift system of operations or necessitated a 'third pilot', such as Spacelab. That's the official rhetoric.

However, Nagel's and Griggs' first missions as MS2 were satellite-deployment flights that were neither dual-shift, nor Spacelab, so I'm honestly not sure why some MS2s were chosen from among PLTs. Also, in view of the fact that most Spacelab missions (21 out of 24 flown between 1983 and 1998) featured MS2s who were drawn from MS ranks, rather than PLT ranks, I don't quite understand the rationale for needing a PLT-qualified MS2 on some Spacelab flights and not others.

I can virtually guarantee that Jim will respond with his 'it's all down to office politics' and 'you're looking for logic when there is none' points. I understand his point, but in spite of what I've read in Mullane's book, Burrough's book and others, I'd be intrigued to know why some dual-shift Spacelabs required a PLT-qualified MS2 and others (in fact, most!) could get by with an 'ordinary' Mission Specialist in the MS2 seat. I understand the idea of rookie PLTs 'gaining flight experience' by flying as MS2 first, but with a large available 'pool' of astronauts who'd gone through highly expensive MS training, why reassign an astronaut who'd gone through equally highly expensive PLT training to an MS slot?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: spaceshuttle on 09/30/2006 11:09 pm
yes indeed. this validates EVEN MORE that astronaout choices are never uniformed.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 09/30/2006 11:35 pm
Quote
Ben E - 30/9/2006  5:43 PM

No, Precourt was hired in January 1990 as a PLT. As with Nagel, Griggs, McMonagle, Readdy and Cockrell, he flew as MS2 for his first mission as a 'third PLT'. Usually this was done on missions that required a dual-shift system of operations or necessitated a 'third pilot', such as Spacelab. That's the official rhetoric.

However, Nagel's and Griggs' first missions as MS2 were satellite-deployment flights that were neither dual-shift, nor Spacelab, so I'm honestly not sure why some MS2s were chosen from among PLTs. Also, in view of the fact that most Spacelab missions (21 out of 24 flown between 1983 and 1998) featured MS2s who were drawn from MS ranks, rather than PLT ranks, I don't quite understand the rationale for needing a PLT-qualified MS2 on some Spacelab flights and not others.

I've spoken to Nagel about this, and heard from other sources (astronaut office and otherwise) that this was simply a way to get 1978 group pilots flown.  Remember, up to STS-5 it was assumed that there would be two MS on each Shuttle crew.... SAS and workload issues caused that to increase to three per mission (in most cases).  So the 1978 group pilots were stuck watching their MS contemporaries rotating to second flights while they were still waiting for their first.

Gerry Griffin, then head of JSC, noticed, and announced to the astronaut office (early 1983, as I recall) that some PLTs would be making their first flights as MS2s.  Within a few weeks, Nagel and Griggs were so assigned.

It was not -- like so many suggestions I see here -- some kind of sentimental gesture: there was a need to use these highly-trained people from the 1978 group before their military details ran out and they would be subject to recall by their parent services.  [The percentage of astros who returned to military duty was never large, but NASA managment -- at this time, Griffin, Abbey and Young -- had to assume they could lose people.]

Nagel was happy to be flying, though several of his PLT and Air Force contemporaries thought the assignment an insult.  What made Nagel happiest was realizing that he would get to train for EVA -- which he did.

As for later PLT-as-MS2 assignments, it wasn't for operational reasons, but personnel management.   In that 1990-92 period you had MS astronauts flying early and often, and PLTs like Curt Brown waiting.... waiting.... waiting.   The rationale was, use these PLTs even if they'll be flying that middle seat.

Michael Cassutt, author of WHO'S WHO IN SPACE, co-author of DEKE! and WE HAVE CAPTURE


Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 09/30/2006 11:43 pm
Quote
Ben E - 30/9/2006  5:43 PM

I can virtually guarantee that Jim will respond with his 'it's all down to office politics' and 'you're looking for logic when there is none' points. I understand his point, but in spite of what I've read in Mullane's book, Burrough's book and others, I'd be intrigued to know why some dual-shift Spacelabs required a PLT-qualified MS2 and others (in fact, most!) could get by with an 'ordinary' Mission Specialist in the MS2 seat. I understand the idea of rookie PLTs 'gaining flight experience' by flying as MS2 first, but with a large available 'pool' of astronauts who'd gone through highly expensive MS training, why reassign an astronaut who'd gone through equally highly expensive PLT training to an MS slot?  


Jim's view is actually quite well-informed.  There is often no "logic" to selection or assignment.... office politics do play a role... and marching orders change with every set of leaders.   There are personal factors that play a larger role than is generally known.... just to name one, I have seen speculation/hope/sentiment that Pam Melroy will not only command one mission, but go on to a second.

Possibly.... but the USAF very badly wanted Melroy back after her first flight on 92 in late 2000.  Whether by her request -- or through some generosity on the part of AF personnel -- she had her tour at NASA extended through a second PLT flight.  That tour has obviously been extended again to account for the Columbia hiatus and an assignment as CDR.

Will she return to the Air Force in fall 2007?  (Look at what's happened with Susan Helms, who is now a brigadier general.  A woman pilot who is a Shuttle commander would have an incredible set of command positions to choose from.)  Or will she stay at NASA as either an Air Force officer or civilian?  We don't know that and can't know that.... and that is just one bit of data dealing with one astronaut.

Which is why Jim -- who has seen this for twenty years -- expresses his frustration at some of the postings.

Michael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aurora899 on 10/01/2006 11:02 am
>Paper rockets are not the same as real ones. Just as Spacex, there is no proof that it could have been pulled off.

Don’t under-estimate British skill and ingenuity. We just don’t have the political will or the money (at least not in the public sector).
And if you’ve ever seen the film “First Men in the Moon” (based on HG Wells’ novel) you’ll know that we actually got to the Moon first, and claimed it on behalf of Queen Victoria.

On a more serious note, it was a great pity that Squadron Leader Nigel Wood’s Shuttle flight was cancelled after the “Challenger” disaster and the Skynet military comsats transferred to ELVs. Didn’t some sections of the UK press initially report that the Royal Navy guy (Longhurst?) was going to be the first Briton in space, only for the RAF to point out that the final frontier was really their province and lobbied the MoD accordingly?
And wasn’t there some British research scientist from Eastman Kodak who was in discussions about a possible shuttle flight around the time of 51-L?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SimonShuttle on 10/01/2006 12:02 pm
Good thread on the British Space Program that never was: http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=831&start=1
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: dcfowler1 on 10/02/2006 06:30 am
Quote
aurora899 - 1/10/2006  5:45 AM

And wasn’t there some British research scientist from Eastman Kodak who was in discussions about a possible shuttle flight around the time of 51-L?

John Padday, now deceased.

Dave

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: martynwilliams on 10/02/2006 06:00 pm
Quote
hektor - 30/9/2006  8:18 PM

I think the Reagan Thatcher picture was at the G7 summit in London (1984).

Yeah, that’s right. I researched that event for my dissertation on the politics of the ISS program last year.

Everyone in that meeting, bar Thatcher, enthusiastically endorsed Reagan’s plan to include international partners in the Freedom project. For some reason, Thatcher couldn’t, or maybe didn’t want to, see the huge benefits being a partner in the SSP would have brought to British industry.

I agree Chris, it’s a terrible shame British citizens are bared from becoming astronauts through the ESA. It’s something I’m keen on perusing within the Labour party.  
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aurora899 on 10/05/2006 07:08 am
Joe Tanner calls it a day:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/mid/5400354.stm
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: dutch courage on 10/07/2006 10:44 am
Possibly a fourth crew member on ISS in october 2007.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/5415000.stm

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 10/07/2006 12:32 pm
I don't think so, the article says "The trio of mini-missions would take the place of one of the existing three, six-month resident slots"
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 10/07/2006 04:38 pm
Is the Canadian mission being done just for the sake of it?

I can understand the European and Japanese mini-missions coinciding with the arrival of Columbus and Kibo. Admittedly, the Dextre hand for Canadarm2 is arriving on STS-123, but surely that wouldn't necessitate an entire Canadian expedition in the same way that the arrival of a major pressurised module would?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 10/12/2006 04:35 pm
Quote
Stevo - 18/9/2006  2:00 PM

You wonder if Lee's removal from STS-98 was Abbey's revenge on Lee for roasting him at his going away party as the Director of Flight Crew Operations, as described in "Riding Rockets" by Mike Mullane. Apparently Lee emceed the event and concluded his remarks with "And for those of you who might be feeling a lump in the throat and getting all misty-eyed thinking about George leaving... just remember what an a$$hole he can be!" According to Mullane, as everyone cheered and laughed, Abbey smirked with a look of "...I'll get even with these traitorous *#@!heads if it's the last thing I ever do."

May seem far-fetched but you can't help but wonder given some of the other stories relating to Abbey and the astronaut office over the years.


I'm reading Tom Jones his book Sky Walking right now and on page 250 to 253 there is a lot to read about Mark Lee's removal from STS-98 but a real reason is not given by Jones...but at some point the whole STS-98 crew was about to step down from the flight becouse of Lee's removal and no reason given by Jim Wetherbee...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nathan.moeller on 10/12/2006 04:52 pm
Quote
hektor - 7/10/2006  7:15 AM

I don't think so, the article says "The trio of mini-missions would take the place of one of the existing three, six-month resident slots"

Yeah that's what it sounds like to me, too.  I'm wondering if they're planning on flying the shuttle in "rapid-fire" fashion to support that.  Probably the wrong term for it but I'm wondering...would the run of missions in that timeline see two and half months in between flights?  Seems pretty fast paced, but then again they'll have Endeavour flying again by then, too.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 10/13/2006 06:43 am
Quote
dutch courage - 7/10/2006  12:27 PM
Possibly a fourth crew member on ISS in october 2007.
A fourth? I do not think so...

Quote
hektor - 7/10/2006  2:15 PM
I don't think so, the article says "The trio of mini-missions would take the place of one of the existing three, six-month resident slots"
I believe that hektor is right. There was some talk of these mini-expeditions on L2, I remember. That was a while ago. Now the news has been made available to the public domain by that newspaper.

What I did not know was that the idea came from Schlegel. Gee, those Germans -- clever people, indeed...!

 ;)  ;)  ;)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 10/18/2006 09:03 pm
Oct. 18, 2006

Katherine Trinidad
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-3749

Nicole Cloutier-Lemasters
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111

RELEASE: 06-337

NASA ANNOUNCES NEW INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION CREW

NASA and the Russian Federal Space Agency have named two astronauts
and two cosmonauts to the next International Space Station crew,
known as Expedition 15. Astronauts Clayton C. Anderson and Daniel M.
Tani will travel to the station next year and work as flight
engineers. Cosmonauts Fyodor N. Yurchikhin and Dr. Oleg V. Kotov will
spend six months aboard the orbiting laboratory.

Anderson will get a ride to the station aboard Space Shuttle
Endeavour's STS-118 mission, targeted for launch in June 2007. He
will return to Earth on shuttle Atlantis on mission STS-120. That
flight will carry his replacement, Tani, to the station. Tani will
return on shuttle mission STS-122, targeted for October 2007.

Yurchikhin will command Expedition 15, and Kotov will serve as station
flight engineer and Soyuz commander. Yurchikhin and Kotov will fly to
the complex aboard a Soyuz spacecraft scheduled to launch in March
2007. Until Anderson arrives, astronaut Sunita L. Williams will serve
as Expedition 15's third crew member and flight engineer. She will
fly to the station on STS-116 in December.

A native of Nebraska, Anderson was selected as an astronaut in 1998
following a technical career in mission operations at NASA's Johnson
Space Center, Houston. He managed the Emergency Operations Center at
Johnson for several years before becoming an astronaut. He has a
bachelor's degree from Hastings College in Hastings, Neb., and a
master's from Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa.

A native of Illinois, Tani has a bachelor's and a master's degree in
mechanical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology, Cambridge, Mass. He was selected as an astronaut in 1996.
Tani's first spaceflight was aboard Endeavour in December 2001 on the
STS-108 mission. During that flight, he performed a four-hour
spacewalk.

Yurchikhin previously visited the space station aboard Atlantis on
STS-112 in 2002. He is qualified as a mechanical engineer and has a
doctorate in economics. Before he was selected as a cosmonaut,
Yurchikhin served as a Russian flight controller and lead engineer
for several missions.

Kotov was selected as a cosmonaut in 1996 and has trained for Soyuz,
Mir and space station missions. He is a graduate of the Kirov Medical
Academy in Russia.

The Expedition 15 backup crew is astronaut Gregory E. Chamitoff for
Anderson; Sandra H. Magnus for Tani; Russian cosmonauts Roman Y.
Romanenko and Mikhail B. Kornienko for Yurchikhin and Kotov.

Video of the Expedition 15 crew members will air on NASA TV's Video
File. For NASA TV downlink, streaming video and scheduling
information, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

For more about the station, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/station

For more about upcoming space shuttle missions, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle


-end-
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 10/19/2006 06:52 am
So this ends the Tani discussion, right?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: raj on 10/19/2006 01:04 pm
I heard that a women from India is now assigned a mission.....is it true?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 10/19/2006 01:59 pm
Quote
raj - 19/10/2006  2:47 PM
I heard that a women from India is now assigned a mission.....is it true?
STS-116's Sunita Williams has an Indian background. She was born in the US, but her parents are from India, I think. She will stay on the ISS and will be an ISS-14/-15 crew member.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 10/20/2006 01:39 pm
So with STS-120 (Tani-UP) possibly delayed until early September and STS-122 (Tani-DOWN) in mid October, why are they sending him for such a short (45-day-ish?) expedition? Hardly seems worth it.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 10/26/2006 12:06 pm
Quote
Ben E - 20/10/2006  3:22 PM

So with STS-120 (Tani-UP) possibly delayed until early September and STS-122 (Tani-DOWN) in mid October, why are they sending him for such a short (45-day-ish?) expedition? Hardly seems worth it.
"That's simple", I was about to say. But it isn't...  ;)

You could move Tani's return to STS-123 and let the astronaut to fly to the station on STS-122 launch on STS-123 instead. But that would ruin Schlegel's concept of crew rotation that includes the presence of a European on the ISS immediately after Columbus is delivered, a Canadian when SSRMS hardware arrives and a Japanese in support of Kibo start-up operations.

Gosh, how complicated...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 10/26/2006 12:54 pm
STS-122 is Eyharts-UP :)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 10/26/2006 01:31 pm
Any news from the Korean cosmonaut selection process. Last time they were down to 500 candidates.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 10/26/2006 02:08 pm
Quote
hektor - 26/10/2006  2:37 PM
STS-122 is Eyharts-UP :)
Yes, You are right. That is what I wanted to say. Schlegel's concept requires him to be on that flight and "Tani-DOWN" also on 122.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 10/26/2006 04:12 pm
And we'll soon be looking to run the Hubble STS-125 crew. We've got four names going through confirmation on L2.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 10/26/2006 11:40 pm
Why do they need to fly BOTH Anderson and Tani next year? Couldn't Anderson fly STS-118 in June, come home on STS-122 in October (four months), then be replaced by Eyharts until STS-124 in February 2008 (four months), who would then himself be replaced by Wakata? Wakata would then stay four months, being returned aboard STS-119 in June 2008.

I still don't understand the rationale behind Thirsk's assignment to STS-123 for a mini-expedition that, other than the delivery of Dextre, doesn't really REQUIRE a Canadian long-term expedition member. Long-term stays by Eyharts and Wakata, on the other hand, are entirely logical in this timeframe.

Unless its purely political, I just don't see the logic in all these piddly little expeditions. If they're really getting long-duration expertise to prepare for the Moon, Mars and beyond, aren't six months AND ABOVE the durations they should be aiming for?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Rob in KC on 10/30/2006 05:32 pm
Is there a chance some astronauts will never get to fly, because of Shuttle end in 2010 and the potential 5-6 year delay with CEV?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jim on 10/30/2006 05:37 pm
Quote
Ben E - 26/10/2006  7:23 PM

Why do they need to fly BOTH Anderson and Tani next year? Couldn't Anderson fly STS-118 in June, come home on STS-122 in October (four months), then be replaced by Eyharts until STS-124 in February 2008 (four months), who would then himself be replaced by Wakata? Wakata would then stay four months, being returned aboard STS-119 in June 2008.

I still don't understand the rationale behind Thirsk's assignment to STS-123 for a mini-expedition that, other than the delivery of Dextre, doesn't really REQUIRE a Canadian long-term expedition member. Long-term stays by Eyharts and Wakata, on the other hand, are entirely logical in this timeframe.

Unless its purely political, I just don't see the logic in all these piddly little expeditions. If they're really getting long-duration expertise to prepare for the Moon, Mars and beyond, aren't six months AND ABOVE the durations they should be aiming for?

You are looking for that thing called logic with flight crew assignments again
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 10/30/2006 05:38 pm
Yvonne and Fernando
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: spaceshuttle on 10/30/2006 05:46 pm
Quote
hektor - 30/10/2006  12:21 PM

Yvonne and Fernando

eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeexactly!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 10/31/2006 08:08 am
Did we already mention that Soichi Noguchi is Koichi Wakata's back-up for Expeditions 16 and 17? This info is now available outside of NSF or L2, so I think I can put in on record here.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TALsite on 10/31/2006 11:49 am
Let’s play to guess (without L2 info) the STS-125 crew
My bet:

Altman  -  CDR - Veteran of STS-109 (last visit to Hubble)
Johnson, G. Harold - PLT
Grunsfeld  -  MS – EVA-Veteran of STS-109
Linnehan -  MS – EVA-Veteran of STS-109
Massimino -  MS – EVA-Veteran of STS-109
Morin - MS – EVA
Creamer  - MS

Why not?
Regards.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 10/31/2006 12:23 pm
Quote
TALsite - 31/10/2006  1:32 PM
Why not?
Why...?  ;)

OK, seriously now: Most people almost exclusively have flight-experienced astronauts on their radars. You, for example, list four 109 veterans and a veteran spacewalker. I have a feeling that  they may send up three rookies. Indeed, many speculative rosters out there have only one or two -- just like Yours.

I cannot wait for later...

Today is crew assignment day!

Just like Xmas -- but I am not the one to get a present. No, it's them, the 125 crew...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TALsite on 10/31/2006 01:03 pm
nethegauner said:
"I have a feeling that they may send up three rookies"

I like rookies flying (G.H.Johnson-Creamer), but I think this is a very "special" mission that needs a very experienced crew.  I bet no more than two rookies.
And I have a malfunctioning radar....   ;)
The answer soon.

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 10/31/2006 01:14 pm
Quote
TALsite - 31/10/2006  2:46 PM
I like rookies flying (G.H.Johnson-Creamer), but I think this is a very "special" mission that needs a very experienced crew.  I bet no more than two rookies.
You bring up an interesting point: is SM-04 -- the fifth SM actually! -- a special mission? SM-01 sure was -- the premiere, the challenge. But SM-04?

Of course, any flight to the HST is something special and SM-04 sure is a highlight on the remaining manifest. But when it comes to mission operations, is it still so special? They did it many times before. I was under the impression recently, that some ISS EVAs were more complex than some HST EVAs. Fell free to correct me, anyone.

I think four experienced Hubble flyers are just about right with three rookies on the remaining seats.

Quote
TALsite - 31/10/2006  2:46 PM
The answer soon.

I hope so!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: spacedreams on 10/31/2006 05:08 pm
I'm pretty sure you won't see Linnehan or Morin on this flight, at least not as EVA.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 11/02/2006 07:18 am
Quote
TALsite - 31/10/2006  2:46 PM

nethegauner said:
"I have a feeling that they may send up three rookies"

I like rookies flying (G.H.Johnson-Creamer), but I think this is a very "special" mission that needs a very experienced crew.  I bet no more than two rookies.
Johnson, Feustel, Good, McArthur -- FOUR! What did I say? Three. OK -- slightly off mark...

Three rookies from the class of 2000. They must be celebratin glike it's 1999. Uhm, I mean... -- well, You know what I mean!

 ;)  ;)  ;)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 11/02/2006 12:26 pm
What are Linnehan and Morin doing now?

As EVA veterans, are they up for ISS assembly missions? Expeditions?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jim on 11/02/2006 12:31 pm
Quote
Ben E - 2/11/2006  8:09 AM

What are Linnehan and Morin doing now?

As EVA veterans, are they up for ISS assembly missions? Expeditions?

they are hiding from inquiring minds
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: collectSPACE on 11/02/2006 02:09 pm
Quote
Ben E - 2/11/2006  7:09 AM

What are Linnehan and Morin doing now?

Morin is currently working on the design of Orion's avionic systems. Last night though, he was speaking for New York University at the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City on the subject "Transforming Fantasy - Building a Space Station".
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 11/02/2006 03:29 pm
So is there a hint that Morin will get an Orion mission? Although, born in 1952, he'll be into his sixties by then...

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jim on 11/02/2006 03:36 pm
Quote
Ben E - 2/11/2006  11:12 AM

So is there a hint that Morin will get an Orion mission? Although, born in 1952, he'll be into his sixties by then...


Not really.  It is not 1 +1 +2 (Orion Avionics + Ornion Flight).  He might have other plans.  How many missions havecrew assignments  at this time?  2?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Dante Wynter on 11/02/2006 07:22 pm
Hmm . . .  I wonder if *anyone* will be around for Orion, or will they have to get yet another group of astronauts?  The following will be around 50 or less when Orion is scheduled to launch (we know how well NASA keeps its schedules, right?):

Bill Oefelein, Soichi Noguchi, Shannon Walker, Stanley Love, Andrew Feustel, Sunita Williams, Robert Satcher, jr., John Olivas, Stephanie Wilson, Douglas Hurley, Edward Fincke, Joseph Acaba, Robert Kimbrough, Dominic  Antonelli, Randolf Bresnik, Terry Virts, Jr., Garrett Reisman, James Dutton, jr., Akihito Hoshide, Tracy Caldwell, Karen Nyberg, Christopher Cassidy, Robert Behnken, K. Megan McArthur, and Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger.

. . . Of course, I haven't cross-checked to see if any of the above has stepped down already.  Any thoughts?  Will any astronaut now be around for Orion? I would think so, but that's just me.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nathan.moeller on 11/02/2006 07:29 pm
Quote
Dante Wynter - 2/11/2006  2:05 PM

. . . Of course, I haven't cross-checked to see if any of the above has stepped down already.  Any thoughts?  Will any astronaut now be around for Orion? I would think so, but that's just me.

That's usually up to them.  And remember...they pick a class of astronauts every two years or so.  So we'll have three or four new classes by the time they fly Orion.  NSF should band together and see if we can get one of "ours" on board ;)  Maybe me!  First student astronaut!  Wouldn't that be a thought.  Oh we can dream.  Hope that helps!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jim on 11/02/2006 07:43 pm
Quote
nathan.moeller - 2/11/2006  3:12 PM
  ..they pick a class of astronauts every two years or so.  So we'll have three or four new classes by the time they fly Orion.  !

This won't be happening if there are flight opportunities
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 11/02/2006 07:43 pm
Well to fly Orion they need about 20 astronauts or so for the few flights they do. So I wouldn't bet they will continue to have a class of astronauts every two years. Maybe every 4 or 5 years would be far enough.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 11/03/2006 01:25 am
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Dante Wynter - 2/11/2006  2:05 PM

Hmm . . .  I wonder if *anyone* will be around for Orion, or will they have to get yet another group of astronauts?  The following will be around 50 or less when Orion is scheduled to launch (we know how well NASA keeps its schedules, right?):

Bill Oefelein, Soichi Noguchi, Shannon Walker, Stanley Love, Andrew Feustel, Sunita Williams, Robert Satcher, jr., John Olivas, Stephanie Wilson, Douglas Hurley, Edward Fincke, Joseph Acaba, Robert Kimbrough, Dominic  Antonelli, Randolf Bresnik, Terry Virts, Jr., Garrett Reisman, James Dutton, jr., Akihito Hoshide, Tracy Caldwell, Karen Nyberg, Christopher Cassidy, Robert Behnken, K. Megan McArthur, and Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger.

. . . Of course, I haven't cross-checked to see if any of the above has stepped down already.  Any thoughts?  Will any astronaut now be around for Orion? I would think so, but that's just me.

Well, I think you can assume that the astronauts selected in 04 will be around... health and fate willing.  They were told they were being selected for CEV, not for Shuttle -- and I don't expect to see any of them on Shuttle missions.  No doubt some of those selected earlier will stick around, but not many.

Twenty astronauts could fly all the CEV Orion missions scheduled prior to 2020, but that won't stop NASA from selecting at least one more group between now and 2010, and no doubt others after that.

Michael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Dante Wynter on 11/03/2006 05:01 am
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Michael Cassutt said on 2/11/2006  6:08 PM

Well, I think you can assume that the astronauts selected in 04 will be around... health and fate willing.  They were told they were being selected for CEV, not for Shuttle -- and I don't expect to see any of them on Shuttle missions.  No doubt some of those selected earlier will stick around, but not many.

I was wondering about that.  I don't think I would've been very happy being told I'd have to wait ten years for my first flight; but then again, I wouldn't have much choice, would I?

Didn't something similar happen to Group 6 or 7 astronauts?  Getting told that the odds were against them on going to the moon?

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Twenty astronauts could fly all the CEV Orion missions scheduled prior to 2020, but that won't stop NASA from selecting at least one more group between now and 2010, and no doubt others after that.

I seem to recall hearing that selecting more and more astronauts was management's way of controlling them.  But, perhaps I'm mis-remembering the story.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 11/03/2006 06:50 am
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nathan.moeller - 2/11/2006  9:12 PM
And remember...they pick a class of astronauts every two years or so.
Not quite right. They did not pick one in '02. The next selection comes in '08, I believe.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 11/03/2006 11:26 am
By the way, I doubt there will be any international astronauts on the CEV. This is a national program I think. I have seen a few Japanese names in your list, for instance;
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 11/03/2006 12:39 pm
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hektor - 3/11/2006  1:09 PM
By the way, I doubt there will be any international astronauts on the CEV.
Hektor is right. The Japanese astronauts in the class of '04 are there because of the ISS. If there will be considerable international participation in CEV development, there will be international candidates. But I guess that ESA and Russia will not take part in this. The Japanese maybe? I have no idea...

Or China?  ;)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 11/04/2006 08:20 pm
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Dante Wynter - 2/11/2006  11:44 PM

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Michael Cassutt said on 2/11/2006  6:08 PM

Well, I think you can assume that the astronauts selected in 04 will be around... health and fate willing.  They were told they were being selected for CEV, not for Shuttle -- and I don't expect to see any of them on Shuttle missions.  No doubt some of those selected earlier will stick around, but not many.

I was wondering about that.  I don't think I would've been very happy being told I'd have to wait ten years for my first flight; but then again, I wouldn't have much choice, would I?.


Nor do the 2004 astronauts -- and by the way, who wants to bet that not one of them flies until 2016 or later?

Quote
 Didn't something similar happen to Group 6 or 7 astronauts?  Getting told that the odds were against them on going to the moon?
Quote

The seven pilots who transferred from the defunct MOL program in August 1969 (Group 7) were told they had little chance to fly until 1977.  Some of them thought they would or should be assigned to Skylab, but that obviously didn't happen.  The Group 6 scientist-astros were told they would have few chances at flight, or a long wait, the day they showed up for work in September 1967....

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Twenty astronauts could fly all the CEV Orion missions scheduled prior to 2020, but that won't stop NASA from selecting at least one more group between now and 2010, and no doubt others after that.

I seem to recall hearing that selecting more and more astronauts was management's way of controlling them.  But, perhaps I'm mis-remembering the story.

That's one theory about the apparent over-selection in the 1990s, but I'm not sure how valid it is.  In the same way that Slayton "manned up" the astronaut office 1966-67 based on the proposed Apollo/AAP flight rate then in the works, the astronaut office over-selected in 1995-98 based on the requirements of 5-6 Shuttle missions a year, and 4 ISS increments per year starting in 1999.

Michael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Rocket Guy on 11/04/2006 09:24 pm
I disagree, the CEV will be flying to the ISS and with international modules and committments they will absolutely be flying astronauts of partner nations on the CEV.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: collectSPACE on 11/04/2006 09:57 pm
There are already reports suggesting that NASA is considering barters to put JAXA, Roscosmos and CSA astronauts aboard Orion.

For example, it was reported late last year by both American and Japanese reporters that NASA was proposing to JAXA that they build and deliver to the Moon a nuclear reactor in return for putting one or more Japanese astronauts aboard a lunar landing mission.

Similar trades have been mentioned in the context of the Russians and Canadians, though some appear to have originated with the international partner. (I haven't seen much by the way of ESA's involvement, though its not too far a stretch to think they might be included).

While Orion's and Ares' construction is not being offered to our international partners, there will be plenty of contributions available once off the planet to justify including other countries' astronauts on our lunar missions.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 11/04/2006 10:16 pm
There are only three manned Orion missions to ISS in the manifest that Chris Bergin has outlined. The first one is a two man test mission, so I doubt there will be an international crew there. Then there are two others so maybe yes on one of these both. But the opportunities are quite few.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 11/05/2006 03:55 pm
With the recent selection of the STS-125 crew, I noticed that - had Columbia not been lost - the SM-4 mission was originally scheduled for April 2004. Would the 'same' crew (ie Altman-Johnson-Grunsfeld-Massimino-McArthur-Good-Feustel) have remained attached to the 'original', pre-Columbia HST crew? As of February 1st 2003, even the EVA crew members for SM-4 hadn't been named - giving them (at most) 14 months to train.

Similarly, with the exception of Poindexter (who was, at the time, assigned as PLT of STS-120), would Frick's crew have flown the 'original' Columbus mission?

Or would there have been a different line-up? Or will we never know?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jim on 11/05/2006 04:21 pm
It would have never been the same crew.  Too many viables and changes since then.   That mission was to be 2 1/2 years ago.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jorge on 11/05/2006 05:24 pm
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Ben E - 5/11/2006  10:38 AM

With the recent selection of the STS-125 crew, I noticed that - had Columbia not been lost - the SM-4 mission was originally scheduled for April 2004. Would the 'same' crew (ie Altman-Johnson-Grunsfeld-Massimino-McArthur-Good-Feustel) have remained attached to the 'original', pre-Columbia HST crew? As of February 1st 2003, even the EVA crew members for SM-4 hadn't been named - giving them (at most) 14 months to train.

Similarly, with the exception of Poindexter (who was, at the time, assigned as PLT of STS-120), would Frick's crew have flown the 'original' Columbus mission?

Or would there have been a different line-up? Or will we never know?

Completely different line-up. As Jim said, too many variables, both small and big. Example "small" variable: STS-109 PLT Duane Carey left after the Columbia accident; would he have left if the accident never happened? Wouldn't that put him in the mix for SM-04? Example "big" variable: the Columbia accident led to the 2010 retirement date for the shuttle fleet. NASA had previously been working to a retirement date of 2020 or later. As a result of the earlier retirement, the Astronaut Office has been assigning as many rookies as possible to spread out the experience base as widely as possible and ensure that the astronauts who stick around for Orion have at least some spaceflight experience. I can just about guarantee you there wouldn't have been four rookies on the "original" SM-04 crew if the accident hadn't occurred; previous policy had been to put one or two rookies on each crew.
--
JRF
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: collectSPACE on 11/05/2006 06:51 pm
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Jorge - 5/11/2006  12:07 PM

I can just about guarantee you there wouldn't have been four rookies on the "original" SM-04 crew if the accident hadn't occurred; previous policy had been to put one or two rookies on each crew.
While I do not disagree that the "original" SM-04 crew may have been different, I am not sure you can use the number of rookies aboard as an indicator.

Excluding the five ISS crew rotation flights (as they only had four shuttle crew seats), of the remaining 10 missions that led up to and included STS-107, four (STS-106, STS-110, STS-112 and STS-107) had either three or four rookies. While that is not a majority, it does illustrate that one-two rookies was not a steadfast policy.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nathan.moeller on 11/05/2006 09:00 pm
To expand on collectspace's comment, here's a list of rookies from recent flights, as well as some upcoming missions:

STS-106: Burbank, Mastracchio, Morukov
STS-92: Melroy
STS-98: Polansky
STS-102: Kelly, Richards
STS-100: Lonchakov
STS-104: Hobaugh
STS-105: Forrester, Turin
STS-108: Kelly, Tani
STS-109: Carey, Massimino
STS-110: Frick, Morin, Walheim
STS-111: Lockhart, Perrin, Whitson, Treschev
STS-112: Magnus, Sellers, Yurchikhin
STS-113: Herrington, Pettit
STS-107: McCool, Clark, Brown, Ramon
STS-114: Camarda, Noguchi
STS-121: Nowak, Fossum, Wilson
STS-115: Ferguson, Piper
STS-116: Oefelein, Fuglesang, Williams, Patrick, Higginbotham
STS-117: Archambault, Olivas, Swanson
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 11/06/2006 01:21 am
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Ben E - 5/11/2006  10:38 AM

With the recent selection of the STS-125 crew, I noticed that - had Columbia not been lost - the SM-4 mission was originally scheduled for April 2004. Would the 'same' crew (ie Altman-Johnson-Grunsfeld-Massimino-McArthur-Good-Feustel) have remained attached to the 'original', pre-Columbia HST crew? As of February 1st 2003, even the EVA crew members for SM-4 hadn't been named - giving them (at most) 14 months to train.

Similarly, with the exception of Poindexter (who was, at the time, assigned as PLT of STS-120), would Frick's crew have flown the 'original' Columbus mission?

Or would there have been a different line-up? Or will we never know?

I'm baffled by this question -- what is supposed to be learned from yet another set of guesses?  It's fairly obvious that very few outside astronaut office management will ever know the reasons certain individuals are assigned to specific missions...  and if so, likely not for years.  While there's an undeniable thrill to be gained from possessing a bit of hard information -- the identify of the STS-125 crew -- two steps ahead of the general public, what is the value of speculating about some momentary set of decisions involving people none of us (well, few of us ;) actually know?

Michael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: fdasun on 11/06/2006 02:40 am
After STS and before CEV, perhaps astronaut office will assign certain individuals to COTS (given D option of COTS, crew launch and return, is available by then and accepted by NASA & training completed). If so, those who failed to get a seat on shuttle can fly to space and gain space expereince before CEV.

Hardly to believe that NASA would leave US on the ground for 4 or 5 years when other countries are getting more and more achievements in space.

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jim on 11/06/2006 11:35 am
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fdasun - 5/11/2006  10:23 PM

After STS and before CEV, perhaps astronaut office will assign certain individuals to COTS (given D option of COTS, crew launch and return, is available by then and accepted by NASA & training completed). If so, those who failed to get a seat on shuttle can fly to space and gain space expereince before CEV.

Hardly to believe that NASA would leave US on the ground for 4 or 5 years when other countries are getting more and more achievements in space.


If COTS is viable, it would only be used for ISS crew changes.  There is no need for "space" experience.  Crews need vehicle or task (RMS, EVA,etc) experience, COTS doesn't provide this
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 11/06/2006 01:38 pm
And that is a big if.

I think that Soyuz is a better bet to carry crew beyond 2010.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 11/06/2006 05:45 pm
Michael,

It was purely a question out of interest, that's all. I was particularly interested in astronauts such as Walheim, who (I think) was an EVA representative for the Astronaut Office at the time of STS-107, and wondered how far in advance astronauts are 'groomed' for subsequent and specific assignments. Same for Schlegel - it was obvious that an ESA astronaut would get a slot on the Columbus mission, but for a long time the speculation was that it might be Clervoy, and not Schlegel.

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jim on 11/06/2006 05:50 pm
ISS crew requirements documents

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=5169&posts=1&start=1
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TALsite on 11/06/2006 07:38 pm
For all "slaytoners" as (I think) nethegauner, Ben E, or myself, look at this pdf document titled "Improving Management of the Astronaut Corps" posted by ASCAN1984 in the Collectspace forum:

http://collectspace.com/ubb/Forum38/HTML/000493.html


slaytoner: people who would like to work in Deke Slayton's job in the Astronaut Office.  
Probably the worst English word invented by an Spanish....    ;)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 11/07/2006 04:34 am
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Ben E - 6/11/2006  12:28 PM

Michael,

It was purely a question out of interest, that's all. I was particularly interested in astronauts such as Walheim, who (I think) was an EVA representative for the Astronaut Office at the time of STS-107, and wondered how far in advance astronauts are 'groomed' for subsequent and specific assignments. Same for Schlegel - it was obvious that an ESA astronaut would get a slot on the Columbus mission, but for a long time the speculation was that it might be Clervoy, and not Schlegel.


Ben,

I don't denigrate interest, but these are questions that simply can't be answered -- they're the equivalent of fantasy football.  How far in advance are astronauts groomed for assignments?  Depends on the assignment.  Mike Lopez-Alegria told me in April 1997 that he was going to be assigned to ISS 3A.... and had been ticketed for that at least six months prior.   But that was one of about sixteen astronaut EVA assembly assignments made at the same time.... an atypical set of events.

Were some of the 125 astronauts ticketed for that mission back in 2002?  You can bet that Grunsfeld and Massimino were, and probably Altman and even Carey -- but definitive data is not only not forthcoming any time soon, and really, what is the point?  There are 100 astronauts with varying skills, training and experience....and they are fed into assignments based on dozens of factors, some of them entirely arbitrary and even chaotic.  Some do well and fly again... some do well and leave.... it can't be predicted or war-gamed from the outside.  Even those inside the astronaut office are often surprised if not completely baffled by what happens.  There's no way that speculating on these decisions is going to be even half-informed.... which, to me, means it's not worth bothering about, especially if we're talking about what-might-have-beens.

Michael Cassutt

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 11/07/2006 09:07 am
Michael,

Yes, in a sense, I agree. I recall watching a TV documentary called "Astronauts" in about 1996-97, which covered the training and flight of the STS-72 crew. At one point, cameras were in the Astronaut Office briefing room when Bob Cabana (then chief) named the crew. Winston Scott was congratulated by (I think) Nancy Currie, who told him that he "didn't say a thing last night [about the assignment]", to which Scott replied "I didn't know last night!"
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 11/08/2006 06:55 am
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Ben E - 7/11/2006  10:50 AM
I recall watching a TV documentary called "Astronauts" in about 1996-97, which covered the training and flight of the STS-72 crew.
Did that air in the UK? Gosh, You are a lucky one. I heard about that documentary, but it never aired here. I would have loved to watch it -- I saw the launch of STS-72!

But now to something completely different: Hey, Ben E, I hope Your Challenger book will be good. I put it on my Wunschzettel for Christmas... -- if I should actually get it, but not happen to like it, I will swim all the way to England and demand the money back!

  :o  ;)  :)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: oscar71 on 11/08/2006 02:54 pm
Astronauts aired on PBS.  My favorite scene was when Winston Scott's wife said incredously after the launch "They're up there!  They're really up there!" and then almost wistfully asked, "Are they having fun?".
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 11/08/2006 03:21 pm
Or even when Winston phoned his wife to tell her that he'd been assigned as MS2, to which her response was "That's nice, dear". Is the film available on DVD? I did tape record it back in 1997, but subsequently taped over it by mistake.

Nethegauner, I've just finished marking up the second set of page proofs for CHALLENGER and it has gone back to the printer for final production, so fingers firmly crossed it should be out in the next few weeks.

BTW Did anyone ever see that Horizon documentary on the night before STS-26's liftoff - I think it was called 'The Diary of Discovery'? That was superb. I was 11 years old at the time and still have it on tape.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 11/09/2006 04:44 pm
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Ben E - 7/11/2006  3:50 AM

Michael,

Yes, in a sense, I agree. I recall watching a TV documentary called "Astronauts" in about 1996-97, which covered the training and flight of the STS-72 crew. At one point, cameras were in the Astronaut Office briefing room when Bob Cabana (then chief) named the crew. Winston Scott was congratulated by (I think) Nancy Currie, who told him that he "didn't say a thing last night [about the assignment]", to which Scott replied "I didn't know last night!"

Ben,

A good example.  The pattern seems to be this: commanders are told weeks, possibly months in advance, of a likely flight assignment.  An experienced mission specialist will be given the same information ahead of time -- both of these will be coordinated, obviously: commanders are usually given veto power over crewmembers, or failing absolute veto, the right to object ;)

The rookie astronauts often learn just prior to the internal announcement -- night before or early on the day of -- or at that time.  There are exceptions to this: ISS crews are usually in place many months before any announcement, and the recent STS-125 crew all knew days if not weeks earlier.

That said -- has anyone noticed that Bowersox is back on flight status, no longer classed as management?  ;)

Michael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aurora899 on 11/09/2006 06:48 pm
Hi Michael,
I hadn't noticed that about Bowersox.
I see that Jim Halsell has now left NASA though:

http://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/news/releases/2006/J06-100.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 11/10/2006 08:48 am
Michael,

Regarding your point about 'experienced' Mission Specialists, a couple of questions:

1) The STS-51 crew is (I think) alone in post-51L crews to have an all-rookie MS complement. I know they did this prior to Challenger, but I'm quite sure STS-51 is the only time they've done it since. Was there ever a reason given? CB certainly wasn't short of veteran Mission Specialists in the 1992-1993 timeframe.

2) Apart from the seating arrangement on the flight deck and middeck, is 'MS1' supposed to be the 'lead' Mission Specialist (or, more correctly, 'lead' on the primary payload)? Looking at previous missions, this mostly seems to be the case, although I've seen Payload Commanders who've been MS3s, MS4s etc in the past. Or are the numbers meaningless and simply chosen at the CDR's discretion?

Incidently, I did read that Husband GAVE Chawla the MS2 seat on STS-107 because he wanted to give her a chance to 'prove herself' after the STS-87 Spartan failure.

Thanks
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jim on 11/10/2006 12:18 pm
I bet answer to #1 is just a random occurance

MS1 is not the lead MS or payload commander but the flight engineer for ascent and entry.  And on some missions there are different MS1's for ascent and entry.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: collectSPACE on 11/10/2006 12:42 pm
Quote
Michael Cassutt - 9/11/2006  11:27 AM

That said -- has anyone noticed that Bowersox is back on flight status, no longer classed as management?
Per NASA:

Quote
Captain Bowersox will continue to serve as the Director of FCOD through the upcoming launch and landing of
STS-115. At that time, he will be named to a position on the Center Director's staff pending his retirement from the Navy.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: dcfowler1 on 11/10/2006 04:16 pm
Quote
Jim - 10/11/2006  7:01 AM

I bet answer to #1 is just a random occurance

MS1 is not the lead MS or payload commander but the flight engineer for ascent and entry.  And on some missions there are different MS1's for ascent and entry.

Not correct about the flight engineer bit. MS2 is *always* the flight engineer.

Dave
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: spaceshuttle on 11/10/2006 05:20 pm
Quote
Ben E - 10/11/2006  3:31 AM

Incidently, I did read that Husband GAVE Chawla the MS2 seat on STS-107 because he wanted to give her a chance to 'prove herself' after the STS-87 Spartan failure.

Thanks

that [spartan] wasn't her fault, though...was it?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jim on 11/10/2006 06:23 pm
Let's say that the Spartan didn't fail on its own
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: spaceshuttle on 11/10/2006 06:49 pm
Quote
Jim - 10/11/2006  1:06 PM

Let's say that the Spartan didn't fail on its own

aw, KC! what happened? what's the "scoop" :P ?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: spaceshuttle on 11/10/2006 06:49 pm
Quote
Jim - 10/11/2006  1:06 PM

Let's say that the Spartan didn't fail on its own

aw, KC! what happened? what's the "scoop" :P ?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 11/10/2006 07:37 pm
If I remember well, a line in the deployment checklist was jumped.

I was very surprised at the time, was very unusual to see an astronaut having been singled out by NASA in such a way, having committed a mistake.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: oscar71 on 11/10/2006 08:19 pm
Quote
hektor - 10/11/2006  2:20 PM

If I remember well, a line in the deployment checklist was jumped.

I was very surprised at the time, was very unusual to see an astronaut having been singled out by NASA in such a way, having committed a mistake.

Although Chawla was partially to blame for the failure, the accounts that I have read based on the incident report (I haven't actually read the report) placed greater blame on training and the software involved.  Apparently, skipping a line in the procedures did not generate any form of error messages and the crew (not just Chawla) was led to believe that everything was go for deploy.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 11/11/2006 06:12 am
dcfowler1,

Actually, I'm not sure about the MS2 as 'always' the flight engineer, particularly in the early days. In 2005, I had the opportunity to interview Vance Brand and asked him who served as flight engineer ('MS2') for ascent and entry on STS-5 - he told me Lenoir did it for ascent and Allen did it for entry. Hence those dramatic shots of Brand and Overmyer during the fiery entry are attributed to 'Joe Allen'. Brand told me he did this to give both men some flight engineer experience.

So maybe the positions DO swap on some missions, although this doesn't appear to have happened anytime recently.

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jim on 11/11/2006 12:27 pm
Quote
Ben E - 11/11/2006  1:55 AM

dcfowler1,

Actually, I'm not sure about the MS2 as 'always' the flight engineer, particularly in the early days. In 2005, I had the opportunity to interview Vance Brand and asked him who served as flight engineer ('MS2') for ascent and entry on STS-5 - he told me Lenoir did it for ascent and Allen did it for entry. Hence those dramatic shots of Brand and Overmyer during the fiery entry are attributed to 'Joe Allen'. Brand told me he did this to give both men some flight engineer experience.

So maybe the positions DO swap on some missions, although this doesn't appear to have happened anytime recently.


MS2 is a seat position, not a title.  Who ever sits in the flight engineer position is MS2.  Technically, anyone flying in the left foward cockpit position is the CDR, same PLT for the right position.  In fact, during ground processing, any technician in those seat positions take on those call signs.

A crew is made up of CDR, PLT and X # of MS's.  The call signs of MS's are more for seating positions, than task assignments (other than FE). The payload commander can be any MS.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 11/13/2006 05:41 pm
Quote
Ben E - 11/11/2006  12:55 AM

dcfowler1,

Actually, I'm not sure about the MS2 as 'always' the flight engineer, particularly in the early days. In 2005, I had the opportunity to interview Vance Brand and asked him who served as flight engineer ('MS2') for ascent and entry on STS-5 - he told me Lenoir did it for ascent and Allen did it for entry. Hence those dramatic shots of Brand and Overmyer during the fiery entry are attributed to 'Joe Allen'. Brand told me he did this to give both men some flight engineer experience.

So maybe the positions DO swap on some missions, although this doesn't appear to have happened anytime recently.

The MS2 "swap" on STS-5 was due to the unique nature of seating on the flight deck -- still had the ejection seats for CDR and PLT, with a single jumpseat for the MS2/flight engineer.

Since then, the MS2 for ascent has been the MS2 for entry.

Michael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 11/14/2006 02:20 pm
I did hear somewhere (can't remember where) that a similar situation existed on STS-9, the first Spacelab mission, and that Parker served as MS2 and Garriott, Merbold and Lichtenberg sat downstairs on the middeck throughout ascent and entry.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: FNG on 11/15/2006 07:57 pm
Ben,

I am sure you right. There would have been three on the flight deck as the ejection seats on Columbia were still in place for STS 9. By the time Columbia flew again on STS 61 C they had been replaced by the 'standard' fixed seats.

FNG
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: oscar71 on 11/15/2006 08:56 pm
The Space Facts website has a seating position for every manned spaceflight through to the Soyuz TMA-10 flight.  

http://www.spacefacts.de/english/flights.htm
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 11/15/2006 09:15 pm
Quote
FNG - 15/11/2006  9:40 PM

Ben,

I am sure you right. There would have been three on the flight deck as the ejection seats on Columbia were still in place for STS 9. By the time Columbia flew again on STS 61 C they had been replaced by the 'standard' fixed seats.

FNG

I thought that after STS-4 the ejection seats were dis armed and the crews that flew STS-5 and STS-9 could not use the ejection seats..I remember reading that somewere...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jim on 11/15/2006 09:39 pm
They were disarmed but the seats themselves still remained.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 11/20/2006 11:45 am
Did we know that Chamitoff is on ISS-17 with Kopra as his back-up?

I just read it on www.spacefacts.de and could not remember if we had already mentioned it here or on L2.


Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 11/20/2006 12:01 pm
Thought it would be Magnus AND Chamitoff on the same expedition ? Like Anderson and Tani.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 12/12/2006 11:31 pm
I noticed that there are only two Group 16 astronauts that have not flown or been assigned to a shuttle flight...Yvonne Cagle and Frank Caldeiro.
Astronauts from Group 17 are already shuttle veterans and a few from Group 18 are assigned to future  missions.
Are Cagle and Caldeiro still eligible to fly?
Thanks.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 12/13/2006 08:37 am
Quote
TJL - 13/12/2006  1:14 AM
Are Cagle and Caldeiro still eligible to fly?
Yes, but check L2 for details about why they have not yet been assigned---this is a much discussed topic ...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 12/16/2006 09:33 pm
With a limited amount of shuttle missions remaining before the vehicle is retired in 2010, and numerous astronauts waiting for their first and possibly last spaceflight, I was wondering why NASA is still assigning veteran PLT Charles Hobaugh as PLT once again on STS-118.
Pilots in Hobaughs group (16) were assigned as CDR after one mission (ie: Polansky, S. Kelly, Frick)...any reason why he is serving twice as PLT?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: tlc125 on 12/17/2006 08:57 pm
Hi all -

First post - but I've been lurking awhile!
I would think with less than a year to go before the launch of STS-123, NASA should be getting ready to make a crew announcemnt soon.  Probably for 124 also.  Any guesses?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: texas_space on 12/17/2006 09:33 pm
Quote
tlc125 - 17/12/2006  3:40 PM

Hi all -

First post - but I've been lurking awhile!
I would think with less than a year to go before the launch of STS-123, NASA should be getting ready to make a crew announcemnt soon.  Probably for 124 also.  Any guesses?

tlc125 brings up an interesting point.  Is there an average amount of time before a mission that the crew is announced?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jim on 12/17/2006 09:51 pm
varies
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 12/20/2006 12:52 am
Was Dominic Gorie selected as CDR on STS-123?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Martin FL on 12/20/2006 01:44 am
Quote
TJL - 19/12/2006  7:35 PM

Was Dominic Gorie selected as CDR on STS-123?

The STS-122 and STS-123 crews are listed in the brilliant "Flight crew assignments - L2" pages, well over 400 updates on there, obviously on L2. Hopefully Chris will write an article on this sometime as the even better mission overview document "STS-123: FDRD Baseline Presentation." on L2 now also.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 12/20/2006 01:49 am
Quote
TJL - 20/12/2006  1:35 AM

Was Dominic Gorie selected as CDR on STS-123?

Our information says yes.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Stevo on 12/20/2006 03:20 am
Quote
Chris Bergin - 19/12/2006  9:32 PM

Quote
TJL - 20/12/2006  1:35 AM

Was Dominic Gorie selected as CDR on STS-123?

Our information says yes.

Spacefacts.de is reporting the following for STS-123:

CDR - Dom Gorie
PLT - Greg H. Johnson
MS - Rick Linnehan
MS - Mike Foreman
MS - Bob Behnken
MS - Takao Doi (Backup is Naoko Yamazaki)
MS/EXP - Koichi Wakata (Backup Soichi Noguchi)

Also they have Thirsk going to ISS on STS-124, with Chamitoff replacing him on STS-119.

Stevo
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 12/20/2006 06:23 am
Why do they need a back-up for a MS ? For an Expedition crew this is common practice, but this is maybe the first time there is a MS back-up.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: tlc125 on 12/20/2006 09:31 am
Foreman is already on the 120 crew.  That would be the quickest turnaround ever (I think) if it's true.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 12/20/2006 10:09 am
Except STS-83 and STS-94 maybe... ;)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jim on 12/20/2006 11:14 am
Quote
hektor - 20/12/2006  2:06 AM

Why do they need a back-up for a MS ? For an Expedition crew this is common practice, but this is maybe the first time there is a MS back-up.

It is a common practice for MS that are foreign participants.   For example, Titov and Krikalev
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 12/20/2006 11:30 am
All I can say is that this has never happened for an ESA MS. Nor CNES MS. It did happen for ESA and CNES PS. JAXA and CSA I don't know. Maybe just for Russian MS so far ?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jim on 12/20/2006 12:01 pm
Quote
hektor - 20/12/2006  7:13 AM

All I can say is that this has never happened for an ESA MS. Nor CNES MS. It did happen for ESA and CNES PS. JAXA and CSA I don't know. Maybe just for Russian MS so far ?

  Foreign astronauts assigned to NASA still work for their national space agencies.  As an MS, they receive the same training on the ISS and Shuttle systems as a NASA MS.  This is done for convienance and to save money, and all the other agencies don't have to build their ISS training centers.  There is the crew team building aspect too.  But they aren't there to support only NASA's agenda but also their own agency's agendas.  The will be eventually supporting their own experiments and hardware.  One agency's agenda may include having one of their astronauts fly on the same missions as their hardware (for national prestige).  To ensure this, backups may be assigned.  

A good parallel would be NATO and the officers assigned to it from all the participating nations.  JSC is like NATO headquarters.


Also the distinction between MS and PS are becoming blurred due to SPF's and space agencies wanting representatives to fly with their hardware.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jim on 12/20/2006 12:06 pm
Quote
hektor - 20/12/2006  7:13 AM

All I can say is that this has never happened for an ESA MS. Nor CNES MS. It did happen for ESA and CNES PS. JAXA and CSA I don't know. Maybe just for Russian MS so far ?

Also, you are looking for that thing called logic, which doesn't apply to astronauts assignments
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Stevo on 12/20/2006 01:47 pm
Quote
tlc125 - 20/12/2006  5:14 AM

Foreman is already on the 120 crew.  That would be the quickest turnaround ever (I think) if it's true.

All I can say is check L2.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: tlc125 on 12/20/2006 02:06 pm
Don't have access to L2 just yet, but Wikipedia is showing Wilson has replaced Foreman on 120.  I'm sure when I get on to L2 I'll find out why!

Thanks.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 01/05/2007 10:10 am
Quote
hektor - 20/12/2006  8:06 AM

Why do they need a back-up for a MS ? For an Expedition crew this is common practice, but this is maybe the first time there is a MS back-up.
Mae Jemison had a back-up on STS-47. But although she was an MS, the back-up would have been a PS from the research community. Funny, isn't it?

Here's the source:

http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19930004376_1993004376.pdf
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: shuttlefan on 01/05/2007 12:52 pm
Quote
tlc125 - 20/12/2006  4:14 AM

Foreman is already on the 120 crew.  That would be the quickest turnaround ever (I think) if it's true.

Do you remember when, in 2002, Pilot Paul Lockart flew on STS-111 in June, and then replaced a pilot on STS-113 in November of 2002? That would be the quickest turnaround, besides STS-83-STS-94. ;)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: tlc125 on 01/05/2007 01:21 pm
Quote
shuttlefan - 5/1/2007  8:35 AM

[Do you remember when, in 2002, Pilot Paul Lockart flew on STS-111 in June, and then replaced a pilot on STS-113 in November of 2002? That would be the quickest turnaround, besides STS-83-STS-94. ;)

True, but I really meant multiple assignments to different crews from the time the crew was announced.   As of today, 120 nor 123 has flown, and it looked for a minute there like Foreman would be lucky enough to be on both.  Of course now its pretty clear that that's not gonna happen.

Lockhart stepped in after 111 to replace Loria who was originally assigned as PLT on 113, and 83/94 was a total reflight of crew and payload.

I do remember way back in the program, however, that Nagle was assigned as an MS on one flight (51G) and as PLT on another (61A) BEFORE either one flew.  If memory serves, 51G launched in June 1985 and 61A in October '85.  He must have gone through some pretty intensive training between those two dates!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: FNG on 01/05/2007 07:52 pm
With regard to Steve Nagel, the press release for his first flight was dated 17th November 1983 - with launch scheduled for October 1984 and the press release for his second flight - scheduled for September 1985 - is dated 14th February 1984. So at the time of selection there was 11 months scheduled between Nagel's flights.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: spaceshuttle on 01/05/2007 08:08 pm
Quote
tlc125 - 5/1/2007  8:04 AM

Lockhart stepped in after 111 to replace Loria who was originally assigned as PLT on 113, and 83/94 was a total reflight of crew and payload.

Yeah, what's the story behind that?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: FNG on 01/05/2007 09:03 pm
Loria had an accident at home that meant he had to withdraw from training. Well that is one version of the story - I have seen other reasons for Loria dropping out elsewhere on this site. It may have been on L2, so I will not say more here.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: tlc125 on 01/05/2007 09:18 pm
Quote
FNG - 5/1/2007  3:35 PM

With regard to Steve Nagel, the press release for his first flight was dated 17th November 1983 - with launch scheduled for October 1984 and the press release for his second flight - scheduled for September 1985 - is dated 14th February 1984. So at the time of selection there was 11 months scheduled between Nagel's flights.

Still, must have been a rush to know in Feb '84 that you were going up in October of that year AND September of the next.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: texas_space on 01/07/2007 11:22 pm
Has NASA announced if they will go back to the practice of selecting backup crews for the Orion lunar missions? I believe that NASA stopped doing that after the first couple of shuttle flights.  The ISS crewmembers have backups I think.  It would make sense to have backups on lunar missions due to the prep time and availability of launch windows.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: fdasun on 01/10/2007 07:47 am
STS-125 Hubble Mission now has been switched to Atlantis with a new launch date --- Sept. 11, 2008.

Any hint of who will be named as the rescue crew of LON-326 for STS-125 ??? ... Since LON-326 is a totally different mission from any other regular ISS or ISS-LON flight, LON-326 crew do need special and rigorous traninings particularly. So, probably the crew should be selected and confirmed as earlier as possible...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jim on 01/10/2007 11:02 am
Quote
fdasun - 10/1/2007  3:30 AM

STS-125 Hubble Mission now has been switched to Atlantis with a new launch date --- Sept. 11, 2008.

Any hint of who will be named as the rescue crew of LON-326 for STS-125 ??? ... Since LON-326 is a totally different mission from any other regular ISS or ISS-LON flight, LON-326 crew do need special and rigorous traninings particularly. So, probably the crew should be selected and confirmed as earlier as possible...

 It isn't than much different.  It is just like the others, a rendezous and docking mission.  Only the crew transfer is a little different
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 01/30/2007 03:12 am
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                     ***  JAXA MAIL SERVICE  ***
                 Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
----------------------------------------------------------------------
        Assignment of Astronauts for the Space Shuttle Mission
    (STS-123 1J/A) to Launch the Japanese Experiment Module "Kibo"

                                                January 30, 2007 (JST)
                             Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
                             
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced the
selection of the following astronauts as crew members for the Space
Shuttle mission to assemble the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM)
"Kibo" (1J/A.)
The Kibo, which has been developed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration
Agency (JAXA) as part of the International Space Station (ISS)
Program, is scheduled to be launched by three Space Shuttle missions.
On the first of the three missions, the Experiment Logistics Module
Pressurized Section will be attached to the ISS. This mission also
will deliver the Canadian Space Agency's Dextre robotic system.
Astronaut Takao Doi has been assigned as a crew member on this
mission. Astronaut Naoko Yamazaki will assist the mission from the
ground as the Crew Support Astronaut (CSA).


Crew Commander           Capt. Dominic L. Gorie
     Pilot               Col. Gregory H. Johnson
     Mission Specialist  Richard M. Linnehan
     Mission Specialist  Maj. Robert L. Behnken
     Mission Specialist  Capt. Michael J. Foreman
     Mission Specialist  Takao Doi


Attachment
  Biography of the STS-123 Crew
http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2007/01/20070130_sts-123_e.html#at01
  Comment from Astronaut Doi
http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2007/01/20070130_sts-123_e.html#at02
  Outline of the Kibo
http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2007/01/20070130_sts-123_e.html#at03

Reference
  JAXA Astronaut Selected for Space Shuttle Mission for Transporting
  and Assembling the Japanese Experiment Module Kibo
 http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2006/05/20060506_kibo_e.html
                             
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Publisher : Public Affairs Department
            Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
            Marunouchi Kitaguchi Building,
            1-6-5, Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8260
            Japan
            TEL:+81-3-6266-6400
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 02/03/2007 09:04 pm
What do you think the chances are of (Group 8 astronaut) Anna Fisher getting assigned to one of the few remaining Shuttle flights?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: dcfowler1 on 02/04/2007 03:27 am
Quote
TJL - 3/2/2007  4:04 PM

What do you think the chances are of (Group 8 astronaut) Anna Fisher getting assigned to one of the few remaining Shuttle flights?

Less than zero.

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: texas_space on 02/04/2007 04:19 am
Quote
TJL - 3/2/2007  4:04 PM

What do you think the chances are of (Group 8 astronaut) Anna Fisher getting assigned to one of the few remaining Shuttle flights?

She's already flown...let one of the unflown rookies have a chance.  Especially while they're still something to fly on.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nathan.moeller on 02/04/2007 04:58 am
Quote
TJL - 3/2/2007  4:04 PM

What do you think the chances are of (Group 8 astronaut) Anna Fisher getting assigned to one of the few remaining Shuttle flights?

Fisher had her flight in 1985 and left to raise her family.  I imagine she'll never fly again.  She'll probably serve on technical assignments within the astronaut office for the rest of her tenure at NASA.  She's not 'old' by my terms, but there are a lot of younger astronauts that need to get their shot before NASA goes into a four year, no-fly rut.  It's a safe bet that's the reason we're seeing so many rookies being assigned to the upcoming missions.  There were five rookies on STS-116, three on 117, 118, 120, 122 and 123 and four on 125.  That's 19 rookies on scheduled flights after 116.  You need some experienced flyers but Fisher hasn't flown in the almost-22 years since STS-51A.  They need to have flown more recently.  Long-winded but I felt like dishing out some stats. ;)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 02/04/2007 07:32 am
So why is she still at the Astronaut Office? She's not listed as 'management', like Lucid et al, which suggests that she's 'active' and not 'doing something else'. It's peculiar that Steve Hawley returned to the Astronaut Office in February 1996, at around the same time as Fisher, and he got an immediate reassignment. February 1996 was seven full years before Columbia, at a time when the Shuttle was expected to continue flying for years and years and years and there were plenty of flight opportunities, even for John Glenn. There was wrangling in 1996-97 over who to send to Mir for long duration missions, with the original emphasis being upon medical doctors - Fisher is a medical doctor - why was she never considered?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: MATTBLAK on 02/04/2007 09:08 am
Quote
Ben E - 4/2/2007  6:32 PM

Fisher is a medical doctor - why was she never considered?

Up until a couple of years ago, I would have said the reason was: George Abbey. Regardless, it's a shame really, as Dr Fisher is a really nice lady. It would be nice to think she'd be on one of the last Shuttle flights, but like others here have said, unfortunately, I doubt it will happen.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 02/04/2007 01:12 pm
Thanks for all of your opinions...very interesting. I kind of agree that our "rookie' astronauts should get  their chance to fly before 2010. On the other hand, we're still seeing "veterans" such as Parazynski and Linnehan with 4 and 3 previous shuttle flights respectively, getting new flight assignments.
I guess, as it has been said before on this forum, there is no logic to flight crew selection.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nathan.moeller on 02/04/2007 01:33 pm
Quote
Ben E - 4/2/2007  2:32 AM

So why is she still at the Astronaut Office? She's not listed as 'management', like Lucid et al, which suggests that she's 'active' and not 'doing something else'. It's peculiar that Steve Hawley returned to the Astronaut Office in February 1996, at around the same time as Fisher, and he got an immediate reassignment. February 1996 was seven full years before Columbia, at a time when the Shuttle was expected to continue flying for years and years and years and there were plenty of flight opportunities, even for John Glenn. There was wrangling in 1996-97 over who to send to Mir for long duration missions, with the original emphasis being upon medical doctors - Fisher is a medical doctor - why was she never considered?

Hawley had flown just six years before he returned on STS-31 (Hubble launch) so there's not a huge gap in between flight times.  Fisher went over eleven years after flying before she returned.  I'm sure that makes a difference.  As for not sending her to Mir, I'm willing to bet it was due to her size.  For most, you had to have been tall enough to be able to fit into the Russian Orlan space suit to stay for a long-duration flight at Mir.  The same goes for ISS missions today.  You have to be able to fit into the Russian and US space suits to stay.  It's why so few women have ever performed EVAs (9 total I believe).  One fact to back that up: Wendy Lawrence was set to replace Mike Foale after his stay on Mir, but because she was too small to fit into the Orlan, Dave Wolf was sent to stay in her stead.  She still got to fly the mission aboard Atlantis (STS-86) but she had to come home after dropping Wolf off.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 02/04/2007 01:49 pm
While on the subject of ISS missions, are the crew members for NEEMO undersea expeditions expected to fly ISS expeditions? I know some have already been assigned and even flown them - Magnus, Whitson, Fincke, Kopra, Chamitoff, Reisman etc - but what of Coleman, Behnken, Dave Williams etc?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 02/04/2007 01:51 pm
Bob Behnken is assigned to STS-123 and Dave Williams to STS-118.
Haven't seen anything yet about Cady Coleman.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nathan.moeller on 02/04/2007 02:05 pm
Quote
Ben E - 4/2/2007  8:49 AM

While on the subject of ISS missions, are the crew members for NEEMO undersea expeditions expected to fly ISS expeditions? I know some have already been assigned and even flown them - Magnus, Whitson, Fincke, Kopra, Chamitoff, Reisman etc - but what of Coleman, Behnken, Dave Williams etc?

Not necessarily.  They do have some good experience under their belts but it doesn't necessarily equal ISS flight assignment, whether on a station-bound shuttle or long-duration stay.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: dcfowler1 on 02/04/2007 07:50 pm
"[/QUOTE]

Up until a couple of years ago, I would have said the reason was: George Abbey. Regardless, it's a shame really, as Dr Fisher is a really nice lady. It would be nice to think she'd be on one of the last Shuttle flights, but like others here have said, unfortunately, I doubt it will happen.[/QUOTE]"

Actually, the story is that in Abbey's most recent tenure, she had cultivated a close relationship with him, and he had promised her an ISS increment. When he left however, he flight chances evaporated.

Dave

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nathan.moeller on 02/04/2007 08:43 pm
Is she tall enough to fly an ISS increment?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Suzy on 02/08/2007 03:36 am
I don't know if this is the appropriate thread to ask this, but with Sergei Krikalyov's promotion (http://www.energia.ru/english/energia/news/news-2007/news_02-05.html), have the upcoming Soyuz crew flight assignments been rearranged? (He was Soyuz TMA-12 backup and TMA-14 commander)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 02/09/2007 10:36 pm
Does anyone know if Clay Anderson's back-up, Greg Chamitoff, is the last scheduled US astronaut to fly on Soyuz?...Thanks.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: flyboy7077 on 02/10/2007 08:16 pm
Here's an interesting article by Homer Hickam

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/outlook/4541767.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: dcfowler1 on 02/11/2007 03:51 am
Quote
Suzy - 7/2/2007  10:36 PM

I don't know if this is the appropriate thread to ask this, but with Sergei Krikalyov's promotion (http://www.energia.ru/english/energia/news/news-2007/news_02-05.html), have the upcoming Soyuz crew flight assignments been rearranged? (He was Soyuz TMA-12 backup and TMA-14 commander)

Good question, and I'm not sure. He was still listed on the crews at JSC as of Jan 30.

Dave

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 02/11/2007 07:57 pm
The image below contains current compositions of nearest prime ISS Expedition crews, according to information from editor of Novosti kosmonavtiki magazine Sergey Shamsutdinov...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 02/11/2007 08:13 pm
Are all the commanders on the top red line ?

Any insight about the third crew of TMA-13 ? could it be the Kazakh guy ?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Satori on 02/11/2007 08:45 pm
And what about the back-up crews for the Expediton 17 and 18 members?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 02/12/2007 03:06 pm
Quote
hektor - 11/2/2007  12:13 AM

Are all the commanders on the top red line?

Yes, of course... ISS Commanders are Lopez-Alegria, Yurchikhin, Volkov and Fincke...

Quote
Satori - 12/2/2007  12:45 AM

And what about the back-up crews for the Expediton 17 and 18 members?

Expedition 17 back-up crew: CDR is TBD, FE1 is Surayev, FE2 are Kopra (for Reisman) and Stott (for Magnus)...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 02/12/2007 05:11 pm
I did also hear that Creamer is training for an expedition. Is that accurate and, if so, when will he be slotted in?

Is Chamitoff's expedition pushed into 2009 now?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 02/12/2007 10:15 pm
What surprises me about the scheduled Expedition crews is that Melenchenko, who served as ISS EXP-7 CDR, is returning as Flight Engineer, while Sharipov who served as F.E. on EXP-10 is returning as Flight Engineer once again.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nathan.moeller on 02/12/2007 11:39 pm
Quote
TJL - 12/2/2007  5:15 PM

What surprises me about the scheduled Expedition crews is that Melenchenko, who served as ISS EXP-7 CDR, is returning as Flight Engineer, while Sharipov who served as F.E. on EXP-10 is returning as Flight Engineer once again.

Possibly a different Malenchenko?  That would kind of suck to go from CDR to FE.  Funny how he was the first guy to get married in orbit.  Glad to see some new faces going up and some older ones returning.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: DwightM on 02/13/2007 12:50 am
Quote
nathan.moeller - 12/2/2007  3:39 PM

Quote
TJL - 12/2/2007  5:15 PM

What surprises me about the scheduled Expedition crews is that Melenchenko, who served as ISS EXP-7 CDR, is returning as Flight Engineer, while Sharipov who served as F.E. on EXP-10 is returning as Flight Engineer once again.

Possibly a different Malenchenko?  That would kind of suck to go from CDR to FE.  Funny how he was the first guy to get married in orbit.  Glad to see some new faces going up and some older ones returning.
Hey Nathan, I've seen pictures of the Whitson/Malenchenko crew in training, and it's the same Yuri as from Exp-7.  Apparently he doesn't mind the 'demotion', if you want to think of it that way, though obviously I don't know.  A spaceflight is a spaceflight, eh?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jorge on 02/13/2007 01:24 am
Quote
flyboy7077 - 10/2/2007  3:16 PM

Here's an interesting article by Homer Hickam

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/outlook/4541767.html

Interesting but hit-and-miss on the facts.

He is correct to say NASA has too many astronauts for the available flight opportunities. Of course, he admits that wasn't an original insight for him; it was the subject of a report by the NASA Inspector General.

He is wrong to suggest that Lisa Nowak had to wait ten years for her first flight because "she was passed over again and again". She was part of a huge (44) class of astronauts, and while she wasn't the first in her class to be assigned, she wasn't the last either. Part of the delay was the slowdown in shuttle flight rate starting in 1998 due to ISS delays. Another part was that she took time off to have her twins. She was assigned to STS-118 not long after returning from maternity leave. Then came the Columbia accident, grounding the fleet and delaying *everyone's* flights. When STS-121 was inserted into the manifest, she was moved *up* to get assigned to it.

While he is correct to suggest that downsizing the astronaut office is in order, his suggestion to remove some mission specialists from the astronaut office to open up seats on the remaining shuttle flights to non-NASA scientists and engineers is complete and utter Incorrect. All of the remaining shuttle flights are either ISS assembly or HST servicing, and all require MSes who have been trained on EVA, robotics, and rendezvous. Throwing out perfectly good MSes who already have the prerequisite training in favor of people who have not is just plain stupid, and is not a suggestion I would have expected from a former astronaut training manager. Downsizing should not come at the expense of making sure all remaining flights are crewed by trained and qualified MSes.
--
JRF

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 02/13/2007 03:12 am
Feb. 12, 2007

Katherine Trinidad
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-3749

Nicole Cloutier-Lemasters
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111

RELEASE: 07-39

NASA ANNOUNCES THREE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION CREWS

WASHINGTON - NASA and its international partners have named the crews
that will live and work aboard the International Space Station for
the next two years. The crew members make up three expeditions to the
station and represent four space agencies.

The assignments include the first long-duration station flight for a
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut and the second
long-duration station flight for an astronaut from the European Space
Agency (ESA). The JAXA and ESA astronauts will work on the
installation and checkout of the Japanese Experiment Module Kibo and
European Columbus laboratories on the station.

NASA astronaut and veteran station crew member Peggy A. Whitson will
command Expedition 16, set to begin in fall 2007. The flight
engineers for the mission include cosmonaut and Russian Air Force
Col. Yuri I. Malenchenko, ESA astronaut and French Air Force Brig.
Gen. Leopold Eyharts and NASA astronaut Garrett E. Reisman.

Malenchenko will command the Russian Soyuz spacecraft that will carry
him and Whitson to the station and return them to Earth in spring
2008. They will join NASA astronaut Daniel M. Tani aboard the
station.
Eyharts will fly to the station on space shuttle mission STS-122,
which is expected to deliver the Columbus lab this fall. Eyharts will
remain on the station to oversee activation and checkout of the
laboratory, while Tani takes the shuttle home.
Reisman will fly on shuttle Endeavour's STS-123 mission to replace
Eyharts. Reisman will remain on the station for about six months and
return on shuttle mission STS-119, targeted for summer 2008.
Russian Air Force Lt. Col. Sergei Volkov will command Expedition 17.
Expedition 17 flight engineers include cosmonaut Oleg D. Kononenko
and NASA astronaut Sandra H. Magnus.

Kononenko will command the Soyuz spacecraft that will carry him and
Volkov to the station in spring 2008 and bring them home in fall
2008.
Magnus will arrive on STS-119 and remain aboard the station. Magnus
will return on the STS-126 mission targeted for summer 2008.
NASA astronaut and station veteran Air Force Lt. Col. E. Michael
Fincke will command Expedition 18. Expedition 18 flight engineers
include cosmonaut and veteran station crew member Russian Air Force
Col. Salizhan S. Sharipov, JAXA astronaut Koichi Wakata and NASA
astronaut Gregory E. Chamitoff.

Sharipov will command the Soyuz that will carry him and Fincke to the
station in fall 2008 and back to Earth in spring 2009.
Wakata will fly to the station on STS-126 to replace Magnus. Magnus
will return to Earth on STS-126.
Chamitoff will fly to the station on the STS-127 mission, targeted for
winter 2008, the third and final flight for assembly of the Japanese
Kibo lab. Wakata will return to Earth on STS-127. Chamitoff will
return home on a later shuttle or Soyuz mission.
Expedition 16 backup crew members:

Fincke for Whitson
Sharipov for Malenchenko
ESA astronaut Frank DeWinne for Eyharts
NASA astronaut Army Lt. Col. Timothy L. Kopra for Reisman.
Expedition 17 backup crew members:

Cosmonaut and veteran station crew member Sergei Krikalev for Volkov
Cosmonaut Russian Air Force Col. Maxim V. Suraev for Kononenko
NASA astronaut Nicole P. Stott for Magnus.
Expedition 18 backup crew members:

NASA astronaut Dr. Michael R. Barratt for Fincke
Cosmonaut Russian Air Force Lt. Col. Yuri V. Lonchakov for Sharipov
JAXA astronaut Soichi Noguchi for Wakata
NASA astronaut Army Col. Timothy J. Creamer for Chamitoff.
Video of the prime crew members will air on NASA TV's Video File. For
NASA TV downlink, streaming video and scheduling information, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv For complete crew biographies, visit:

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/astrobio.html

For more about upcoming space shuttle missions, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 02/13/2007 03:13 am
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                     ***  JAXA MAIL SERVICE  ***
                 Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
----------------------------------------------------------------------
               Announcement of Japanese Expedition Crew
               to the International Space Station (ISS)

                                               February 13, 2007 (JST)
                             Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
                             
Space organizations in Canada, the European Union, Japan, Russia and
the United States have agreed on the following schedule and members
for the 16th to 18th Expedition Crew that will stay on the
International Space Station (ISS). We are pleased to announce that
Astronaut Koichi Wakata of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
(JAXA) was selected as a prime member of the Expedition 18 Crew and
Astronaut Soichi Noguchi as his backup. This is the first time for
Japanese to be selected for an Expedition crew member to stay in long
dration on the ISS.


Expected Schedule to Stay on the ISS    Fiscal year 2008
Period of Stay    About three months
Expected Activities about "Kibo"  
                  Functional check-out of the Pressurized Module and
                  science experiment there
                  Assembly and functional check-out of the Exposed
                  Facility, and other activities
Preparation for flight
                  Training for operations to assemble the
                  Japanese Experiment Module Kibo and for operation of
                  each ISS element and to be on board a Space Shuttle
                  and Soyuz.

Members of the Expedition 18 Prime Crew
   Commander   E. Michel Fincke
               (National Aeronautics and Space Administration, NASA)
               (Flying to and from the ISS by Soyuz (Planned))

   Flight Engineers
               Salizahan Shakirovich Sharipov
               (Federal Space Agency, FSA)
               (Flying to and from the ISS by Soyuz (Planned))

               Koichi Wakata (JAXA)
               (Flying to the ISS by the STS-126 (ULF1) and
                coming back by STS-127 (2J/A) (Planned))

               Gregory E. Chamitoff (NASA)
               (Flying to the ISS by STS-127 (2J/A) (Planned) and
                coming back by TBD

Reference
   Brief personal history of Astronaut Koichi Wakata and Astronaut
   Soichi Noguchi
   http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2007/02/20070213_iss_e.html#ref01
   Onboard Schedule for the Japanese Astronauts
   http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2007/02/20070213_iss_e.html#ref02
   Comment from JAXA President
   http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2007/02/20070213_iss_e.html#ref03
   Comments from Japanese Astronauts

Reference Link
   ISS Kibo Information Center
   http://iss.sfo.jaxa.jp/index_e.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TALsite on 02/13/2007 06:06 pm
Quote
jacqmans - 13/2/2007  5:12 AM

Kononenko will command the Soyuz spacecraft that will carry him and
Volkov to the station in spring 2008 and bring them home in fall
2008.


Why Kononenko (a flight engineer)?
Sergei Volkov is an Air Force Pilot, and a qualified Soyuz Commander.

Regards.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: vp. on 02/13/2007 06:11 pm
Where is Kaleri ?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 02/13/2007 06:53 pm
Quote
TALsite - 13/2/2007  10:06 PM

Why Kononenko (a flight engineer)? Sergei Volkov is an Air Force Pilot, and a qualified Soyuz Commander

Yes, Volkov (not Kononenko) will be the commander of Soyuz TMA-12 spacecraft... NASA press-release has a mistake...

Quote
vp. - 13/2/2007  10:11 PM

Where is Kaleri?

His spaceflight is planned in 2009 aboard the first Soyuz TMA (No. 701) spacecraft of new modification...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 02/13/2007 10:24 pm
Anik...what will be different about the Soyuz TMA (No. 701)?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 02/14/2007 04:07 pm
Quote
TJL - 14/2/2007  2:24 AM

what will be different about the Soyuz TMA (No. 701)?

Look at three last messages on this (http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=740&start=151) page, please...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: vp. on 02/14/2007 05:36 pm
Thanks Anik
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 02/14/2007 06:49 pm
I have added Chamitoff into my schedule (see below), which contains current compositions of nearest prime ISS Expedition crews...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 02/14/2007 08:01 pm
Quote
anik - 14/2/2007  12:07 PM

Quote
TJL - 14/2/2007  2:24 AM

what will be different about the Soyuz TMA (No. 701)?

Look at three last messages on this (http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=740&start=151) page, please...

Thank you.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 02/15/2007 10:43 am
Quote
anik - 13/2/2007  1:53 PM

Quote
TALsite - 13/2/2007  10:06 PM

Why Kononenko (a flight engineer)? Sergei Volkov is an Air Force Pilot, and a qualified Soyuz Commander

Yes, Volkov (not Kononenko) will be the commander of Soyuz TMA-12 spacecraft... NASA press-release has a mistake...


But Roskosmos also named Kononenko as the commander.
http://www.federalspace.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=2088
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 02/15/2007 04:59 pm
Quote
Olaf - 15/2/2007  2:43 PM

But Roskosmos also named Kononenko as the commander.
http://www.federalspace.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=2088

Roskosmos website simply has the translated NASA press-release...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 02/15/2007 05:13 pm
Quote
anik - 15/2/2007  11:59 AM

Roskosmos website simply has the translated NASA press-release...

Sorry, that I havn´t seen it. They also use a wrong rank for Lonchakow.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jackson on 02/26/2007 05:58 pm
How far in advance will they start picking the Orion crews?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 02/26/2007 06:34 pm
How far in advance did they pick Young and Crippen ?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: collectSPACE on 02/26/2007 07:39 pm
Quote
hektor - 26/2/2007  1:34 PM

How far in advance did they pick Young and Crippen ?
I cannot find an exact date, but according to Crippen, it was between late 1977 and early 1978, at the earliest.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: oscar71 on 02/26/2007 08:22 pm
Quote
hektor - 26/2/2007  1:34 PM

How far in advance did they pick Young and Crippen ?

I have a book published in 1978 which has Young and Crippen as the STS-1 crew, with launch coming on September 29, 1979!!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Malderi on 02/27/2007 04:12 am
Yeah, so they select crews maybe a little farther in advance, but Young and Crippen had extra time because of the delays of the first flight.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Andy L on 02/27/2007 08:28 pm
I'd say 2012 is early enough.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: FNG on 02/27/2007 11:01 pm
The OFT (STS 1 to 4)crews were selected on the 16th March 1978, when the first launch was scheduled for Spring 1979.


http://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/pdf/83130main_1978.pdf
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 03/22/2007 03:25 pm
Info from L2:

STS-124:

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5054 - many thanks to Kai Multhaup, on what is his debut article here.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Malderi on 03/22/2007 07:27 pm
Any idea which expedition # will feature more than 3 crewmembers, and when they'll announce those crews?

Also, how will those crew titles be used? Will it be CDR and 5 FE's, or will there be more specific roles/titles for the expedition crews?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nathan.moeller on 03/22/2007 07:41 pm
Quote
Malderi - 22/3/2007  3:27 PM

Any idea which expedition # will feature more than 3 crewmembers, and when they'll announce those crews?

Also, how will those crew titles be used? Will it be CDR and 5 FE's, or will there be more specific roles/titles for the expedition crews?

Six-person crew capability won't be possible until after flight 17A in 2009.  They need the elements that Discovery is hauling up on mission STS-128, currently slated to fly in April 2009.  According to NASA's officials manifest page, these elements include:
 
 - Three crew quarters
 - Galley
 - Second Treadmill (TVIS2)
 - Crew Health Care System 2 (CHeCS 2)

All info comes from http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/structure/iss_manifest.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 03/22/2007 09:18 pm
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                     ***  JAXA MAIL SERVICE  ***
                 Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
----------------------------------------------------------------------
    JAXA Astronaut Selected for the Second Space Shuttle Mission
 for Transporting and Assembling the Japanese Experiment Module Kibo

                                                  March 23, 2007 (JST)
                             Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
                             
We are pleased to announce that the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
 (JAXA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
agreed the Japanese astronaut to fly aboard the second Space Shuttle
flight for the transportation and assembly of the Japanese Experiment
Module Kibo of the International Space Station (ISS) (STS-124/1J).

Assigned Astronaut: Astronaut Akihiko Hoshide (Mission Specialist(MS))
Orbiter: Atlantis
Planned Flight Schedule: Early 2008
Mission Duration: About two weeks
Expected activities:
        Assemble the Pressurized Module (PM) to the ISS and activate
        it, and perform other activities. Specific tasks assigned to
        him are to be determined in the future.
Planned schedule of the Astronaut:
        General training for being aboard the Space Shuttle and the
        ISS and specific training for Kibo assembly will be provided.

Reference: Brief personal history of Astronaut Akihiko Hoshide
           http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2007/03/20070323_kibo_e.html#ref01
           Onboard Schedule for the Japanese Astronauts
           http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2007/03/20070323_kibo_e.html#ref02
           Comments from JAXA President
           http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2007/03/20070323_kibo_e.html#ref03

Reference Link: ISS Kibo Information Center
http://iss.sfo.jaxa.jp/index_e.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Malderi on 03/23/2007 03:44 am
Cool for Hoshide. I heard him speak once, he's a real nice guy; talked about how T-38's were the best toys a man could ever have, etc. Real down-to-earth and, of course, very knowledgeable, answered all the questions the group had about Kibo and so forth very completely and understandably. Glad to hear he's getting a good flight.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 03/23/2007 06:51 am
Final Atlantis crew to be selected.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: vp. on 03/23/2007 07:59 pm
What's happen Neil Woodward ? He's just the only candidat's astronaut of the 98's class who haven't flight assignment.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: vp. on 03/24/2007 11:57 am
and : Loria, Caldeiro and Cagle from the 96's class ?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: dcfowler1 on 03/24/2007 06:43 pm
Woodward as far as I know is still on detached assignment to NASA HQ.

Loria left NASA long ago. Caldeiro and Cagle's fates have been discussed ad infinitum already on these boards.

Dave

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 03/26/2007 01:39 pm
Going back to the point about when the first ISS crew of more than three members will fly...I have a query.

Is there going to be a Soyuz TMA launch in the January 2009 timeframe?

The reason I ask is because I was under the impression that there would be a Soyuz launch in October 2008 (Sharipov/Fincke) and another in April 2009 (Krikalev/Surayev), with Chamitoff launching on STS-128 in January 2009 and staying till mid-2009 and Thirsk launching on STS-129 in April for a three-month expedition. Now, if there is not a Soyuz going up in January 2009, there will only be one Soyuz available from April 2009 = not enough seats for Krikalev, Surayev, Chamitoff and Thirsk should they need them. And if there IS a Soyuz going up in January 2009, who are its crew?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jim on 03/26/2007 02:05 pm
Quote
Ben E - 26/3/2007  9:39 AM

Going back to the point about when the first ISS crew of more than three members will fly...I have a query.

Is there going to be a Soyuz TMA launch in the January 2009 timeframe?

The reason I ask is because I was under the impression that there would be a Soyuz launch in October 2008 (Sharipov/Fincke) and another in April 2009 (Krikalev/Surayev), with Chamitoff launching on STS-128 in January 2009 and staying till mid-2009 and Thirsk launching on STS-129 in April for a three-month expedition. Now, if there is not a Soyuz going up in January 2009, there will only be one Soyuz available from April 2009 = not enough seats for Krikalev, Surayev, Chamitoff and Thirsk should they need them. And if there IS a Soyuz going up in January 2009, who are its crew?

Detailed planning doesn't go out that far, only up to 16S
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Andy L on 03/27/2007 04:13 am
I wonder who'll get the final crew of the Shuttle age. That'll be some flight to get.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nathan.moeller on 03/27/2007 07:18 pm
Quote
Ben E - 26/3/2007  8:39 AM

Going back to the point about when the first ISS crew of more than three members will fly...I have a query.

Is there going to be a Soyuz TMA launch in the January 2009 timeframe?

The reason I ask is because I was under the impression that there would be a Soyuz launch in October 2008 (Sharipov/Fincke) and another in April 2009 (Krikalev/Surayev), with Chamitoff launching on STS-128 in January 2009 and staying till mid-2009 and Thirsk launching on STS-129 in April for a three-month expedition. Now, if there is not a Soyuz going up in January 2009, there will only be one Soyuz available from April 2009 = not enough seats for Krikalev, Surayev, Chamitoff and Thirsk should they need them. And if there IS a Soyuz going up in January 2009, who are its crew?

Ben, I believe STS-128 is ISS-17A, which is the flight that establishes six-person crew capability.  I'm not sure how they'll provide 'lifeboat' seats for all six, but I imagine two Soyuz craft will be involved.  Don't ask me how they'll keep two ships at ISS while balancing Progress ships coming in and out and what not, as I have no idea how that would work, but that's my guess.  Two Soyuz=Six Seats.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Malderi on 03/28/2007 05:08 pm
Well, remember, they'll have the ATV And H-2 by then (we hope). ATV's only a once-a-year launch, but from what I understand, it'll carry 3x the up-mass of a Progress. So maybe Progress launches will be less frequent, allowing for the extra Soyuz docking port.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 05/14/2007 12:45 pm
Interesting: JSC PAO has updated their galleries with corrected STS-117 and STS-118 patches reflecting the change in crew assignment -- but it seems that the new and/or revised crew portraits are not done yet ...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 05/25/2007 08:09 pm
Oefelein to "leave" NASA with immediate effect (officially he ends his time with NASA June 1).
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Celeritas on 05/25/2007 08:17 pm
Quote
Chris Bergin - 25/5/2007  4:09 PM

Oefelein to "leave" NASA with immediate effect (officially he ends his time with NASA June 1).

There goes the babe magnet.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ford Mustang on 05/25/2007 09:02 pm
If I can ask.. Why is he leaving?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 05/25/2007 09:06 pm
Quote
Ford Mustang - 25/5/2007  10:02 PM

If I can ask.. Why is he leaving?

NASA and the Navy informed him he was leaving for a new post. You can work it out for yourselves.

He'll be assigned to the Naval Network Warfare Command in Norfolk, VA where he'll serve in the Space Operations division.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: drnscr on 05/26/2007 12:31 am
Just read where Billy O is being sent back to the Navy effective 1 June 2007.  As an officer, I think he can pretty much kiss his career goodbye.  It seems to me he was using the wrong head when he involved himself with a fellow Naval Officer and then with a junior AF officer.  I realize he's single but there are career killing moves and this situation was one of those.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: azman818 on 05/26/2007 12:26 pm
It looks like the updated STS-117 portrait, showing all seven crewmembers as well as the new patch, is now up on the NASA Shuttle site.

Amazing what you can do with Photoshop these days.
 ;)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: shuttlefan on 05/26/2007 02:30 pm
So Anderson was added to the picture using digital photography, correct? I assume a whole new crew portrait wasn't taken.....?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: kimmern123 on 05/26/2007 10:16 pm
Quote
shuttlefan - 26/5/2007  4:30 PM

So Anderson was added to the picture using digital photography, correct? I assume a whole new crew portrait wasn't taken.....?

Yes, he was added digitally. If you compare the "new" photo against the "old" you'll see all the original 6 astronauts look exactly the same as before. I expect something similar will be done with the STS-118 picture.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John2375 on 07/25/2007 12:07 pm
Who should command the last shuttle flight?? And are they any astronauts that should be deserving of being a part of the last flight?
It might not seem like much, but I think the last flight should be as the program will have been around nearly 30 years and done so much - everyone (most everyone, maybe not John Q. Public) remembers the first crew.. the last crew should be remembered too -
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SpaceNutz SA on 07/25/2007 12:19 pm
Hehehe!!  If Deke was still around he would say something like:  Any crew can fly any mission or stick like mud to his crew rotation system.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: brihath on 07/25/2007 12:33 pm
Quote
John2375 - 25/7/2007  8:07 AM

Who should command the last shuttle flight?? And are they any astronauts that should be deserving of being a part of the last flight?
It might not seem like much, but I think the last flight should be as the program will have been around nearly 30 years and done so much - everyone (most everyone, maybe not John Q. Public) remembers the first crew.. the last crew should be remembered too -

I imagine it will be whoever is Chief of the Astronaut Office.  After all he won't be too busy determining crew assignments for a while.  The incumbent has commanded key missions in the past hasn't he?  I'm thinking Bob Cabana for the first ISS mission was one example.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: pippin on 07/25/2007 12:35 pm
Hmmm.
A few month ago they had "who was the last man on the moon" on "Who wants to be a millionaire" here in Germany.
It was the 1 million Euro question...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ShuttleDiscovery on 07/25/2007 12:53 pm
Quote
pippin - 25/7/2007  1:35 PM

Hmmm.
A few month ago they had "who was the last man on the moon" on "Who wants to be a millionaire" here in Germany.
It was the 1 million Euro question...

Did they get it?  ;)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: pippin on 07/25/2007 01:03 pm
No, he guessed right (Gene Cernan) but was not confident enough so he took the 500.000.
Was a pity since given the alternatives (Shepard, Collins and Borman) it was not too hard.
So much for the fame of being the last...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jorge on 07/25/2007 01:18 pm
Quote
brihath - 25/7/2007  7:33 AM

Quote
John2375 - 25/7/2007  8:07 AM

Who should command the last shuttle flight?? And are they any astronauts that should be deserving of being a part of the last flight?
It might not seem like much, but I think the last flight should be as the program will have been around nearly 30 years and done so much - everyone (most everyone, maybe not John Q. Public) remembers the first crew.. the last crew should be remembered too -

I imagine it will be whoever is Chief of the Astronaut Office.  After all he won't be too busy determining crew assignments for a while.  The incumbent has commanded key missions in the past hasn't he?  I'm thinking Bob Cabana for the first ISS mission was one example.

It won't be the chief astronaut. Times have changed since that was the norm.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Cornwallus on 07/25/2007 01:37 pm
Really Glad I found this place. So much information on here! I'll be busy for a few days for sure.

How about John Young? Be neat to see the first shuttle commander be the last one also. Not sure if his age now would be an issue.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 07/25/2007 01:45 pm
I would guess that it might be a first-time CDR. If Lindsey is preparing the corps for the CEV, he'll want to get as many PLTs as possible with a command under their belts.

So...I think it could be any of the PLTs who are flying their rookie missions in the next few months.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: pippin on 07/25/2007 01:47 pm
Quote
Cornwallus - 25/7/2007  3:37 PM

Really Glad I found this place. So much information on here! I'll be busy for a few days for sure.

How about John Young? Be neat to see the first shuttle commander be the last one also. Not sure if his age now would be an issue.

John Glenn.
His last flight is not as far back as Young's.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jim on 07/25/2007 01:56 pm
Quote
pippin - 25/7/2007  9:47 AM

Quote
Cornwallus - 25/7/2007  3:37 PM

Really Glad I found this place. So much information on here! I'll be busy for a few days for sure.

How about John Young? Be neat to see the first shuttle commander be the last one also. Not sure if his age now would be an issue.

John Glenn.
His last flight is not as far back as Young's.

Age would be an issue for a CDR
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: pippin on 07/25/2007 02:02 pm
Quote
Jim - 25/7/2007  3:56 PM

Quote
pippin - 25/7/2007  9:47 AM

Quote
Cornwallus - 25/7/2007  3:37 PM

Really Glad I found this place. So much information on here! I'll be busy for a few days for sure.

How about John Young? Be neat to see the first shuttle commander be the last one also. Not sure if his age now would be an issue.

John Glenn.
His last flight is not as far back as Young's.

Age would be an issue for a CDR
C'mon, he would be only 89 or so by then...

BTW: Welcome Cornwallus. Didn't mean to be harsh on your suggestion ;-)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SpaceNutz SA on 07/25/2007 02:31 pm
I guess Bill Oefelein is out of the question huh :)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Gene DiGennaro on 07/25/2007 03:47 pm
Maybe old Jose Jimenez will finally get his flight! He's been hanging around the astro office since the days of Mercury! If not Jose then my vote would go to Major Matt Mason USAF.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ChrisGebhardt on 07/26/2007 04:47 am
I was just wondering if NASA has announced any crew assignments after STS-125? I noticed on wikipedia (which I know is not always 100% accurate) that they have posted crew assignments throguh STS-127. Thanks in advance.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: shuttlefan on 07/28/2007 01:51 pm
Quote
Andy L - 26/3/2007  11:13 PM

I wonder who'll get the final crew of the Shuttle age. That'll be some flight to get.

When will they start naming crewmembers to the last flight? Eileen Collins for CDR would get my vote!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: brihath on 07/28/2007 02:06 pm
Back in the Gemini days, Lovell and Aldrin had the following signs on their backs for Gemini 12:

THE
END

I don't know who the crew will be yet, but assuming there will be seven, they can wear the following signs on THEIR backs:

ONLY
SEVEN
YEARS
UNTIL
WE
FLY
AGAIN!

(My pessimism abt Constellation is showing through here, so "seven" may be a little conservative.  Excluding ISS crewmembers riding Russian rockets, of course)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ShuttleDiscovery on 07/28/2007 04:32 pm
Quote
shuttlefan - 28/7/2007  2:51 PM

Quote
Andy L - 26/3/2007  11:13 PM

I wonder who'll get the final crew of the Shuttle age. That'll be some flight to get.

When will they start naming crewmembers to the last flight? Eileen Collins for CDR would get my vote!

Either her or Pam Melroy for me. Nothing like a bit of girl power in the CDR seat!  ;)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: shuttlefan on 07/28/2007 04:43 pm
Quote
ShuttleDiscovery - 28/7/2007  11:32 AM

Quote
shuttlefan - 28/7/2007  2:51 PM

Quote
Andy L - 26/3/2007  11:13 PM

I wonder who'll get the final crew of the Shuttle age. That'll be some flight to get.

When will they start naming crewmembers to the last flight? Eileen Collins for CDR would get my vote!

Either her or Pam Melroy for me. Nothing like a bit of girl power in the CDR seat!  ;)


Hey, Eileen Collins as CDR and Melroy as PLT! Mind you, I guess it would be a demotion for Melroy being she's commanding 120.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ShuttleDiscovery on 07/28/2007 04:49 pm
I suppose that would work, but Collins has retired from being an astronaut...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 07/28/2007 06:18 pm
It also depends if Melroy even sticks around after 120. Wasn't she offered the chance to return to the Air Force after 92, but turned it down, then after 112, but turned it down? Maybe now she's got her command, she'll leave soon?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jorge on 07/28/2007 06:21 pm
Quote
Trekkie07 - 25/7/2007  11:47 PM

I was just wondering if NASA has announced any crew assignments after STS-125? I noticed on wikipedia (which I know is not always 100% accurate) that they have posted crew assignments throguh STS-127. Thanks in advance.

Calling wikipedia "not always 100% accurate" is extremely generous, especially in the case of unannounced NASA crew assignments. In my experience, they've almost always been uninformed speculation.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jorge on 07/28/2007 06:21 pm
Quote
shuttlefan - 28/7/2007  8:51 AM

Quote
Andy L - 26/3/2007  11:13 PM

I wonder who'll get the final crew of the Shuttle age. That'll be some flight to get.

When will they start naming crewmembers to the last flight?

Probably about 10-12 months before the flight, as always.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ChrisGebhardt on 07/28/2007 06:37 pm
Quote
Ben E - 28/7/2007  2:18 PM

It also depends if Melroy even sticks around after 120. Wasn't she offered the chance to return to the Air Force after 92, but turned it down, then after 112, but turned it down? Maybe now she's got her command, she'll leave soon?

Melroy retired from the Air Force in February of this year per her official NASA bio. I think she'll stick around. She's on record as saying that it's her personal goal to be the first astronaut on the moon when we return there.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 08/10/2007 09:05 pm
RELEASE: 07-176

ASTRONAUT ED LU LEAVES NASA

HOUSTON - Veteran International Space Station astronaut and space
shuttle flyer Ed Lu has left NASA to accept a position in the private
sector. Lu flew on two shuttle missions and lived six months aboard
the station as a member of the orbiting laboratory's seventh crew.

"Ed has done an exceptional job as an astronaut during his twelve
years of service," said Chief of the Astronaut Office Steve Lindsey.
"He contributed greatly to the construction and operations on the
International Space Station, particularly in the very difficult
period after the Columbia tragedy. Additionally, his involvement in
development of the Crew Exploration Vehicle will help NASA
tremendously as we look forward to exploring our solar system. He
will be missed by the Astronaut Office and NASA. We wish him the very
best in his future endeavors."

Lu's experience includes more than six hours spacewalking. He was the
first American to launch as flight engineer of a Russian Soyuz
spacecraft as well as the first American to both launch and land on a
Soyuz. He has visited two space stations on his missions.

Selected as an astronaut in 1994, Lu first flew in May 1997 aboard
Atlantis for the STS-84 mission, the sixth shuttle mission to visit
the Russian space station Mir. He next flew in 2000 on mission
STS-106, also aboard Atlantis, performing a spacewalk during that
flight to help outfit the Zvezda module of the International Space
Station, the outpost's living quarters. Launching on the Soyuz, Lu
returned to the International Space Station in 2003 as flight
engineer and NASA science officer of Expedition 7, the first
two-person resident crew.

For more biographical information about Lu, visit:

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/lu.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Endeavour118 on 08/11/2007 03:46 am
Quote
martynwilliams - 30/9/2006  1:59 PM

It's been a good year for British born astronauts this year...with Piers Sellers on 121 and Nick Patrick on 116. The only British born astro left to fly now is Greg Johnson (I think he was born on a USAF base in the UK) - I dont think there's anyone else originally from the UK in the astro corps at the moment.

whuch greg johnson box or ray J
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skyrocket on 08/11/2007 11:56 am
Quote
Endeavour118 - 11/8/2007  5:46 AM

Quote
martynwilliams - 30/9/2006  1:59 PM

It's been a good year for British born astronauts this year...with Piers Sellers on 121 and Nick Patrick on 116. The only British born astro left to fly now is Greg Johnson (I think he was born on a USAF base in the UK) - I dont think there's anyone else originally from the UK in the astro corps at the moment.

whuch greg johnson box or ray J

Gregory Harold "Box" Johnson http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/johnson-gh.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 08/11/2007 07:48 pm
Is Mike Foale still an active astronaut?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: tonyq on 08/25/2007 11:59 am
From Collectspace.com

http://collectspace.com/ubb/Forum30/HTML/000606.html

"A new roster for International Space Station Expedition 19, scheduled to be the first six-person crew:

Prime crew:
Gennady Padalka
Michael Barratt
Nicole Stott
Yuri Lonchakov
Frank DeWinne
Robert Thirsk


Back-up crew:
Maxim Suraev
Shannon Walker
Cady Coleman
Dmitri Kondratiyev
André Kuipers
Chris Hadfield

Expedition 19 is expected to begin in Spring 2009"

Presumably 5 of these 6 will go up in the two Soyuz due to launch in March/April 2009 (TMA-14 & TMA-15) as one seat on these flights is already sold to Space Adventures and Thirsk appears elsewhere as provisionally assigned to STS-128
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 08/25/2007 12:23 pm
Quote
tonyq - 25/8/2007  3:59 PM

Thirsk appears elsewhere as provisionally assigned to STS-128

Robert Thirsk will be launched on Soyuz TMA-15...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 08/25/2007 11:38 pm
Anik,

Will Thirk occupy the third seat on Soyuz TMA-15, alongside a Russian and an American, or will he accompany a Russian and a tourist?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 08/26/2007 06:35 am
Quote
Ben E - 26/8/2007  3:38 AM

Will Thirk occupy the third seat on Soyuz TMA-15, alongside a Russian and an American, or will he accompany a Russian and a tourist?

Soyuz TMA-14: Padalka/Barratt/tourist

Soyuz TMA-15: Lonchakov/De Winne/Thirsk

PS: I have moved last three posts from "When does station go to 6 crew?" thread...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 08/26/2007 11:31 am
Current schedule...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 08/26/2007 01:01 pm
Presumably poor old TJ Creamer doesn't get a look-in, then?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: brahmanknight on 08/26/2007 01:21 pm
I must have missed this, but is Krikalev out of ex 19 commander postion for sure now?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: OV-107 on 08/26/2007 01:52 pm
I vote for Pam Melroy as the CDR on sts 132 or 133. If she has left nasa when the flight will take part (god forbid) then Steve Lindsey will have my vote.
(from the beginning i hoped for Jim Wetherbee but i know he is out of the game since a couple of years)

Or maybe they will let the last shuttle commander also be the first orion commander and in that case, I think it can be a first time commander like Poindexter or G H Johnson for examples.

I read somewhere that Lindsey also has competence to fly as a mission specialist. Is that right or wrong?




Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: dcfowler1 on 08/26/2007 04:45 pm
There's a problem with this chart: It shows Chamitoff launching on 124. 124 already has 7 (non-rotating) crew assigned.

If true, then one of them would have to be bumped.

Dave
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 08/26/2007 10:57 pm
Both Fossum and Bowen are sheduled to perform EVAs on STS-124, so I doubt they would be removed from the flight.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: dcfowler1 on 08/27/2007 01:10 am
Garan is the flight engineer; Hoshide seems politically necessary being a Kibo flight; That leaves MS1 Nyberg....

Dave
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: OV-107 on 08/27/2007 01:43 am
Or maybe they will let Ron Garan do what he is trained to do, fly as a pilot (at 126 for example) and not as a mission specialist.



Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 08/27/2007 04:32 pm
New information was published by Sergey Shamsutdinov on Novosti kosmonavtiki forum (http://www.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=7323):

Soyuz TMA-14 (No. 224) launch is planned in March 2009 and Soyuz TMA-15 (No. 225) - in July 2009...

Expedition 20A
Launch: Soyuz TMA-16 (No. 226), September 2009
CDR J.Williams (back-up is TBD [USA])
FE-1 Romanenko (Skvortsov)
FE-2 Kornienko (Skripochka)

Expedition 20B
Launch: Soyuz TMA-17 (No. 227), November 2009
FE-3 Krikalyov [possibly] (back-up is TBD [Russia])
FE-4 TBD [USA] (TBD [USA])
FE-5 TBD [USA] (TBD [USA])

Expedition 21A
Launch: Soyuz TMA-18 (No. 701), March 2010
CDR Kaleri (back-up is TBD [Russia])
FE-1 TBD [Russia] (TBD [Russia])
FE-2 TBD [USA] (TBD [USA])

STS-120 (up) - Tani (back-up is Magnus)
STS-122 (up) - Eyharts (De Winne)
STS-123 (up) - Reisman (Kopra)
STS-124 (up) - Chamitoff (Kopra)
STS-126 (up) - Magnus (Stott)
STS-119 (up) - Wakata (Noguchi)
STS-127 (up) - Kopra (Creamer)
STS-128 (up) - Stott (Coleman)

Stott is the last ISS crewmember, who will be launched by the Space Shuttle... She will return aboard Soyuz or Shuttle...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: dcfowler1 on 08/27/2007 06:06 pm
"Both Fossum and Bowen are sheduled to perform EVAs on STS-124, so I doubt they would be removed from the flight."

A source in CB indicated to me that Bowen is likely to be the one to take the fall.

D.

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: DwightM on 08/27/2007 06:12 pm
Quote
dcfowler1 - 27/8/2007  10:06 AM

"Both Fossum and Bowen are sheduled to perform EVAs on STS-124, so I doubt they would be removed from the flight."

A source in CB indicated to me that Bowen is likely to be the one to take the fall.

D.


I would imagine there's plenty of time for Chamitoff (or perhaps Hoshide?) to train for the EV-2 tasks.  I'm sure we'll see him (edit: Bowen) re-assigned fairly soon - maybe on or before 2J/A.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: erioladastra on 08/28/2007 01:34 am
Chamitoff will almost certainly be up on Exp 17.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 08/28/2007 06:56 am
It's nice to see that Cady Coleman is getting another shot at space, after a 10-year wait. Any reason why she's been waiting so long?

I was beginning to think she'd turned into Anna Fisher ;-)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aurora899 on 08/28/2007 11:29 am
Hi Ben,
When Cady Coleman was commentating on the STS-114 RTF Launch for Fox News a couple of years back, she mentioned that her young son (I think it was) had made a present for Eileen Collins. This suggests that she was away on maternity leave for a while and clearly ineligible for flight assignment.
Regards,
David.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: FNG on 08/29/2007 08:38 pm
Having recently read the Tom Jones book Sky Walking, I did wonder if Coleman's lack of assignment since STS 93 was due to question she asked Wetherbee and Precourt when Mark Lee's removal from STS 98 was announced to the Astronaut Office.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 08/29/2007 10:09 pm
It is hard for me to believe that Expedition 20 is 100% USA-RUS. Can someone confirm...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John2375 on 08/29/2007 10:18 pm
what did she ask??
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 08/30/2007 07:31 am
If I recall correctly from the book, no reasons were given for Mark Lee's removal from the STS-98 crew and at one of the Monday meetings Coleman asked something about how fellow astronauts could avoid future incidents occurring in future. I doubt that the corps would be THAT cloak-and-dagger, though.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: FNG on 08/31/2007 06:00 am
Quote
Ben E - 30/8/2007  2:31 AM

If I recall correctly from the book, no reasons were given for Mark Lee's removal from the STS-98 crew and at one of the Monday meetings Coleman asked something about how fellow astronauts could avoid future incidents occurring in future. I doubt that the corps would be THAT cloak-and-dagger, though.

Ben, I'm not sure if Mark Lee would agree with you!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nathan.moeller on 08/31/2007 08:16 am
Quote
Ben E - 11/8/2007  2:48 PM

Is Mike Foale still an active astronaut?

Yes.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Endeavour118 on 09/11/2007 02:38 am
anyone know's what happened to vegas kelly?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: DwightM on 09/11/2007 05:44 am
Quote
Endeavour118 - 10/9/2007  6:38 PM

anyone know's what happened to vegas kelly?

I saw him doing ISS CAPCOM duties last week during regular coverage.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aurora899 on 09/21/2007 11:41 am
I see that Spacefacts in now reporting that the following astronauts have been assigned to the STS-126 Crew:

Chris Ferguson
Eric Boe
Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper
Joan Higginbotham
Stephen Bowen
Robert Kimbrough
Sandy Magnus

This may be on L2 but I don't subscribe.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: texas_space on 09/22/2007 02:35 pm
Quote
aurora899 - 21/9/2007  6:41 AM

I see that Spacefacts in now reporting that the following astronauts have been assigned to the STS-126 Crew:

Chris Ferguson
Eric Boe
Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper
Joan Higginbotham
Stephen Bowen
Robert Kimbrough
Sandy Magnus

This may be on L2 but I don't subscribe.

Is Kimbrough actually assigned to the flight? If so, he'd be the first of the 2004 class to fly.  Interesting since supposedly the class was told they wouldn't get to fly on the shuttle, but only on Orion.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jorge on 09/22/2007 06:57 pm
Quote
texas_space - 22/9/2007  9:35 AM

Quote
aurora899 - 21/9/2007  6:41 AM

I see that Spacefacts in now reporting that the following astronauts have been assigned to the STS-126 Crew:

Chris Ferguson
Eric Boe
Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper
Joan Higginbotham
Stephen Bowen
Robert Kimbrough
Sandy Magnus

This may be on L2 but I don't subscribe.

Is Kimbrough actually assigned to the flight? If so, he'd be the first of the 2004 class to fly.  Interesting since supposedly the class was told they wouldn't get to fly on the shuttle, but only on Orion.

The class was told that was a high probability. Each applicant chosen was asked in their phone call, "If you knew you wouldn't fly for ten years or more, would you still accept the job?" Supposedly all but one (a pilot) answered "yes"; that person was replaced by an alternate.

With the current philosophy of assigning as many rookies as practical, that situation has changed. Now it looks like all the 2004 class will fly well before the shuttle program ends.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: BigRIJoe on 09/22/2007 07:31 pm
Piper gets to fly again?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ChrisGebhardt on 09/22/2007 07:41 pm
Quote
BigRIJoe - 22/9/2007  3:31 PM

Piper gets to fly again?

Yes. Why do you ask? She's a qualified astronaut with prior EVA training.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: BigRIJoe on 09/22/2007 07:42 pm
Uh huh
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: BigRIJoe on 09/22/2007 07:43 pm
And what about Ochoa? Nothing?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ChrisGebhardt on 09/22/2007 08:32 pm
Quote
BigRIJoe - 22/9/2007  3:43 PM

And what about Ochoa? Nothing?

Ellen Ochoa is in management at NASA. She is currenly Director of the Flight Crew Operations Directorate at JSC and after STS-120 she will assume the position of Deputy Director of JSC.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Challenger on 09/22/2007 08:44 pm
Quote
Trekkie07 - 22/9/2007  2:41 PM

Quote
BigRIJoe - 22/9/2007  3:31 PM

Piper gets to fly again?

Yes. Why do you ask? She's a qualified astronaut with prior EVA training.

She will probably be lead EVA astro on this mission, due to her STS-115 experience.  Hats off to the lady!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: kimmern123 on 09/22/2007 09:21 pm
Will that mark the first time a woman is lead EVA on a spaceflight?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 09/22/2007 09:38 pm
Jernigan was lead EVA on STS-96, as was Godwin on STS-76 and 108.
I believe Whitson will be lead EVA-5 on STS-120.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ChrisGebhardt on 09/22/2007 09:43 pm
Peggy Whitson will indeed lead the EVA during STS-120.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: kimmern123 on 09/22/2007 10:05 pm
After reading Sky Walking by Tom Jones I should at least have remembered Jernigan. I guess it's getting a little late here (past midnight here in Norway).
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Mark Max Q on 09/23/2007 04:54 am
Quote
aurora899 - 21/9/2007  6:41 AM

I see that Spacefacts in now reporting that the following astronauts have been assigned to the STS-126 Crew:

Chris Ferguson
Eric Boe
Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper
Joan Higginbotham
Stephen Bowen
Robert Kimbrough
Sandy Magnus

This may be on L2 but I don't subscribe.

Yeah, was on L2 a while before. Spacefacts are just a bunch of info stealers.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Mark Max Q on 09/23/2007 04:55 am
Quote
Jorge - 28/7/2007  1:21 PM

Calling wikipedia "not always 100% accurate" is extremely generous, especially in the case of unannounced NASA crew assignments. In my experience, they've almost always been uninformed speculation.

Here's a small video clip that should always be posted when Wiki is mentioned ;)

Imagine the scene at JSC, when told that a crew, they hadn't even assigned yet, turns up on Wikipedia..........
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 10/01/2007 05:47 pm
STS-126 crew announcement:
Oct. 1, 2007

John Yembrick
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-0602
[email protected]

Kylie Clem
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111
[email protected]

RELEASE: 07-217

NASA ASSIGNS CREW FOR SPACE STATION ASSEMBLY MISSION

WASHINGTON -- NASA has assigned the space shuttle crew for Endeavour's
STS-126 mission, targeted for launch in September 2008. The flight
will deliver equipment to the International Space Station that will
enable larger crews to reside aboard the complex.

Veteran space flier Navy Capt. Christopher J. Ferguson will command
Endeavour. Air Force Lt. Col. Eric A. Boe will serve as the pilot.
The mission specialists are Navy Cmdr. Stephen G. Bowen, NASA
astronaut Joan E. Higginbotham, Army Lt. Col. Robert S. Kimbrough and
Navy Capt. Heidemarie M. Stefanyshyn-Piper. Boe, Bowen and Kimbrough
will be making their first spaceflight.

STS-126 will be the second spaceflight for Ferguson and
Stefanyshyn-Piper, who flew together on STS-115 in September 2006. It
also is the second flight for Higginbotham, who flew on STS-116 in
December 2006.

Endeavour will carry a reusable logistics module that will hold
supplies and equipment, including additional crew quarters, a second
treadmill, equipment for the regenerative life support system and
spare hardware.

A native of Philadelphia, Ferguson served as pilot of the shuttle
Atlantis for STS-115. He has a bachelor's degree in mechanical
engineering from Drexel University, Philadelphia, and a master's
degree in aeronautical engineering from the Naval Postgraduate
School, Monterey, Calif. He was selected as an astronaut in 1998.

Boe was born in Miami and grew up in Atlanta. He has a bachelor's
degree in astronautical engineering from the U.S. Air Force Academy,
Colorado Springs, Colo., and a master's degree in electrical
engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta. He was
selected as an astronaut in 2000.

Bowen was born in Cohasset, Mass. He has a bachelor's degree from the
U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md., and a master's degree from the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge. Bowen also was
selected as an astronaut in 2000. He was previously named to the
STS-124 crew but has been reassigned to STS-126. The change will
allow room for the STS-124 mission to rotate a space station
resident, who will be named later.

A native of Chicago, Higginbotham flew on STS-116. She has a
bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Southern Illinois
University, Carbondale, and master's degrees in both management and
space systems from the Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne.
She was selected as an astronaut in 1996.

Kimbrough was born in Killeen, Texas, and grew up in Smyrna, Ga. He
has a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering from the U.S.
Military Academy, West Point, N.Y., and a master's degree in
operations research from the Georgia Institute of Technology. He was
selected as an astronaut in 2004.

Stefanyshyn-Piper was born in St. Paul, Minn. She conducted two
spacewalks on STS-115. She has a bachelor's and master's degrees in
mechanical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology. She was selected as an astronaut in 1996.

Video of the STS-126 crew members will air on NASA Television's Video
File. For downlink and scheduling information and links to streaming
video, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

For complete astronaut biographical information, visit:

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ShuttleDiscovery on 10/01/2007 06:05 pm
I think it's really bad that they're flying Kimbrough (2004) when Cagle and Caldeiro (1996) still haven't flown after more than 10 years now...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ShuttleDiscovery on 10/01/2007 06:07 pm
Quote
Mark Max Q - 23/9/2007  5:55 AM

Quote
Jorge - 28/7/2007  1:21 PM

Calling wikipedia "not always 100% accurate" is extremely generous, especially in the case of unannounced NASA crew assignments. In my experience, they've almost always been uninformed speculation.

Here's a small video clip that should always be posted when Wiki is mentioned ;)

Imagine the scene at JSC, when told that a crew, they hadn't even assigned yet, turns up on Wikipedia..........

hehe  :)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 10/01/2007 09:40 pm
QUOTE...I think it's really bad that they're flying Kimbrough (2004) when Cagle and Caldeiro (1996) still haven't flown after more than 10 years now...

I don't believe Cagle or Caldeiro are still on (shuttle) flying status.
It's not that common that an astronaut is chosen to fly before an astronaut from a prior selection, but it does happen.
Most recently, on STS-118 Drew (Class of 2000) flew before more than half of the astronauts selected in 1998.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: tnphysics on 10/01/2007 10:50 pm
Why?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 10/02/2007 02:27 am
The theory behind chosing individuals for spaceflight is a bit of a mystery.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 10/03/2007 01:14 am
Quote
TJL - 1/10/2007  5:40 PM

QUOTE...I think it's really bad that they're flying Kimbrough (2004) when Cagle and Caldeiro (1996) still haven't flown after more than 10 years now...

I don't believe Cagle or Caldeiro are still on (shuttle) flying status.
It's not that common that an astronaut is chosen to fly before an astronaut from a prior selection, but it does happen.
Most recently, on STS-118 Drew (Class of 2000) flew before more than half of the astronauts selected in 1998.

Keep in mind, most of the 1998 class had been assigned to flights, or on ISS backup crews already when Drew was assigned to STS-118, which was a last minute crew change.

It looks like Cagle and Caldiero may not be flying...but then again, stranger things have happened (Don Lind, selected in 1966 didn't fly until after the entire 1969 and most of the 1967 and 1978 groups had flown)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 10/07/2007 12:43 pm
I read recently that Scott Kelly, who recently flew as CDR on STS-118, was "in-line" to fly as commander aboard an upcoming ISS increment.
I know he was assigned as back-up F.E. for Expedition 5, a few years back.
Any truth to this story?
Thank you.

anik's note: "Scott Kelly Question" thread is moved into "Flight crew assignments" thread...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Real Madrid on 10/07/2007 04:53 pm
Crew of misssion STS-126

* Christopher Ferguson (2) - Commander
* Eric A. Boe (1) - Pilot
* Stephen G. Bowen (1) - Mission specialist
* Heidemarie M. Stefanyshyn-Piper (2) - Mission specialist
* Joan Higginbotham (2) - Mission specialist
* R. Shane Kimbrough (1) - Mission specialist

information founded on http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2007/oct/HQ_07217_STS-126_Crew.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: psloss on 10/07/2007 05:08 pm
Quote
Real Madrid - 7/10/2007  12:53 PM

information founded on http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2007/oct/HQ_07217_STS-126_Crew.html
FYI, this is redundant as Chris posted this press release last week just a few posts back in the thread:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=740&start=526#M192144
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 10/07/2007 05:16 pm
Believe it or not, astronauts chosen in the last 3 groups (17 - 1998, 18 - 2000, and 19 - 2004), are progressively getting chances to fly on the shuttle sooner.
First Group 17 to fly on shuttle waited 8 years.
First Group 18 to fly on shuttle waited 7 years.
First Group 19 scheduled to fly in 2008...4 year wait.
Thought that was kind of interesting in that astronauts selected in 2004 were not expected to get assignments on the shuttle.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: texas_space on 10/07/2007 05:41 pm
Quote
TJL - 7/10/2007  12:16 PM

Believe it or not, astronauts chosen in the last 3 groups (17 - 1998, 18 - 2000, and 19 - 2004), are progressively getting chances to fly on the shuttle sooner.
First Group 17 to fly on shuttle waited 8 years.
First Group 18 to fly on shuttle waited 7 years.
First Group 19 scheduled to fly in 2008...4 year wait.
Thought that was kind of interesting in that astronauts selected in 2004 were not expected to get assignments on the shuttle.

I think NASA wants to get everyone they can to fly before 2010 when the shuttle retires.  After all, the 2004 class will otherwise fly at the earliest in 2014-2015 unless assigned to a Soyuz flight to the ISS (doubtful IMO since there are folks selected earlier who haven't flown yet).  I don't think NASA wants the bad PR of having lots of astronauts leaving before they get to fly due to the gap.  I'd hold out myself if I was an astronaut, but not everyone is going to want to sacrifice 10+ years of their career just sitting in Houston not having a reasonable hope of flying.  Not that anyone is guaranteed a flight, but it wouldn't look good on NASA's part since it just highlights the lack of flights in the manned program (ie "the gap").

Some people waited a lot longer before they first flew of course (e.g. Story Musgrave).  I'm sure he would say the wait is definitely worth it.

Do we have any idea if the new educator-astronauts will be in the rotation to fly before 2010?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 10/07/2007 05:53 pm
I'm sure some if not all of them will get an assignment if this pace continues.
There's somehere between 6 and 8 shuttle crew assignments left...depending on a decision as to which is the final shuttle mission.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TALsite on 10/08/2007 04:04 pm
Quote
"ANIK: 27/08/2007  pag.34

Expedition 21A
Launch: Soyuz TMA-18 (No. 701), March 2010
CDR Kaleri (back-up is TBD [Russia])
FE-1 TBD [Russia] (TBD [Russia])
FE-2 TBD [USA] (TBD [USA])"

Quote
"TJL
I read recently that Scott Kelly, who recently flew as CDR on STS-118, was "in-line" to fly as commander aboard an upcoming ISS increment.
I know he was assigned as back-up F.E. for Expedition 5, a few years back."


Based on that info, I wonder if the crew for Soyuz TM-18 could be Kaleri (assigned as Exp. 21A CDR), Kondratyev (now assigned as TM15- Exp 19B Backup) and Scott Kelly (just returned from STS-118)?  

This “3K-crew”  were team-mates on Expedition 5 Backup, and I suppose they got along well, and passed their examinations…
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 10/08/2007 10:33 pm
Quote
TALsite - 8/10/2007  12:04 PM

Quote
"ANIK: 27/08/2007  pag.34

Expedition 21A
Launch: Soyuz TMA-18 (No. 701), March 2010
CDR Kaleri (back-up is TBD [Russia])
FE-1 TBD [Russia] (TBD [Russia])
FE-2 TBD [USA] (TBD [USA])"

Quote
"TJL
I read recently that Scott Kelly, who recently flew as CDR on STS-118, was "in-line" to fly as commander aboard an upcoming ISS increment.
I know he was assigned as back-up F.E. for Expedition 5, a few years back."


Based on that info, I wonder if the crew for Soyuz TM-18 could be Kaleri (assigned as Exp. 21A CDR), Kondratyev (now assigned as TM15- Exp 19B Backup) and Scott Kelly (just returned from STS-118)?  

This “3K-crew”  were team-mates on Expedition 5 Backup, and I suppose they got along well, and passed their examinations…

Could very well be, however I thought I read that Kelly was scheduled to be CDR (I may be wrong).
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 10/11/2007 09:28 pm
STS 119 crew on spacefacts.de:

CDR: Archambault
PLT: Antonelli
MS 1: Phillips
MS 2: Swanson
MS 3: Acaba
MS 4: Arnold
ISS FE: Wakata

Can anyone confirm? Certain things don't ring right...such as the presence of TWO educator MS's on the crew, the ditching of Gernhardt after being attached to the flight for years, and geez would they pass over Jim Kelly AGAIN for command?

Regardless, there seems like there is some sort of unspoken issue with the STS-114 crew as Kelly and Robinson still have yet to make additional flights. They can't hold any of the missions problems against the crew can they? I mean, it's not like its there fault a damn piece of foam fell off their ET.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 10/11/2007 09:47 pm
Quote
Skylon - 11/10/2007  10:28 PM

STS 119 crew on spacefacts.de:

(Restrains myself from commenting on that site).
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 10/11/2007 09:53 pm
How does spacefacts know the MS numbers already? I thought MS numbers (flight engineer etc) are decided by the CDR? Surely Archambault wouldn't have made his mind up yet - and certainly not gone and told spacefacts? Unless of course he was impressed with Swanson's performance as MS2 on STS-117?

Are these MS numbers just guesswork? Story Musgrave once told me that he deliberately asked for the 'MS4' slot on STS-61, just to show that the numbers meant nothing and 'MS1' was not necessarily 'in charge'.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 10/11/2007 10:00 pm
It didn't. I just did that as it seemed like the right thing to do for listing purposes (which was just in the order spacefacts listed them, minus a number). Chill.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 10/13/2007 03:01 am
Just curious, that's all.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 10/13/2007 04:14 am
I've read that Group 18 astronaut Michael Barratt has been chosen as back-up to Michael Fincke as EXP-18 Commander.
If for some reason Fincke cannot fly, will they really have a rookie take command of the ISS?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 10/13/2007 05:21 am
Quote
TJL - 13/10/2007  8:14 AM

I've read that Group 18 astronaut Michael Barratt has been chosen as back-up to Michael Fincke as EXP-18 Commander. If for some reason Fincke cannot fly, will they really have a rookie take command of the ISS?

The back-up for Michael Fincke is officially Yuriy Lonchakov...

As for rookie ISS commander... Sergey Volkov will be Expedition 17 commander...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 10/13/2007 01:58 pm
Thanks, Anik for clearing that up.
I forgot about Volkov going on EXP-17.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: azman818 on 10/13/2007 05:40 pm
Looks like the pattern in the latest round of flight crew assigments has been to take the PLT and one of the spacewalkers who had flown together on a previous flight (a la Archambault and Swanson), and assign them as CDR and lead spacewalker on a subsequent flight.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: dcfowler1 on 10/13/2007 07:00 pm
The 119 MS numbers are not real, as the crew hasn't had a meeting yet.

Dave
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John2375 on 10/14/2007 02:57 pm
i'm not on L2.. what is the official STS-119 crew??
PS - do NOT tell me to do a search - I saw a crew listed but someone said it wasn't official as it came from spacefacts.de (why - are they wrong sometimes??)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: psloss on 10/14/2007 03:27 pm
Quote
John2375 - 14/10/2007  10:57 AM

i'm not on L2.. what is the official STS-119 crew??
PS - do NOT tell me to do a search - I saw a crew listed but someone said it wasn't official as it came from spacefacts.de (why - are they wrong sometimes??)
Probably more a question of timing -- it may not be "official" until the public announcement from NASA.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 10/19/2007 09:26 pm
RELEASE: 07-229

NASA ASSIGNS CREW FOR FINAL SOLAR ARRAY DELIVERY TO STATION

WASHINGTON -- NASA has assigned the space shuttle crew for Discovery's
STS-119 mission, targeted for launch in the fall of 2008. The flight
will deliver the final pair of power- generating solar array wings
and truss element to the International Space Station.

Air Force Col. Lee J. Archambault will command Discovery. Navy Cmdr.
Dominic A. Antonelli will serve as the pilot. The mission specialists
are Joseph Acaba, Richard R. Arnold II, John L. Phillips and Steven
R. Swanson. Antonelli, Acaba and Arnold will be making their first
spaceflight.

STS-119 will be the second spaceflight for Archambault and Swanson,
who flew together on STS-117 in June. Phillips will be making his
third spaceflight.

Discovery will carry the S6 truss segment to complete the
361-foot-long backbone of the space station. The truss includes the
fourth pair of solar array wings and electronics that convert
sunlight to power for the orbiting laboratory.

Archambault considers Bellwood, Ill., his hometown. He was the pilot
for STS-117. He earned a bachelor's and a master's in aeronautical
and astronautical engineering from the University of Illinois-Urbana.
He was selected as an astronaut in 1998.

Antonelli grew up in Indiana and North Carolina. He earned a
bachelor's and a master's in aeronautics and astronautics from
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, and the University
of Washington, Seattle, respectively. He has been a CAPCOM, or
capsule communicator, during launch and landing of space shuttle
missions. He was selected as an astronaut in 2000.

Acaba was raised in Anaheim, Calif. He earned a bachelor's and a
master's in geology from the University of California, Santa Barbara,
and the University of Arizona, Tucson, respectively. He has middle
school and high school math and science teaching experience. He was
selected as an astronaut in 2004.

Arnold, raised in Bowie, Md., earned a bachelor's degree in science
and completed the teacher certification program at Frostburg State
University, Md. He earned a master's in marine, estuarine and
environmental science from the University of Maryland, College Park.
He has teaching experience at middle schools and high schools around
the world. He served as a mission specialist for the 13th NASA
Extreme Environments Mission Operations, known as NEEMO, in August
2007. He was selected as an astronaut in 2004.

Phillips considers Scottsdale, Ariz., his hometown. He has logged more
than 190 days in space, including STS-100 and Expedition 11 on the
space station. He earned a bachelor's in mathematics and Russian from
the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md., a master's in aeronautical
systems from the University of West Florida, Pensacola, and a
master's and a doctorate in geophysics and space physics from the
University of California, Los Angeles. He retired as a Navy reservist
captain in 2002. He was selected as an astronaut in 1996.

Swanson grew up in Steamboat Springs, Colo. He earned a bachelor's in
engineering physics from the University of Colorado, Boulder, a
master's in applied science in computer systems from Florida Atlantic
University, Boca Raton, and a doctorate in computer science from
Texas A&M University, College Station. He joined NASA as a systems
engineer for the shuttle training aircraft in 1987 and was selected
as an astronaut in 1998.

Members of the STS-119 crew were originally announced in 2002, but as
a result of changes in the flight manifest, new crew assignments were
necessary.

Video of the STS-119 crew members will air on NASA Television's Video
File. For downlink and scheduling information and links to streaming
video, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

For complete astronaut biographical information, visit:

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios

For more information about NASA's Space Shuttle Program, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: dzlowe on 10/30/2007 02:58 pm
Have searched and can't find the answer:

How many times before have three women been in space at the same time?  Have there been more than three?

Thanks!

David
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: OV-107 on 10/30/2007 05:59 pm
When sts 112 in 2002 flew Pam Melroy was pilot, Sandy Magnus mission specialist and the current station commander Peggy whitson was station flight engineer.

When sts 96 flew in 1999 Ellen Ochoa, Tamara Jernigan and Julie Payette was all mission specialists.

I´m not sure but I don´t think there have been more than 3 women in space at the same time yet.







Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 10/30/2007 06:13 pm
STS-40: Jernigan, Seddon and Hughes-Fulford...

Mir Expedition 17 and STS-63: Kondakova, Collins and Voss...

Mir Expedition 17 and STS-67: Kondakova, Lawrence and Jernigan...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: dzlowe on 10/30/2007 08:03 pm
Thank you, OV-107 and anik!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: collectSPACE on 11/02/2007 06:39 am
Quote
Chris Bergin - 1/10/2007  12:47 PM

STS-126 crew announcement:

Veteran space flier Navy Capt. Christopher J. Ferguson will command Endeavour. Air Force Lt. Col. Eric A. Boe will serve as the pilot. The mission specialists are Navy Cmdr. Stephen G. Bowen, NASA astronaut Joan E. Higginbotham, Army Lt. Col. Robert S. Kimbrough and Navy Capt. Heidemarie M. Stefanyshyn-Piper.
Fox News is reporting that Joan Higginbotham has chosen to resign from NASA, effective Nov. 30, and has been replaced by Don Pettit aboard STS-126.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: kimmern123 on 11/02/2007 07:02 am
Has this happened before, an astronaut resigning from a flight assignment and NASA to go into private industry?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 11/03/2007 05:27 pm
Jon McBride resigned in early 1989, after being named to command STS-35. He was replaced by Vance Brand.

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: svenge on 11/03/2007 07:16 pm
One must remember that McBride did have his scheduled command (STS-61E) postponed for 5 years (the ASTRO-1 mission was turned into STS-35) very suddenly due to Challenger.  I would think it might be hard to put one's professional life on hiatus for that long.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: FNG on 11/03/2007 09:43 pm
Quote
kimmern123 - 2/11/2007  3:02 AM

Has this happened before, an astronaut resigning from a flight assignment and NASA to go into private industry?

Not quite the same, but Mary Cleave resigned her STS 42 assignment for personal reasons.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 11/03/2007 10:40 pm
Which of these astronauts are still considered eligible for future assignments on the shuttle?
Group 13: Newman, Wolf
Group 14: Clervoy, Coleman, Gernhardt, Hadfield, Lawrence, Smith
Group 15: Hire, Kavandi, Noriega
Group 16: Cagle, Caldiero, J. Kelly, Morin, Guidoni
Thank you...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ChrisGebhardt on 11/03/2007 11:29 pm
Wendy Lawrence retired in June 2006. Other than that look at this site. It lists all the current NASA astronauts and their eligibility (i.e. Management v. flight assignable) as well all the former NASA astronauts. It also lists ESA, JAXA, and CSA astronauts.

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/astrobio_activemgmt.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ChrisGebhardt on 11/03/2007 11:34 pm
Quote
collectSPACE - 2/11/2007  3:39 AM

Quote
Chris Bergin - 1/10/2007  12:47 PM

STS-126 crew announcement:

Veteran space flier Navy Capt. Christopher J. Ferguson will command Endeavour. Air Force Lt. Col. Eric A. Boe will serve as the pilot. The mission specialists are Navy Cmdr. Stephen G. Bowen, NASA astronaut Joan E. Higginbotham, Army Lt. Col. Robert S. Kimbrough and Navy Capt. Heidemarie M. Stefanyshyn-Piper.
Fox News is reporting that Joan Higginbotham has chosen to resign from NASA, effective Nov. 30, and has been replaced by Don Pettit aboard STS-126.

Could you provide a link to this article please. I've just searched the Fox News website and there's nothing about this at all.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jmjawors on 11/03/2007 11:54 pm
The link is embedded in the text.  But here it is again:

http://www.myfoxhouston.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=4809498&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.2.1

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ChrisGebhardt on 11/04/2007 12:55 am
Quote
jmjawors - 3/11/2007  8:54 PM

The link is embedded in the text.  But here it is again:

http://www.myfoxhouston.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=4809498&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.2.1


Okay. Thanks. Missed the link earlier.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nathan.moeller on 11/04/2007 01:11 am
Shame about Higginbothm leaving!  She was awesome on STS-116.  But I wish her the best in whatever she seeks to accomplish in the future.  Great job Joan!!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 11/04/2007 01:19 am
Quote
kimmern123 - 2/11/2007  3:02 AM

Has this happened before, an astronaut resigning from a flight assignment and NASA to go into private industry?

Ox van Hoften gave up a spot on either 61-F or G (Shuttle Centaur) in 1986.  In 1984, T. J. Hart didn't have a formal assignment, but he gave up a sure rotation from the Solar Max mission to Spacelab D-1 in order to return to the business world.

Michael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 11/04/2007 01:35 am
John Fabian was already assigned to STS-61G, when he resigned.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: oscar71 on 11/04/2007 02:56 am
Mary Cleave declined a spot on STS-42 and later resigned.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: faustod on 11/04/2007 08:42 am
I hope that after his great performance on Discovery,
Paolo Nespoli will be considered for a second flight,
MPLM - Donatello or Node3-Cupola.
faustod
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: kimmern123 on 11/04/2007 09:01 am
I sure hope so to. I also hope Pambo, Zambo and Wheels will get a new flight assignment after 120. I guess Scott with his 5 spaceflights won't be selected for another flight.

I think Christer Fuglesang is first in line from the ESA-crowd though. I remember it was announced he was ESA's prime candidate for a flight assignment.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 11/04/2007 01:40 pm
QUOTE>>>Mary Cleave declined a spot on STS-42 and later resigned.

Who replaced Cleave on STS-42?
Thanks
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: FNG on 11/04/2007 03:22 pm
Quote
TJL - 4/11/2007  8:40 AM

QUOTE>>>Mary Cleave declined a spot on STS-42 and later resigned.

Who replaced Cleave on STS-42?
Thanks

Sonny Carter was assigned to replace Cleave, but he was killed in a plane crash and was replaced by David Hilmers.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Endeavour118 on 11/04/2007 04:16 pm
Quote
TJL - 3/11/2007  7:40 PM

Which of these astronauts are still considered eligible for future assignments on the shuttle?
Group 13: Newman, Wolf
Group 14: Clervoy, Coleman, Gernhardt, Hadfield, Lawrence, Smith
Group 15: Hire, Kavandi, Noriega
Group 16: Cagle, Caldiero, J. Kelly, Morin, Guidoni
Thank you...
group 13:Newman is Management - NASA Visiting Professor, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California.and wolf is still active
Group 14:Clervoy returned to home agency , Coleman is still active, Gernhardt is active and has 5 flights, Hadfield is active, Lawrence retired, Smith is Management - NASA Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) Launch Package Manager for the ISS Program
Group 15: Hire is still active, Kavandi Management - Deputy Chief, Astronaut Office, Johnson Space Center, Noriega is Management - Manager, Exploration Systems Engineering Office, Engineering Directorate, Johnson Space Center
Group 16:Cagle is Management - Space and Life Sciences Directorate, Johnson Space Center, Caldiero is     Management - WB-57 Program Office, Aircraft Operations Division, Johnson Space Center, J. Kelly is active, Morin is active, Guidoni is returned to home agency and is a member of the EU parlement
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 11/04/2007 05:23 pm
Endeavour118...thanks for a very detailed response!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Endeavour118 on 11/04/2007 05:38 pm
and i guess the mystery is sloved on why cagle and caldiero haven't flown yet
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: FNG on 11/04/2007 05:44 pm
Quote
TJL - 3/11/2007  9:35 PM

John Fabian was already assigned to STS-61G, when he resigned.

Fabian was also assigned to STS 61D Spacelab Life Sciences 1, so effectively resighed two flights.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: GLS on 11/04/2007 08:08 pm
Quote
FNG - 4/11/2007  6:44 PM

Quote
TJL - 3/11/2007  9:35 PM

John Fabian was already assigned to STS-61G, when he resigned.

Fabian was also assigned to STS 61D Spacelab Life Sciences 1, so effectively resighed two flights.

Wasn't 61D cancelled in like early 85????? 51L moved from July 85 to Jan. 86 after 61D was cancelled... I don't have my files here right now, but I think 61D was EOM-1 not SLS-1 (which then had another name)...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: FNG on 11/04/2007 09:02 pm
Hi,

61D (Spacelab 4) was SLS 1. Along with Fabian, Seddon and Bagian, both MDs, were assigned in February 1984. Brand (CDR) and Griggs (Pilot) were assigned in January 1985, when the flight was still scheduled for January 1986.

By the 19th September 1985 Brand and Griggs had been reassigned to STS 61K EOM1. The press release from then states,

"Brand and Griggs were reassigned from the Spacelab 4 mission, the first dedicated life sciences flight. The launch date for that mission is currently under review."

Brand had previously been assigned to command EOM1 when it was scheduled to fly on STS 51H. On that flight Mike Smith was assigned as pilot.  
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Endeavour118 on 11/05/2007 11:49 pm
Quote
kimmern123 - 4/11/2007  5:01 AM

I sure hope so to. I also hope Pambo, Zambo and Wheels will get a new flight assignment after 120. I guess Scott with his 5 spaceflights won't be selected for another flight.

I think Christer Fuglesang is first in line from the ESA-crowd though. I remember it was announced he was ESA's prime candidate for a flight assignment.
would the ESA have a new astronaut selection group since they only have like under 10 people left in the corps
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 11/06/2007 12:06 am
Quote
Endeavour118 - 5/11/2007  6:49 PM

Quote
kimmern123 - 4/11/2007  5:01 AM

I sure hope so to. I also hope Pambo, Zambo and Wheels will get a new flight assignment after 120. I guess Scott with his 5 spaceflights won't be selected for another flight.

I think Christer Fuglesang is first in line from the ESA-crowd though. I remember it was announced he was ESA's prime candidate for a flight assignment.
would the ESA have a new astronaut selection group since they only have like under 10 people left in the corps


ESA announced this past summer that it would likely start the search for four new astronauts once Columbus has reached ISS.

Michael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: OV-107 on 11/06/2007 07:02 pm
They are searching for 4 new. It will be an astronaut selection somtime in the later parts of next year.
For now, they have only 6 at flight status. Nespoli is in space right now, Schlegel and Eyharts is on next flight, De Winne and Kuipers are in training for ISS long time missions and Fuglesang will be selected in one of the upcoming flight crew selections so they really longed for the new astronaut selection.

I heard Mark Polansky said in a tv show here in sweden when the sts 116 crew was here that he didn´t belived that he was going to be selected as cdr again.
But that was when Oefelein still was at nasa so things can have changed.
I personally prefer Jim Kelly instead but I wonder if he really will fly on the shuttle again when he is not selected but Mark Kelly, Chris Ferguson and Lee Archambault who flew after him has been promoted already?

I belived for a while that he was going to command sts 125 but Altman took the hubble-ride again.

Soichi Noguchi is backup for Koichi Wakata in Expedition 18.

I heard Steve Robinson said in an interview the he really would like to fly again but he understand that he with his 3 flights is "on last place in the queue" and if he won´t be selected, he would  gladly support missions from ground.
I hope they will select him when hey still can select veterans as Rick Linnehan, John Grunsfeld and John Philips.










Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Kel on 11/06/2007 09:00 pm
Quote
OV-107 - 6/11/2007  2:02 PM

They are searching for 4 new. It will be an astronaut selection somtime in the later parts of next year.
For now, they have only 6 at flight status. Nespoli is in space right now, Schlegel and Eyharts is on next flight, De Winne and Kuipers are in training for ISS long time missions and Fuglesang will be selected in one of the upcoming flight crew selections so they really longed for the new astronaut selection.

Is Thomas Reiter still active? I believe he is ESA?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 11/06/2007 09:23 pm
No.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ChrisGebhardt on 11/06/2007 09:33 pm
Quote
OV-107 - 6/11/2007  3:02 PM


I personally prefer Jim Kelly instead but I wonder if he really will fly on the shuttle again when he is not selected but Mark Kelly, Chris Ferguson and Lee Archambault who flew after him has been promoted already?

I belived for a while that he was going to command sts 125 but Altman took the hubble-ride again.


James Kelly is currently serving as CAPCOM Branch Chief. I don't know what this means for his flight eligibility (or potential for assignment to an upcoming mission) but that's what he's doing right now according to his NASA bio which was update in October 2007.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: OV-107 on 11/06/2007 10:10 pm
Quote
Kel - 6/11/2007  11:00 PM

Quote
OV-107 - 6/11/2007  2:02 PM

They are searching for 4 new. It will be an astronaut selection somtime in the later parts of next year.
For now, they have only 6 at flight status. Nespoli is in space right now, Schlegel and Eyharts is on next flight, De Winne and Kuipers are in training for ISS long time missions and Fuglesang will be selected in one of the upcoming flight crew selections so they really longed for the new astronaut selection.

Is Thomas Reiter still active? I believe he is ESA?

Thomas Reiter is an ESA-astronaut but he has begun work for Germanys space agency DLR.

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: geminy007 on 11/07/2007 08:31 am
Quote
OV-107 - 6/11/2007  12:10 AM

Quote
Kel - 6/11/2007  11:00 PM

Quote
OV-107 - 6/11/2007  2:02 PM

They are searching for 4 new. It will be an astronaut selection somtime in the later parts of next year.
For now, they have only 6 at flight status. Nespoli is in space right now, Schlegel and Eyharts is on next flight, De Winne and Kuipers are in training for ISS long time missions and Fuglesang will be selected in one of the upcoming flight crew selections so they really longed for the new astronaut selection.

Is Thomas Reiter still active? I believe he is ESA?

Thomas Reiter is an ESA-astronaut but he has begun work for Germanys space agency DLR.

But he said in an interview, that he hopes to fly again in a couple of years,...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TomPri on 11/07/2007 02:29 pm
Quote
geminy007 - 7/11/2007  3:31 AM

Quote
OV-107 - 6/11/2007  12:10 AM

Quote
Kel - 6/11/2007  11:00 PM

Is Thomas Reiter still active? I believe he is ESA?

Thomas Reiter is an ESA-astronaut but he has begun work for Germanys space agency DLR.

But he said in an interview, that he hopes to fly again in a couple of years,...

Which one interview? I´ve personaly done interview with him in June 2007 (only two months before he left ESA corp) and he said that he want to fly for third time, but his chance is very slim. And he don´t believe that offer of third flight will come...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Endeavour118 on 11/09/2007 01:24 am
can anyone identify the US astronaut in this photo next to peggy and another thing i seen he has the sts-80 patch on a youtube clip
http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/station/crew-16/lores/jsc2007e051472.jpg
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 11/09/2007 11:25 am
I´ve just heard that Brent Jett is the new Director Flight Crew Operations, does anyone know who is his deputy?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 11/09/2007 03:34 pm
Is it Ken Cockrell?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: DwightM on 11/09/2007 05:46 pm
Quote
OV-107 - 6/11/2007  2:10 PM

Quote
Kel - 6/11/2007  11:00 PM

Quote
OV-107 - 6/11/2007  2:02 PM

They are searching for 4 new. It will be an astronaut selection somtime in the later parts of next year.
For now, they have only 6 at flight status. Nespoli is in space right now, Schlegel and Eyharts is on next flight, De Winne and Kuipers are in training for ISS long time missions and Fuglesang will be selected in one of the upcoming flight crew selections so they really longed for the new astronaut selection.

Is Thomas Reiter still active? I believe he is ESA?

Thomas Reiter is an ESA-astronaut but he has begun work for Germanys space agency DLR.


What about Vittori, Duque, & Ewald?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: OV-107 on 11/09/2007 08:06 pm
Quote
DwightM - 9/11/2007  7:46 PM

Quote
OV-107 - 6/11/2007  2:10 PM

Quote
Kel - 6/11/2007  11:00 PM

Quote
OV-107 - 6/11/2007  2:02 PM

They are searching for 4 new. It will be an astronaut selection somtime in the later parts of next year.
For now, they have only 6 at flight status. Nespoli is in space right now, Schlegel and Eyharts is on next flight, De Winne and Kuipers are in training for ISS long time missions and Fuglesang will be selected in one of the upcoming flight crew selections so they really longed for the new astronaut selection.

Is Thomas Reiter still active? I believe he is ESA?

Thomas Reiter is an ESA-astronaut but he has begun work for Germanys space agency DLR.


What about Vittori, Duque, & Ewald?

Roberto Vittori is currently detached to the Italian Air Force under an ESA/Italian Airforce agreement until February 2008.

Reinhold Ewald is presently heading the Flight Operations Division within ESA’s ISS Operations department and located at the Columbus Control Centre near Munich. In this function he is directing a team of ESA Mission Directors managing the 1E Columbus laboratory delivery flight of 2007 and the Columbus activities thereafter.  

Pedro Duque was seconded by ESA as Director of Operations of the Spanish User Support and Operations Centre (USOC) in Madrid, which is managed by the Instituto da Riva/Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (IDR/UPM). There he manages the implementation and first operations of the Centre.  

(this info from esa.int)




Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: FNG on 11/09/2007 08:07 pm
Quote
Ben E - 9/11/2007  10:34 AM

Is it Ken Cockrell?

Ben, yes I think it is.

The British Interplanetary Society's December issue of Spaceflight magazine is reporting that Douglas Hurley is about to complete his tour of duty as NASA's Director of Operations at Star City and be assigned to a shuttle crew.

I guess he could be assigned to STS 127, perhaps along with Hobaugh, Caldwell, Morin and a couple of the 2004 class. Just my thoughts. Any views?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: OV-107 on 11/09/2007 08:39 pm
If his biography is correct Morin is working on the cockpit to the orion spacecraft. If so, I wonder if he will leave this and be selected to a shuttle mission. Please correct me if his biography is incorrect. I saw it was last uppdated in march 2006.

I think Hobaugh, Hurley and Caldwell is possible. I also guess for Danny Olivas and Jose Hernandez.
If 127 is carrying the Exposed Facility to the japanese experiment module maybe Yamazaki or Furukawa will also be onboard?



Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Endeavour118 on 11/09/2007 08:50 pm
Quote
Olaf - 9/11/2007  7:25 AM

I´ve just heard that Brent Jett is the new Director Flight Crew Operations, does anyone know who is his deputy?
can you or anyone who has a nasa astronaut insider confirm that?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: bothwell on 11/09/2007 09:06 pm
Its official, check out his official NASA biographie.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jorge on 11/09/2007 09:08 pm
Quote
Endeavour118 - 9/11/2007  3:50 PM

Quote
Olaf - 9/11/2007  7:25 AM

I´ve just heard that Brent Jett is the new Director Flight Crew Operations, does anyone know who is his deputy?
can you or anyone who has a nasa astronaut insider confirm that?

Confirmed. Deputy is Curbeam.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ChrisGebhardt on 11/09/2007 09:23 pm
What about Morgan getting another flight?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Andy_Small on 11/09/2007 09:24 pm
Quote
Trekkie07 - 9/11/2007  4:23 PM

What about Morgan getting another flight?

I could see her getting another flight that is Transfer intensive.  She seemed to really shine when it came to it!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ShuttleDiscovery on 11/09/2007 09:31 pm
Quote
Andy_Small - 9/11/2007  10:24 PM

Quote
Trekkie07 - 9/11/2007  4:23 PM

What about Morgan getting another flight?

I could see her getting another flight that is Transfer intensive.  She seemed to really shine when it came to it!

Definately. If Hobaugh get another flight as CDR then either Morgan, Caldwell or Drew will probably be with him if the current trend continues...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Endeavour118 on 11/09/2007 09:51 pm
and ellen is now JSC deputy director will we see jett down in fla for sts-122 when they launch during crew walk out u know how steve lindsey always walks out with them?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Endeavour118 on 11/09/2007 09:54 pm
Quote
FNG - 9/11/2007  4:07 PM

Quote
Ben E - 9/11/2007  10:34 AM

Is it Ken Cockrell?

Ben, yes I think it is.

The British Interplanetary Society's December issue of Spaceflight magazine is reporting that Douglas Hurley is about to complete his tour of duty as NASA's Director of Operations at Star City and be assigned to a shuttle crew.

I guess he could be assigned to STS 127, perhaps along with Hobaugh, Caldwell, Morin and a couple of the 2004 class. Just my thoughts. Any views?
if that is Ken cockrell he has gotten real old
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: DwightM on 11/09/2007 09:57 pm
Quote
Endeavour118 - 9/11/2007  1:54 PM

Quote
FNG - 9/11/2007  4:07 PM

Quote
Ben E - 9/11/2007  10:34 AM

Is it Ken Cockrell?

Ben, yes I think it is.

The British Interplanetary Society's December issue of Spaceflight magazine is reporting that Douglas Hurley is about to complete his tour of duty as NASA's Director of Operations at Star City and be assigned to a shuttle crew.

I guess he could be assigned to STS 127, perhaps along with Hobaugh, Caldwell, Morin and a couple of the 2004 class. Just my thoughts. Any views?
if that is Ken cockrell he has gotten real old

That's not Ken Cockrell.  Truth is, I don't recognize him - could be a Flight Surgeon.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 11/09/2007 10:27 pm
Interesting news about Jett. I didn't know he'd retired four months ago and come back. What was he doing in those four months?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: collectSPACE on 11/09/2007 11:43 pm
Quote
Endeavour118 - 9/11/2007  4:51 PM

will we see jett down in fla for sts-122 when they launch during crew walk out u know how steve lindsey always walks out with them?

The chief astronaut (Lindsey) rides with the crew on the astrovan, not the FCOD director (Jett). That said, I recall seeing Jett at the STS-120 walkout, he was off to the side watching.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: collectSPACE on 11/10/2007 12:01 am
Quote
DwightM - 9/11/2007  4:57 PM

That's not Ken Cockrell.  Truth is, I don't recognize him - could be a Flight Surgeon.
If you view the high-res version of that photo, you can just about make out his nametag: Smith Johnston, M.D., who is indeed a flight surgeon.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: kimmern123 on 11/10/2007 01:48 am
Quote
collectSPACE - 10/11/2007  1:43 AM

Quote
Endeavour118 - 9/11/2007  4:51 PM

will we see jett down in fla for sts-122 when they launch during crew walk out u know how steve lindsey always walks out with them?

The chief astronaut (Lindsey) rides with the crew on the astrovan, not the FCOD director (Jett). That said, I recall seeing Jett at the STS-120 walkout, he was off to the side watching.

Actually, I think both of them ride with the astroanuts. In Christer Fuglesan's book (boy, am I reading a lot of astronaut books) he mentions that Steve Lindsey and Ellen Ochoa were also on the astrovan. Ochoa, even pulled a prank on the rookies when she started asking for their shuttle boarding cards. Beamer and Roman dutifully took out very official looking boarding cards from their pockets while the rookies, thinking this was something necessary, panicked when they couldn't find their own card.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: texas_space on 11/10/2007 03:51 am
Quote
kimmern123 - 9/11/2007  8:48 PM

Quote
collectSPACE - 10/11/2007  1:43 AM

Quote
Endeavour118 - 9/11/2007  4:51 PM

will we see jett down in fla for sts-122 when they launch during crew walk out u know how steve lindsey always walks out with them?

The chief astronaut (Lindsey) rides with the crew on the astrovan, not the FCOD director (Jett). That said, I recall seeing Jett at the STS-120 walkout, he was off to the side watching.

Actually, I think both of them ride with the astroanuts. In Christer Fuglesan's book (boy, am I reading a lot of astronaut books) he mentions that Steve Lindsey and Ellen Ochoa were also on the astrovan. Ochoa, even pulled a prank on the rookies when she started asking for their shuttle boarding cards. Beamer and Roman dutifully took out very official looking boarding cards from their pockets while the rookies, thinking this was something necessary, panicked when they couldn't find their own card.

That's funny!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ShuttleDiscovery on 11/10/2007 07:40 am
Haha! Poor rookies... ;)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 11/10/2007 08:11 am
Quote
kimmern123 - 10/11/2007  3:48 AM

In Christer Fuglesan's book .

What's the title of the book, and is the book in English ?? were can I buy it  :)

Thanks,
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: collectSPACE on 11/10/2007 03:10 pm
Quote
jacqmans - 10/11/2007  3:11 AM

What's the title of the book, and is the book in English?
Fuglesang has written two books since returning from space:
http://collectspace.com/ubb/Forum9/HTML/001137.html

Per the publishers and Fuglesang (who I interviewed at the STS-120 launch) neither are currently planned for English translation.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 11/21/2007 06:54 pm
RELEASE: 07-259

NASA AMENDS CREW ASSIGNMENT FOR STS-126 MISSION

WASHINGTON - NASA has replaced a crew member assigned to space shuttle
mission STS-126. Astronaut Donald R. Pettit will take the place of
astronaut Joan E. Higginbotham, who has left NASA to accept a
position in the private sector. The mission is targeted to launch in
September 2008 and will deliver equipment to the International Space
Station enabling larger crews to reside aboard the complex.

Higginbotham flew as a mission specialist on STS-116 in December 2006.
She began her career at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla., in 1987,
contributing to 53 space shuttle launches. She was selected as an
astronaut in 1996.

"Joan has done a tremendous job as an astronaut during the past 11
years," said Steve Lindsey, chief of the Astronaut Office at NASA's
Johnson Space Center, Houston. "She contributed her expertise to
nearly every space shuttle and International Space Station mission.
She will be missed, but we wish her the very best in her future
endeavors."

The STS-126 mission will be Pettit's second spaceflight. Pettit will
serve as a mission specialist aboard shuttle Endeavour. He joins
previously named crew members Commander Christopher J. Ferguson,
Pilot Eric A. Boe and mission specialists Stephen G. Bowen, Robert S.
Kimbrough and Heidemarie M. Stefanyshyn-Piper.

Pettit first flew as a crew member of Expedition 6, logging more than
161 days in space, including more than 13 hours during two
spacewalks. He launched to the station aboard shuttle mission STS-113
in November 2002 and returned to Earth on the Soyuz TMA-1 spacecraft
in May 2003. He was selected as an astronaut in 1996.

For complete astronaut biographical information, visit:

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios

For more information about NASA's Space Shuttle Program, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ShuttleDiscovery on 11/21/2007 06:56 pm
Thanks for the official confirmation.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 11/22/2007 06:19 pm
So will Pettit literally take over Higginbotham's responsibilities (ie robotics and transfer work) or will he put his EVA experience to use as well?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ShuttleDiscovery on 11/22/2007 06:41 pm
Quote
Ben E - 22/11/2007  7:19 PM

So will Pettit literally take over Higginbotham's responsibilities (ie robotics and transfer work) or will he put his EVA experience to use as well?

I don't think we'll know for sure just yet, but yes, it is likely he will do the majority of what Higginbotham was going to do.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Endeavour118 on 11/22/2007 07:16 pm
anyone know what happened to jeff ashby? and his first flight was to be sts-85  and he resigned from that mission to take care of his 1st wife who died from cancer correct?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 11/23/2007 03:33 am
Quote
Endeavour118 - 22/11/2007  3:16 PM

anyone know what happened to jeff ashby? and his first flight was to be sts-85  and he resigned from that mission to take care of his 1st wife who died from cancer correct?

Didn't know that why he didn't fly STS-85. That's really tragic.

Last I checked he was still on a detached assignment to the USAF Academy.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ChrisGebhardt on 11/23/2007 03:49 am
Quote
Skylon - 22/11/2007  11:33 PM

Quote
Endeavour118 - 22/11/2007  3:16 PM

anyone know what happened to jeff ashby? and his first flight was to be sts-85  and he resigned from that mission to take care of his 1st wife who died from cancer correct?

Didn't know that why he didn't fly STS-85. That's really tragic.

Last I checked he was still on a detached assignment to the USAF Academy.

Don't know anything about the STS-85 situation but Ashby is currently on special assignment to the Headquarters, Air Force Space Command in Colorado Springs, Colorado according to his official NASA Bio which was last updated in January 2006.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aurora899 on 11/23/2007 07:02 am
Quote
Endeavour118 - 22/11/2007  8:16 PM

anyone know what happened to jeff ashby? and his first flight was to be sts-85  and he resigned from that mission to take care of his 1st wife who died from cancer correct?

Hi,
Yes, Jeff Ashby asked to be dropped from STS-85 because his wife had been diagnosed with cancer. According to a letter I received from someone who knew the couple, Mrs. Ashby pleaded with her husband to still fly the mission. Naturally none of this was made public; the official press release simply stated that he had been "re-assigned."
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John2375 on 11/23/2007 01:54 pm
Yes (why this is here since it's "personal"  I don't know, but anyway, yes he was assigned to STS-85 originally. On spacepatches.info in the funny/rare/personal section of the shuttle patch section, you can see the original STS-85 patch w/his name.
He has since re-married and flown 3 missions.  I hope he will be re-assigned to one more flight but there's only a few more to be assigned crews and more than enough deserving folks.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Endeavour118 on 11/23/2007 05:22 pm
on spacepatches.nl it says this:
Jeffrey S. Ashby removed himself from STS-85 to take care of his wife, who was dying of cancer. NASA made no mention of this to the press, out of concern for Ashby's privacy.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: apollo13 on 11/25/2007 06:09 pm
Anybody have the crew assignments for STS-127?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ChrisGebhardt on 11/25/2007 06:21 pm
Quote
apollo13 - 25/11/2007  2:09 PM

Anybody have the crew assignments for STS-127?

NO. So far they've only assigned crews through STS-119.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ShuttleDiscovery on 11/25/2007 06:22 pm
Quote
apollo13 - 25/11/2007  7:09 PM

Anybody have the crew assignments for STS-127?

The only person we know for now is Timothy Kopra, the Expedition 18 Flight Engineer who will be launching on STS-127.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: apollo13 on 11/25/2007 06:22 pm
Wikipedia has flight crew assignments for 127..but they tok them off.

Charlie Hobugh was CDR, and MS 1 was Tracy Caldwell, and MS 2 was Jose Hernandez..but I think it was fake...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ShuttleDiscovery on 11/25/2007 06:24 pm
Quote
apollo13 - 25/11/2007  7:22 PM

Wikipedia has flight crew assignments for 127..but they tok them off.

Charlie Hobugh was CDR, and MS 1 was Tracy Caldwell, and MS 2 was Jose Hernandez..but I think it was fake...

Well, there has been speculation about Hobaugh getting this flight, but we will not know for sure until NASA actually assigns the crew. I think they will be assigned by the end of 2007/ beginning of 2008...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: apollo13 on 11/25/2007 06:27 pm
I exected this flight to be Chris Ferguson's flight, but he got 126.....I wanted Charlie on 119 on a more complicated flight. Lee deserves 127...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ShuttleDiscovery on 11/25/2007 06:38 pm
Why do certain astronauts deserve different flights!? Anyway, it makes sense for Lee to get 119 as he has truss and solar array experience, but overall it really dosen't matter. If you look at the current trend (excluding STS-125), you will see why the CDRs are in this order.

Kelly (121/124)
Ferguson (115/126)
Oefelein (116/[Left NASA])
Archambault (117/119)
Hobaugh (118/127)?
Zamka (120/129)?



Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: apollo13 on 11/25/2007 09:19 pm
Question on wikipedia they have the STS-124 page, it says they are launching Greg Chamitoff for Expedition 17 and STS-127 says launching: Greg Chamitoff for E18.
That's weird...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 11/26/2007 02:31 am
Quote
apollo13 - 25/11/2007  5:19 PM

Question on wikipedia they have the STS-124 page, it says they are launching Greg Chamitoff for Expedition 17 and STS-127 says launching: Greg Chamitoff for E18.
That's weird...

The wiki entry for STS-127 is out of date. It's that simple.

As far as CDR, I'm still hoping Jim Kelly gets his chance on 127 (if they pass him on this I'll be convinced he ain't getting another flight).
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: OV-107 on 11/26/2007 06:20 pm
I have also heard about the speculation of Hobaugh to command 127 but i don´t think it´s shure that it will be so.
I´m pretty sure and hope that Charlie will command but it can also be on 128 or 129 for example.

I´m still hoping for J Kelly or Polansky or if some pilot in cdr-line resigns both of them getting a new flight.

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John2375 on 11/27/2007 02:43 am
what about Pambo?? Couldn't she potentially draw one of the last flights?

Looks like Jeff Ashby won't be up for another; I agree about Jim Kelly, he certainly deserves one.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nathan.moeller on 11/27/2007 05:47 am
I really hope Jim Kelly gets his shot as CDR.  He did an awesome job during STS-114.  As for Pambo, I would indeed like to see her back for one of the final flights.  She was absolutely outstanding during STS-120.  And don't worry about Wikipedia.  Most of that stuff is wrong anyway.  NSF is where the correct information is.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 11/28/2007 10:31 pm
Even if Jim Kelly was "marked" for Orion, wouldn't you think there was enough (training) time between the end of STS-127 and the beginning of Orion flying its first manned flight?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jim on 11/29/2007 12:09 am
Quote
TJL - 28/11/2007  6:31 PM

Even if Jim Kelly was "marked" for Orion, wouldn't you think there was enough (training) time between the end of STS-127 and the beginning of Orion flying its first manned flight?

too much time
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: on 11/29/2007 12:35 am
I hope Pam Melroy gets another flight because she was such a great commander.  I hope she gets on one of the flights in 2010.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 11/29/2007 03:51 pm
I still can't imagine a scenario other than giving as many first-time CDRs a chance before 2010. Hence, there are enough flights to give all of the Group 17 pilots their first command and fly the Group 18 and 19 pilots in the right seat. Look at the number of flights available and the number of unflown CDRs - if ULF-4 and ULF-5 fly, there are precisely enough flights to give every Group 17 PLT their first command. If I were Steve Lindsey, I'd want as many CDR-qualified astronauts as possible to carry over to Orion operations to compensate for any attrition from the corps after 2010. I personally don't see people with previous command experience getting another flight before Orion - but could be (and probably will be) proved wrong!





Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 11/30/2007 02:14 am
Quote
Ben E - 29/11/2007  11:51 AM

I still can't imagine a scenario other than giving as many first-time CDRs a chance before 2010. Hence, there are enough flights to give all of the Group 17 pilots their first command and fly the Group 18 and 19 pilots in the right seat. Look at the number of flights available and the number of unflown CDRs - if ULF-4 and ULF-5 fly, there are precisely enough flights to give every Group 17 PLT their first command. If I were Steve Lindsey, I'd want as many CDR-qualified astronauts as possible to carry over to Orion operations to compensate for any attrition from the corps after 2010. I personally don't see people with previous command experience getting another flight before Orion - but could be (and probably will be) proved wrong!

Didn't realize that about the CDR slots, but you are right.

I'm going to guess we'll be seeing rookie CDR's up through STS 130. STS 132 will likely get a veteran CDR given that it's the last assembly flight. If STS 131 and 133 are flown, I'll guess 131 will be commanded by a rookie CDR and 133 with a veteran as it's the last flight. Among the possible vets to end up with late flights: probably, Polansky, Sturckow and Melroy.

There would be some symmetry to Sturckow flying the last assembly mission, as he flew the first (STS-88).

Also, unless we hear a decision about STS 131 and 133 soon, I would not be surprised if Jim Dutton and Randy Bresnik fly their first missions as MS's.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: OV-107 on 12/01/2007 01:00 pm
Quote
Skylon - 30/11/2007  4:14 AM

Quote
Ben E - 29/11/2007  11:51 AM

I still can't imagine a scenario other than giving as many first-time CDRs a chance before 2010. Hence, there are enough flights to give all of the Group 17 pilots their first command and fly the Group 18 and 19 pilots in the right seat. Look at the number of flights available and the number of unflown CDRs - if ULF-4 and ULF-5 fly, there are precisely enough flights to give every Group 17 PLT their first command. If I were Steve Lindsey, I'd want as many CDR-qualified astronauts as possible to carry over to Orion operations to compensate for any attrition from the corps after 2010. I personally don't see people with previous command experience getting another flight before Orion - but could be (and probably will be) proved wrong!

Didn't realize that about the CDR slots, but you are right.

I'm going to guess we'll be seeing rookie CDR's up through STS 130. STS 132 will likely get a veteran CDR given that it's the last assembly flight. If STS 131 and 133 are flown, I'll guess 131 will be commanded by a rookie CDR and 133 with a veteran as it's the last flight. Among the possible vets to end up with late flights: probably, Polansky, Sturckow and Melroy.

There would be some symmetry to Sturckow flying the last assembly mission, as he flew the first (STS-88).

Also, unless we hear a decision about STS 131 and 133 soon, I would not be surprised if Jim Dutton and Randy Bresnik fly their first missions as MS's.

Yeah maybe they will fly as mission specialists on the shuttle (if they fly the shuttle at all) and then pilot and commanding orion missions.
If they will pilot the shuttle I think Virts, Ford, Hurley and Wilmore will be selected before them.

My vote is for Pam Melroy as the last shuttle commander (sts 133) and the opening orion commander (orion 3).

Do you think the 127 crew will be announced at the same time they announce that Atlantis will continue after 125 ?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ETEE on 12/01/2007 01:15 pm
Quote
Skylon - 30/11/2007  3:14 AM

There would be some symmetry to Sturckow flying the last assembly mission, as he flew the first (STS-88).

Is this the right basis to select pilots for a mission?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 12/01/2007 04:16 pm
Quote
ETEE - 1/12/2007  9:15 AM

Quote
Skylon - 30/11/2007  3:14 AM

There would be some symmetry to Sturckow flying the last assembly mission, as he flew the first (STS-88).

Is this the right basis to select pilots for a mission?

Christ no. Just an observation if things occur that way. As I said if STS-132 gets flown by a veteran CDR, I'd expect it to be either Polansky, Sturckow or Melroy (as they are flown CDR's not in management positions, Scott Kelly I guess would also fit there). Obviously the best person available should be chosen and it could just as easily be a first-time CDR (from the 1998 class).

As far as STS-127's crew selection/Atlantis continuing to fly, maybe...I guess it will depend on post-flight evaluation and how long that takes. I'm sure we'll find out if STS 131 and 133 are flying if Atlantis is selected to continue flying.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 12/01/2007 04:33 pm
Quote
OV-107 - 1/12/2007  9:00 AM


Yeah maybe they will fly as mission specialists on the shuttle (if they fly the shuttle at all) and then pilot and commanding orion missions.
If they will pilot the shuttle I think Virts, Ford, Hurley and Wilmore will be selected before them.

Just to add, the rookie pool is drying up rather fast. By my count the following are totally unassigned to a future flight at the moment:
96/98 MS's: Caldiero, Cagle, Woodward (God knows if they'll ever fly at this point).
2000 PLT's: Ford, Virts, Hurley, Wilmore (enough PLT slots for these guys).
2004 PLT's: Dutton and Bresnik (if 131 and 133 fly there are enough PLT slots for these two).
2004 MS's: Cassidy, Hernandez, Satcher, Marshburn, Metcalf-Lindenberger (the way things have been rolling I'm sure at least one will be on STS-127).
Foreign MS's: Furukawa, Yamazaki (I'm sure one will land STS-127 as it is another Japanese element going up).

Further, there are a couple rookie ISS Backups with no prime assignments:
Creamer, Walker (maybe will fly to ISS via Soyuz post-Shuttle, or fly on shuttle as a sort of consolation, similar to how Bonnie Dunbar ended up on STS-71).

That's 18 rookie astronauts without a flight assignment. 5 flights at minimum remain with no crews (about 35 seats remaining).
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ShuttleDiscovery on 12/01/2007 04:41 pm
I also hope James Kelly gets STS-127. As there now seems to be at least one MS flying with the CDR both from a same previous flight, that would make sense for Noguchi to fly with him (but Furukawa or Yamazaki is more likely).
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 12/01/2007 04:43 pm
QUOTE..."That's 18 rookie astronauts without a flight assignment. 5 flights at minimum remain with no crews (about 35 seats remaining).

If I were one of those 18, I'd feel pretty good about my odds of flying.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: OV-107 on 12/01/2007 05:50 pm
Quote
ShuttleDiscovery - 1/12/2007  6:41 PM

I also hope James Kelly gets STS-127. As there now seems to be at least one MS flying with the CDR both from a same previous flight, that would make sense for Noguchi to fly with him (but Furukawa or Yamazaki is more likely).

Or Steve Robinson !
I would love to see him on a flight again and I hope he is not out of chance when they continue to sending veterans as Parazynski, Linnehan, Grunsfeld and Philips in to space.

Soichi Noguchi is backup to Koichi Wakata so I guess he has support work to do on ground when Wakatas mission is going on.

I can say that I really hope Jim Kelly gets sts 127 but if I would be asked to guess the CDR for this mission I would say Charlie Hobaugh.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ShuttleDiscovery on 12/01/2007 06:08 pm
Well, it does seem to be that way (Kelly, Ferguson, Archambault) Hobaugh is the next in line not including STS-125.

I also hope Steve Robinson gets another flight, but who knows?


No idea when the crews will be named however, some time around the new year is my guess...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: MKremer on 12/01/2007 06:16 pm
Crew selection is a sort of "black art" NASA closely restricts to a select few people, and something we mere mortals on the 'outside' aren't privy to and will never totally understand.  :laugh:
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Stevo on 12/03/2007 09:40 pm
Quote
MKremer - 1/12/2007  2:16 PM

Crew selection is a sort of "black art" NASA closely restricts to a select few people, and something we mere mortals on the 'outside' aren't privy to and will never totally understand.  :laugh:

To understand how random and politicized it is, read "Dragonfly" by Bryan Burrough or "Riding Rockets" by Mike Mullane. While they both focus on some of the black magic of George Abbey in selecting flight crews the same sorts of favoritism/politics apply today with some astronauts flown several times in rapid succession while others remain grounded for life.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 12/04/2007 11:26 am
I've just read DEKE by Slayton and Cassutt, which also provides some insights into the (early) crew selections. I think there's a lot of just being in the right place at the right time involved as well.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: azman818 on 12/04/2007 05:05 pm
Just as an observation, in Spacecraft Film's Apollo 9 set, Rusty Schweickart was quoted as saying he felt he didn't receive another prime crew assignment after Apollo 9 because he wasn't 'one of Al Shepard's boys'.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 12/07/2007 04:18 pm
Beamer's left NASA. Thanks for the shakes, sir.

VETERAN ASTRONAUT AND SPACEWALKER ROBERT CURBEAM LEAVES NASA

HOUSTON - NASA astronaut Robert Curbeam, Jr., has left NASA to take a
job in the private sector.

"Bob has served his country with distinction for more than 23 years,
both as an astronaut and naval officer," said Brent Jett, director of
the Flight Crew Operations Directorate at NASA's Johnson Space Center in
Houston. "His accomplishments and talents are truly extraordinary.
We are grateful for his service at NASA and wish him well in his new
career."

Curbeam most recently served as deputy director of the Flight Crew
Operations Directorate. He has flown on three space shuttle missions.
On his last flight, STS-116 in December 2006, Curbeam became the first
shuttle astronaut ever to conduct four spacewalks in a single mission.
During the spacewalks, he assisted in clearing problems that had
prevented the folding of a solar array wing on the International Space
Station and completed other assembly tasks.

Curbeam also flew on STS-85 in August 1997 and STS-98 in February 2001.
During the STS-98 mission, he performed three spacewalks to help install
the space station's Destiny laboratory. He has accumulated 45 hours and
34 minutes of spacewalking time and more than 900 hours in space.

NASA selected Curbeam as an astronaut in December 1994. He has served in
a variety of technical and management positions within the Astronaut
Office in Houston. He also served as deputy associate administrator for
safety and mission assurance at NASA Headquarters in Washington and as
director of safety, reliability and quality assurance for the
Constellation Program.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: brahmanknight on 12/07/2007 04:28 pm
Wow.  Sorry to hear that he left, but I wish him good luck.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jeff Lerner on 12/07/2007 04:55 pm
I'm guessing we're going to see a lot more of this in the near future...experienced astronauts leaving NASA for other jobs as the Shuttle program winds down. When we started to lose experienced people during the dot_Com boom, my company started to offer retention bonuses for people with so called "hot skills"...still plenty of astronauts around but not that many with the experience level of Curbeam and as I said, easy to predict more of the expereinced ones leaving as the realize they have no chance for future flights...wonder who will "turn out" the lights...any guesses who might still be aorund to fly the last Shuttle flight in 2010 ??

Edited for typo's
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jim on 12/07/2007 05:15 pm
No big deal.  Just like Apollo to Shuttle, people will still hang around for a flight
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: dawei on 12/07/2007 05:24 pm
A flight assignment is a BIG retention bonus.  Sure, some will leave and they have every right to do so.  But I don't think they will have any problem filling available seats.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: DwightM on 12/07/2007 09:33 pm
If the bill being discussed here http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=11084&posts=40&start=1 goes through, I wonder if they'll scrap the four flight 'limit'?  They'll almost certainly have to recycle the Group 18 & 19 pilots in those positions with more to come in Group 20.  Minor questions for a major topic, I know, but talk about taking a sharp left on what you thought was a straight road...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 12/07/2007 09:39 pm
I imagine some astronauts will stick around, as the four-year Shuttle-to-CEV gap is (supposedly) shorter than the six-year Apollo-to-Shuttle gap, but what will happen when the CEV is finally operational? Looking at the schedule, it'll only be flying a few times manned in the next decade anyway, mostly with crews of two or (at most) four. Even with six-month ISS missions, that only allows for an extra four US seats for the station per year. Unlike the optimistic late 1970s when the Shuttle was envisaged to fly regular missions with crews of seven, I can't see many astronauts wanting to stick around...in fact, the only available carrot would surely be a chance to walk on the Moon.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: dawei on 12/08/2007 03:07 am
Quote
Ben E - 8/12/2007  6:39 AM

I imagine some astronauts will stick around, as the four-year Shuttle-to-CEV gap is (supposedly) shorter than the six-year Apollo-to-Shuttle gap, but what will happen when the CEV is finally operational? Looking at the schedule, it'll only be flying a few times manned in the next decade anyway, mostly with crews of two or (at most) four. Even with six-month ISS missions, that only allows for an extra four US seats for the station per year. Unlike the optimistic late 1970s when the Shuttle was envisaged to fly regular missions with crews of seven, I can't see many astronauts wanting to stick around...in fact, the only available carrot would surely be a chance to walk on the Moon.

And that is a BIG carrot!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: kimmern123 on 12/09/2007 06:14 pm
I had the great pleasure of meeting Beamer in April and he's just a terrific guy. I wish him the best of luck in his new career and I'm sure he'll do a tremendous job.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: herry on 12/11/2007 01:47 pm
Quote
anik - 4/11/2005  7:05 AM

It is a very old plan (May 2005)... There might be changes since then...
Good plan is good plan, though it's old,we can get much thing from it.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 12/13/2007 10:15 pm
What do you believe will be the crew of the STS-3xx rescue mission for the LAST Shuttle mission ?

(very stupid question, but I couldn't help !)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: DwightM on 12/14/2007 12:00 am
Quote
hektor - 13/12/2007  2:15 PM

What do you believe will be the crew of the STS-3xx rescue mission for the LAST Shuttle mission ?

(very stupid question, but I couldn't help !)

My guess is that it would be made up of the core of a recently flown crew (STS-131 or 132).
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: faustod on 12/14/2007 05:59 pm
SpaceFact.de reports that the Backup Space Tourist of
Richard Garriott, for Soyuz TMA 13, will be Nik Halik (Australia).

Now a simple question:
After the departure of Curbeam, has NASA already named a new
Deputy Director of Flight Operations?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ender0319 on 12/14/2007 06:01 pm
No but you can apply for the position -> http://jobsearch.usajobs.opm.gov/a9nasai.asp

Quote
faustod - 14/12/2007  12:59 PM

Now a simple question:
After the departure of Curbeam, has NASA already named a new
Deputy Director of Flight Operations?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ras391 on 12/14/2007 06:20 pm
According to Space Adventures, they have not picked a backup.  Halik just said he is the backup. They say he is one of the ones under consideration. They have others.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 12/14/2007 07:34 pm
Spacefacts.de has copied word for word the entry I wrote about Nik Halik in the English language wikipedia. ;)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: OV-107 on 12/14/2007 09:46 pm
Do you think Sunita Williams will be the second women to command a long duration ISS mission ?


Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ShuttleDiscovery on 12/14/2007 10:55 pm
Quote
OV-107 - 14/12/2007  10:46 PM

Do you think Sunita Williams will be the second women to command a long duration ISS mission ?



It's possible as Peggy flew once before on ISS before becoming a female commander... :)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 12/17/2007 09:15 am
Quote
hektor - 14/12/2007  9:34 PM

Spacefacts.de has copied word for word the entry I wrote about Nik Halik in the English language wikipedia. ;)

I seriously start to consider Spacefacts to be a dubious webpage …

What a bummer! I like the concept of that website — but pooling together uncredited information and presenting Wiki clippings is kind of sappy …
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 12/23/2007 10:17 pm
I see that STS-118 CDR Scott Kelly has been assigned as back-up CDR to Jeff Williams on EXP-20A (Soyuz TMA-16).
With shuttle retiring in 2010, and veteran shuttle CDR's not getting many flight opportunities, he probably views it as the only way of returning to ISS (before Orion takes flight).
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Carl G on 12/23/2007 10:49 pm
Quote
nethegauner - 17/12/2007  4:15 AM

Quote
hektor - 14/12/2007  9:34 PM

Spacefacts.de has copied word for word the entry I wrote about Nik Halik in the English language wikipedia. ;)

I seriously start to consider Spacefacts to be a dubious webpage …

What a bummer! I like the concept of that website — but pooling together uncredited information and presenting Wiki clippings is kind of sappy …

They are leeches. A German guy runs it with the help of some American. They both seem to enjoy stealing from other sites. Maybe those Space.com hackers should target a site that deserves it ;)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: bothwell on 12/24/2007 10:39 am
Spacefacts.de is a great site with a lot of usefull information.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ShuttleDiscovery on 12/24/2007 10:50 am
Quote
bothwell - 24/12/2007  11:39 AM

Spacefacts.de is a great site with a lot of usefull information.

I too find it helpful as it is a very organised site and you can find lots of information very quickly, but I too get the feeling they just 'borrow' off other sites... :o
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Endeavour118 on 01/05/2008 07:24 am
when will they come out with sts-127's crew?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ShuttleDiscovery on 01/05/2008 09:06 am
Quote
Endeavour118 - 5/1/2008  8:24 AM

when will they come out with sts-127's crew?

This has already been asked a number of times and the answer is probably after STS-122.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skyrocket on 01/11/2008 09:10 am
According to the polish "Loty kosmiczne"-Website the crew for STS-127 consists of following astronauts. Although not official, this website has in the past often been reporting the crews correctly before the official NASA release

http://astro.zeto.czest.pl/loty/sts127.htm

CDR: Mark L. Polansky
PLT: Douglas G. Hurley
MS: David A. Wolf
MS: Julie Payette
MS: Christopher J. Cassidy
MS: Thomas H. Marshburn
MS/ISS: Timothy L. Kopra

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 01/11/2008 03:39 pm
This website has been proved in the past to have semi-correct information. For example, it predicted the pre-Columbia STS-118 crew as including Don Thomas (wrong), but correctly predicted the remainder of the crew. Personally, I'd be surprised to see Polansky get another command, but who knows?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 01/11/2008 04:07 pm
Polansky is correct. We checked into and confirmed him a few weeks ago. Source asked me not to publish (not even on L2) so as not to potentially cause problems, so I didn't.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: kimmern123 on 01/11/2008 04:11 pm
That is great news! I've been hoping for Mark getting another flight ever since I met him last year. He's just a great guy that really deserved another flight!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 01/11/2008 04:12 pm
Fair enough. It's interesting that there's no Japanese involvement on the final JEM flight.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 01/11/2008 04:25 pm
Quote
Ben E - 11/1/2008  5:12 PM

Fair enough. It's interesting that there's no Japanese involvement on the final JEM flight.

Remember, I only know about the commander. No idea about the rest of the crew.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ShuttleDiscovery on 01/11/2008 05:43 pm
I guess the way things are going James Kelly won't get another flight as CDR :( ...

STS-121/STS-124 - Mark Kelly
STS-115/STS-126 - Ferguson
STS-117/STS-119 - Archambault
STS-116/STS-127 - Polansky
STS-118/STS-128 - Hobaugh?
STS-120/STS-139 - Zamka?
STS-122/STS-130 - Poindexter?

..you get my drift.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ShuttleDiscovery on 01/11/2008 05:48 pm
Wow. Two people from 2004 selection on the STS-127 crew. With Kimbrough on STS-126 too they definately seem to be putting as many of them on as they can...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jeff Lerner on 01/11/2008 06:10 pm
Quote
Ben E - 11/1/2008  12:12 PM

Fair enough. It's interesting that there's no Japanese involvement on the final JEM flight.

Well, if Julie Payette is confirmed on STS-127 that kind of makes up for no CSA astronaut on STS-123 with Dextre being the final Canadian contribution on that flight.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: kimmern123 on 01/11/2008 06:10 pm
Quote
ShuttleDiscovery - 11/1/2008  7:43 PM

I guess the way things are going James Kelly won't get another flight as CDR :( ...

STS-121/STS-124 - Mark Kelly
STS-115/STS-126 - Ferguson
STS-116/STS-127 - Polansky
STS-117/STS-128 - Archambault?
STS-118/STS-129 - Hobaugh?
STS-120/STS-130 - Zamka?
STS-122/STS-131 - Poindexter?

..you get my drift.

Archambault is CDR on STS-119, not STS-128. That crew is still not announced ;)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ShuttleDiscovery on 01/11/2008 06:13 pm
Quote
kimmern123 - 11/1/2008  7:10 PM

Archambault is CDR on STS-119, not STS-128. That crew is still not announced ;)

Oops! I forgot STS-119 in there. I'll correct it..
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: collectSPACE on 01/11/2008 07:12 pm
Quote
Ben E - 11/1/2008  11:12 AM

It's interesting that there's no Japanese involvement on the final JEM flight.
JAXA's Kibo logos released last year hinted at this, as their STS-127 emblem listed ISS crewmember Koichi Wakata as their mission representative.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 01/12/2008 01:42 am
Quote
ShuttleDiscovery - 11/1/2008  1:43 PM

I guess the way things are going James Kelly won't get another flight as CDR :( ...


Maybe not the way things are going. He has retired from the USAF but is still an active astronaut. Maybe he hopes to go into management? Or he could have his sights on the first CEV flight?

I guess Rick Sturckow and Pam Melroy shouldn't be ruled out for future flights as CDR either if Polansky is getting another flight.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: apollo13 on 01/12/2008 02:25 am
STS-116/STS-127 - Polansky

He is going back?

I haven't heard that the crew had been selected...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ad Astra on 01/12/2008 05:41 am
Quote
apollo13 - 11/1/2008  9:25 PM

STS-116/STS-127 - Polansky

He is going back?

I haven't heard that the crew had been selected...

Read the thread ;)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 01/12/2008 05:57 am
RELEASE: 08-005

NASA UPDATES INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION CREW ASSIGNMENTS

HOUSTON - NASA has updated assignments for International Space Station
expedition crews. The updates reflect changes in the launch schedule
for space shuttle missions that will transport rotating crew members.


Astronaut Garrett E. Reisman, a member of the Expedition 16 and 17
crews, now is scheduled to return to Earth on the STS-124 shuttle
mission, which is targeted to launch April 24, 2008. He originally
was slated to return on STS-126. As planned, Reisman will fly to the
station on STS-123, which is targeted to launch in March. He is a
native of New Jersey and has a doctorate in mechanical engineering
from the California Institute of Technology.

Astronaut Gregory E. Chamitoff is scheduled to fly to the station as a
mission specialist on STS-124. He will take Reisman's place as an
Expedition 17 flight engineer and return to Earth on shuttle mission
STS-126, which is targeted to launch Sept. 18, 2008. Chamitoff, who
was born in Montreal, Canada, grew up in San Jose, Calif. He has a
doctorate in aeronautics and astronautics from the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology.

Astronaut Sandra H. Magnus will fly to the station on STS-126 to
replace Chamitoff. Magnus, a native of Illinois with a doctorate in
material science and engineering from the Georgia Institute of
Technology, will serve as a flight engineer and NASA science officer
for part of Expedition 17 and part of Expedition 18. Magnus will
return to Earth on shuttle mission STS-119 in the fall of 2008.

Astronaut Koichi Wakata will launch on STS-119 and become the first
resident station crew member from the Japan Aerospace Exploration
Agency, or JAXA, replacing Magnus on Expedition 18. Wakata will serve
as a flight engineer on Expedition 18 and return on STS-127.

Backup crew assignments also have been updated. They are included in
the following International Space Station crew lineup:

Expedition 16
Peggy Whitson, NASA astronaut
Yuri Malenchenko, Russian cosmonaut
Daniel Tani, NASA astronaut
Leopold Eyharts, European Space Agency astronaut
Garrett Reisman, NASA astronaut (Backup: Timothy Kopra)

Expedition 17
Sergei Volkov, Russian cosmonaut (Backup: Maxim Suraev)
Oleg Kononenko, Russian cosmonaut (Backup: Oleg Skripochka)
Gregory Chamitoff, NASA astronaut (Backup: Timothy Kopra)
Sandra Magnus, NASA astronaut (Backup: Nicole Stott)

Expedition 18
Michael Fincke, NASA astronaut (Backup: Michael Barratt)
Salizhan Sharipov, Russian cosmonaut (Backup: Yuri Lonchakov)
Koichi Wakata, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut (Backup:
Soichi Noguchi)

For astronaut biographical information, visit:

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nathan.moeller on 01/12/2008 06:05 am
Quote
Ben E - 11/1/2008  11:12 AM

Fair enough. It's interesting that there's no Japanese involvement on the final JEM flight.

Other than the fact it's their payload that's riding into orbit, huh? ;)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: OV-107 on 01/13/2008 04:52 pm
Yes!
Congratulations "Roman" !

I hope nasa confirm the whole crew at short.

They are breaking the line now as none of them have flown together before. And congratulations to Payette if she is on this flight.
It´s a shame that she have to wait 10 years for a second flight.

About Jim Kelly i won´t give up the hope for him before sts 133 has launched. Maybe he will stay in management until orion ?
Or maybe he is already selected to fly on orion 3 together with a new from the 2009-class? I don´t think this crew is selected yet but if he will be the  commander of orion 3, wouldn´t it be good if he has commanded a spaceflight  earlier when he is commanding a totally new spacecraft no one has flown before ?
I just wonder. I mean, John Young commanded both Gemini 10 and Apollo 16 before STS 1 and Walther Schirra was alone on Mercury-Atlas 8 and commanded Gemini 6 A before command the first manned Apollo mission Apollo 7.


I hope to see Christer Fuglesang and Nick Patrick in crew selections later this year.












Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 01/13/2008 10:58 pm
Just to note, if true, this leaves the unassigned, un-flown rookie list at 14 (including two Japanese MS's):

Caldiero
Cagle
Woodward
Ford
Wilmore
Virts
Bresnik
Hernandez
Dutton
Metcalf-Lindenberger
Satcher
Furkuawa
Yamazaki

Backups only so far:
Walker

Still enough seats remaining (even without STS 131 and 133) to turn everyone's silver pins into gold.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: rvastro on 01/15/2008 11:32 pm
Any idea if Morgan is going to return to space? One flight (STS-119) has a pair of teachers going up (Acaba and Arnold). That leaves one from the Educator-Astronaut selection of 2004 to fly. Would be great to see Morgan and Metcalf-Lindenberger make a flight together
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: dember on 01/16/2008 12:07 am
This is not a confirmed assignment on wikipedia but here are some names for 127: Polansky, Hurley, Wolf, Payette, Cassidy, Marshburn, Kopra, Wakata(Returning from iss).
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Seattle Dave on 01/16/2008 12:23 am
Quote
dember - 15/1/2008  7:07 PM

This is not a confirmed assignment on wikipedia but here are some names for 127: Polansky, Hurley, Wolf, Payette, Cassidy, Marshburn, Kopra, Wakata(Returning from iss).

Wiki is not a source. It's just random people scouring the net for names and 127 is previously discussed on the earlier pages.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 01/18/2008 05:05 pm
E-mail from someone at NASA:

Administrator's Answers      


       
From:  Anonymous
Date:  16-Jan-2008      
Question(s):
Given that College Professors were precluded from the previous Educator Astronaut selections (only K-12 Educators considered), will there be any attempt by NASA in the future to consider them for inclusion into the Educator Astronaut ranks?        

Response:


I have no plans to conduct a further selection of Educator Astronauts
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: rvastro on 01/20/2008 02:10 am
Is this Griffin's answer? A bit deflating for science educators....

Quote
Chris Bergin - 18/1/2008  12:05 PM

E-mail from someone at NASA:

Administrator's Answers      


       
From:  Anonymous
Date:  16-Jan-2008      
Question(s):
Given that College Professors were precluded from the previous Educator Astronaut selections (only K-12 Educators considered), will there be any attempt by NASA in the future to consider them for inclusion into the Educator Astronaut ranks?        

Response:


I have no plans to conduct a further selection of Educator Astronauts
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aurora899 on 01/25/2008 11:53 am
Hi,
I’ve just waded through the JSC Astronaut and Flight Surgeon Survey Report. The extract below is quite interesting!
Regards,
David.

Crew Assignment Process
Astronauts report a varied understanding of the crew assignment process, including performance and medical eligibility. In particular, astronauts agreed with the statements that they understand the medical eligibility process and criteria being used as well as understand the performance eligibility process and criteria. Further, astronauts reported lower agreement, falling into the neutral range, with the statements that they know where to find the documented crew assignment process and that they understand the crew assignment process and criteria being used. Specifically, astronauts noted a desire to increase the transparency of the crew assignment process, including the factors being considered, the inputs used for decision making, understanding of their personal standing for eligibility and assignment, and more insight into the likelihood for and the timing of flights. Further comments noted an understanding of the complexity of the assignment process. Suggestions for improvement were aligned with these results and focused on increasing the transparency of the process through more communication on how the process works, feedback on individual standing, and openness throughout the process.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 01/26/2008 04:14 am
Transparency in flight crew assignments? What ever would George Abbey think?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 01/31/2008 11:20 am
Quote
Skylon - 26/1/2008  6:14 AM

Transparency in flight crew assignments? What ever would George Abbey think?

Or Jim?  ;)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jim on 01/31/2008 12:32 pm
I was just stating reality.    I am all for it
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 02/01/2008 09:10 am
Quote
Jim - 31/1/2008  2:32 PM

I was just stating reality.    I am all for it

Yes, of course. I did not want to put that in question. I just had to think of some really interesting discussions on the forum whenever someone thought he recognized some kind of pattern in assignments. That was fun ...

 ;)

When it comes to logic, the recent assignment of two educator astronauts to just one single flight speaks volumes -- once more ...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: OV-107 on 02/02/2008 12:56 pm
Is Piers Sellers still in the astronaut corps?
I´ve not heard anything about him since STS 121.




Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Endeavour118 on 02/02/2008 08:03 pm
Quote
OV-107 - 2/2/2008  8:56 AM

Is Piers Sellers still in the astronaut corps?
I´ve not heard anything about him since STS 121.




yes he is still a NASA astronaut
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TALsite on 02/07/2008 12:03 pm
Today in “Heraldo de Aragón” (the first local newspaper) there’s an article about the role of our city in the Shuttle program.   There are some words from Thomas Friers (Operations Director from NASA here) and from Randy Bresnik, the assigned astronaut or TALcom.
And about Bresnik, the journalist says “Bresnik, that will fly in Atlantis on a next flight…” (In Spanish:  “Bresnik, que volará en el Atlantis proximamente…”).  
Knowing the media, maybe the journalist wants to say “Bresnik, that will fly in the Shuttle someday…”

But if the info is accurate, the next Atlantis flight to assign a crew will be STS-128 (post-Hubble mission).  Maybe Bresnik as MS2?

Regards.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: OV-107 on 02/07/2008 11:18 pm

Interesting.
It´s likely that he will be the flight engineer if he will fly on STS 128. It is 3 pilots still from the 2000 class to be assigned, Ken Ford, Terry Virts and Butch Wilmore so I doubt Bresnik or Dutton will fly as pilots before them, but as ms 2 it´s possible.
But I wonder if they really have assigned the STS 128 crew yet. It sounds early.

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 02/10/2008 04:01 pm
Question came up a while back if Anna Fisher (Selected in 1978 - Group 8) is still eligible for a flight assignment.
I found this photo of her (on NASA site) taken last month, working with S. Korean spaceflight participants.

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 02/11/2008 03:34 pm
Press Release No.09-2008
Paris, 11 February 2008


ESA astronaut Frank De Winne to spend six months on the ISS in 2009

With the Columbus mission well under way, the space station programme has assigned crews for the next flight opportunities. Belgian ESA astronaut Frank De Winne joins Expedition 19 and will spend six months on the ISS in 2009. In May 2009, he will fly together with Russian cosmonaut Yuri Lonchakov and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Robert Thirsk on a Russian Soyuz spacecraft to the ISS.

The arrival of Frank De Winne and his two crewmates will for the first time expand the station's crew size to six. They will join Russian cosmonaut Gennady Padalka, the Expedition 19 commander, and NASA astronauts Michael Barratt and Nicole Stott. By then, the Japanese Kibo laboratory will also be attached to the ISS.

Frank De Winne has been back-up for French ESA astronaut Léopold Eyharts for the ongoing Columbus mission. Like Eyharts, De Winne trained on the Shuttle, the ISS and on Columbus and the ATV. He is therefore already very familiar with those spacecraft. Moreover, he spent 12 days in space and onboard the ISS in 2002 for ESA's Odissea mission. On 30 October 2002, he launched with the new Russian Soyuz TMA-1 spacecraft from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan; during that mission, Frank De Winne carried out a complete package of scientific experiments, technology demonstrations and education activities.

The back-up for Frank De Winne for the second European long-term mission to the ISS in May 2009 will be André Kuipers, ESA astronaut of Dutch nationality. Kuipers has also already been to the ISS. He flew in April 2004 on the Russian Soyuz TMA-4 spacecraft and spent 12 days in space during the Delta mission. Like De Winne he conducted a fully-fledged package of scientific experiments, technology demonstrations and education activities.
 
Once the European Columbus laboratory has been attached to the ISS, ESA will not only be an essential operational partner in the ISS, but will also have a 8.3% share in the station's resources. The corresponding share in crew time allows ESA to send one European astronaut for a six-month stay on the ISS every second year. Frank De Winne's flight is based on this part of the agreement between the ISS programme partners. He will conduct scientific experiments, technology demonstrations and educational activities during his stay on the ISS, along with various operational tasks on all the station's international elements.


For further information:
ESA Media Relations Office
Communication and Knowledge Department
Tel: + 33 1 5369 7299
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 02/11/2008 05:06 pm
RELEASE: 08-052

NASA ASSIGNS CREWS FOR STS-127 AND EXPEDITION 19 MISSIONS

WASHINGTON - NASA has assigned crews for the STS-127 space shuttle
mission and the Expedition 19 International Space Station mission.
The STS-127 mission will deliver the final components of the Japan
Aerospace Exploration Agency's Kibo laboratory to the station.
Expedition 19 will double the size of the resident crew on the
complex, expanding it to six people.

Mark L. Polansky will command the shuttle Endeavour for STS-127,
targeted to launch in 2009. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Douglas G. Hurley
will serve as the pilot. Mission specialists are Navy Lt. Cmdr.
Christopher J. Cassidy, Thomas H. Marshburn, David A. Wolf and Julie
Payette, a Canadian Space Agency astronaut.

The mission will deliver Army Col. Timothy L. Kopra to the station to
join Expedition 18 as a flight engineer and science officer and
return Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata to Earth. Hurley, Cassidy,
Marshburn and Kopra will be making their first trips to space.

STS-127 will launch and install the Kibo Japanese Experiment Module
Exposed Facility and Experiment Logistics Module Exposed Section. The
facility will provide a type of "front porch" for experiments in the
exposed environment, and a robotic arm that will be attached to the
Kibo Pressurized Module and used to position experiments outside the
station. The mission will include five spacewalks.

Polansky first flew as pilot of STS-98 in 2001 and then commanded
STS-116 in 2006. He considers Edison, N.J., his hometown. Polansky
has bachelor's and master's degrees from Purdue University.

Hurley considers Apalachin, N.Y., his hometown. He has a bachelor's
from Tulane University, New Orleans.

Cassidy considers York, Maine, his hometown and has a bachelor's from
the U.S. Naval Academy and a master's from Massachusetts Institute of
Technology (MIT).

Born in Statesville, N.C., Marshburn has a bachelor's from Davidson
College, Davidson, N.C., master's degrees from the University of
Virginia and the University of Texas Medical Branch, and a doctorate
of medicine from Wake Forest University.

A native of Indianapolis, Wolf will be making his fourth spaceflight.
He first flew on STS-58 in 1993. He next flew a 128-day mission to
the Russian space station Mir, launching aboard STS-86 in September
1997 and landing on STS-89 in January 1998. His third flight was on
STS-112 in 2002. Wolf has a bachelor's from Purdue University and a
doctorate of medicine from Indiana University.

Payette, born in Montreal, flew as a mission specialist on STS-96 in
1999. She has an International Baccalaureate from the United World
College of the Atlantic in the United Kingdom, a bachelor's from
McGill University and a master's from the University of Toronto.

Kopra is a native of Austin, Texas, and holds a bachelor's from the
U.S. Military Academy and a master's from Georgia Institute of
Technology.

Expedition 19 will be commanded by cosmonaut and Russian Air Force
Col. Gennady Padalka. In March 2009, he will command the Soyuz
spacecraft that will launch him and astronaut Michael R. Barratt to
the station. Astronaut Nicole P. Stott will join them, arriving on
the STS-128 shuttle mission to replace Kopra. She will serve as a
flight engineer and science officer and return to Earth on the next
Soyuz spacecraft. Barratt and Stott will be making their first trips
to space.

In May 2009, cosmonaut and Russian Air Force Lt. Col. Yuri Lonchakov
will command a Soyuz spacecraft that will launch to join Expedition
19 in progress on the station. With Lonchakov will be European Space
Agency astronaut Frank De Winne of Belgium and Canadian Space Agency
astronaut Robert B. Thirsk. Their arrival will expand the station's
crew size to six for the first time. Lonchakov and De Winne will
serve as flight engineers on the station and return on the Soyuz with
Stott. Thirsk also will serve as a flight engineer and will return to
Earth on STS-129.

Expedition 19 will include visits by two space shuttle missions that
will equip the station with the additional facilities needed to
support a six-person crew. Expedition 19 also will prepare the
station for the later arrival of Russian research modules and
additional docking ports.

Padalka commanded Expedition 26 on Mir in 1998 and 1999, and
Expedition 9 on the ISS in 2004. He was born in Krasnodar, Russia,
and graduated from Eisk Military Aviation College.

Barratt considers Camas, Wash., his hometown. He has a bachelor's from
the University of Washington, a master's from Wright State
University, Dayton, Ohio, and a doctorate of medicine from
Northwestern University.

Stott considers Clearwater, Fla., her hometown. She has a bachelor's
from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and a master's from the
University of Central Florida.

Lonchakov flew as a mission specialist on STS-100 in 2001. Born in
Balkhash, Dzhezkazkansk Region, he graduated from the Orenburg Air
Force Pilot School and the Zhukovski Air Force Academy.

De Winne flew an 11-day mission as a flight engineer on a Soyuz
spacecraft to the International Space Station in 2002. He was born in
Ghent, Belgium, and graduated from the Royal School of Cadets. He has
a master's from the Royal Military Academy.

Thirsk flew on STS-78 in 1996. He was born in New Westminster, British
Columbia, and has a bachelor's from the University of Calgary,
masters' degrees from MIT and a doctorate of medicine from McGill
University.

Backup expedition crew assignments also have been made. A summary of
Expedition 19's assigned crews and backups are:

Gennady Padalka, Russian cosmonaut (Backup: Maxim Suraev)
Mike Barratt, NASA astronaut (Backup: Shannon Walker)
Timothy Kopra, NASA astronaut (Backup: Timothy J. Creamer)
Nicole Stott, NASA astronaut (Backup: Catherine Coleman)
Yuri Lonchakov, Russian cosmonaut (Backup: Dmitri Kondratyev)
Frank De Winne, ESA astronaut (Backup: Andre Kuipers)
Robert Thirsk, CSA Astronaut (Backup: Chris A. Hadfield)

Video of the STS-127 and Expedition 19 crew members will air on NASA
TV's Video File at 7 p.m. EST. For downlink and scheduling
information and links to streaming video, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

For complete astronaut biographical information, visit:

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios

For more information about NASA's Space Shuttle Program, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 02/11/2008 07:49 pm
Quote
Thirsk also will serve as a flight engineer and will return to Earth on STS-129

At first they have planned to return him on Soyuz TMA-14 spacecraft... Now possibly Soyuz TMA-16 spacecraft will have the spaceflight participant...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ShuttleDiscovery on 02/12/2008 05:35 pm
Speaking of Thirsk, were his eyes normal at first (picture 1), and then went cross-eyed (picture 2)?

The last picture (3) is the most recent, so maybe he had them recently surgically corrected??
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: OV-107 on 02/12/2008 06:59 pm
So it will be 6 astronauts onboard STS 129 on the launch day and 7 on the landing day?
Or will they have an astronaut from expedition 20 with them to the station?

And will Souyz TMA 16 have the russian space flight participant instead of TMA 14 or is it a new participant seat?


Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 02/12/2008 07:30 pm
Quote
OV-107 - 12/2/2008  10:59 PM

So it will be 6 astronauts onboard STS 129 on the launch day and 7 on the landing day?
Or will they have an astronaut from expedition 20 with them to the station?

I think there will be ISS crewmember rotation on STS-129... Possibly it will be Jeffrey Williams...

Quote
OV-107 - 12/2/2008  10:59 PM

And will Souyz TMA 16 have the russian space flight participant instead of TMA 14 or is it a new participant seat?

New spaceflight participant, I think... That is why Thirsk will land on STS-129, instead of Soyuz TMA-14...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aquarius on 02/13/2008 11:42 am
Thirsk looks like Luke Skywalker (especially in the 1st photo).
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aquarius on 02/13/2008 04:00 pm
From the astronaut bios on the NASA website:
Janice Voss is back into active status, while Sunita Williams has become a management astronaut.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ShuttleDiscovery on 02/13/2008 04:11 pm
Could someone possibly post a list of all the active astronauts please?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 02/13/2008 05:15 pm
Quote
ShuttleDiscovery - 13/2/2008  6:11 PM

Could someone possibly post a list of all the active astronauts please?


look here:

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/astrobio_activemgmt.html

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ShuttleDiscovery on 02/13/2008 05:31 pm
Quote
jacqmans - 13/2/2008  6:15 PM

Quote
ShuttleDiscovery - 13/2/2008  6:11 PM

Could someone possibly post a list of all the active astronauts please?


look here:

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/astrobio_activemgmt.html


Thanks!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 02/13/2008 05:39 pm
Could someone nice (anik ?) provide the downwards crew of Soyuz TMA-14 and 15 because I must confess I am a bit lost !!!

I am confused by the sentence :

Quote
Lonchakov and De Winne will serve as flight engineers on the station and return on the Soyuz with Stott

 in the NASA release.

Are they talking about Soyuz TMA-14 or 15 ? are Lonchakov and De Winne coming back to Kazakhstan before or after Padalka and Garratt ?

Thanks !!!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 02/13/2008 07:01 pm
To hektor:

March 25 - Soyuz TMA-14 launch [Padalka, Barratt, SFP]
April 23 - STS-127 launch [Kopra]
May 8 - STS-127 landing [Wakata]
May 25 - Soyuz TMA-15 launch [Lonchakov, De Winne, Thirsk]
TBD - STS-128 launch [Stott]
TBD - STS-128 landing [Kopra]
September - Soyuz TMA-16 launch [R.Romanenko, Kornienko, SFP???]
September - Soyuz TMA-14 landing [Padalka, Barratt, SFP???]
TBD - STS-129 launch [J.Williams???]
TBD - STS-129 landing [Thirsk]
November - Soyuz TMA-17 launch [Suraev, Creamer, Noguchi]
November - Soyuz TMA-15 landing [Lonchakov, De Winne, Stott]

Quote
anik - 12/2/2008  11:30 PM

Quote
OV-107 - 12/2/2008  10:59 PM

And will Souyz TMA 16 have the russian space flight participant instead of TMA 14 or is it a new participant seat?

New spaceflight participant, I think... That is why Thirsk will land on STS-129, instead of Soyuz TMA-14...

I have misunderstood your question... The correct answer: Soyuz TMA-14 will have spaceflight participant from Space Adventures... Soyuz TMA-16 will possibly have spaceflight participant from Russia (Vladimir Gruzdev)... Due to possible including of Russian spaceflight participant into Soyuz TMA-16 crew, Thirsk will land on STS-129, instead of Soyuz TMA-14...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: cLg2323 on 02/14/2008 02:22 am
The need for transparency is not only endemic to NASA; rather, anywhere a person works he or she will want transparency around hiring, career progression, and promotions.    The more scientific the business, or the greater the appeal of certain roles, the more analytical the employee becomes in this regard!!!  

Navigating in a global talent pool simply makes the processes of searching, hiring and correctly placing individuals even more intense - moreso, in for-profit, multi-national organizations, than in government-funded agencies.   I've worked in HR for over 16 years and spent 6 years in a very active Recruiting department for a Fortune 100 company.   Our team hired Ph.D.s, MBAs, and M.D.s - we had to help those in the Federal Government define the complexities around "definition of an applicant" in the absence of clear guidance from the OFCCP & EEOC, so that our company could avoid unfair market conditions that might put it at risk of unfounded accusations about not extending a good faith effort to hire up to certain quotas of protected groups (ethnic, etc.), where the market fell short of supply.  So, I guess, on a macro- level, this effort was our corporation's way of seeking transparency (i.e. asking the Government to clarify expectations of what we had to do to win in the war for talent), even though as recruiters, counselors and professionals we had to constantly keep criteria for selection confidential.   We were often walking our own delicate balance to prevent too much transparency!  For example, even as carefully documented as everything has to be, if one person's skill sets warranted our taking steps in order to compete in the marketplace by offering *additional* leverage, like a signing bonus, educational loans and scholarships, or specific job placement, compared to another person's package, we simply had to de-emphasize such entitlement to the non-receiver, explaining, "..sometimes other factors come into play," or including that ever-elusive phrase: "..depending on current business needs".

My question to this group, however, has more to do with NASA's culture with regard to management and prestige, *on the ground.*   If an astronaut's expertise were valued such that he or she attained a management position, but wanted to remain on the active roster to fly again and that astronaut is selected (perhaps for the last of several flights?), does he or she run the risk of forfeiting the leadership role, by agreeing to go up again?   Surely someone must maintain that position on the ground during the flight!    It is a curiosity to me because I would certainly hope that Dr. David A. Wolf's outstanding service record as Chief of the Astronaut EVA office would continue even after his own presumably excellent performance of EVAs and other critical tasks on the STS-127 mission, even at his young age of 52.   This is because ever since his previous missions, he has demonstrated his ability to enable others and inspire excellence during their own EVAs - some spacewalks even had to be planned on the fly, off the charts, such as going under the heat shield to pull shivs out of tiles!  

Of the six astronauts on STS-127, Dave appears the most relatively senior.   Reading his CV puts to rest any lack of transparency on NASA's part behind Dave's assignment to STS-127 because he joins only one other veteran, a Canadian who has had multiple missions, while the others in STS-127 are  four "rookies" (first time ever in space).   In fact, I'd feel safer with Dave as a crew member on that experimental aircraft we know as the Space Shuttle than as a passenger on most major, commercial airlines, as they have far "greener" crews, right up to the captains!!!   Leadership that strengthens, raises others up in the Astronaut corps is critical to the future of NASA.  (On a side note, as Chief, Dave continues to be arguably the busiest person I've ever known and I wish I had his stamina!)  :)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jim on 02/14/2008 11:23 am
"broken record"

There is no logic to crew selection and nothing is guaranteed

Wolf's record isn't so peachy clean and hasn't been the "model" astronaut.  He was involved in a scandal earlier, in his career.   He volunteered for the MIR flight because that was the only way he was going to fly again (at the time)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: catfry on 02/14/2008 04:49 pm
Mark Polansky gets to fly very soon after his last flight doesn't he? I mean 2006 is not that long ago and surely there are other commander material waiting their turn?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ShuttleDiscovery on 02/14/2008 05:15 pm
Quote
catfry - 14/2/2008  5:49 PM

Mark Polansky gets to fly very soon after his last flight doesn't he? I mean 2006 is not that long ago and surely there are other commander material waiting their turn?

This is a confusing situation. Polansky has already been Commander on STS-116 - where as other Commanders selected for 124,126,119 were pilots on 121,115,115.

EDITED: I think he was selected again because Oefelein left and thus there was no PLT to continue the trend...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jeff Lerner on 02/14/2008 05:21 pm
Will Julie Payette get a spacewalk as part of STS-127 ?? I know she's listed as a MS but have any of her tasks been defined  as in Robotics operator, spacewalker ??, etc....

Similarly, wil Bob Thirsk get a chance for a spacewalk as part of his expedtiion ??
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skyrocket on 02/14/2008 06:34 pm
Quote
ShuttleDiscovery - 14/2/2008  7:15 PM
I think he was selected again because he has only had 1 flight, because he never had a mission as PLT. If this hadn't been the case I reckon James Kelly (PLT 114) would have got the flight...

Nonsense - He certainly had a flight as PLT - on STS-98

BTW: The only Shuttle comander without orbital flight experience was Joe Engle on STS-2

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ShuttleDiscovery on 02/14/2008 06:47 pm
Quote
Skyrocket - 14/2/2008  7:34 PM

Quote
ShuttleDiscovery - 14/2/2008  7:15 PM
I think he was selected again because he has only had 1 flight, because he never had a mission as PLT. If this hadn't been the case I reckon James Kelly (PLT 114) would have got the flight...

Nonsense - He certainly had a flight as PLT - on STS-98

BTW: The only Shuttle comander without orbital flight experience was Joe Engle on STS-2


Oh yeah! Sorry - completely slipped my mind!  :o
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: svenge on 02/15/2008 02:04 am
And even Engle was CDR for the OV-101 ALT program...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 02/15/2008 04:55 am
Plus a lot of X-15 flights and Apollo 14 backup duties...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: faustod on 02/15/2008 07:28 am
Janet Kavandi is now Deputy Director Flight Crew Operations,

she has been replaced by Sunita Williams as Deputy Chief Astronaut

Office.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: OV-107 on 02/17/2008 04:43 pm
Mark is a really great commander and he deserves this.
I´m a little bit surprised that none of his colleagues from STS 116 is on STS 127.

I mean Walheim followed Frick, Fossum followed Kelly, Grunsfeld and Massimino followed Altman, Stefanyshyn-Piper followed Ferguson and Swanson followed Archambault.

It is indeed confusing that Jim Kelly is not assigned to command yet after having completed 2 flights as pilot.

A question, Has Jeff Ashby left nasa?
I haven´t heard anything about him for a long time.

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 02/18/2008 09:10 pm
If you were to guess as to who would be selected as CDR on STS-128, who would get your vote?

Jim Kelly or Charlie Hobaugh
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: on 02/18/2008 09:23 pm
How come Rick Sturckow hasn't got another cdr position?  I really like him and what are yall's thoughts about STS-128's commander?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Davejfb on 02/18/2008 09:31 pm
Quote
TJL - 18/2/2008  11:10 PM

If you were to guess as to who would be selected as CDR on STS-128, who would get your vote?

Jim Kelly or Charlie Hobaugh

Jim Kelly for sure.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: dcfowler1 on 02/18/2008 09:44 pm
One could guess that; But I think they might be wrong.

D
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 02/19/2008 06:55 am
If Kelly did get STS-128, would he be the first person to fly three MPLM flights?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: astropl on 02/19/2008 09:15 am
Quote
TJL - 18/2/2008  11:10 PM

If you were to guess as to who would be selected as CDR on STS-128, who would get your vote?

Jim Kelly or Charlie Hobaugh

I vote for Hobaugh. So... http://astro.zeto.czest.pl/loty/sts128.htm :)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: kimmern123 on 02/19/2008 09:48 am
I'd say either Hobaughg or Zamka.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: dcfowler1 on 02/19/2008 07:05 pm
One of those is correct.

D
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 02/19/2008 07:53 pm
I have to go with Hobaugh on "128"
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ShuttleDiscovery on 02/19/2008 07:55 pm
I want STS-128 to be James Kelly, but I think it will be Hobaugh because he seems to be next in line based on previous selections. :(

I hope I am wrong though! Kelly really deserves a flight in the CDR seat! It is almost as if NASA is ignoring STS-114 crew and reassigning astronauts from STS-121 onwards... :o
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: DwightM on 02/19/2008 09:06 pm
Quote
ShuttleDiscovery - 19/2/2008  11:55 AM


I hope I am wrong though! Kelly really deserves a flight in the CDR seat! It is almost as if NASA is ignoring STS-114 crew and reassigning astronauts from STS-121 onwards... :o

Collins and Lawrence have left NASA, Thomas has flown 4 times, Robinson has flown 3 times and has been at CAPCOM and may or may not get another flight, Camarda is on assignment (not sure if he's still in engineering), Noguchi is assigned as Koichi Wakata's backup and will rotate to an Expedition crew and Kelly is Chief of the CAPCOM Branch and is likely not being "ignored".
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ShuttleDiscovery on 02/19/2008 09:10 pm
You're right Dwight. I just hope he gets chosen though!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: kimmern123 on 02/19/2008 09:32 pm
Kelly has also said that he'd rather be assigned to an early Orion-mission than fly as CDR on the shuttle.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: DaveJ576 on 02/19/2008 09:43 pm
Quote
ShuttleDiscovery - 13/2/2008  12:31 PM

Quote
jacqmans - 13/2/2008  6:15 PM

Quote
ShuttleDiscovery - 13/2/2008  6:11 PM

Could someone possibly post a list of all the active astronauts please?


look here:

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/astrobio_activemgmt.html


Thanks!

I'm getting into this a little late, but going off the list above, my vote is for Vance Brand! Let's get him back in the left seat!! Also, isn't Gordon Fullerton still in flight test out at Dryden?

Dave
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: DaveJ576 on 02/19/2008 09:48 pm
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DaveJ576 - 19/2/2008  4:43 PM

Quote
ShuttleDiscovery - 13/2/2008  12:31 PM

Quote
jacqmans - 13/2/2008  6:15 PM

Quote
ShuttleDiscovery - 13/2/2008  6:11 PM

Could someone possibly post a list of all the active astronauts please?


look here:

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/astrobio_activemgmt.html


Thanks!

I'm getting into this a little late, but going off the list above, my vote is for Vance Brand! Let's get him back in the left seat!! Also, isn't Gordon Fullerton still in flight test out at Dryden?

Dave

Whoops! I answered my own question. Fullerton retired two months ago. Great guy. He has earned his retirement.

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: OV-107 on 02/19/2008 10:30 pm
I also have to vote for Charlie Hobaugh as mission commander for 128.

Maybe Steve Robinson can be of current interest as EV lead for STS 128? They will fly MPLM Donatello and he has flown with MPLM Raffaelo, the Spacehab Module and is experienced as an EV lead, as a payload commander and have served as an ISS backup FE.

If the rumours about an ESA astronaut on 128 is correct I put my money on Christer Fuglesang. But right now it is completely silence from ESA about any future shuttle flight assignments. Maybe they will have Schlegel home safe first.

I don´t think Jim Kelly is ignored. But if he hasn´t flown as a shuttle CDR before the program is ending 2010 I doubt he will be the opening Orion CDR.
I guess that place is more likely going to an experienced astronaut like Scott Kelly or Rick Sturckow for example.

Vance Brand would be good but John Young would be the best (I know he has retired but nevertheless...)












Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 02/20/2008 06:56 am
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TJL - 18/2/2008  11:10 PM

If you were to guess as to who would be selected as CDR on STS-128, who would get your vote?

Jim Kelly or Charlie Hobaugh

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Davejfb - 18/2/2008  11:31 PM

Jim Kelly for sure.

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dcfowler1 - 18/2/2008  11:44 PM

One could guess that; But I think they might be wrong.

D

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kimmern123 - 19/2/2008  11:48 AM

I'd say either Hobaughg or Zamka.

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dcfowler1 - 19/2/2008  9:05 PM

One of those is correct.
D

OK -- now let's apply some logic to this. What did Sherlock Holmes say? What is wrong cannot be right. No, wait -- whatever ...

If one could think that it is Kelly, one could be wrong. That would mean it could be Hobaugh. If it's either Hobaugh or Zamka, than it is not Kelly and because it is not Kelly it could be Hobaugh or Obama. Well -- or maybe Hillary?

Gosh -- that's a tough one, folks!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 02/20/2008 07:04 pm
Quote

I'm getting into this a little late, but going off the list above, my vote is for Vance Brand! Let's get him back in the left seat!! Also, isn't Gordon Fullerton still in flight test out at Dryden?

Dave

Some of the Astronauts listed on that site have left the Astronaut Corps, but still hold management positions in NASA. Brand is one of them, having not been in the Astronaut Office since the early 90's...he probably hasn't been in a Shuttle simulator, STA or T-38 since then, so odds are...no.

Some others on that site who are completely out of the Astronaut Corps are Paul Lockhart, Bryan O'Connor, Steve Nagel and Michael Coats (the current JSC Director).

Someone mentioned Sturckow as CDR...I'd vote for him and Pam Melroy as CDR's on the final two flights (STS 132 and 133 respectively). 128 - 131 I think should be flown by first time CDR's. I think STS-127 ended up with a veteran CDR (Polansky) only due to the somewhat high-profile nature of the final Japanese component going up.

I wouldn't rule Steve Robinson out from a future flight either if Dave Wolf is getting a fourth mission.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 02/21/2008 07:24 am
"I think STS-127 ended up with a veteran CDR (Polansky) only due to the somewhat high-profile nature of the final Japanese component going up."

And yet the highest-profile Japanese mission of all - the PM - will be led by a first-time CDR (Kelly)? Similarly, Columbus is the highest-profile European mission and was also led by a first-time CDR( Frick). I'm slowing coming round to Jim's reasoning that there really is no logic in the crew selection process...or at least a logic that we are not privy to.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 02/21/2008 12:05 pm
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Ben E - 21/2/2008  9:24 AM
I'm slowing coming round to Jim's reasoning that there really is no logic in the crew selection process...or at least a logic that we are not privy to.
Welcome to the club -- I've already joined ...  ;)

Except for Schlegel on STS-122 and Thiele on STS-99, of course!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 02/21/2008 12:11 pm
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Ben E - 21/2/2008  3:24 AM

"I think STS-127 ended up with a veteran CDR (Polansky) only due to the somewhat high-profile nature of the final Japanese component going up."

And yet the highest-profile Japanese mission of all - the PM - will be led by a first-time CDR (Kelly)? Similarly, Columbus is the highest-profile European mission and was also led by a first-time CDR( Frick). I'm slowing coming round to Jim's reasoning that there really is no logic in the crew selection process...or at least a logic that we are not privy to.

That can be explained by a lack of veteran CDR's who were continuing to fly. Post-Columbia, we saw Polansky move up from 117's PLT to 116's CDR (116's CDR stepped down), Melroy take 120 (last in line from the 1995 group to fly as CDR) and then Frick...it was either assign him again as PLT and crowd up a seat that could go to one of the PLT's from 1998 or 2000, or, fly him on his next mission as CDR. Collins left, Jett was still around but at the "4 flight" mark, and Lindsey was Office Chief...so, for 122 it's assign Polansky or let Frick wait longer for a flight.

I suppose veteran Dominic Gorie could have landed either 122, or 124 by my logic, but 123 has enough going on.

The only anomaly I saw with 124 was Mark Kelly landing it versus Jim Kelly...but that's been covered enough here.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Riley1066 on 02/23/2008 12:02 am
Its a shame that Joan Higginbotham left NASA too.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: kimmern123 on 02/26/2008 09:06 pm
Did anyone catch Mike Griffin saying Pam might have another flight assignment coming up? Was this just him commenting on Pam's wish to fly again, or is she actually in the pipeline for another flight??
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: DwightM on 02/26/2008 09:43 pm
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kimmern123 - 26/2/2008  1:06 PM

Did anyone catch Mike Griffin saying Pam might have another flight assignment coming up? Was this just him commenting on Pam's wish to fly again, or is she actually in the pipeline for another flight??

Reading the last part of this article might shed some light.

http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080226/NEWS01/802260326/1002/NEWS


Edit to state that I'm unaware of the comments by Mr. Griffin that you're referring to, but the article is recent.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: kimmern123 on 02/26/2008 09:51 pm
I forgot to mention he said it today when he introduced Pam at the STS-120 crew presentation at Heaadquarters. I'm not sure what to make of Pam's reaction to the remark.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: DwightM on 02/26/2008 10:03 pm
Ah, ok.  I missed the beginning of that program.  I'm sure it'll be up at http://www.space-multimedia.nl.eu.org before long.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: kimmern123 on 02/26/2008 10:14 pm
Already up ;) It was a great presentation, especially the "blooper" video.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aurora899 on 02/27/2008 12:31 pm
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nethegauner - 21/2/2008  1:05 PM

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Ben E - 21/2/2008  9:24 AM
I'm slowing coming round to Jim's reasoning that there really is no logic in the crew selection process...or at least a logic that we are not privy to.
Welcome to the club -- I've already joined ...  ;)

I’m currently reading Mike Mullane’s “Riding Rockets” and only now do I truly understand. As other reviewers have noted, the book contains some great stuff about George Abbey and the whole flight crew assignment process. Okay, so most of it relates back to the 1980s but given the results of the recent astronaut health survey (which highlighted the lack of transparency in the crew assignment process and deficiencies in individual performance feedback) it seems that little has changed in over 20 years!
A great book by the way; I wish I’d read it earlier!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: fdasun on 02/28/2008 06:44 am
Will Catherine Coleman get another flight ? Her last flight (STS-93) happened nine years ago.

She deserves an ISS assembly flight (Her experience in operating robotic arms may be helpful for the mission); Or probably she could be included in an long-term expedition team? If I remembered correctly, she had participated NEMO.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 02/28/2008 07:20 am
I think Coleman is a backup expedition crew member for one of the flights next year, so I'd expect her to fly an expedition in 2010-2011. As for her experience with RMS, I wasn't aware she'd done RMS ops on her missions - her first mission was a Spacelab and her second an IUS deploy. I could be wrong, though, but I agree she more than deserves another flight.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 02/28/2008 08:15 pm
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Ben E - 28/2/2008  3:20 AM

I think Coleman is a backup expedition crew member for one of the flights next year, so I'd expect her to fly an expedition in 2010-2011. As for her experience with RMS, I wasn't aware she'd done RMS ops on her missions - her first mission was a Spacelab and her second an IUS deploy. I could be wrong, though, but I agree she more than deserves another flight.

Despite not having flown on an RMS flight, she is the Astronaut Office robotics lead (or will be until her ISS training kicks into full gear). I recall reading that she helped work out some of the ad-hoc robotics work for STS-120 (to get Parazynski all the way out on that arm).
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: faustod on 03/01/2008 11:17 am
Dave Williams of Canada is leaving the Astronaut Corp of CSA.
Sorry, I think he was in line for a long duration mission on ISS.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ShuttleDiscovery on 03/01/2008 11:26 am
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faustod - 1/3/2008  12:17 PM

Dave Williams of Canada is leaving the Astronaut Corp of CSA.
Sorry, I think he was in line for a long duration mission on ISS.

You may be mistaken for CSA Astronaut Robert Thirsk?  :)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: faustod on 03/01/2008 11:40 am
I thought D. Williams was in line after Thirsk and Hadfield.

From an article on this Web Site (April 24,2007)

"A few, perhaps, to keep an eye on for possible future long- duration missions could include: Canadians Dave Williams and  Soyuz-qualified Chris Hadfield, together with NASA astronauts
Nick Patrick, John 'Danny' Olivas, Tom Marshburn, Bob Behnken, Catherine 'Cady' Coleman, Doug Wheelock and Rex  Walheim."
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 03/01/2008 01:35 pm
That was actually my article. It was only a suggestion, based on Williams' previous NEEMO experience. Shame to see him leave.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: OV-107 on 03/01/2008 01:41 pm
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faustod - 1/3/2008  1:40 PM

I thought D. Williams was in line after Thirsk and Hadfield.

From an article on this Web Site (April 24,2007)

"A few, perhaps, to keep an eye on for possible future long- duration missions could include: Canadians Dave Williams and  Soyuz-qualified Chris Hadfield, together with NASA astronauts
Nick Patrick, John 'Danny' Olivas, Tom Marshburn, Bob Behnken, Catherine 'Cady' Coleman, Doug Wheelock and Rex  Walheim."

I thought so to. Maybe Steve MacLean will have a long flight?
Bjarni Tryggvason must be to old for that.
I wonder if there will be a new astronaut selection in canada in a near future? They are only 5 astronauts now.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: MATTBLAK on 03/02/2008 02:40 am

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Riley1066 - 23/2/2008 12:02 PM Its a shame that Joan Higginbotham left NASA too.

Aw, no!! Joan is one of my favorites. She had another mission lined up (STS-126) after all those years of waiting for her first flight, but she's now left to pursue "private industry" opportunities? Must have been some offer to make her give up a guaranteed second flight!

If I were an Astronaut, I'd want to fly at least two missions to make all those years of training and waiting worth it before moving on from what is essentially a calling, as well as a profession. I hope Barbara Morgan can get one more mission, though I'm not holding my breath.

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 03/02/2008 02:35 pm
Perhaps that single mission was enough. Dom Gorie said in an interview that after so many years in training, the first orbit around the Earth alone made it worth it.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: astronut7 on 03/02/2008 10:37 pm
It is good to see Dom Gorie and Scott Altman getting their fourth flight on the shuttle.  I just hope that Jeff Ashby and Pam Melroy both get a fourth flight on the shuttle as well.  Jeff Ashby did make a comment on CNN news during the STS-114 launch coverage that he hopes he can get another flight on the shuttle before it is retired. I think both Pam and Jeff are very deserving of another flight.  I also hope that Jim Kelly gets another shuttle flight before the end of the program.  Good question is will Greg Johnson, Ken Ham, Alan Poindexter, George Zamka, Greg Johnson, Steve Frick get another flight??  Will any pilots from group-19 get flights(Bresnik,Dutton)??  Also, noticed that Ron Garan(pilot astronaut) is  flying on STS-124 as MS-2.  Will he even be able to get back into rotation for a pilot slot??  I don't think Barbara Morgan will get another flight, but I could be very wrong.  I look forward to Lee Morin, Tracy Caldwell and some other veteran MS's to get another slot on future flights as well.  Thank you.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 03/03/2008 03:12 am
It seems pretty clear that the last three flights may end up with a few veteran MS's.

Remaining missions with no flight crews: 6.
Remaining unassigned rookies in the astronaut office: 13 (15 if you count two of the 2004 JAXA selectees).

Of those 13 two are assigned as ISS backups (Creamer and Walker) and likely to land prime-crew ISS assignments.

Still looks good for the rookies, and some some vets to land one more flight.

Given that six flights are still crewless, and there are five unassigned PLT's (Virts, Wilmore, Ford, Dutton and Bresnik), I guess Garan will land a PLT slot on one of the last flights after STS 124.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 03/03/2008 06:56 am
Also makes you wonder if they really NEED to fly Bresnik and Dutton as PLTs, since there'll be no future commands to promote them to. If we assume Orion will be similar to Soyuz, in that MS-qualified crew members can command, the need for PLT experience to command an Orion mission is no longer there. I think maybe Bresnik and Dutton will get MS2 slots and perhaps Garan, Boe and Antonelli will get second shots at the PLT's seat.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jim on 03/03/2008 10:49 am
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Ben E - 3/3/2008  2:56 AM

 If we assume Orion will be similar to Soyuz, in that MS-qualified crew members can command, the need for PLT experience to command an Orion mission is no longer there..

I wouldn't make take assumption.  The "rated" astronaut contingent has some "political" pull with in the office
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: on 03/04/2008 10:13 pm
My 2 cent predictions:

STS-128: Hobaugh; STS-129: Sturckow; STS-130: Zamka, with Ford/Virts/Wilmore (not necessarily in that order) filling the pilot slots.

STS-131,132,133: Frick, Poindexter, G.H. Johnson, not necessarily in that order; Garan on STS-131 as pilot; Ham as STS-132 pilot, G.C. Johnson as STS-133 pilot.

Fuglesang on STS-128. Additional Shuttle flights for Robinson, Patrick, Olivas, Caldwell, Drew, Wheelock, Nespoli, Love, Melvin, Sellers, Foreman. Possible Shuttle flight for Mastracchio, Forrester, Wilson, Morgan, Hire, Morin, Behnken, Nyberg, Massimino, Good, Feustel, M. McArthur, Bowen, Kimbrough, Anderson, Burbank if he returns to active duty. (Some of these, however, are likely to be assigned as ISS crewmembers instead of another Shuttle flight.)

Rookies: Bresnick, Dutton as MS; Hernandez, Metcalf, Satcher.

Furokawa, Yamazaki as ISS FEs.

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 03/05/2008 07:12 am
Imagine the chaos at Mission Control if they assigned Greg H. (Box) as CDR and Greg C. (Rayjay) as PLT on STS-133!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: faustod on 03/05/2008 07:56 am
Very good predictions.

I have a little doubt about Sturckow to reflight, and perhaps Bresnick  and Dutton as MS instead of pilots (replacing Ham and G.C.Johnson).  

Okay for Furukawa and Yamazaki as ISS FEs (with Soyuz).
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: MATTBLAK on 03/05/2008 08:47 am
What I'm really interested in is who will eventually command the very final Shuttle mission!!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 03/05/2008 06:38 pm
Odds are it'll be an all-veteran crew, purely because most of the unflown astronauts are assigned and most likely will all have flown by the end of 2009. I'd guess Greg C. Johnson as CDR. He deserves a command and will be well into his sixties by the time Orion flies.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: stefan1138 on 03/05/2008 06:45 pm
Quote
MATTBLAK - 1/3/2008  9:40 PM

Quote
Riley1066 - 23/2/2008 12:02 PM Its a shame that Joan Higginbotham left NASA too.

Aw, no!! Joan is one of my favorites. She had another mission lined up (STS-126) after all those years of waiting for her first flight, but she's now left to pursue "private industry" opportunities? Must have been some offer to make her give up a guaranteed second flight!

If I were an Astronaut, I'd want to fly at least two missions to make all those years of training and waiting worth it before moving on from what is essentially a calling, as well as a profession. I hope Barbara Morgan can get one more mission, though I'm not holding my breath.


In this context has there ever been one astronaut who did not like the experience of space flight and therefore opted to resign (maybe because of space sickness or because of feeling uncomfortable). This thought just came to my mind and I am not sure if this has been discussed before. According to the Mullane book several PS Astros had a hard time on their flight...

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: on 03/05/2008 08:15 pm
If I were a betting man, I'd say Gregory H. "Box" Johnson will command STS-133, with Gregory C. "Ray Jay" Johnson as Pilot.  I think the order of the Class of 1998 commanding flights will follow the order of their first flight as pilot, and there just aren't enough flights left for Ray Jay or Ken Ham to command (unless both Sturckow and Frick are by-passed for another flight or decide not to fly).

The Johnson & Johnson flight.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: texas_space on 03/06/2008 01:34 am
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Jim - 3/3/2008  5:49 AM

Quote
Ben E - 3/3/2008  2:56 AM

 If we assume Orion will be similar to Soyuz, in that MS-qualified crew members can command, the need for PLT experience to command an Orion mission is no longer there..

I wouldn't make take assumption.  The "rated" astronaut contingent has some "political" pull with in the office

I agree with Jim.  I doubt the pilot astronauts are going to let MSs command/pilot missions.  They have experience that few of the standard mission specialists will have.  If I was flying on a lunar mission, I'd certainly want to have an AF/USN/USMC pilot at the controls.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SpaceUSMC on 03/06/2008 06:46 am
I'm glad to see that Chris Cassidy is getting a flight. Got to love Navy SEALs.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: bothwell on 03/06/2008 10:14 am
It is unlikely that Steve Frick will fly in space again: www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/s_555753.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: on 03/06/2008 04:33 pm
With Frick out of the equation, I predict Ken Ham now as STS-133 CDR.

I'll go out on a limb and make predictions for the CDR/PLT assignments for STS 128 - 133:

STS-128: Hobaugh/Virts

STS-129: Sturckow/ Ford

STS-130: Zamka/ Wilmore

STS-131: Poindexter/ Garan

STS-132: G.H. Johnson/ G.C. Johnson

STS-133: Ham/ Boe

We'll see how it turns out.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 03/06/2008 11:21 pm
My money's on:

128: Hobaugh/Virts
129: Zamka/Ford
130: Poindexter/Wilmore
131: G.H.Johnson/Garan
132: Ham/Boe
133: G.C.Johnson/Antonelli

with Bresnik and Dutton flying as MS2s

Frick's comments are interesting. Yes, I agree that anyone is immensely 'lucky' to get one flight, much less two, but when one considers that just a few years ago astronauts were flying up to six times in their careers, it's a sad state of affairs that the flight opportunities simply aren't there anymore.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TALsite on 03/07/2008 12:36 pm
I love this game...

My money is on:
128: Hobaugh/Virts         ¿Bresnick-MS2?
129: Zamka/Ford
130: Poindexter/Wilmore
131: G.H.Johnson/ G.C.Johnson
132: Ham/Garan
133: Melroy/Bresnick

With Dutton also flying as MS2.

-I choose  G.C. Johnson as PLT again, for his first flight to the ISS (different training and procedures than flying to HST?).
And J&J sounds good!  :)

-Melroy for the last flight, with Bresnik on his second flight, as PLT.  

Regards
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: on 03/08/2008 03:48 am
Normally, I would have included Pam Melroy as a "cinch" to command another Shuttle mission. However, during a recent post-flight interview, she seemed to downplay the idea, stating she was "tired" and wanted to take a break.

On the other hand, I'm sure NASA sees her as a PR asset. She has a unique combination of appearing every bit the "cool, competent commander" while exuding a more personal touch than your average male fighter jock. She brings a refreshing "female touch" to the notion of being a spacecraft commander, without sacrificing any ounce of appearance of confidence and competence. NASA might want to showcase her one more time, and maybe she just might relent. We'll have to wait and see.

I also wouldn't be surprised to see her become Chief of the Astronaut Office should Steve Lindsey decide to move on in the near future.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 03/08/2008 08:08 am
TALSite,

I don't think a Hubble mission would necessarily preclude G.C.Johnson from an ISS command. After all, Scott Kelly flew a Hubble mission, then an ISS command.

Pity they can't add a couple of extra ULFs - I would love to see Sturckow and Melroy get fourth flights!

Also makes me wonder who the next Astronaut Office chief will be. Since Lindsey is Group 15, Rominger was Group 14 and Precourt was Group 13, I wonder if a Group 16er will be the next one? Do they have to be active military? If they don't, I would go for Polansky.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TALsite on 03/08/2008 12:13 pm
BenE
Quote
I don't think a Hubble mission would necessarily preclude G.C.Johnson from an ISS command. After all, Scott Kelly flew a Hubble mission, then an ISS command.


Yes, you're absolutely right....
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: on 03/08/2008 02:48 pm
Here's my prediction for STS-128 & 129:

STS-128:

CDR: Charles Hobaugh
PLT: Terry Virts
MS: Steve Robinson
MS: Christer Fuglesang
MS: Tracey Caldwell
MS: Randy Bresnick
MS: Nicole Stott (up)
MS: Timothy Kopra (down)

STS-129:

CDR: Frederick Sturckow
PLT: Kevin Ford
MS: Nicholas Patrick
MS: Danny Olivas
MS: Jose Hernandez
MS: Robert Satcher
MS: Jeffrey Williams (up)
MS: Robert Thirsk (down)

We'll see how close this comes!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: on 03/08/2008 03:43 pm
I'll go one step further and make a prediction for STS-130:

CDR: George Zamka
PLT: Butch Wilmore
MS: Piers Sellers
MS: Alvin Drew
MS: James Dutton
MS: Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger

Possibly a fifth MS, either an up/down ISS crewmember exchange, or simply a 5th MS (Leland Melvin or Stan love?).

Now all I need is Steve Lindsey's E-mail address, and I'm golden!  :cool:
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: BigRIJoe on 03/08/2008 03:58 pm
Lee Morin?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: on 03/08/2008 04:32 pm
I think Morin is pretty much involved with the design of the Orion spacecraft at this point. However, once the design is finalized, it's possible he could get another Shuttle flight assignment. He's probably too old to wait around for a Orion mission. Another possibility is ISS expedition assignment.

I also predict Doug Wheelock will fly an ISS increment as the next step in his career. He's undergone Soyuz FE  training, during the year he spent as NASA Director of Operations at Gagarin, and I believe is certified as a Soyuz Return Commander.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 03/08/2008 08:27 pm
Delta7, your STS-128 suggestion is exactly what I was thinking. I personally don't see Sturckow or Melroy on a future Shuttle mission; rather than all of the Group 17ers will get a command. I think also that Patrick, Olivas and perhaps Drew will get expeditions.

Out of curiosity, what's happening after STS-128 with regards to crew size? Nicole Stott is the last ISS crew member to fly uphill on the Shuttle, so will NASA opt for a seventh crew member, a la Drew on STS-118, or simply stick to crews of six after STS-128? There must be some crew-loading documentation available on these flights by now?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jorge on 03/08/2008 08:48 pm
Quote
Ben E - 8/3/2008  3:27 PM

Out of curiosity, what's happening after STS-128 with regards to crew size? Nicole Stott is the last ISS crew member to fly uphill on the Shuttle, so will NASA opt for a seventh crew member, a la Drew on STS-118, or simply stick to crews of six after STS-128? There must be some crew-loading documentation available on these flights by now?

Most likely, only flights that are performance-constrained will carry less than seven. STS-132/ISS-20A (Node 3, Cupola) may be the only flight in that category.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: on 03/08/2008 09:10 pm
Quote
Ben E - 8/3/2008  3:27 PM
Out of curiosity, what's happening after STS-128 with regards to crew size? Nicole Stott is the last ISS crew member to fly uphill on the Shuttle, so will NASA opt for a seventh crew member, a la Drew on STS-118, or simply stick to crews of six after STS-128? There must be some crew-loading documentation available on these flights by now?

It's not confirmed, but I've read that Jeff Williams is now scheduled to be launched on STS-129 instead of Soyuz TMA-16 (To begin his tour as Expedition 20 CDR). Supposedly, Bob Thirsk will now return on STS-129, instead of a Soyuz. I guess the Russians don't want to give up those lucrative Space Tourist dollars (although I'm not sure how they compare to what we're paying them for each Soyuz seat).
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ShuttleDiscovery on 03/08/2008 09:42 pm
Quote
Ben E - 8/3/2008  9:27 PM

Out of curiosity, what's happening after STS-128 with regards to crew size? Nicole Stott is the last ISS crew member to fly uphill on the Shuttle, so will NASA opt for a seventh crew member, a la Drew on STS-118, or simply stick to crews of six after STS-128? There must be some crew-loading documentation available on these flights by now?

I would be surprised if they didn't go for 7 crew members as they want to get as many people flown ASAP due to lack of seats on Orion...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jim on 03/08/2008 09:59 pm
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ShuttleDiscovery - 8/3/2008  5:42 PM


I would be surprised if they didn't go for 7 crew members as they want to get as many people flown ASAP due to lack of seats on Orion...

Who says they want to
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: MKremer on 03/08/2008 10:01 pm
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ShuttleDiscovery - 8/3/2008  4:42 PM

Quote
Ben E - 8/3/2008  9:27 PM

Out of curiosity, what's happening after STS-128 with regards to crew size? Nicole Stott is the last ISS crew member to fly uphill on the Shuttle, so will NASA opt for a seventh crew member, a la Drew on STS-118, or simply stick to crews of six after STS-128? There must be some crew-loading documentation available on these flights by now?

I would be surprised if they didn't go for 7 crew members as they want to get as many people flown ASAP due to lack of seats on Orion...

As far as "they want to get as many people flown ASAP due to lack of seats on Orion" being a reason for more than 6 is just silly to risk more than a mission requires just to allow extra people on board to launch and land.

They should only select enough crew for each mission that can accomplish the mission requirements, regardless of who in the current astronaut corps has or hasn't flown yet.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: on 03/08/2008 10:05 pm
I think the rationale for 7 crewmembers would be to have as many hands as possible, in order to get things done according to the time-line. These missions are complex and jam-packed to the last hour and minute. They'd probably send up 10 if they could.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jim on 03/08/2008 10:28 pm
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Delta7 - 8/3/2008  6:05 PM

I think the rationale for 7 crewmembers would be to have as many hands as possible, in order to get things done according to the time-line. These missions are complex and jam-packed to the last hour and minute. They'd probably send up 10 if they could.

That is not a valid reason.  An extra person costs over 450lbs of payload
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 03/09/2008 12:04 am
Wasn't that the reason for Drew being added to STS-118 - to provide and extra 'pair of hands'? Obviously, his 450 lb of payload was balanced out by the needs of a heavy logistics flight.

Also, does STS-132/Node-3 have the same loading as STS-120/Node-2? If it does, or similar, then STS-120 managed to fly a 7-up/7-down complement. Is there another reason why STS-132 couldn't support a 7-member crew?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: The-Hammer on 03/09/2008 12:20 am
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Ben E - 8/3/2008  8:04 PM

Wasn't that the reason for Drew being added to STS-118 - to provide and extra 'pair of hands'? Obviously, his 450 lb of payload was balanced out by the needs of a heavy logistics flight.

Also, does STS-132/Node-3 have the same loading as STS-120/Node-2? If it does, or similar, then STS-120 managed to fly a 7-up/7-down complement. Is there another reason why STS-132 couldn't support a 7-member crew?

STS-132 will also (hopefully) have the cupola. Something like an extra 2000kg of payload.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: on 03/09/2008 01:27 am
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Jim - 8/3/2008  5:28 PM

Quote
Delta7 - 8/3/2008  6:05 PM

I think the rationale for 7 crewmembers would be to have as many hands as possible, in order to get things done according to the time-line. These missions are complex and jam-packed to the last hour and minute. They'd probably send up 10 if they could.

That is not a valid reason.  An extra person costs over 450lbs of payload

It's been a valid reason all along, at least in the view of NASA. Standard shuttle crews have gone from the original one or two Mission Specialist /Payload Specialist that were anticipated early on in the program, to 3, 4 and 5. NASA seems willing and ready to fill every seat when space and load permit.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jim on 03/09/2008 01:57 am
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Delta7 - 8/3/2008  9:27 PM

Quote
Jim - 8/3/2008  5:28 PM

Quote
Delta7 - 8/3/2008  6:05 PM

I think the rationale for 7 crewmembers would be to have as many hands as possible, in order to get things done according to the time-line. These missions are complex and jam-packed to the last hour and minute. They'd probably send up 10 if they could.

That is not a valid reason.  An extra person costs over 450lbs of payload

It's been a valid reason all along, at least in the view of NASA. Standard shuttle crews have gone from the original one or two Mission Specialist /Payload Specialist that were anticipated early on in the program, to 3, 4 and 5. NASA seems willing and ready to fill every seat when space and load permit.

And your source is?  Do you speak for NASA?

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: on 03/09/2008 02:15 am
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Jim - 8/3/2008  8:57 PM

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Delta7 - 8/3/2008  9:27 PM

Quote
Jim - 8/3/2008  5:28 PM

Quote
Delta7 - 8/3/2008  6:05 PM

I think the rationale for 7 crewmembers would be to have as many hands as possible, in order to get things done according to the time-line. These missions are complex and jam-packed to the last hour and minute. They'd probably send up 10 if they could.

That is not a valid reason.  An extra person costs over 450lbs of payload

It's been a valid reason all along, at least in the view of NASA. Standard shuttle crews have gone from the original one or two Mission Specialist /Payload Specialist that were anticipated early on in the program, to 3, 4 and 5. NASA seems willing and ready to fill every seat when space and load permit.

And your source is?  Do you speak for NASA?


Not trying to argue with you here, just pointing out the evidence that NASA likes to fill shuttle seats whenever it can. I'll bet that they will continue to do so right up until the last mission. Sorry if that opinion offends you.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jim on 03/09/2008 02:20 am
You are interpreting the "evidence" wrong.  Only crew rotations include 7
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: on 03/09/2008 02:48 am
We shall see when the remaining shuttle flight crew assignments come out over the next year/year-and-a-half.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 03/09/2008 08:03 am
I remember reading somewhere that the baseline plans for missions are laid 18-24 months before launch. As a result, the plans for next year's missions and possibly some of those planned for 2010 must be in place by now. Surely those plans must have a clear idea of crew-loading requirements?

After all, Al Drew's assignment to STS-118 didn't represent an "oh shit, we haven't got enough crew members to handle logistics" moment, but rather a "we need a new 7th crew member to replace the expedition crew member who was originally assigned" moment.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jim on 03/09/2008 12:02 pm
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Delta7 - 8/3/2008  10:48 PM

We shall see when the remaining shuttle flight crew assignments come out over the next year/year-and-a-half.

Listen to what I am saying.  Non crew rotation missions do not have 7 crew members.  
I don't need something as trivial as PAO announcement with names of people when the flight documentation says 5 or 6 crewmembers.  When the mission is planned for 6 crew members, you will only see 6 crew assignments.

read a little first.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 03/09/2008 12:09 pm
7 crew members (Kelly, Ham, Nyberg, Garan, Fossum, Hoshide and Bowen) were originally assigned to STS-124, which was originally a non-rotating mission.

All I was asking was that, by now, the crew-loading for STS-128 and possibly a few others should have been baselined. Are we to assume, therefore, if there are no more rotating missions after STS-128 that 129 and beyond will all have crews of 5-6?

This is an open forum, Jim. There's little enough enthusiasm for spaceflight out there, without ridiculing members' questions.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jim on 03/09/2008 12:13 pm
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Ben E - 9/3/2008  9:09 AM

7 crew members (Kelly, Ham, Nyberg, Garan, Fossum, Hoshide and Bowen) were originally assigned to STS-124, which was originally a non-rotating mission.

All I was asking was that, by now, the crew-loading for STS-128 and possibly a few others should have been baselined. Are we to assume, therefore, if there are no more rotating missions after STS-128 that 129 and beyond will all have crews of 5-6?

This is an open forum, Jim. There's little enough enthusiasm for spaceflight out there, without ridiculing members' questions.

I wasn't ridiculing any question, I said his assumption was wrong

And I looked at the flight documentation.  i.e "Non crew rotation missions do not have 7 crew members. "

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 03/09/2008 01:55 pm
QUOTE:   "It's not confirmed, but I've read that Jeff Williams is now scheduled to be launched on STS-129 instead of Soyuz TMA-16 (To begin his tour as Expedition 20 CDR).

What would be the reason of launching Williams on the shuttle?
Wouldn't NASA be paying for Williams seat on Soyuz?
Will Russia still be sending "space participants" to ISS during the more intense 6 person increments?
Thank you.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: on 03/09/2008 02:22 pm
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TJL - 9/3/2008  9:55 AM

QUOTE:   "It's not confirmed, but I've read that Jeff Williams is now scheduled to be launched on STS-129 instead of Soyuz TMA-16 (To begin his tour as Expedition 20 CDR).

What would be the reason of launching Williams on the shuttle?
Wouldn't NASA be paying for Williams seat on Soyuz?
Will Russia still be sending "space participants" to ISS during the more intense 6 person increments?
Thank you.

The only reason I can think for launching Williams on the Shuttle instead of Soyuz is to open up a seat for a spaceflight participant. It's possible that the Russians make more money off the seat that way, but I'm only guessing. (Or that the money goes into "different hands", if you get my drift.)

When Shuttles are docked during a 6-crew increment, there will be as many as 13 (Thirteen; 6 + 7!) crewmembers for a short period, so I don't think the tourist as a 7th crew member will be an issue.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 03/09/2008 02:47 pm
If Williams is going up on STS-129, won't that be during (but not at the end of) the Expedition-19 increment (July/August 2009)? If that's the case, won't Padalka still be in command? If that's the case, will Williams start off as a flight engineer from July-October and then take command in October when Padalka goes home?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 03/09/2008 09:59 pm
Russia has in autumn 2009 to launch a "special" flight participant, the member of the Russian parliament Wladimir Gruzdev. That´s why, I think, they need the third seat in this Soyuz.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ChrisGebhardt on 03/10/2008 12:05 am
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Ben E - 9/3/2008  11:47 AM

If Williams is going up on STS-129, won't that be during (but not at the end of) the Expedition-19 increment (July/August 2009)? If that's the case, won't Padalka still be in command? If that's the case, will Williams start off as a flight engineer from July-October and then take command in October when Padalka goes home?

If it lunches on time, yes. However, this rotation would see Williams replace Nicole Stott. This would make him a Flight Engineer, not an ISS commander.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 03/10/2008 07:16 am
Unusual scenario, then. I can see a film title: The American Who Went Up As A Flight Engineer and Came Down as a Commander!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: faustod on 03/10/2008 04:46 pm
The replacement of Ko San by Yi Soyeon ,South Korean partecipants, for the next Soyuz flight, comes as an amazing news.
Congratulations to Yi Soyeon, sorry for Ko San.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 03/10/2008 06:23 pm
Am I right in thinking this makes South Korea the second nation after Great Britain to have a woman as its first national in space?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ShuttleDiscovery on 03/10/2008 06:28 pm
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Ben E - 10/3/2008  8:23 PM

Am I right in thinking this makes South Korea the second nation after Great Britain to have a woman as its first national in space?

Yes, I believe it is... :)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: faustod on 03/10/2008 08:37 pm
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Ben E - 10/3/2008  2:23 PM

Am I right in thinking this makes South Korea the second nation after Great Britain to have a woman as its first national in space?

I remember that Indonesia in 1986 was very near to this goal.
Unfortunately the shuttle flight of Pratiwi Sudarmono was cancelled after
the Challenger disaster.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: on 03/10/2008 11:58 pm
Indirectly, Anousheh Ansari, although a naturalized U.S. citizen, was the first Iranian in space.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: faustod on 03/11/2008 05:10 am
You are right.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 03/16/2008 06:15 am
Does anyone have any knowledge of astronauts who have either begun, or are about to begin, training for future long-term ISS expeditions?

Obviously, we know of expeditions up to Expedition-19 and some possible Expedition-20 crew members (Jeff Williams, TJ Creamer etc), plus Scott Kelly for a later expedition. However, have any others recently begun expedition training?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jorge on 03/16/2008 05:59 pm
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Ben E - 16/3/2008  2:15 AM

Does anyone have any knowledge of astronauts who have either begun, or are about to begin, training for future long-term ISS expeditions?

Obviously, we know of expeditions up to Expedition-19 and some possible Expedition-20 crew members (Jeff Williams, TJ Creamer etc), plus Scott Kelly for a later expedition. However, have any others recently begun expedition training?

You might have better luck asking in the Flight Crew Assignments thread...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: on 03/16/2008 06:03 pm
As backups, Cady Coleman and Shannon Walker will likely fly on future expeditions. I'm not aware of any recent new additions to the Expedition Corps. However, I do know Al Drew expressed a desire to fly a long-duration mission. My guess is that Sunita Williams will eventually command an expedition (backup Scott Kelley on 22, then command 24?). Peggy Whitson served as Deputy Astronaut Office Chief between flights as well. It's also likely at least some like Clay Anderson, Dan Tani, Garrett Reisman, and others currently assigned to crews will go back into the rotation.

I suspect that not every member of the Astronaut Office is lining up to fly a long-duration mission. While some are disqualified due to height constraints (of the Soyuz vehicle), and some might be deemed not psychologically suitable for such a mission, others may not want to make the commitment of time spent away from home such an assignment entails. As such, I would tend to think those who do volunteer and are considered suitable would probably get their wish granted.

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 03/16/2008 06:56 pm
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Jorge - 16/3/2008  6:59 PM

Quote
Ben E - 16/3/2008  2:15 AM

Does anyone have any knowledge of astronauts who have either begun, or are about to begin, training for future long-term ISS expeditions?

Obviously, we know of expeditions up to Expedition-19 and some possible Expedition-20 crew members (Jeff Williams, TJ Creamer etc), plus Scott Kelly for a later expedition. However, have any others recently begun expedition training?

You might have better luck asking in the Flight Crew Assignments thread...

Merged.

(And this is a good idea, because people "in the know" tend to have such threads on e-mail notification, thus will be 'alerted' to this additional question.)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: faustod on 03/18/2008 01:13 pm
In August 2005 , Robert Behnken was included in a group of American
astronauts in training for long expeditions to ISS.
I don't know why he was later diverted to a shuttle flight.
I think that if there not constraints, after STS-123, he can return to ISS
long expeditions training.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 03/18/2008 07:37 pm
Wasn't the same true of Tracy Caldwell, also? I was surprised to see her on a Shuttle flight and not an expedition.

Delta7, you mentioned an 'Expedition Corps' within the Astronaut Office - I've never heard of this corps, but presumably it must exist. Do you have any more info? Does it have a branch chief astronaut?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jim on 03/18/2008 07:45 pm
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Ben E - 18/3/2008  4:37 PM

Wasn't the same true of Tracy Caldwell, also? I was surprised to see her on a Shuttle flight and not an expedition.

Delta7, you mentioned an 'Expedition Corps' within the Astronaut Office - I've never heard of this corps, but presumably it must exist.

it doesn't
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: on 03/18/2008 11:40 pm
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Ben E - 18/3/2008  3:37 PM

Wasn't the same true of Tracy Caldwell, also? I was surprised to see her on a Shuttle flight and not an expedition.

Delta7, you mentioned an 'Expedition Corps' within the Astronaut Office - I've never heard of this corps, but presumably it must exist. Do you have any more info? Does it have a branch chief astronaut?

I've seen it referred to on a number of occasions, but I haven't seen anything official on it. It may be used as a general term for those in training for ISS missions, or may actually be part of the organizational structure of the ISS program. Unfortunately, as with other subjects, it's hard to find a definite answer on the NASA Human Spaceflight web site.

I seem to recall that Mike Foale was listed as head of the "Expedition Corps" or something to that effect in his official NASA bio a number of years ago.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jim on 03/18/2008 11:54 pm
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Delta7 - 18/3/2008  8:40 PM

Quote
Ben E - 18/3/2008  3:37 PM

Wasn't the same true of Tracy Caldwell, also? I was surprised to see her on a Shuttle flight and not an expedition.

Delta7, you mentioned an 'Expedition Corps' within the Astronaut Office - I've never heard of this corps, but presumably it must exist. Do you have any more info? Does it have a branch chief astronaut?

I've seen it referred to on a number of occasions, but I haven't seen anything official on it. It may be used as a general term for those in training for ISS missions, or may actually be part of the organizational structure of the ISS program. Unfortunately, as with other subjects, it's hard to find a definite answer on the NASA Human Spaceflight web site.

I seem to recall that Mike Foale was listed as head of the "Expedition Corps" or something to that effect in his official NASA bio a number of years ago.

It isn't an official term.  It is not in the CB org chart
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 03/19/2008 06:29 am
Delta7, yes, indeed, it is still mentioned under 'NASA Experience'. It obviously isn't regarded as a 'branch chief' level of responsibility, because several other management astronauts have their job title listed as such under 'Management', eg Ivins is listed as 'Management - Exploration Office Branch Chief'. I don't think Foale was ever listed as 'Management - Expedition Corps Branch Chief'. I simply wasn't aware of such a corps' existence, but suspect it must be somehow 'separate' from the mainstream Shuttle training section of the corps.

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/foale.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 03/19/2008 03:19 pm

There was indeed an "Expedition Corps" within the astronaut office from 1999-2001, with Andrew Thomas, Foale and Lopez-Alegria as leads.  (It was never a "branch".)  Its functions were absorbed into ISS Crew Ops, then Station Ops, where ISS-bound astronauts are largely assigned.  There is, I believe, a lead for ISS training in Station or Station Ops.

The astronaut office is determined to shorten the current 4+ year training regime to two -- eliminating the need for expedition crewmembers to be fully qualified on both EVA and RMS, for example.

Michael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Kel on 03/19/2008 04:58 pm
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Michael Cassutt - 19/3/2008  11:19 AM
The astronaut office is determined to shorten the current 4+ year training regime to two -- eliminating the need for expedition crewmembers to be fully qualified on both EVA and RMS, for example.

This would make sense, especially as the station will have a crew of 6 in the near future.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: on 03/19/2008 05:53 pm
John Grunsfeld had begun training for a long-duration ISS mission prior to being assigned to STS-125. Perhaps he'll resume that endeavor after his upcoming mission. I had a conversation with him in 2003 during which he expressed a desire to do so.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 03/19/2008 06:48 pm
Out of curiosity, when the ISS goes to six crew, will they work in two shifts or single shift?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: DwightM on 03/28/2008 09:47 pm
A possible partial assignment for Expedition 21.  Not sure if it's prime or backup, 21A or 21B.
http://collectspace.com/ubb/Forum30/HTML/000686.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: erioladastra on 03/28/2008 11:12 pm
"Out of curiosity, when the ISS goes to six crew, will they work in two shifts or single shift?"

Single.  It would be too disruptive for two (though I wouldn't rule out special cases say during a docking) plus the control centers would have a problem with supporting like that.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: faustod on 04/01/2008 08:39 am
Happy to known that CSA is recruiting al least two astronauts for future flights.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 04/01/2008 05:12 pm
Well at IAC in Hyderabad, they said they wanted two astronauts in the ISS in the 2010s and two astronauts on the Moon in the 2020s so they'd better recruit some.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: faustod on 04/03/2008 04:10 pm
CSA, JAXA and now ESA, all are in train to select new astronauts, almost all for ISS long duration missions.
Next year NASA will select the new Astronauts for Orion,  plus I think someone for ISS by Soyuz.
I note that with the end of the Shuttle program, the world of the manned spaceflight continue to renewe itself.
These are good news.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 04/08/2008 10:58 pm
Would anyone have a link that would show shuttle flight crew assignments (including ISS increment crews) for the STS 114 through STS-120 missions...prior to the Columbia accident?
Thank you.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: K8B on 04/09/2008 12:49 am
I'm not sure if this is what you are looking for or not, but here are links - slated -pre 107 (found with help from the wayback machine) - this link of missions up to STS-117, others are below http://web.archive.org/web/20021206162553/http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/shuttle/future/index.html and actual - http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/list_main.html  

Pre 107 press release - STS-118 &120/Expedition 8 & 9 (from 2002)
http://web.archive.org/web/20021221193123/spaceflight.nasa.gov/spacenews/releases/2002/H02-249.html
Pre 107 press release - STS-113 & 117/Expedition 10
http://web.archive.org/web/20021221195201/spaceflight.nasa.gov/spacenews/releases/2002/H02-155.html
Pre 107 press release - Expedition 7
http://web.archive.org/web/20021221200350/spaceflight.nasa.gov/spacenews/releases/2002/H02-235.html

& (post 107) actual ISS crews - http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/index.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 04/09/2008 01:12 am
Great...just what I was looking for...thank you!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 04/09/2008 12:02 pm
Were there any insights into how future ISS crews would have panned out in pre-Columbia days? Would Eyharts have been launched on the Columbus mission, for example? Would Camarda (as Expedition 8 backup) have got an expedition?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: K8B on 04/09/2008 03:48 pm
Quote
Ben E - 9/4/2008  5:02 AM

Were there any insights into how future ISS crews would have panned out in pre-Columbia days?

I don't understand what you are asking... did you want to know who was slated to be ISS Crew members pre STS-107? If so - those links are above (as well as the actual crews flown). The last announcement (on the Nasa site  - press releases) of crews  was late Dec 2002. I found crews named up to Expedition 10 (those links are in my previous post on this thread). Here is a list of press releases for the past 10+ years that would have that kind of info. http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/spacenews/releases/  (I discovered this link after I found the previous links at the wayback machine site)

I'm sorry if I misunderstood your question. Maybe you are asking if someone has first-hand knowledge on the specifics and not just what was announced in press releases.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 04/09/2008 06:18 pm
Sorry K8B, I probably misphrased my question. I was just trying to find out if there were any crews named beyond Expedition 10 at the time of the loss of Columbia, or, if not, which backup crews would have rotated into the Expedition 11 slots and beyond. I do recall that Camarda was a backup for Expedition 8 and wondered if he would have been in line for Expedition 11? Presumably there would have been an ESA astronaut aboard for (or shortly after) Columbus' arrival in October 2004, but I wonder if it would have been Eyharts or Reiter or someone else?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: K8B on 04/09/2008 11:01 pm
Ben,

As for Camarda, I'm not sure but found this reference to Camarda taking Philips place as backup for Exp. 8, Philips was moved to back-up for Exp. 7, replacing Richards (trickle down) - http://www.nasa-usa.de/home/hqnews/2002/02-055.txt . Unsure if Camarda would have been on expedition 11 crew member since the guy he replaced (as back-up for 8), Philips,  was moved to back-up for Exp. 7... and then he was on Exp. 11 http://www.nasa.gov/lb/home/hqnews/2005/apr/HQ_m05058_NTV_Station_Crew_Change.html so I would think it Camarda would have to have been back-up for 7 & not 8 in order to get on 11 (but who really knows - unless you are that person or it is in a document somewhere)

2nd part
I would think that not only would it be an ESA astronaut but that it would be a German ESA astronaut (since Columbus is germany's baby/control center in germany).

It looks like Reiter would have been the guy all along (even in 2001) as he was already training for ISS missions in 2001 & Eyharts was only assigned to "technical assignments" within Nasa. Hans Schlegel appears to have been in training (more so than Eyharts or Fuglesang)

Thomas Reiters profile from Jul 2002 (scroll all the way down to current assignments)
http://web.archive.org/web/20020817100225/www.esa.int/export/esaHS/ESAYBVZUMOC_astronauts_0.html
and in 2003 it was basically unchanged
http://web.archive.org/web/20030508015441/http://www.esa.int/esaHS/ESAYBVZUMOC_astronauts_0.html

And Eyharts 2002
http://web.archive.org/web/20020804140657/www.esa.int/export/esaHS/ESASFUZUMOC_astronauts_0.html
& 2003
http://web.archive.org/web/20030724225239/http://www.esa.int/esaHS/ESASFUZUMOC_astronauts_0.html

Hans Schlegel - "In August 1998, ESA sent him to the Johnson Space Center for training as a Mission Specialist" - in robotics on shuttle & ISS
http://web.archive.org/web/20020817095752/www.esa.int/export/esaHS/ESAKDVZUMOC_astronauts_0.html

Christer Fuglesang - "providing collateral duties in the NASA-JSC Astronaut Office and has been assigned to the EVA branch"
http://web.archive.org/web/20020611190553/www.esa.int/export/esaHS/ESAOUUZUMOC_astronauts_0.html

hope that helps  :)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 04/10/2008 06:21 am
Thanks for that. I remember reading a suggestion somewhere that Clervoy was attached to 1E as an EVA Mission Specialist. Maybe a German ISS crew member (Reiter?) would also have been on the 1E mission, although in pre-107 days there seemed to be the habit of flying entire three-person crews up, rather than the routine of one crew member as today.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: faustod on 04/21/2008 07:25 pm
The Russian site astronaut.ru, reports Yurchikhin backup of Surayev for ISS-20B.
Moreover astronaut.ru, reports Kaleri and Kuipers for ISS-21A prime crew.
I know that about Yurchikhin, Anik denied this assignment, on another thread, a few weeks ago.
Are these assignments only "tentatively ones" ?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 04/22/2008 06:01 am
There were information in the past that Kaleri will be the commander of the first new Soyuz (Nr. 701). According to the newest plan of launches Nr. 701 will be launched in November 2009 with ISS Crew 20B. May be they will change the crews.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TALsite on 05/09/2008 06:38 pm
Bumped…

Quote
Delta7 - 6/3/2008  6:33 PM
I'll go out on a limb and make predictions for the CDR/PLT assignments for STS 128 - 133:

STS-128: Hobaugh/Virts

Quote
Ben E - 7/3/2008  1:21 AM
My money's on:
128: Hobaugh/Virts

Quote
TALsite - 7/3/2008  2:36 PM
My money is on:
128: Hobaugh/Virts        

We were supposing Hobaugh and Virts are friends…   ;)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ShuttleDiscovery on 05/09/2008 07:10 pm
I really hope James Kelly gets his shot as commander! But I know the prediction is Hobaugh based on the current pattern...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: OV-107 on 05/09/2008 09:21 pm
Kelly has flown 2 MPLM flights, 102 with leonardo and 114 with rafaello. Maybe he will command one of the remaining MPLM flights?

I think Hobaugh and Zamka will be assigned at short but I hope Rick Sturckow will be offered a 4:th  shuttle flight or command an ISS long duration mission.






Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 05/10/2008 01:45 pm
Sturckow on an ISS mission? Is he doing ISS expedition training, then?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 05/13/2008 09:10 pm
RELEASE: 08-121

NASA ASSIGNS PART OF CREW FOR EXPEDITION 20 SPACE STATION MISSION

WASHINGTON -- NASA and its international partners have assigned two
crew members to the Expedition 20 International Space Station
mission.

NASA astronaut Timothy J. Creamer, a colonel in the U.S. Army, and
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Soichi Noguchi will
launch on a Soyuz spacecraft in November 2009. Creamer will be making
his first trip to space.

Creamer and Noguchi will join the Expedition 20 mission in progress
and remain aboard the space station for six months as flight
engineers. Creamer also will serve as a NASA science officer. Other
members of the Expedition 20 crew have yet to be named. Expedition 20
will continue assembly of the station as well as outfit the orbiting
complex with spare parts and supplies.

Creamer was born in Fort Huachuca, Ariz., but considers Upper
Marlboro, Md., to be his hometown. He has a bachelor's in chemistry
from Loyola College and a master's in physics from the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology. He was selected as a NASA astronaut in 1998.


Noguchi was born in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan, and considers
Chigasaki, Kanagawa, Japan, his hometown. He has a bachelor's and a
master's degree in aeronautical engineering from the University of
Tokyo. He flew as a mission specialist aboard space shuttle
Discovery's return to flight mission in 2005 and performed three
spacewalks. He was selected as an astronaut in 1996 by Japan's
National Space Development Agency, which now is known as JAXA. He
reported to NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston in August 1996.

Crew members named as backups are NASA astronaut and Army Col. Douglas
H. Wheelock, and JAXA astronaut Satoshi Furukawa.

For complete astronaut biographical information, visit:

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios

For more information about NASA's International Space Station Program,
visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/station
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 05/13/2008 09:10 pm
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                       ***  JAXA MAIL SERVICE  ***
                   Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Announcement of Japanese Expedition Crew
                  to the International Space Station (ISS)

                                                          May 14, 2008
                             Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)

Space organizations in Canada, the European Union, Japan, Russia and
the United States have agreed on the following schedule and members
for the 20th Expedition Crew that will stay on the International
Space Station (ISS).
We are pleased to note that Astronaut Soichi Noguchi of the Japan
Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) was selected as a prime member of
the Expedition 20 Crew and that Astronaut Satoshi Furukawa was
selected as his backup.
Astronaut Noguchi will conduct mainly space utilization activities
such as Japan's scientific experiments in the ISS where six crew
members will be staying by his flight.


Expected Stay on the ISS:
         Late 2009 to early 2010

Expected Mission Duration:
         6 months
         (Launched and returned by Soyuz launch vehicle)

Expected Activities on the ISS:
         Conduct system operation and science experiments in the ISS
         modules including Kibo, ISS robotic arm operation, and
         Extravehicular Activities (EVA) as an ISS Flight Engineer.

Preparation for flight:
         Training for operation and science experiments in each ISS
         element; training for flying aboard a Soyuz.

References:
         Brief personal histories of Astronaut Soichi Noguchi and
         Astronaut Satoshi Furukawa
http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2008/05/20080514_iss_e.html#ref01

         Flight Schedule for the Japanese Astronauts
http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2008/05/20080514_iss_e.html#ref02

         JAXA President's Remarks
http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2008/05/20080514_iss_e.html#ref03

Reference Links:
         ISS Kibo Information Center
http://iss.jaxa.jp/en/
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: faustod on 05/14/2008 04:49 pm
I think that J. Williams (Exp.20A), now will ride on Soyuz TMA-16.
Actually, if he will fly on STS-129, then Soyuz TMA-16 must fly with only two member crew.
All this, after the International agreement about the future crews rotation on ISS.

On the shuttle side., I will not be surprised if Zamka will be assigned to command STS-128.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 05/17/2008 07:38 pm
This could be bogus, but, the following has appeared on wikipedia as the STS-128 crew.

CDR: Charles Hobaugh
PLT: Terry Virts
Mission Specialists: Steven Robinson, Christer Fuglesang, Randolph Bresnik and Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger
ISS Up: Nicole Stott

I'm cautious about it....but, can anyone confirm or deny?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: kimmern123 on 05/18/2008 09:10 am
I haven't seen anything on L2 regarding the crew for that mission, even though I'm really looking forward to see if Christer gets to fly on this flight. I'd take it with a truck load of salt for the time being. I really can't see how Wikipedia should've got that info when we haven't heard a thing on L2 yet...

EDIT: However Nicole Stott is correct. It has been known for some time that she'll be flying to the station with this flight.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skyrocket on 05/18/2008 10:04 am
The Wikipedia entry is probably based on the Listing on the "Loty kosmiczne" website
http://astro.zeto.czest.pl/loty/sts128.htm
This website is often (but not always) correct on future flight assignements. But as the authors of the website marked the assignemnts all with a question mark, we should not take this info for given fact.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ShuttleDiscovery on 05/18/2008 11:18 am
I hope James Kelly gets a flight as CDR soon!! But after the past few shuttle assignments, the trend definately points to Hobaugh commanding STS-128...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: on 05/18/2008 04:28 pm
Seems plausible, but Wiki still shows STS-128 crew "TBD" when I checked.

(I predicted all but Metcalf-Lindenburger on an earlier thread).

If it holds up, my STS-129 prediction:

CDR: Zamka
PLT: Ford
MS: Olivas, Caldwell, Dutton, Satcher.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 05/18/2008 05:37 pm
Quote
ShuttleDiscovery - 18/5/2008  7:18 AM

I hope James Kelly gets a flight as CDR soon!! But after the past few shuttle assignments, the trend definately points to Hobaugh commanding STS-128...

I think if Jim Kelly was in line for a CDR slot on shuttle, he would have been assigned already. IMO he will get the first manned Orion CDR position.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 05/19/2008 12:17 pm
I thought Olivas was training for an expedition?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: on 05/19/2008 01:55 pm
Quote
Ben E - 19/5/2008  7:17 AM

I thought Olivas was training for an expedition?


I hadn't heard that, but that doesn't mean it isn't true. However, from his current NASA official biography:

"Presently, he is assigned to the Capsule Communicator (CAPCOM) Branch that is responsible for all interface with the flight control team at Mission Control in Houston and the on-orbit STS and ISS crews."
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 05/20/2008 12:05 am
Quote
Delta7 - 18/5/2008  12:28 PM

Seems plausible, but Wiki still shows STS-128 crew "TBD" when I checked..

Looks like it got taken down from wiki. Rightly so as it had zero references.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: faustod on 05/24/2008 10:39 am
Meanwhile James Reilly resigned from NASA, after completing three spaceflights.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 06/05/2008 04:49 pm
Also, jsc.nasa.gov/Bios mentions that Kevin Ford has just resigned from the US Air Force, with the rank of Colonel. Hope he doesn't leave NASA, too. I'd like to see him get a flight.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Possum on 06/05/2008 05:29 pm
Pardon me if this has been addressed before.
Do backup crew members still rotate to prime crew after the next flight?
I noticed Doug Wheelock as backup for Expedition 20. Met him a few years ago, he's a nice fellow and I would like to see him get another flight.
Just wondering...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: OV-107 on 06/05/2008 10:19 pm
Isn´t  Doug Wheelock assigned to expedition 21 ?

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ras391 on 06/06/2008 03:23 am
When I talked to Doug, at KSC just before launch of STS-124, he said he was going to Russia in early June to begin training for an ISS flight.  He would not make it "official".
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 06/06/2008 03:36 am
Pardon me if this has been addressed before.
Do backup crew members still rotate to prime crew after the next flight?
I noticed Doug Wheelock as backup for Expedition 20. Met him a few years ago, he's a nice fellow and I would like to see him get another flight.
Just wondering...

Not all ISS backup crew members have gone on to fly an expedition themselves. Steve Robinson (Exp. 4), Scott Kelley (Exp. 5 ~ now training as backup again for Exp. 20), Charles Camarda and Carlos Noriega come to mind. Still, I see no reason to doubt Wheelock will eventually fly on a future expedition. Same goes for Shannon Walker and Cady Coleman.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nrlqt on 06/10/2008 05:39 pm
Does any one know when we can expect flight crew assignments for STS-128 and beyond announced?
I really hope that Christer Fuglesang gets his second flight assignment soon.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 06/10/2008 06:03 pm
Does any one know when we can expect flight crew assignments for STS-128 and beyond announced?
I really hope that Christer Fuglesang gets his second flight assignment soon.

Ironically, we've just got the master EVA training schedule on L2, and I'm asking about relation to assignments.

i.e. Fuglesang is scheduled for training with Behnken in the NBL on Node 3. Could be a clue, but we're looking into it.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ShuttleDiscovery on 06/10/2008 06:22 pm
Does any one know when we can expect flight crew assignments for STS-128 and beyond announced?
I really hope that Christer Fuglesang gets his second flight assignment soon.

Ironically, we've just got the master EVA training schedule on L2, and I'm asking about relation to assignments.

i.e. Fuglesang is scheduled for training with Behnken in the NBL on Node 3. Could be a clue, but we're looking into it.

That would make sense, having another ESA astronaut flying with an ESA built node, just like Nespoli on STS-120... :)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 06/10/2008 07:23 pm
Now that Yuri Lonchakov has moved from Soyuz TMA-15/Expedition 19 to Soyuz TMA-13/Expedition 18, who will replace him on the former? I guess one good bet would be his backup for that Mission, Dimitri Kondratiev. Maxim Suraev could also be a possibility.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ShuttleDiscovery on 06/10/2008 07:42 pm
Now that Yuri Lonchakov has moved from Soyuz TMA-15/Expedition 19 to Soyuz TMA-13/Expedition 18, who will replace him on the former? I guess one good bet would be his backup for that Mission, Dimitri Kondratiev. Maxim Suraev could also be a possibility.

I'd say it'll be Dimitri Kondratiev too, as he is Lonchakov's back-up
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: faustod on 06/15/2008 04:03 pm
I just hope that Jeff Ashby and Pam Melroy both get a fourth flight on the shuttle as well.  Jeff Ashby did make a comment on CNN news during the STS-114 launch coverage that he hopes he can get another flight on the shuttle before it is retired.

Sorry, Jeff Ashby has now left NASA.

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/astrobio_former.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ShuttleDiscovery on 06/15/2008 04:27 pm
I wish they'd hurry up and announce the crew for STS-128! Or maybe they're waiting a bit so they can announce the STS-128 and STS-129 crews together perhaps...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: DwightM on 06/15/2008 09:40 pm
I wish they'd hurry up and announce the crew for STS-128! Or maybe they're waiting a bit so they can announce the STS-128 and STS-129 crews together perhaps...
Crews are normally announced about a year before the scheduled launch, which in the case of 128 is mid-July.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nathan.moeller on 06/16/2008 03:14 am
Quote
ShuttleDiscovery - 18/5/2008  7:18 AM

I hope James Kelly gets a flight as CDR soon!! But after the past few shuttle assignments, the trend definately points to Hobaugh commanding STS-128...

I think if Jim Kelly was in line for a CDR slot on shuttle, he would have been assigned already. IMO he will get the first manned Orion CDR position.

Agree.  Crewmembers from 121, 115, 116, 117, (possibly) 118 have/are getting new flight assignments.  No one from 114 has been assigned to a new flight.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 06/16/2008 07:37 am
What are the crew designations for Orion? Will we see CDR/PLT or CDR/FE or something entirely different? Have they been defined yet?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jim on 06/16/2008 11:18 am
CDR, PLT will be probably continued to be used.  There always has been a PLT position ever since NASA went to more than 1 crew member.

Gemini - Command pilot, pilot
Apollo 1 - Command pilot, Senior pilot, pilot
Apollo - Commander, CMP, LMP
Skylab - Commander, CMP, Science Pilot
ASTP - Commander, CMP, Docking MP

There will be some designation for the LSAM pilot

As for the others, MS still could used.  Or new one like station specialist, science specialist, or  maybe exploration specialist,
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 06/16/2008 03:47 pm
Thanks Jim,

Out of curiosity, was there a reason for the switch from 'command pilot' on Gemini and Apollo 1 to 'commander' later on? Sounds picky, I know, but I just wondered if there was any rationale behind it?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jim on 06/16/2008 04:06 pm
Thanks Jim,


Those were my views and not official
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 06/27/2008 09:58 am
I´ve seen on the Astronaut Biographies page that NASA has "won" five active astronauts, because the astronauts, who lead the Flight Crew Operation Directorate (Jett, Kavandi and Lopez-Alegria) and the Astronaut Office (Lindsey and Suni Williams) now count again as Active astronauts and not as Management astronauts. Is this a sign for the Flight crew assignments for the last shuttle flights?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 06/27/2008 03:39 pm
I´ve seen on the the Astronaut Biographies page that NASA has "won" five active astronauts, because the astronauts, who lead the Flight Crew Operation Directorate (Jett, Kavandi and Lopez-Alegria) and the Astronaut Office (Lindsey and Suni Williams) now count again as Active astronauts and not as Management astronauts. Is this a sign for the Flight crew assignments for the last shuttle flights?

No.  For one thing, astronauts can be moved from "management" to "active" status with a phone call.  There's no necessity to re-classify these five now for that reason.

More likely explanation: NASA is phasing out management status in anticipation of the end of Shuttle assignments (last ones will be made within a year), some major attrition and the incoming 09s.  ("Pilot" and "mission specialist" designations end with Shuttle, too.)


Michael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: rsp1202 on 06/27/2008 04:45 pm
That happened with Scott Altman, didn't it? From "management" to commanding the final Hubble mission.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 06/27/2008 05:07 pm
RELEASE: 08-161

ASTRONAUT BARBARA MORGAN TO LEAVE NASA

HOUSTON -- Veteran space shuttle astronaut Barbara R. Morgan will
leave NASA in August to become an educator at Idaho's Boise State
University.

NASA's first educator astronaut, Morgan logged more than 305 hours in
space aboard shuttle Endeavour's STS-118 assembly mission to the
International Space Station in August 2007. She operated the shuttle
and station robotic arms to install hardware, inspect the orbiter and
support spacewalks. Morgan also served as loadmaster for the transfer
of supplies between the shuttle and station, taught lessons from
space to schoolchildren on Earth and served on the flight deck during
re-entry and landing.

"Barbara has served NASA and the Astronaut Office with distinction
over the course of her career," Astronaut Office chief Steve Lindsey
said. "From the Teacher in Space Program to her current position as a
fully qualified astronaut, she has set a superb example and been a
consistent role model for both teachers and students. She will be
missed."

Morgan previously served as the backup to payload specialist Christa
McAuliffe in the Teacher in Space Program. McAuliffe and six fellow
astronauts lost their lives in the Challenger accident on Jan. 28,
1986. Morgan, who was an elementary schoolteacher in McCall, Idaho,
before being selected as McAuliffe's backup, returned to teaching
after the accident. She was selected to train as a mission specialist
in 1998 and named to the STS-118 crew in 2002.

"It is really tough to leave NASA," Morgan said. "It is a great
organization with great people doing great things. We're going back
to the moon and on to Mars. I'm especially proud that we have three
other teachers who are astronauts, and there will be others in the
future. I'm very excited to go to work for Boise State University. I
like everything about it, and it's going to be wonderful helping
exploration by working full time for education."

Three other educator mission specialists, Richard Arnold, Joseph Acaba
and Dottie Metcalf-Lindenburger, are training for future
spaceflights. Arnold and Acaba are assigned to fly on the STS-119
space shuttle mission to the station in 2009.

Morgan will serve as Distinguished Educator in Residence at Boise
State, providing vision and leadership to the state of Idaho on
science, technology, engineering and math education.

Highlights of Morgan's NASA career will be available on NASA
Television's video file. For NASA TV downlink information, schedules
and links to streaming video, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

For more biographical information about Morgan, visit:

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/morgan.html

For information about NASA and agency programs, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: oscar71 on 06/27/2008 07:31 pm

[/quote]

"Pilot" and "mission specialist" designations end with Shuttle, too


Michael Cassutt
[/quote]

If there are no designations does this mean non pilots will be able to pilot an Orion?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: DwightM on 06/27/2008 08:14 pm
Oscar71, see the comments here:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=7899.msg156305#msg156305
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 06/27/2008 08:16 pm


"Pilot" and "mission specialist" designations end with Shuttle, too
Michael Cassutt
[/quote]

If there are no designations does this mean non pilots will be able to pilot an Orion?
[/quote]

We're talking about job titles here, not actual tasks.  NASA has not determined what Orion crew positions will be called -- there is strong sentiment within the astronaut office for "operator", which would suggest that any astronaut could "operate" the vehicle.  (Energiya flight engineers who lack pilot training have nevertheless "flown" Soyuz missions.)

However, Lindsey told me a few months back that the decision had been "kicked down the road".  I find it unlikely that the "operator-1" of an Orion mission will not be an astronaut with a flying background.

Michael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 06/27/2008 09:32 pm
I´ve seen on the the Astronaut Biographies page that NASA has "won" five active astronauts, because the astronauts, who lead the Flight Crew Operation Directorate (Jett, Kavandi and Lopez-Alegria) and the Astronaut Office (Lindsey and Suni Williams) now count again as Active astronauts and not as Management astronauts. Is this a sign for the Flight crew assignments for the last shuttle flights?

No.  For one thing, astronauts can be moved from "management" to "active" status with a phone call.  There's no necessity to re-classify these five now for that reason.

More likely explanation: NASA is phasing out management status in anticipation of the end of Shuttle assignments (last ones will be made within a year), some major attrition and the incoming 09s.  ("Pilot" and "mission specialist" designations end with Shuttle, too.)


Michael Cassutt

Thank you sir for clarification.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: faustod on 06/28/2008 06:31 am
About the remaining Educator Mission Specialists, I find very interesting that during the STS-119 mission next year, the scheduled third EVA, will be performed by a couple of EMSs,
( Acaba and Arnold).
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ChrisGebhardt on 06/28/2008 06:43 am
About the remaining Educator Mission Specialists, I find very interesting that during the STS-119 mission next year, the scheduled third EVA, will be performed by a couple of EMSs,
( Acaba and Arnold).

Why do you say you find this interesting? The Educator Mission Specialists are fully trained Mission Specialists who just happen to also be educators. And Mission Specialists are the astronuats who perform our EVAs.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: faustod on 06/28/2008 02:15 pm
About the remaining Educator Mission Specialists, I find very interesting that during the STS-119 mission next year, the scheduled third EVA, will be performed by a couple of EMSs,
( Acaba and Arnold).

Why do you say you find this interesting? The Educator Mission Specialists are fully trained Mission Specialists who just happen to also be educators. And Mission Specialists are the astronuats who perform our EVAs.

Thanks for your clarification.
However, the above fact is a "little curiosity".

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 06/28/2008 06:52 pm
Anyone hear anything about Group 17 astronaut Neil Woodward leaving NASA?
Thank you.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: collectSPACE on 06/28/2008 07:26 pm
Anyone hear anything about Group 17 astronaut Neil Woodward leaving NASA?
Thank you.

Yes: http://www.collectspace.com/ubb/Forum38/HTML/000865.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: joebacsi777 on 06/28/2008 07:30 pm
Anyone hear anything about Group 17 astronaut Neil Woodward leaving NASA?
Thank you.

Is it known why didn't he get any flights?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 06/28/2008 08:56 pm
Woodward would be joining a small list of individuals who can claim to be a former NASA Astronaut, but never having flown in space.

Duane Graveline
F. Curtis Michel
John S. Bull
Philip K. Chapman
Donald L. Holmquest
J. Anthony Llewellyn
Brian T. O'Leary
Christopher "Gus" Loria.

Seemingly also to eventually include Yvonne Cagle and Fernando "Frank" Caldero (whom are both still listed as Management Astronauts, but having long since been bypassed for a flight assignment, for whatever reason.)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 06/30/2008 01:18 pm
RELEASE: 08-162

ASTRONAUT JAMES REILLY LEAVES NASA

HOUSTON -- Veteran space shuttle astronaut James Reilly has left NASA
to accept a position in the private sector. Reilly flew on three
space shuttle missions to two space stations.

"Jim Reilly performed superbly as an astronaut over the course of his
career at NASA," Astronaut Office chief Steve Lindsey said. "His
technical, operational and people skills contributed directly to the
success of the space shuttle and International Space Station
programs. He was a key leader in the Astronaut Office and will be
missed."

Reilly's spaceflight experience includes more than 853 hours in space.
He has conducted five spacewalks, totaling more than 31 hours.

Selected as an astronaut in 1994, Reilly first flew in January 1998
aboard shuttle Endeavour's STS-89 mission, the eighth shuttle mission
to visit the Russian space station Mir. He next flew in 2001 on
STS-104 aboard shuttle Atlantis, performing three spacewalks during
that flight to install the joint airlock on the International Space
Station. Reilly again flew on Atlantis in 2007 on STS-117, performing
two spacewalks for construction and repair of the International Space
Station.

For more biographical information about Reilly, visit:

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/reilly.html

For information about NASA and agency programs, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: faustod on 07/07/2008 04:32 pm
According to this site:
http://astro.zeto.czest.pl/loty/fmanned.htm
The crew for STS-129 will probably see:
Zamka?, Ford?, Melvin? and Anna Fisher?.
Hoping this will be true.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: brahmanknight on 07/07/2008 04:53 pm
It'd be great to see Anna Fisher go up again, but I don't know if it will happen. 
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 07/08/2008 09:22 am
According to this site:
http://astro.zeto.czest.pl/loty/fmanned.htm
The crew for STS-129 will probably see:
Zamka?, Ford?, Melvin? and Anna Fisher?.
Hoping this will be true.


Fisher? Gosh, that would be so great! Talk about bridging the old days with the upcoming closure of the program ...

What do we now about that site? Are they credible?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ShuttleDiscovery on 07/08/2008 01:22 pm
Well if Hobaugh will follow the pattern and commands STS-128 then Zamka is next in line for STS-129...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: bothwell on 07/11/2008 05:01 pm
Acc. to http//astro.zeto.czest.pl, the crew for STS 128 will now consist of:
Sturckow, Ford, Forrester, Olivas and Hernandez.
No mention of crew of STS 129.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Justin Wheat on 07/11/2008 07:03 pm
How accurate is that website?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 07/11/2008 11:35 pm
How accurate is that website?

read about it here: http://www.spacepatches.nl/station/tma5.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Justin Wheat on 07/12/2008 02:09 am
Here is the crew for STS-128 and part of the crew for STS-129..

..

..this is all based on assumption as, so far, nothing has been made public to who the crew will be.

(Content and link removed, as that site leeches off other sites and is rarely correct - James).
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jorge on 07/12/2008 03:02 am
Here is the crew for STS-128 and part of the crew for STS-129

This is not a true statement. They may well wind up being on the crews, but they are not "the crews".

Quote
this is all based on assumption as, so far, nothing has been made public to who the crew will be.

This is a true statement, and should have been the opening statement in your post.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: collectSPACE on 07/13/2008 02:41 pm
If the Baltimore Examiner (http://www.examiner.com/a-1485244~Columbia_s_Terry_Virts___Faith_in_orbit.html) is accurate, then Terry Virts has been assigned to a mission in late 2009:  Terry Virts has spent the past eight years training as a space shuttle pilot to prepare for his mission to the International Space Station next fall.

That would seem to contradict the earlier rumored crew of STS-128, which is presently targeted for summer 2008.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 07/15/2008 04:58 am
We'll see what we can do about nailing it down for you all. We do have an L2 based update on part of a crew, so we'll go after that first.

The thing is rumors of crews can be dangerous - you really have to wait (as far as publishing on an open site) until they've confirmed it internally and are close to press releasing it (they usually do turn it around fast), because the danger is a family or friend sees it, then phones them up, they go "Oh my!" and you see where I'm going with this....
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: faustod on 07/15/2008 07:48 am
According to this site:
http://astro.zeto.czest.pl/loty/fmanned.htm
Now the crew for STS-128 will be:
Sturckow
Ford
Forrester
Olivas
Hernandez
Stott.

I hope that NASA will soon announce the real designed crew.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 07/15/2008 10:45 am

I think there may be internal political pressure in Russia to fly Gruzdev in 2009. The US and IPs may not be agreeable to this, because it would lead to a shortfall of 1 person on ISS from October 2009 to March 2010 and also remove 1 person from STS-129 crew (as one space would be taken by Bob Thirsk who is returned on this mission).


But if Gruzdev will fly on Soyuz and Thirsk will be returned on STS 129, as NASA said, why cannot be launched a ISS-crewmember on STS 129?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: faustod on 07/15/2008 10:53 am

I think there may be internal political pressure in Russia to fly Gruzdev in 2009. The US and IPs may not be agreeable to this, because it would lead to a shortfall of 1 person on ISS from October 2009 to March 2010 and also remove 1 person from STS-129 crew (as one space would be taken by Bob Thirsk who is returned on this mission).


But if Gruzdev will fly on Soyuz and Thirsk will be returned on STS 129, as NASA said, why cannot be launched a ISS-crewmember on STS 129?

You are right, but the missing slot is for a Russian cosmonaut.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 07/15/2008 01:41 pm
You are right, but the missing slot is for a Russian cosmonaut.


That´s correct, but I think this is only a question of $$.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 07/15/2008 10:00 pm
Can anyone confirm the crew of STS-128 yet?

I'm surprised that, if rumour is correct, there are only five 'core' crew members (excluding Stott) on such a logistics-heavy mission (17A/MPLM). I was expecting a crew of seven.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: faustod on 07/16/2008 08:36 am
Can anyone confirm the crew of STS-128 yet?

I'm surprised that, if rumour is correct, there are only five 'core' crew members (excluding Stott) on such a logistics-heavy mission (17A/MPLM). I was expecting a crew of seven.

I believe that when the officially crew will be announced, that will be a crew of seven.
I suppose that rumour, only caught six names.
To clarify all, the official announce should be only a matter of days.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: collectSPACE on 07/16/2008 08:46 pm
Can anyone confirm the crew of STS-128 yet?

NASA Assigns Crew for Equipment Delivery Mission to Space Station

NASA has assigned the crew for space shuttle mission STS-128. The flight will carry science and storage racks to the International Space Station.

Marine Corps Col. Frederick W. "Rick" Sturckow will command space shuttle Atlantis on the STS-128 mission, targeted for launch July 30, 2009. Retired Air Force Col. Kevin A. Ford will serve as the pilot. Mission specialists are NASA astronauts John D. "Danny" Olivas, retired Army Col. Patrick G. Forrester, Jose M. Hernandez and European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Christer Fuglesang. The mission will deliver a new station crew member, Nicole Stott, to the complex and return Tim Kopra to Earth. Ford, Hernandez and Stott will be making their first trips to space. Stott and Kopra were previously assigned in February to station missions.

Atlantis will carry a Multi-Purpose Logistics Module filled with science and storage racks to the station. The mission will include three spacewalks to remove and replace a materials processing experiment outside ESA's Columbus module and return an empty ammonia tank assembly.

Sturckow flew as the commander of STS-117 in 2007, and was the pilot of STS-105 in 2001 and STS-88 in 1998. He considers Lakeside, Calif., his hometown. Sturckow has a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from California Polytechnic State University. He was selected as an astronaut in 1994.

Ford considers Montpelier, Ind., his hometown. He has a bachelor's in aerospace engineering from the University of Notre Dame, master's degrees in international relations from Troy State University in Alabama and aerospace engineering from the University of Florida, and a doctorate in astronautical engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology. He was selected as an astronaut in 2000.

Olivas flew as a mission specialist and conducted two spacewalks during STS-117 in 2007. He was raised in El Paso, Texas. Olivas has a bachelor's in mechanical engineering from the University of Texas-El Paso, a master's in mechanical engineering from the University of Houston and a doctorate in mechanical engineering and materials science from Rice University. He was selected as an astronaut in 1998.

Forrester flew as a mission specialist on STS-117 in 2007 and on STS-105 in 2001. He has conducted four spacewalks. He was born in El Paso, Texas. Forrester has a bachelor's in applied sciences and engineering from the U.S. Military Academy and a master's in mechanical and aerospace engineering from the University of Virginia. He was selected as an astronaut in 1996.

Hernandez considers Stockton, Calif., his hometown. He has a bachelor's in electrical engineering from the University of the Pacific and a master's in electrical and computer engineering from the University of California-Santa Barbara. He was selected as an astronaut in 2004.

Fuglesang flew as a mission specialist and conducted three spacewalks on STS-116 in 2006. He was born in Stockholm, Sweden. Fuglesang has a master's in engineering physics from the Royal Institute of Technology and a doctorate in experimental particle physics from the University of Stockholm. He was selected to join the ESA astronaut corps in 1992 and began training at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston in 1996.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: MBK004 on 07/16/2008 08:47 pm
Hot off the presses from NASA:
http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2008/jul/HQ_08176_STS-128_cew_announcement.html

STS-128
Sturckow, Ford, Olivas, Forrester, Hernandez, Fuglesang

UP to ISS: Stott
Down: Kopra
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: kimmern123 on 07/16/2008 08:54 pm
That is the greatest news ever!!! Great to see Christer get his much deserved second flight!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ChrisGebhardt on 07/16/2008 09:25 pm
Interesting... three STS-117 astros flying together again.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: kimmern123 on 07/16/2008 09:37 pm
I see there's plenty of EVA experience on this flight. Who do you think will do the EVAs and how many do you think each of them gets? I really hope Christer gets at least two!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: DwightM on 07/16/2008 09:54 pm
I see there's plenty of EVA experience on this flight. Who do you think will do the EVAs and how many do you think each of them gets? I really hope Christer gets at least two!
There are only 2, possibly 3 EVA's scheduled for this mission.  It could be a mix of Forrester, Olivas, & Fuglesang or just two of them (Doi had EV experience yet didn't perform any on 123, same goes for Pettit & Phillips).  Just have to wait & see.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: kimmern123 on 07/16/2008 10:01 pm
If in the end we end up with three EVAs there's a chance they'll all get two:

Just an example:

EVA1: Fuglesang, Forrester
EVA2: Olivas, Forrester
EVA3: Fuglesang, Olivas
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ChrisGebhardt on 07/16/2008 10:06 pm
Another note here. This means that five of the six core members of the STS-117 flight (Sturckow, Archambault, Forrester, Olivas, and Swanson) have all gotten a second flight in the post-RTF 2 era. Reilly left NASA so obviously he won't get another flight.

Interesting. The Power's That Be must have really been impressed with that flight. Than again, who wouldn't be with all the things thrown at them and mission timeline changes during the flight. :)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: kimmern123 on 07/16/2008 10:52 pm
And Nick Patrick remains the only from the shuttle-part of the STS-116 crew still with NASA not assigned to a new flight.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 07/17/2008 12:28 am
Wasn't Nick Patrick assigned to Cap Com duty the past couple of shuttle flights?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: DwightM on 07/17/2008 12:45 am
Wasn't Nick Patrick assigned to Cap Com duty the past couple of shuttle flights?

Yes.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 07/17/2008 12:50 am
And Nick Patrick remains the only from the shuttle-part of the STS-116 crew still with NASA not assigned to a new flight.

Patrick and Polansky are the only ones available (from 116) for future assignments.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: DwightM on 07/17/2008 01:17 am
And Nick Patrick remains the only from the shuttle-part of the STS-116 crew still with NASA not assigned to a new flight.

Patrick and Polansky are the only ones available (from 116) for future assignments.

Polansky is assigned to command STS-127 next year.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Orbiter on 07/17/2008 02:57 am
STS-128 seems like a mostly STS-117 crew.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: cd-slam on 07/17/2008 04:49 am

I think there may be internal political pressure in Russia to fly Gruzdev in 2009. The US and IPs may not be agreeable to this, because it would lead to a shortfall of 1 person on ISS from October 2009 to March 2010 and also remove 1 person from STS-129 crew (as one space would be taken by Bob Thirsk who is returned on this mission).


But if Gruzdev will fly on Soyuz and Thirsk will be returned on STS 129, as NASA said, why cannot be launched a ISS-crewmember on STS 129?

You are right, but the missing slot is for a Russian cosmonaut.


Hence my earlier post noting that Williams could have been launched on STS 129 and the Russian cosmonaut on Soyuz. But the question is not $$ but politics. NASA obviously doesn't wish to pay in the millions for ISS crew launches and have their slot taken by a Russian billionaire.

The logical solution is to ask Gruzdev to wait until 2011 when another tourist slot is available. However, politics and logic do not always mix!!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aurora899 on 07/17/2008 07:07 am
Sturckow's assignment is presumably good news for Pam Melroy. She now seems likely to get another command - if she wants it, although she seemed indifferent to flying again in an interview several months back. I think we had speculated that the remaining shuttle missions were all likely to be led by first time Commanders. This now appears not to be the case.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 07/17/2008 12:06 pm
Second flight for ESA astronaut Christer Fuglesang

17 July 2008
ESA astronaut Christer Fuglesang from Sweden has been assigned as a Mission Specialist on board the 11-day STS-128 mission, currently scheduled for launch with Space Shuttle Atlantis to the International Space Station (ISS) on 30 July 2009.

http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMZXDWIPIF_index_0.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Webhamster on 07/17/2008 03:18 pm
Sturckow's assignment is presumably good news for Pam Melroy. She now seems likely to get another command - if she wants it, although she seemed indifferent to flying again in an interview several months back. I think we had speculated that the remaining shuttle missions were all likely to be led by first time Commanders. This now appears not to be the case.

One would also think that Steve Frick might also get a third flight (131 or 132 likely) if he wants it and one can only speculate as to whether Steve Lindsey has himself pencilled in for 133 or 134 (depending on which flight is the last)...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John2375 on 07/18/2008 11:36 pm
One would also think that Steve Frick might also get a third flight (131 or 132 likely) if he wants it and one can only speculate as to whether Steve Lindsey has himself pencilled in for 133 or 134 (depending on which flight is the last)...

everyone here was pretty sure Hobaugh would command 128.. anyone here on the 'inside circle' of things have any insight then as to who'll get the final command positions? He certainly deserves it, but as we know logic doesn't always apply I guess..
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Webhamster on 07/22/2008 03:46 am
Quote
Ben E - 7/11/2006  10:50 AM
I recall watching a TV documentary called "Astronauts" in about 1996-97, which covered the training and flight of the STS-72 crew.
Did that air in the UK? Gosh, You are a lucky one. I heard about that documentary, but it never aired here. I would have loved to watch it -- I saw the launch of STS-72!

I was just flipping through the history of this thread (some interesting stuff in here) when I came across this post.  I purchased 'Astronauts' on VHS from PBS Home Video in 1997, it's an excellent show.  It appears to be out of print now which means I'll really hang on to my copy...as long as I have a working VHS device.  ;)

I did a little digging and found that used copies can be found here: http://www.alibris.com/search/movies/qwork/100202479/used/Astronauts?cid=QK2gGX3HwM1NLThKUzoTtg==

I'm not vouching for the site, it's just the only place I found where it could still (probably) be obtained.  It appears they are old library copies.  But if you're still around nethegauner, you may be able to obtain it there.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 07/23/2008 05:34 am
Just bought a copy, thanks webhamster.

I haven't seen it for years, but remember it was superb!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: faustod on 07/25/2008 02:22 pm
As expected Woodward has finally left NASA.

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/astrobio_former.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 07/26/2008 10:31 am
It's interesting that we've seen more astronauts leaving the corps in the last few years without ever having made a flight than at any point since the 60s. Every member of Group 7-15 got at least one mission and yet from Group 16 we've seen Cagle, Caldeiro and Loria and Woodward from Group 17 not even having been assigned a flight, much less flown one. Is there a reason? Presumably they all passed ASCAN training? Eitherway, it is unusual.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: qprmeteor on 07/26/2008 12:13 pm
Loria was assigned a flight (STS-113), but was withdrawn from flight status after suffering a severe injury.

The cases of Caldeiro and Cagle, and their lack of assignments, have been well covered on here. With Woodward, the details are sketchy. Anybody have some inside info? Same situations as with Cagle and Caldeiro?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ShuttleDiscovery on 07/26/2008 01:14 pm
As expected Woodward has finally left NASA.

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/astrobio_former.html

Why was it expected?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: faustod on 07/26/2008 02:25 pm
As expected Woodward has finally left NASA.

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/astrobio_former.html

Why was it expected?

Please read page 61 on this thread.


Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 07/26/2008 05:59 pm
Re: Flight crew assignments
« Reply #956 on: Today at 11:31 AM » Reply with quote 

--------------------------------------------------------------------
It's interesting that we've seen more astronauts leaving the corps in the last few years without ever having made a flight than at any point since the 60s. Every member of Group 7-15 got at least one mission and yet from Group 16 we've seen Cagle, Caldeiro and Loria and Woodward from Group 17 not even having been assigned a flight, much less flown one. Is there a reason? Presumably they all passed ASCAN training? Eitherway, it is unusual.
*

Not that unusual when you realize that NASA simply hired too many astronauts in 1996-98, based on the projection of earlier and more frequent ISS rotations -- very much like the over-hiring in 1966-67 based on very optimistic projections about the number of Apollo Applications flights.

If you have people waiting 7-10 years for first flights, it's more likely some of them will develop physical conditions that prevent assignment -- or have greater opportunity to make career-threatening errors.

Michael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: dcfowler1 on 07/26/2008 11:25 pm
MOL astronaut Robert Herres has died:

http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2008/07/ap_herres_072608/
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Endeavour118 on 07/27/2008 08:08 pm
Re: Flight crew assignments
« Reply #956 on: Today at 11:31 AM » Reply with quote 

--------------------------------------------------------------------
It's interesting that we've seen more astronauts leaving the corps in the last few years without ever having made a flight than at any point since the 60s. Every member of Group 7-15 got at least one mission and yet from Group 16 we've seen Cagle, Caldeiro and Loria and Woodward from Group 17 not even having been assigned a flight, much less flown one. Is there a reason? Presumably they all passed ASCAN training? Eitherway, it is unusual.
*

Not that unusual when you realize that NASA simply hired too many astronauts in 1996-98, based on the projection of earlier and more frequent ISS rotations -- very much like the over-hiring in 1966-67 based on very optimistic projections about the number of Apollo Applications flights.

If you have people waiting 7-10 years for first flights, it's more likely some of them will develop physical conditions that prevent assignment -- or have greater opportunity to make career-threatening errors.

Michael Cassutt
loria was assigned a flight sts-113 but resigned from that mission
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: dcfowler1 on 07/27/2008 11:52 pm
I think "fired" would be a more apt description....

Dave
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nathan.moeller on 07/28/2008 01:12 am
I think "fired" would be a more apt description....

Dave


I heard once upon a time there was a falling out between him and Weatherbee.  I read earlier that he suffered three herniated lumbar discs and that grounded him indefinitely.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John2375 on 07/31/2008 02:54 pm
I thought it was his back.. why would he be "fired" for that? If you're physically unable, then what can you do?
If it's true that that was an "official story" and there was a falling out between him and the CDR, then Wetherbee has quite a history of "inter-personal relationship problems" I believe he was behind Mark Lee being removed from STS-98 (according to Tom Jones book)




I think "fired" would be a more apt description....

Dave


I heard once upon a time there was a falling out between him and Weatherbee.  I read earlier that he suffered three herniated lumbar discs and that grounded him indefinitely.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: dcfowler1 on 08/01/2008 04:02 am
Without going into details, you're on the right track with Loria and Wetherbee.

D
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nathan.moeller on 08/01/2008 06:17 am
Without going into details, you're on the right track with Loria and Wetherbee.

D

I'll leave it with that, then.  Thank you Dave.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 08/09/2008 04:08 pm
Did STS 51L pilot Mike Smith have an official assignment on the final shuttle test flight...STS 4 (ie: ASP, CAPCOM)?
Thank you.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 08/09/2008 10:28 pm
Did STS 51L pilot Mike Smith have an official assignment on the final shuttle test flight...STS 4 (ie: ASP, CAPCOM)?

Smith had a technical assignment in the astronaut office, but not one of the direct flight support jobs: first assignment was in SAIL (late 1980) followed by a year as deputy director, aircraft ops (1981-82).  He was either in the aircraft ops job or just starting a tour as George Abbey's technical assistant at the time of STS-4 (June-July 1982).

Michael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 08/10/2008 01:18 pm
Thank you very much, Michael.
I appreciate your research.
Tom
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 08/14/2008 05:54 am
NASA Astronaut Biographie page now lists Barbara Morgan as Former Astronaut.

On this page http://www.collectspace.com/ubb/Forum38/HTML/000833.html was an information that Mr. Tryggvason will leave CSA in June.

Is there any conformation that he did this?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 08/14/2008 08:56 am
NASA Astronaut Biographie page now lists Barbara Morgan as Former Astronaut.

Of course it does. It was announced a couple of months ago that she would leave in August, so there's no surprise there.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: faustod on 08/14/2008 02:40 pm

On this page http://www.collectspace.com/ubb/Forum38/HTML/000833.html was an information that Mr. Tryggvason will leave CSA in June.

Is there any conformation that he did this?

This canadian article:
http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/420100
in April also write about a Tryggvason retirement in June.

The following sitse are reporting that move as happened.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bjarni_Tryggvason
http://www.spacefacts.de/bios/international/english/tryggvason_bjarni.htm
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: janmb on 08/29/2008 11:48 am
Great to see Christer getting his second flight as projected. Congrats :)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 09/02/2008 08:23 pm
STS-129 crew as per L2 source/info.

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5506
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 09/06/2008 08:28 am
Report #J08-011

ASTRONAUT JOE TANNER LEAVES NASA

HOUSTON -- Veteran space shuttle astronaut Joe Tanner has left NASA to accept a position in the private sector. Tanner flew on four space shuttle missions and performed seven spacewalks.

"Joe has played an extremely important role for both our office and the agency as a whole throughout his many years with NASA," said Steve Lindsey, astronaut office chief. "Not only has he performed critical roles in each of his four shuttle missions, from servicing the Hubble Telescope to assembly work on the International Space Station, but his leadership and expertise have been invaluable resources to us on the ground as well. He will be missed."

Tanner's spaceflight experience includes more than 1,069 hours in space, with more than 46 hours spent spacewalking.

Selected as an astronaut in 1992, Tanner first flew aboard the space shuttle Atlantis on the STS-66 Atmospheric Laboratory for Applications and Science-3 mission in 1994. He then made two spacewalks to service the Hubble Space Telescope on STS-82 in 1997. Tanner's third mission was STS-97 in 2000 on Endeavour's flight to the International Space Station to install the first set of U.S. solar arrays, during which he did three spacewalks. On his last flight, Tanner's crew installed another set of solar arrays, continuing construction of the station on STS-115 in 2006. He conducted two spacewalks.

For more biographical information about Tanner, visit:

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/tanner.html

For information about NASA and agency programs, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 09/08/2008 10:46 pm
With STS 129 assigned as a 6 person (up) crew, are the remaining shuttle flights scheduled to be 6 or 7 crew members?
Thanks.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 09/09/2008 02:15 am
With STS 129 assigned as a 6 person (up) crew, are the remaining shuttle flights scheduled to be 6 or 7 crew members?
Thanks.

Depends on the flight, but STS 129 is scheduled to pick up Canadian astronaut Bob Thirsk from ISS, but won't bring up anyone else. Hence the six-person crew.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: astronut7 on 09/15/2008 07:04 pm
Any idea who the STS-130 crew selection might be??  Also who thinks Pam Melroy will get another command??
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ChrisGebhardt on 09/15/2008 07:13 pm
Any idea who the STS-130 crew selection might be??  Also who thinks Pam Melroy will get another command??


Way too early to even speculate in my opinion about the STS-130 crew considering the mission's targeted launch date is December 2009. 

As for Melroy, it's possible. Rick Sturckow and Mark Polansky have both received an additional CDR flight recently.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: faustod on 09/16/2008 12:44 pm
Pamela Melroy if named will be a great choice.
Zamka will be the obviously alternative.
Naturally, pilot will be Virts.
Other possible candidates:
Metcalf Lindenburger, Dutton, Nespoli.
I think STS-130 could be a seven member crew.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: wjbarnett on 09/16/2008 02:39 pm
Interesting Steve Lindsey Quote: “One of my objectives is to get everyone in the office flown by 2010,” Lindsey said. “And my current projection is we’re going to be easily able to do that.”

See full article at: http://www.space.com/news/080916-nasa50-spacecorps-future.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 09/16/2008 07:28 pm
Interesting Steve Lindsey Quote: “One of my objectives is to get everyone in the office flown by 2010,” Lindsey said. “And my current projection is we’re going to be easily able to do that.”

See full article at: http://www.space.com/news/080916-nasa50-spacecorps-future.html

"There are about 90 astronauts on NASA’s flight roster today, with less than six still waiting for that first assignment to a space-bound crew"

If you take into account that the STS 129 crew hasn't been officially announced, six astronauts can be said to lack flight assignments (Virts, Wilmore, Dutton, Bresnik, Satcher and Metcalf-Lindenberger). That essentially confirms that Caldiero and Cagle won't be flying.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 09/17/2008 08:23 am
That essentially confirms that Caldiero and Cagle won't be flying.

Do we need a confirmation about that?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: faustod on 09/17/2008 09:12 am
That essentially confirms that Caldiero and Cagle won't be flying.

Do we need a confirmation about that?

No.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 09/18/2008 09:43 am
That essentially confirms that Caldiero and Cagle won't be flying.

Do we need a confirmation about that?

No.

I thought so ... ;)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: faustod on 09/26/2008 06:41 am
I ask you if Naoko Yamazaki (Japan) is in line for a seat on the Shuttle, for one of the 2010 flights.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 09/26/2008 07:42 am
I ask you if Naoko Yamazaki (Japan) is in line for a seat on the Shuttle, for one of the 2010 flights.

I think not -- at least, I haven't heard that even on L2.

Right now, she does not even seem to be assigned as an ISS back-up, so actually, her only chance to get a flight in 2010 would be as a regular, non-ISS rotation crew member of a shuttle mission. Wakata and Noguchi will be flying Soyuz missions to the ISS, though -- with Furukowa as a back-up candidate. At least, that is what spacefacts.de says. But they have been wrong before.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 09/26/2008 12:43 pm
Perhaps Yamazaki will backup Furukawa on his own expedition?

I personally think Zamka would be the obvious choice to command STS-130, together with Virts, an EVA specialist (Sellers? Mastracchio?) and probably Nespoli. I wonder if the last two NASA rookies (Dutton and Metcalf-Lindenburger) will be used on the same flight or spread across two flights? Are there any rules on the number of rookies on a particular flight, in terms of mission complexity etc? (It was interesting, for example, that the complex 1J mission only had two veterans).
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jim on 09/26/2008 12:53 pm
Are there any rules on the number of rookies on a particular flight, in terms of mission complexity etc?
No.  Because there are no rules and no logic.  You keep asking and the answer is always the same
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 09/30/2008 07:45 pm
RELEASE: 08-250

NASA ASSIGNS CREW FOR SPACE SHUTTLE DISCOVERY'S STS-129 MISSION

WASHINGTON -- NASA has assigned the crew for space shuttle Discovery's
STS-129 mission. The flight will deliver two experiment racks to the
International Space Station.

Marine Col. Charlie Hobaugh will command the mission, which is
targeted to launch in October 2009. Navy Capt. Barry Wilmore will
serve as the pilot. Mission Specialists are Robert Satcher, Navy
Capt. Michael Foreman, Marine Lt. Col. Randy Bresnik and Leland
Melvin. Wilmore, Satcher and Bresnik will be making their first trips
to space.

The mission will return Canadian Space Agency astronaut and station
crew member Robert Thirsk to Earth. This is slated to be the final
space shuttle crew rotation flight to or from the space station.

Discovery will deliver parts to the space station, including two spare
gyroscopes. The mission will feature four spacewalks.
Hobaugh flew as the pilot on STS-104 in 2001 and STS-118 in 2007. He
was born in Bar Harbor, Maine. Hobaugh earned a bachelor's degree in
aerospace engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy. He was selected as
an astronaut in 1996.

Wilmore was born in Murfreesboro, Tenn., and grew up in Mt. Juliet. He
has bachelor's and master's degrees in electrical engineering from
Tennessee Technological University, and a master's degree in aviation
systems from University of Tennessee. He was selected as an astronaut
in 2000.

Foreman was born in Columbus, Ohio, but considers Wadsworth his
hometown. He earned a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering from
the U.S. Naval Academy and a master's degree in aeronautical
engineering from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School. Foreman flew as
a mission specialist on STS-123 in 2008 and performed three
spacewalks. He was selected as an astronaut in 1998.

Satcher was selected as an astronaut in 2004. He earned a doctorate in
chemical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
He also is a graduate of Harvard Medical School. He was born in
Hampton, Va.

Bresnik, also selected as an astronaut in 2004. He was born in Fort
Knox, Ky., but considers Santa Monica, Calif., his hometown. Bresnik
earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics from The Citadel and a
master's degree in aviation systems from the University of Tennessee.

Melvin flew as a mission specialist on the STS-122 mission in 2008. He
was born in Lynchburg, Va. Melvin earned a bachelor's degree in
chemistry from the University of Richmond and a master's degree in
materials science engineering from the University of Virginia. He was
selected as an astronaut in 1998.

Thirsk will be concluding his long-duration stay on the station when
STS-129 launches. He is scheduled to arrive at the complex in May
2009 aboard a Soyuz spacecraft and serve as a flight engineer during
parts of Expeditions 20 and 21.

Video of the STS-129 crew members will air on NASA Television's Video
File. For downlink and scheduling information and links to streaming
video, visit:


http://www.nasa.gov/ntv


For complete astronaut biographical information, visit:

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios


For more information about NASA's Space Shuttle Program, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Green013 on 10/19/2008 07:15 pm
Any educated guesses on the flight crew for STS-130?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 10/19/2008 07:25 pm
Any educated guesses on the flight crew for STS-130?

Nope, we'll be waiting for hard info.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 10/25/2008 05:36 pm
The only info for STS-130 is that there will be an Italian astronaut from ESA.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Green013 on 10/25/2008 07:09 pm
Based on that though, you know either Vittori or Nespoli will be assigned to the crew.  Couldn't it also be a safe assumption that Terry Virts will be assigned to the crew as the pilot, being the only pilot from the 2000 group who hasn't been assigned to a flight.  I think I also heard awhile back that Behnken was training in the NBL for work on Node 3, but I'm not sure if that means anything.  Surely even though the official crew announcement for this mission is probably 2 months away, some guess can be made towards the actual composition?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: faustod on 10/25/2008 07:29 pm
The only info for STS-130 is that there will be an Italian astronaut from ESA.

I believe that the Italian astronaut will be Paolo Nespoli.
Obvioulsy I will be happy if Vittori will take the slot.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 11/01/2008 01:33 pm
Do you think that the election of Barack Obama could change the situation of Yvonne Cagle and allow her to fly in space ?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jorge on 11/01/2008 01:51 pm
Do you think that the election of Barack Obama could change the situation of Yvonne Cagle and allow her to fly in space ?

No. Why should it?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jorge on 11/01/2008 01:53 pm
Any educated guesses on the flight crew for STS-130?

CDR will most likely be Zamka.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nathan.moeller on 11/01/2008 02:26 pm
Interesting to see a pilot (Bresnik) flying as mission specialist on STS-129.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nathan.moeller on 11/01/2008 02:28 pm
Any educated guesses on the flight crew for STS-130?

CDR will most likely be Zamka.

PLT will probably be either Dutton or Virts.  They're the only two unflown pilots who aren't currently assigned to an upcoming flight.  Although, I could see Garan getting a slot since he flew as an MS on STS-124.  But those are just my $.02.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jorge on 11/01/2008 02:32 pm
Any educated guesses on the flight crew for STS-130?

CDR will most likely be Zamka.

PLT will probably be either Dutton or Virts.  They're the only two unflown pilots who aren't currently assigned to an upcoming flight.  Although, I could see Garan getting a slot since he flew as an MS on STS-124.  But those are just my $.02.

Garan won't get turned around that quickly.

My 130/131 CDR/PLT picks are Zamka/Virts and Poindexter/Dutton.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nathan.moeller on 11/01/2008 02:37 pm
Garan won't get turned around that quickly.

My 130/131 CDR/PLT picks are Zamka/Virts and Poindexter/Dutton.

Never said I thought Garan was the likely choice ;)  But yes, I think Virts and Dutton are the most likely picks for the flight.  I guess they won't recycle any pilots until 132/133.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 11/01/2008 02:49 pm
Do you think that the election of Barack Obama could change the situation of Yvonne Cagle and allow her to fly in space ?

Has a reason been stated as to why Cagle hasn't received a flight assignment?
I don't believe so.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 11/01/2008 02:52 pm
Any educated guesses on the flight crew for STS-130?

CDR will most likely be Zamka.

PLT will probably be either Dutton or Virts.  They're the only two unflown pilots who aren't currently assigned to an upcoming flight.  Although, I could see Garan getting a slot since he flew as an MS on STS-124.  But those are just my $.02.

Garan won't get turned around that quickly.

My 130/131 CDR/PLT picks are Zamka/Virts and Poindexter/Dutton.

I remember Steve Nagle flying as MS on STS 51 G in June 1985 and flying as PLT on 61 A in November of the same year...just 5 months later.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jorge on 11/01/2008 03:00 pm
Garan won't get turned around that quickly.

My 130/131 CDR/PLT picks are Zamka/Virts and Poindexter/Dutton.

Never said I thought Garan was the likely choice ;)  But yes, I think Virts and Dutton are the most likely picks for the flight.  I guess they won't recycle any pilots until 132/133.

That's correct. Lindsey has stated his goal is to get everyone in the office assigned by 131.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Orbiter on 11/01/2008 03:01 pm
It seems a reasonable bet for Zamka to be CDR of 130, Poindexter as CDR of 131,  Greg H Johnson as CDR of 132 is also a possibility.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jorge on 11/01/2008 03:03 pm
Any educated guesses on the flight crew for STS-130?

CDR will most likely be Zamka.

PLT will probably be either Dutton or Virts.  They're the only two unflown pilots who aren't currently assigned to an upcoming flight.  Although, I could see Garan getting a slot since he flew as an MS on STS-124.  But those are just my $.02.

Garan won't get turned around that quickly.

My 130/131 CDR/PLT picks are Zamka/Virts and Poindexter/Dutton.

I remember Steve Nagle flying as MS on STS 51 G in June 1985 and flying as PLT on 61 A in November of the same year...just 5 months later.

That was then, this is now. The two PLTs who flew as MSes (Garan, Bresnik) won't get recycled until the rest of the first-timers are assigned, unless something drastic happens (like a health problem).
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 11/01/2008 07:15 pm
My guesses...and that's all they are:

STS 130 - Zamaka, Virts
STS 131 - Poindexter, Garan
Jim Dutton as an MS on either 130 or 131.
STS 132 - Johnson, Boe
STS 133 - Melroy or Frick, Antonelli

Hopefully there will be an STS 134 flying to close out the program. Ken Ham could land a command. With the delays to the HST SM, I'd be really surprised if Greg C. (Ray Jay) Johnson got a flight as CDR.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Green013 on 11/01/2008 09:08 pm
Not agreeing entirely with that.  If they fly STS-134, think the CDR/PLT assignments will go something like this:

STS-130: Zamka/Virts, Dutton as MS
STS-131: Poindexter/Garan
STS-132: Melroy/Bresnick
STS-133: Frick/Dutton
STS-134: Lindsey/Ham
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: billshap on 11/01/2008 11:42 pm
The biggest name missing is Jim Kelly.  He's long overdue for CDR assignment.  Some say he's been involved with Orion, but isn't that too far into the future?  Has he taken himself out of consideration, or are there other reasons why he hasn't flown since his second PLT slot on 114?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 11/02/2008 12:10 am
Quote:  "...why he hasn't flown since his second PLT slot on 114?"

One of the (many) mysteries of flight crew assignments.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nathan.moeller on 11/02/2008 01:19 am
The biggest name missing is Jim Kelly.  He's long overdue for CDR assignment.  Some say he's been involved with Orion, but isn't that too far into the future?  Has he taken himself out of consideration, or are there other reasons why he hasn't flown since his second PLT slot on 114?

He's been highly involved with Orion and its development.  His name is probably the first you'll think of when you wonder who will be flying on Orion.  It's not a stretch to think he'd give up a CDR slot to reserve a seat on Orion in advance.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nathan.moeller on 11/02/2008 01:22 am
That's correct. Lindsey has stated his goal is to get everyone in the office assigned by 131.

Sounds pretty reasonable.  He's well on his way to achieving that goal.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Green013 on 11/02/2008 01:38 am
4 unassigned rookies with 2 flight assignments before that deadline, definitely doable.  Can definitely see the last shuttle flight consisting of a lot of astronauts who have seen a lot of flight time, kind of like an "all-star" crew.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 11/03/2008 02:34 pm
The biggest name missing is Jim Kelly.  He's long overdue for CDR assignment.  Some say he's been involved with Orion, but isn't that too far into the future?  Has he taken himself out of consideration, or are there other reasons why he hasn't flown since his second PLT slot on 114?

He's been highly involved with Orion and its development.  His name is probably the first you'll think of when you wonder who will be flying on Orion.  It's not a stretch to think he'd give up a CDR slot to reserve a seat on Orion in advance.

Actually, it _is_ quite a stretch to think that an astronaut would have to "give up" a Shuttle assignment in 2008-2010 in order to "reserve" a spot on an Orion crew.

I don't know why Kelly hasn't been recycled as a Shuttle commander, but Orion isn't the reason.  Assignment of astronauts to crews in that program is years in the future... and while Kelly, like many in the astronaut office, has had inputs into Orion development, he is not the branch chief (that's Ivins) or even -- according to the most recent info I have -- lead astronaut for any of the major technical areas (such as Morin, Mastracchio, Thomas).

In fact, Kelly has been chief of the capcom branch for at least a couple of years.

Michael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 11/03/2008 03:24 pm
Has a reason been stated as to why Cagle hasn't received a flight assignment?
I don't believe so.

Actually, I do believe so. We've had lots of discussions regarding her flight status -- and also that of Caldeiro.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: billshap on 11/04/2008 02:33 am
I agree with Michael's astute perception--that Orion is way too far off and that any worthy test pilot/astronaut type would not pass up a CDR spot for what is unpredictable many years down the road.  When picked the goal of every pilot is to fly, and to fly as a CDR.  A more pointed question is:  has Jim Kelly somehow fallen out of graces with the powers that be?  Has something happened or has he done something which cost him an assignment?  Everything I've read indicates he performed well on his two PLT flights and has not done anything to adversely affect his position.  Isn't Chief of the Capcom Branch a favorable assignment, one that would normally lead to being named to a crew? 
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jorge on 11/04/2008 03:10 am
I agree with Michael's astute perception--that Orion is way too far off and that any worthy test pilot/astronaut type would not pass up a CDR spot for what is unpredictable many years down the road.  When picked the goal of every pilot is to fly, and to fly as a CDR.  A more pointed question is:  has Jim Kelly somehow fallen out of graces with the powers that be?  Has something happened or has he done something which cost him an assignment?  Everything I've read indicates he performed well on his two PLT flights and has not done anything to adversely affect his position.  Isn't Chief of the Capcom Branch a favorable assignment, one that would normally lead to being named to a crew? 

Three pointed questions, right back at ya:

1) Did Alan Shepard "fall out of graces with the powers that be" after his Mercury flight? Isn't Chief Astronaut "a favorable assignment, one that would normally lead to being named to a crew?"

2) Had various privacy laws, e.g. HIPAA, been in force in the 1960s, do you think we would have heard anything about the real reasons for Shepard's grounding prior to him being named to Apollo 13 (later 14)?

3) In the absence of such information, do you think the public might have engaged in wild speculation on the reasons for Shepard's grounding?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Green013 on 11/04/2008 03:43 am
Look for all we know about this situation, Jim Kelly may be the next surprise CDR assignment, there's up to 5 flights left.  For all we know the reason he may have not been given any flight assignment since STS-114 could be personal reasons.  Jeff Ashby gave up his slot as PLT on 85, because his wife was dying.  Hopefully it's nothing like that.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 11/13/2008 01:46 pm
Look for all we know about this situation, Jim Kelly may be the next surprise CDR assignment, there's up to 5 flights left.

Five? Could be a whole lot more. Imagine they extend to 2012 or 2013. Or maybe even to 2015. With a flight rate of three, that would amount to ten to 15 additional commander slots.

I begin to wonder if the 2009 guys (and gals) will eventually fly on the shuttle after all ...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 11/13/2008 04:25 pm
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20081112a2.html

Yamazaki confirmed for STS-131.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: erioladastra on 11/14/2008 01:00 am
Not agreeing entirely with that.  If they fly STS-134, think the CDR/PLT assignments will go something like this:

STS-130: Zamka/Virts, Dutton as MS
STS-131: Poindexter/Garan
STS-132: Melroy/Bresnick
STS-133: Frick/Dutton
STS-134: Lindsey/Ham

Dutton is not on 130.  Garan is not on 131.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 11/14/2008 03:35 pm
Who will be 'next up' for a CDR slot from STS-132? I was under the impression that Johnson (with Gorie et al) will be busy until May 2009 providing STS-400 support, so presumably he can't start CDR Upgrade until he is 'stood down' from that mission?

So can we expect Melroy, Frick or Ham on STS-132?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 11/15/2008 11:59 pm
Who will be 'next up' for a CDR slot from STS-132? I was under the impression that Johnson (with Gorie et al) will be busy until May 2009 providing STS-400 support, so presumably he can't start CDR Upgrade until he is 'stood down' from that mission?

So can we expect Melroy, Frick or Ham on STS-132?

I'm not going to speculate on 132 or whatever, but I will note that Box Johnson could very easily start CDR upgrade training -- if he hasn't already.  Note that he would have been "trained" for STS-400 by early October.... he faces six months of refresher training, which should hardly keep him so busy he can't get ready for his next assignment. 

Michael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: kimmern123 on 11/16/2008 09:15 am
Who will be 'next up' for a CDR slot from STS-132? I was under the impression that Johnson (with Gorie et al) will be busy until May 2009 providing STS-400 support, so presumably he can't start CDR Upgrade until he is 'stood down' from that mission?

So can we expect Melroy, Frick or Ham on STS-132?

I'm not going to speculate on 132 or whatever, but I will note that Box Johnson could very easily start CDR upgrade training -- if he hasn't already.  Note that he would have been "trained" for STS-400 by early October.... he faces six months of refresher training, which should hardly keep him so busy he can't get ready for his next assignment. 

Michael Cassutt

Mike Foreman was assigned to STS-129 and he's also on STS-400, so I agree with Michael that Box could easily undergo the CDR Upgrade training alongside his STS-400 duties.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: OV-107 on 11/18/2008 07:23 pm
Yeah if 134 is flown I guess Box, Melroy and Lindsey will be shuttle commanders.

Or maybe Ken Ham instead pf Pam. She wasn´t very interested in flying again after 120 but I hope she does.



Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 11/18/2008 08:57 pm
I can't see Lindsey assigning himself as CDR. After all the furore about the four-flight rule and dumping astronauts like Wilcutt, Halsell, Gernhardt from missions they'd trained years to fly because (ostensibly) there weren't enough slots for the newbies, I don't think he could really justify giving himself a fifth flight.

My money is on Box, Melroy/Frick and Ham for the last few flights. I don't imagine Ray Jay will have time, given a May 2009 launch of STS-125, to do CDR Upgrade and receive a command before STS-134.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: OV-107 on 11/18/2008 09:54 pm
Yeah maybe you´re right. We will see how it works out but I don´t think Wilcutt and Halsell would be happy to see Lindsey doing a fifth flight.

I agree with you that it looks like Box, Ham and one of Melroy or Frick will command the three last flights if they not extend it over 2010.
But I´m still interested to know why Jim Kelly hasn´t been assigned as commander. Orion can´t be the reason. That is too far away. Maybe we will never know.








Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 11/19/2008 08:51 am
Whoever is commanding whatever flight: I hope they will assign Fisher to an MS slot on one of the final missions. Talk about linking the past to the present and future!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: MATTBLAK on 11/19/2008 09:54 am
I'd LOVE to see Anna Fisher get one more flight!! -- she's sure waited long enough and would be the last of the class of 1978 still eligible to fly; unless they recycled Lucid or Hawley again (unlikely).
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 11/19/2008 12:43 pm
Well, Hawley has retired now, anyway. He left NASA in May 2008.

I know astronauts always say that the job on the ground is equally (well, maybe not quite 'equally') exciting, but it does make me wonder why some of them stick around for so long with so little chance of ever flying. It must say something for their dedication!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: fdasun on 11/24/2008 07:24 pm
Maybe a bit off topic ... No backup crew since STS-4. If one of the primary crew cannot fly few days or hours before the launch, what can we do ? And how to mitigate such kind of risk ?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 11/24/2008 07:37 pm
I think they would probably just postpone the launch or bring in an alternate with up-to-date experience on a similar mission.

A few examples:

* STS-33 was postponed by three months when Dave Griggs was killed, providing extra training time for his replacement, John Blaha.

* John Creighton came down with a cold a few days before the STS-36 launch in February 1990...and the flight was postponed until he was recovered.

* Loren Shriver, Jim Wetherbee and Dave Hilmers were assigned as backups for STS-41, due to the narrow Ulysses launch window.

* I may be mistaken, but I think STS-42 was postponed from 1991 until 1992 when Sonny Carter was killed.

* Greg Harbaugh was trained as a backup for STS-61.

* Don Thomas broke his ankle a few weeks before STS-83 and NASA trained Cady Coleman (who had USML/MSL experience) as an alternate.

* Kent Rominger, who had previous SPAS/rendezvous experience, was brought in as a last-minute replacement on STS-85.

* Paul Lockhart, who had just flown an ISS mission and whose training was thus up-to-date, was brought in as a last-minute replacement for Gus Loria on STS-113.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 11/25/2008 05:36 pm
I think they would probably just postpone the launch or bring in an alternate with up-to-date experience on a similar mission.

A few examples:

* STS-33 was postponed by three months when Dave Griggs was killed, providing extra training time for his replacement, John Blaha.

* John Creighton came down with a cold a few days before the STS-36 launch in February 1990...and the flight was postponed until he was recovered.  [...]

* I may be mistaken, but I think STS-42 was postponed from 1991 until 1992 when Sonny Carter was killed.  [snip]


Negative in both cases.  STS-33 was pushed back prior to Griggs' death.  STS-42 was delayed a year (Jan 91 to Jan 92) by fleet problems in 1990.  Again, Carter's death was not the reason.

Michael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Green013 on 12/03/2008 05:11 am
NASA just came out with the flight crew assignments for the next couple of ISS Expeditions, along with a new numbering system for them

http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2008/nov/HQ_08-306_Expedition_crews.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Launch Fan on 12/03/2008 05:14 am
That was a couple of weeks ago Green ;) Links on the ISS section.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 12/05/2008 04:05 pm
Presser on the 130/131 crews. Nick Patrick is NOT from North Yorkshire, he's from Teeside.

RELEASE: 08-321

NASA ASSIGNS ASTRONAUT CREWS FOR FUTURE SPACE SHUTTLE MISSIONS

WASHINGTON - NASA has assigned the crews for space shuttle missions
STS-130 and STS-131. The STS-130 mission will deliver a third
connecting module to the International Space Station and a
seven-windowed cupola to be used as a control room for robotics. The
STS-131 mission will deliver research and science experiment
equipment, a new sleeping area and supplies to the station in a
logistics module carried in the shuttle's payload bay.

Marine Col. George Zamka will command the shuttle Endeavour during
STS-130, targeted for launch in December 2009. Air Force Col. Terry
Virts, Jr., will serve as the pilot. Mission specialists are NASA
astronauts Air Force Lt. Col. Robert Behnken, Nicholas Patrick,
Kathryn Hire and Stephen Robinson. Virts will be making his first
trip to space.

Navy Capt. Alan Poindexter will command the shuttle Atlantis during
STS-131, targeted for launch in February 2010. Air Force Lt. Col.
James P. Dutton, Jr., will serve as the pilot. Mission specialists
are NASA astronauts Rick Mastracchio, Clayton Anderson, Dorothy
Metcalf-Lindenburger, Stephanie Wilson and Japan Aerospace
Exploration Agency astronaut Naoko Yamazaki. Dutton,
Metcalf-Lindenburger and Yamazaki will be making their first trip to
space.

Zamka was born in Jersey City, N.J., and grew up in several cities
including Medellin, Colombia. He received a bachelor's degree from
the U.S. Naval Academy and a master's degree in engineering
management from the Florida Institute of Technology. He served as the
pilot on STS-120.

Virts was born in Baltimore and considers Columbia, Md., his hometown.
He holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics from the U.S. Air Force
Academy and a master's degree in aeronautics from Embry-Riddle
Aeronautical University.

Behnken recently flew as a mission specialist on STS-123. Behnken
holds bachelor's degrees in mechanical engineering and physics from
Washington University in St. Louis. He also has master's and
doctorate degrees in mechanical engineering from the California
Institute of Technology. Behnken was born in Creve Coeur, Mo.

STS-130 will be the second flight for Nicholas Patrick, who flew as a
mission specialist on STS-116. Patrick was born in North Yorkshire in
the United Kingdom and considers London and Rye, N.Y., his hometowns.
He holds bachelor's and master's degrees in engineering from the
University of Cambridge and a doctorate in mechanical engineering
from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Hire will again serve as a mission specialist on her second
spaceflight. Her first was STS-90. She holds a bachelor's degree from
the U.S. Naval Academy and a master's degree in space technology from
the Florida Institute of Technology. She was born in Mobile, Ala.

Stephen Robinson is a veteran of three spaceflights. Flying on STS-85,
STS-95 and STS-114, he has logged more than 830 hours in space. He
was born in Sacramento, Calif., and holds a bachelor's degree in
mechanical and aeronautical engineering from the University of
California and master's and doctorate degree in mechanical
engineering from Stanford University.

STS-131 will be the second spaceflight for Poindexter, who served as
the pilot on STS-122. He graduated from the Georgia Institute of
Technology with a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering. He also
has a master's degree in aeronautical engineering from the Naval
Postgraduate School. He was born in Pasadena, Calif.

Dutton joined NASA in 2004. His hometown is Eugene, Ore. He has a
bachelor's degree in astronautical engineering from the U.S. Air
Force Academy and a master's degree in aeronautics and astronautics
from the University of Washington in Seattle.

Mastracchio flew as a mission specialist on STS-106 and STS-118. He
was born in Waterbury, Conn., and earned a bachelor's degree in
electrical engineering and computer science from the University of
Connecticut. He also has master's degrees in electrical engineering
from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and physical science from the
University of Houston.

Anderson spent 152 days on the space station, as a flight engineer on
Expedition 15. He launched to the station as part of the STS-117 crew
and returned on the STS-120 mission. Anderson's hometown is Omaha,
Neb. He has a bachelor's degree in physics from Hastings College,
Neb., and a master's degree in aerospace engineering from Iowa State
University.

Metcalf-Lindenburger was selected as an astronaut in 2004. She was
born in Colorado Springs, Colo., and considers Fort Collins her
hometown. She has a bachelor's degree in geology from Whitman College
in Walla Walla, Wash.

Wilson was born in Boston. This will be her third spaceflight. She
flew as a mission specialist on STS-121 and STS-120. Wilson received
a bachelor's degree in engineering science from Harvard University
and a master's degree in aerospace engineering from the University of
Texas.

Yamazaki was born in Matsudo, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. She holds both
bachelor's and master's degrees in aerospace engineering from the
University of Tokyo. Yamazaki was selected by National Space
Development Agency of Japan (currently JAXA) as one of three
astronaut candidates in 1999 and joined NASA's astronaut candidates
for training in 2004.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jscott227 on 12/05/2008 11:40 pm
does this mean every unflown astro on flight status now has an assignment?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: DwightM on 12/06/2008 12:02 am
does this mean every unflown astro on flight status now has an assignment?
The exception would be Satoshi Furukawa, who is currently the backup to Soichi Noguchi on Expedition 22/23.  That should eventually roll to a primary assignment.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John44 on 12/06/2008 11:54 am
NASA ASSIGNS CREWS FOR UPCOMING SHUTTLE MISSIONS STS-130 AND STS-131
http://www.space-multimedia.nl.eu.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4566
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 12/07/2008 06:29 pm
Just throwing this out there, but, does anyone think there is a chance of a Russian flying on STS 132, which is scheduled to deliver the MRM?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 12/07/2008 06:35 pm
does anyone think there is a chance of a Russian flying on STS 132, which is scheduled to deliver the MRM?

There is no chance. It is obviously.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ShuttleDiscovery on 12/07/2008 07:07 pm
does anyone think there is a chance of a Russian flying on STS 132, which is scheduled to deliver the MRM?

There is no chance. It is obviously.

How is it obvious?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jorge on 12/07/2008 07:29 pm
does anyone think there is a chance of a Russian flying on STS 132, which is scheduled to deliver the MRM?

There is no chance. It is obviously.

How is it obvious?

That I'd like to hear as well. These seats are not automatic; they are generally negotiated as part of the balance-of-payments agreement for the module in question. So if the Russians negotiated a seat on the flight that delivers the MRM, they will get the seat, no question.

If the Russians *didn't* negotiate a seat on that flight, they'll have to pay for it if they want one. That's been US policy ever since Russia started charging the US for Soyuz seats, and that's why you haven't seen any Russians flying on the shuttle since then.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jscott227 on 12/07/2008 07:41 pm
Didn't the Russians suspend flights on Shuttle after the Columbia disaster?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 12/08/2008 01:26 am
I only ask because each ISS Shuttle flight that had a main task related to the Russian end of the station, carried up at least one cosmonaut: STS 96 (the Strela Crane was launched), STS 101 and 106 (outfitting of Zarya and Zvezda).
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 12/08/2008 01:38 am
I only ask because each ISS Shuttle flight that had a main task related to the Russian end of the station, carried up at least one cosmonaut: STS 96 (the Strela Crane was launched), STS 101 and 106 (outfitting of Zarya and Zvezda).

All three interim assembly flights took place prior to the arrival of the Shepherd-Gidzenko-Krikalev crew.  With 132, Russian expedition crew members will already be aboard ISS -- why would it be necessary to bring an extra cosmonaut there for 8-9 days?

Michael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ShuttleDiscovery on 12/08/2008 06:53 am
I only ask because each ISS Shuttle flight that had a main task related to the Russian end of the station, carried up at least one cosmonaut: STS 96 (the Strela Crane was launched), STS 101 and 106 (outfitting of Zarya and Zvezda).

All three interim assembly flights took place prior to the arrival of the Shepherd-Gidzenko-Krikalev crew.  With 132, Russian expedition crew members will already be aboard ISS -- why would it be necessary to bring an extra cosmonaut there for 8-9 days?

Michael Cassutt

They did with Lonchakov on STS-101.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: geminy007 on 12/08/2008 06:59 am
I only ask because each ISS Shuttle flight that had a main task related to the Russian end of the station, carried up at least one cosmonaut: STS 96 (the Strela Crane was launched), STS 101 and 106 (outfitting of Zarya and Zvezda).

All three interim assembly flights took place prior to the arrival of the Shepherd-Gidzenko-Krikalev crew.  With 132, Russian expedition crew members will already be aboard ISS -- why would it be necessary to bring an extra cosmonaut there for 8-9 days?

Michael Cassutt

They did with Lonchakov on STS-101.
Lonchakov was on STS-100
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 12/08/2008 02:51 pm
...so what was Lonchakov's role on STS-100? I thought that mission installed Canadarm2 and did no major work on the Russian segment?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 12/08/2008 03:18 pm
How is it obvious?

There is no need at all to pay US for useless flight of the Russian on STS-132. All tasks related to MRM-1 can be easily done by US astronauts. I hope it is more understandable now.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ShuttleDiscovery on 12/08/2008 03:50 pm
How is it obvious?

There is no need at all to pay US for useless flight of the Russian on STS-132. All tasks related to MRM-1 can be easily done by US astronauts. I hope it is more understandable now.

Thanks anik :)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: DeanG1967 on 12/09/2008 03:19 am
Good to see Mash Dutton getting on a flight.  I flew with him when he was stationed at Lakenheath.  Great guy.  Oh but do I have stories.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Green013 on 12/10/2008 02:24 am
I know this may not be the right thread, but is there anyway to find out who's doing the EVA's on the future flights that have been assigned crews?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: fdasun on 12/10/2008 03:42 am
I know many have asked similar questions about Dr. Anna Fisher on this site.

As SSP is approaching its end, I really hope she can get a seat on STS-132 or 133 (or 134?). She has returned to "active" for many years. Unless she doesn't want a fly or technically isn't qualified anymore, it would be unfair to keep her on the ground for 14 years (since her return in 1996).
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 12/10/2008 09:30 am
STS-119: Swanson, Acaba and Arnold
STS-125: Grunsfeld, Massimino, Feustel and Good
STS-127: Wolf, Cassidy, Marshburn and Kopra
STS-128: Fuglesang and Olivas

I think.

Not sure about the others, but you can probably make educated guesses based on previous EVA experience.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: DwightM on 12/10/2008 02:41 pm
I know this may not be the right thread, but is there anyway to find out who's doing the EVA's on the future flights that have been assigned crews?
Ben E is correct, with the addition of Stott performing EVA 3 with Olivas on 128.  When the EVA's are known, anik will post them in this thread:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=61.795
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Green013 on 12/11/2008 05:02 pm
Thanks for the info, have a few educated guesses for the upcoming assigned flights:

STS-129: Foreman, Melvin (Bresnik?)
STS-130: Behnken, Robinson (Patrick?)
STS-131: Mastracchio, Anderson
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TALsite on 12/13/2008 09:05 am
A question for all of you :)

What is better?
-An athlete that runs two meetings before, but not in his favourite distance (Bresnik 129)
-Or an athlete that runs two meetings after, but in his distance (Dutton 131)
………..

I think I would wait to run my distance (Dutton 131)

Cheers.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ShuttleDiscovery on 12/13/2008 09:52 am
What do you mean?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TALsite on 12/13/2008 10:35 am
Sorry I'm not good with English language...

I only wanted to say, that (I think) is better to wait, and flight as PLT.
It's only my oppinion.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ShuttleDiscovery on 12/13/2008 10:56 am
Sorry I'm not good with English language...

I only wanted to say, that (I think) is better to wait, and flight as PLT.
It's only my oppinion.

Oh I see! I didn't realise Bresnik was a PLT flying as an MS...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 12/13/2008 05:17 pm
Wonder if Bresnik opted to fly as an MS, rather than as a PLT? Perhaps he wanted an EVA? Or maybe he realised he'd never get a chance to command a Shuttle crew?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 12/13/2008 05:23 pm
Seems to me like it was a numbers game with Dutton and Bresnik. There was a goal by the Astronaut Office to have everyone fly by STS-131. If so, considering the PLT numbers, that means flying one of them as an MS. I don't see why they couldn't have held back on assigning Bresnik until STS 132

I can't see Bresnik rotating onto another crew in time for STS 132 or 133 as PLT, so members of the class of 2000 will probably serve as PLT's on those missions. Maybe if STS 134 flies he can get a PLT spot.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jorge on 12/13/2008 06:07 pm
Seems to me like it was a numbers game with Dutton and Bresnik. There was a goal by the Astronaut Office to have everyone fly by STS-131. If so, considering the PLT numbers, that means flying one of them as an MS.

Two, actually. Garan flew as an MS on 124.

Quote
I don't see why they couldn't have held back on assigning Bresnik until STS 132

Because 132 and 133, while likely to fly, are still not done deals. They are still technically listed as contingency logistics flights and, more importantly, they remain unfunded in NASA's budget projections. That is, a budget increase in FY2010 will be required to fly them. *That* is the reasoning behind Rominger's (later, Lindsey's) push to get everyone assigned by 131.

But it is important to point out that they asked for *volunteers* among the PLTs to fly as MSes. Bresnik had to choose between a sure thing flying as an MS on 129, or a chance of flying as a PLT on 132 - with a chance of having the rug pulled out from under him, Joe Engle-style, if the flight didn't get funded. He chose the sure thing. I can't blame him.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 12/13/2008 07:12 pm
Jorge, you're quite right. I'd completely forgotten that 132 and 133 are, as yet, not 'done deals'.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 12/14/2008 05:33 pm
I'd forgotten just how soon STS 132 and 133 became "done deals". I also suppose there is a worry that a new President could just pull the plug on those two, even if the flight hardware has been built, like Apollo 18 and 19.

I didn't know about the "volunteers" call and I really can't blame Bresnik for that. If he did volunteer as such, I'm sure he (and any other PLT who did) would be taken care of in some way by the Astronaut Office, such as flying on the hypothetical STS-134, or an early Orion mission if they hang in.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ShuttleDiscovery on 12/14/2008 05:43 pm
With the shuttle retirement I'm sure PLTs like Bresnik are glad to get an assignment, whether they're flying as a PLT or an MS...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 12/14/2008 05:47 pm
I don't know about astronauts "being taken care of" by the Astronaut Office...I think, based on past experience, many will be obliged to make a choice: either stick around for years to wait for another flight or lose out. Think Dick Gordon and Apollo 18...he trained for years and lost his opportunity.

The way the flights are stacking up, I doubt that all of the Group 17 PLTs will get command slots before the Shuttle retires. There'll be no "taking care of" them. Unless the Shuttle is extended or they want to stick around for years or do an ISS increment, they're probably out of luck. It'll be a shame for Ray Jay in particular - the oldest-ever rookie Shuttle pilot, who will probably never get the chance to command.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 12/16/2008 01:07 am
I just did a little research, and found that for astronauts in Groups 8 through 16, there were actually 14 astroanuts who flew as PLT and not as CDR.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ChrisGebhardt on 12/16/2008 01:19 am
I also suppose there is a worry that a new President could just pull the plug on those two, even if the flight hardware has been built, like Apollo 18 and 19.


It's more likely that we'll see an extension of the Shuttle manifest, not a cut. Especially since President-elect Obama seems very keen on eliminating (or at least shortening) the gap between Shuttle and Constellation.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ShuttleAtlantis on 12/16/2008 06:20 pm
Any predictions on who the sts 132 crew might be?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ShuttleDiscovery on 12/16/2008 06:43 pm
Any predictions on who the sts 132 crew might be?

I think Greg Johnson (123) will be CDR. As for the the rest of the crew, who knows? I hope Fisher gets an assignment though...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ShuttleAtlantis on 12/16/2008 07:24 pm
My vote for sts 132 CMD is (Pam Melroy) and PLT (Ken Ham),and i will go ahead and predict some of the mission specialists,(Stan Love),(Al Drew),(Piers Sellers),(Dan Burbank),and(Anna Fisher).
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ShuttleDiscovery on 12/16/2008 07:41 pm
My vote for sts 132 CMD is (Pam Melroy) and PLT (Ken Ham),and i will go ahead and predict some of the mission specialists,(Stan Love),(Al Drew),(Piers Sellers),(Dan Burbank),and(Anna Fisher).

I also hope Pam Melroy and Piers Sellers get another flight.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Green013 on 12/16/2008 08:22 pm
My call for STS-132:
CDR: Greg Johnson
PLT: Ron Garan
MS: Anna Fisher
MS: Stan Love
MS: Al Drew
MS: Piers Sellers
MS: Lee Morin (Why not?)

-I know everyone is saying that Garan is going to be a Flight Engineer on a future ISS Expedition, but not believing it until I see a press release or something like it.  Would also suggest Burbank, but he's become part of management.   
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ShuttleAtlantis on 12/16/2008 08:36 pm
I would also like to see Stephen Frick get another flight as CMD.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: astronut7 on 12/17/2008 02:32 pm
Ron Garan has been assigned as a Mission Specialist for STS-130, so I don't think he will fly as a pilot for STS-132.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Green013 on 12/17/2008 02:43 pm
That was a rumor a while ago, Garan isn't an MS on 130, double check your information:

http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2008/dec/HQ_08-321.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 12/17/2008 04:37 pm
Are there any other recently-flown astronauts (Drew? Nyberg?) who may 'shift gears' to do expedition training? Is it a decision they make themselves or are asked to make?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Green013 on 12/17/2008 06:44 pm
Is there any information that Garan has switched gears towards training for an expedition?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: dcfowler1 on 12/18/2008 07:16 am
In the various service uniform regs, the astronaut designator can be added to any occupational badge.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: faustod on 12/18/2008 09:07 am
Is there any information that Garan has switched gears towards training for an expedition?

Garan is in line for Expedition 27 in 2011, according to
Anik post on 21 November, into: http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=15056.0

Also, according to Robert Pearlman post on 12 November into: http://www.collectspace.com/ubb/Forum30/HTML/000709.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 12/18/2008 04:01 pm
JAXA has announced yesterday (http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2008/12/20081217_iss_j.html) Satoshi Furukawa will perform six-month spaceflight on ISS since spring of 2011.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ShuttleDiscovery on 12/18/2008 06:06 pm
JAXA has announced yesterday (http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2008/12/20081217_iss_j.html) Satoshi Furukawa will perform six-month spaceflight on ISS since spring of 2011.

Great! So now all JAXA astronauts have recently flown or have an assignment! :)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jscott227 on 12/18/2008 06:45 pm
That should be everyone now! All astros on flight status have flown or have an assignment. Great job!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ShuttleDiscovery on 12/18/2008 07:06 pm
That should be everyone now! All astros on flight status have flown or have an assignment. Great job!


Everyone? Wow, that is good! :D
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 12/19/2008 01:35 pm
JAXA has announced yesterday (http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2008/12/20081217_iss_j.html) Satoshi Furukawa will perform six-month spaceflight on ISS since spring of 2011

Important addition: he will be a crewmember of Expedition 28/29, i.e. he will be launched on the second of fourth Soyuzes in May 2011.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: faustod on 12/27/2008 12:04 pm
Roberto Vittori will return to NASA JSC by January 5, 2009.
He will train for a probable future Shutte flight.
Vittori has told this a few days ago, at Naples, Italy.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Green013 on 01/05/2009 01:46 pm
Wouldn't it have made sense for him to fly on STS-130, as Node 3 is being delivered on that flight.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: faustod on 01/10/2009 07:51 am
About Jim Kelly,  now JSC Astronaut Biographies web page reports him in this position:
Management - Chief, Astronaut Office CAPCOM Branch
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ShuttleDiscovery on 01/10/2009 10:01 am
About Jim Kelly,  now JSC Astronaut Biographies web page reports him in this position:
Management - Chief, Astronaut Office CAPCOM Branch

I guess that rules him out for a shuttle flight. I think he'll be first in line for Orion...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: collectSPACE on 01/10/2009 01:50 pm
In fact, Kelly has been chief of the capcom branch for at least a couple of years.

As noted by Michael in the 11/01/08 reply (http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=740.msg328732#msg328732) to this thread (as quoted above), Kelly has been chief of the capcom branch for some time.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: faustod on 01/10/2009 03:01 pm
In fact, Kelly has been chief of the capcom branch for at least a couple of years.

As noted by Michael in the 11/01/08 reply (http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=740.msg328732#msg328732) to this thread (as quoted above), Kelly has been chief of the capcom branch for some time.

It's right.
However up to yesterday, the JSC Astronaut Biographies web page reported him as a active pilot, now he figure in a Management status.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: faustod on 01/15/2009 06:21 am
According to JSC, Astronaut Biographies Web Page, now Stephen Frick has taken a Management position into the Constellation Program.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 01/15/2009 06:40 am
According to JSC, Astronaut Biographies Web Page, now Stephen Frick has taken a Management position into the Constellation Program.

According to the same source Lee Morin has taken a Management position in the Astronaut office.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: faustod on 01/16/2009 04:20 pm
According to JSC, Astronaut Biographies Web Page, now Stephen Frick has taken a Management position into the Constellation Program.

According to the same source Lee Morin has taken a Management position in the Astronaut office.

And now, also Michael Gernhardt has taken a Management position in the astronaut Office.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aurora899 on 01/16/2009 06:13 pm
Do we know how recent these appointments are? Are they since the new year or has someone just made an effort to update the Astronaut Biographies home page over the last few days? Perhaps they'll get round to the individual bios soon. Most of them are hopelessly out of date!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Green013 on 01/24/2009 07:15 pm
Are the flight assignments for 132 due out anytime soon, or are they waiting to see what happens with the shuttle program to see if it extended?  Miss seeing all the flight crew predictions.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ChrisGebhardt on 01/24/2009 09:48 pm
Flight crews are generally assigned about one years before the flight. Yes, I know that the STS-131 crew was already announced, but I would not expect to see a crew for STS-132 until late February/early March.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Green013 on 01/24/2009 10:11 pm
I realize that, just like seeing what other people are thinking about the flight crews, and don't want to look moronic by just randomly posting predictions without any feedback.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 01/25/2009 08:38 pm
How many crew members will 132 and 133 have? Have they done crew-size planning yet?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ShuttleDiscovery on 01/25/2009 08:44 pm
How many crew members will 132 and 133 have? Have they done crew-size planning yet?

I think we'll just have to wait until the crew is announed, but it's likely to be 6 or 7 as usual... :)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ShuttleAtlantis on 01/28/2009 10:18 pm
Is Satoshi Furukawa supposed to launch on soyuz tma 23, and if so has any one heard who will launch with him.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Green013 on 02/08/2009 06:08 pm
Does anyone happen to know the EVA assignments for STS-129 and onwards?  Know this may not be the right thread, but still curious.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aurora899 on 03/03/2009 05:13 pm
NASA ANNOUNCES CHANGE FOR RETURN OF STATION CREW MEMBERS


HOUSTON -- The International Space Station Program has announced a
change in how two future crew members will return home. NASA
astronaut Nicole Stott and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Robert
Thirsk will swap seats on the space shuttle and Russian Soyuz
spacecraft to help ensure a timely homecoming for Thirsk.

Thirsk will launch to the station on a Soyuz in May and return to
Earth on that same vehicle in November, instead of aboard space
shuttle Atlantis at the end of the STS-129 mission. Stott, who will
launch to the station on shuttle Discovery's STS-128 mission, will
return aboard Atlantis with the STS-129 crew. She had been slated to
come home aboard the Soyuz that Thirsk now will occupy.

The change is in case of delays to future shuttle missions,
specifically STS-129, which currently is scheduled to launch in
November 2009. Such a delay could result in extending Thirsk's
mission beyond the six-month duration preferred for station crew
members.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ShuttleAtlantis on 03/04/2009 12:29 am
I know they wont but it would be nice if the last three flights go something like this.

STS-132
CDR:Pam Melroy
PLT:Greg Johnson
MS:Anna Fisher
MS:Dan Burbank
MS:Stan Love
MS:Piers Sellers
MS:Al Drew

STS-133
CDR:Mark Kelly
PLT:Ken Ham
MS:Rex Walheim
MS:Steve Bowen
MS:Don Pettit
MS:Karen Nyberg
MS:Heidi Piper

STS-134
CMD:Chris Ferguson
PLT:Eric Boe
MS:Shane Kimbrough
MS:Scott Parasynski
MS:Garrett Reisman
MS:Dan Tani
MS:Mike Fossum

                                 
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Green013 on 03/04/2009 03:22 am
These are very rough predictions and are just for fun, worried about too much EVA experience on some flights, please comment and critique

STS-132                    STS-133                  STS-134
CDR: Greg Johnson      CDR: Pam Melroy        CDR: Chris Ferguson
PLT: Ron Garan           PLT: Ken Ham           PLT: Eric Boe
MS: Stan Love            MS: Steve Bowen      MS: Rex Walheim
MS: Anna Fisher          MS: Karen Nyberg      MS: Peggy Whitson
MS: Al Drew               MS: Mike Fossum       MS: Shane Kimbrough
MS: Garrett Reisman    MS: Dan Tani            MS: Piers Sellers
MS: Janet Kavandi      MS: Roberto Vittori     MS: Greg Chamitoff

Think this is relatively accurate, not sure about Ron Garan because of Expedition rumors, and wouldn't be surprised to see Mark Kelly on STS-134 if it flies, since Scott Kelly would be starting his Expedition tour around that time period.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 03/04/2009 06:53 pm
Yes, I'm wondering if some astronauts will switch back from station to shuttle side: ie Tani and Reisman. I honestly can't see them giving Ferguson a second command when Ham and the Johnsons (from the same group) will either get no second flight at all or a reflight as a PLT.

My guesses would be:

STS-132
CDR: Gregory H. Johnson
PLT: Eric A. Boe
MS: Daniel M. Tani
MS: Piers J. Sellers
MS: Roberto A. Vittori
MS: B. Alvin Drew, Jr
MS: Stanley G. Love

STS-133
CDR: Kenneth T. Ham
PLT: Dominic A. Antonelli
MS: Rex J. Walheim
MS: Garrett E. Reisman
MS: Karen L. Nyberg
MS: Stephen G. Bowen
MS: R. Shane Kimbrough

Don't even want to speculate on STS-134. Maybe Melroy or Kelly as CDR? I doubt that Gregory C. Johnson could recycle from STS-125 in time for a CDR slot. It's fun to speculate!

Let's hope we'll soon see how close - or far - we were from the truth!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ShuttleAtlantis on 03/05/2009 12:45 am
Is there a chance Scott Parazynski or Mike Foale will get assigned to one of the last three shuttle missions?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: MBK004 on 03/05/2009 02:10 am
Is there a chance Scott Parazynski or Mike Foale will get assigned to one of the last three shuttle missions?
I doubt Mike Foale will get another assignment. He's already had six trips to space including two long-duration missions. If he were to get another trip, I would expect it would be a long-duration mission.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Green013 on 03/05/2009 03:17 am
Is there a chance Scott Parazynski or Mike Foale will get assigned to one of the last three shuttle missions?
Parazynski's also a long shot, since he's already flown 4 flights, and their seems to be an unspoken 4-flight max rule post Columbia, may be wrong though
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 03/05/2009 07:27 pm
Is there a chance Scott Parazynski or Mike Foale will get assigned to one of the last three shuttle missions?
Parazynski's also a long shot, since he's already flown 4 flights, and their seems to be an unspoken 4-flight max rule post Columbia, may be wrong though

He actually is one of two that it seems an exception to the rule was made for. STS-120 was Parazynski's fifth flight. John Grunsfeld will be making his fifth as well on STS-125. I doubt Parazynski will be making another.

Does the "four flights" rule apply to shuttle missions only? If so, maybe they have chances at ISS Expeditions.

Mike Gernhardt should get a fifth flight in my book. He was on the roster for STS-119 for so long...I don't know if him leaving the flight was his call or not, but with everyone having flown by STS-131, he deserves another shot. Besides, one of those four flights he had was basically a repeat that got right what went wrong during the first attempt (STS 83/STS 94).
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 03/06/2009 12:06 pm
I remember reading an interview with Jerry Ross, just before he flew STS-110, in which he was asked if he expected his seven-flight record to stand for a long time. He replied that it would worry him if it did stand unchallenged for a long time, because it would indicate that progress was not being made on getting people into space more frequently.

Looks like the very thing Ross feared might happen IS actually happening.

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TALsite on 03/06/2009 12:59 pm
please comment and critique

STS-132                    STS-133                  STS-134
CDR: Greg Johnson      CDR: Pam Melroy        CDR: Chris Ferguson
PLT: Ron Garan           PLT: Ken Ham           PLT: Eric Boe

I think they never repeat the same pair (Ferguson-Boe) of CDR/PLT, except for the STS83 / STS94 reflight.

I’d like to see Peggy WHITSON in one of the latest shuttle flights.   She has flied twice but only in Soyuz. 
Just for tasting a smooth landing… ;)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: The-Hammer on 03/06/2009 01:16 pm
I’d like to see Peggy WHITSON in one of the latest shuttle flights.   She has flied twice but only in Soyuz. 
Just for tasting a smooth landing… ;)

Actually, her first flight was with Expedition 5 when full crew rotations were still on the shuttle. Expedition 5 launched on STS-111 and landed with STS-113.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aurora899 on 03/06/2009 01:41 pm
please comment and critique

STS-132                    STS-133                  STS-134
CDR: Greg Johnson      CDR: Pam Melroy        CDR: Chris Ferguson
PLT: Ron Garan           PLT: Ken Ham           PLT: Eric Boe

I think they never repeat the same pair (Ferguson-Boe) of CDR/PLT, except for the STS83 / STS94 reflight.

I’d like to see Peggy WHITSON in one of the latest shuttle flights.   She has flied twice but only in Soyuz. 
Just for tasting a smooth landing… ;)


Tom Henricks and Kevin Kregel flew as a repeat commander/pilot pairing (STS-70 and STS-78?) I think this was a deliberate exercise to see whether such an approach could improve flight crew efficiency or something. It was never adopted though.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 03/06/2009 07:31 pm
Tom Henricks and Kevin Kregel flew as a repeat commander/pilot pairing (STS-70 and STS-78?) I think this was a deliberate exercise to see whether such an approach could improve flight crew efficiency or something. It was never adopted though.

You could also count STS 83 and STS 94 (Jim Halsell and Sue Kilrain), though that was a re-flight of the same mission.

Deke Slayton's off-the-book's recommendation was to have a set of CDR-PLT teams that would stay together for several flights.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ShuttleAtlantis on 03/06/2009 09:45 pm
I doubt Janet Kavandi will get another flight considering she is in management.
These are very rough predictions and are just for fun, worried about too much EVA experience on some flights, please comment and critique

STS-132                    STS-133                  STS-134
CDR: Greg Johnson      CDR: Pam Melroy        CDR: Chris Ferguson
PLT: Ron Garan           PLT: Ken Ham           PLT: Eric Boe
MS: Stan Love            MS: Steve Bowen      MS: Rex Walheim
MS: Anna Fisher          MS: Karen Nyberg      MS: Peggy Whitson
MS: Al Drew               MS: Mike Fossum       MS: Shane Kimbrough
MS: Garrett Reisman    MS: Dan Tani            MS: Piers Sellers
MS: Janet Kavandi      MS: Roberto Vittori     MS: Greg Chamitoff

Think this is relatively accurate, not sure about Ron Garan because of Expedition rumors, and wouldn't be surprised to see Mark Kelly on STS-134 if it flies, since Scott Kelly would be starting his Expedition tour around that time period.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Green013 on 03/06/2009 10:17 pm
I doubt Janet Kavandi will get another flight considering she is in management.
These are very rough predictions and are just for fun, worried about too much EVA experience on some flights, please comment and critique

STS-132                    STS-133                  STS-134
CDR: Greg Johnson      CDR: Pam Melroy        CDR: Chris Ferguson
PLT: Ron Garan           PLT: Ken Ham           PLT: Eric Boe
MS: Stan Love            MS: Steve Bowen      MS: Rex Walheim
MS: Anna Fisher          MS: Karen Nyberg      MS: Peggy Whitson
MS: Al Drew               MS: Mike Fossum       MS: Shane Kimbrough
MS: Garrett Reisman    MS: Dan Tani            MS: Piers Sellers
MS: Janet Kavandi      MS: Roberto Vittori     MS: Greg Chamitoff

Think this is relatively accurate, not sure about Ron Garan because of Expedition rumors, and wouldn't be surprised to see Mark Kelly on STS-134 if it flies, since Scott Kelly would be starting his Expedition tour around that time period.

Sorry, didn't realize that
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: spin613 on 04/16/2009 06:47 pm
someone just told me recently that Reisman was tentatively scheduled to fly again next summer but he may be opting out of NASA for a private sector gig.

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 05/06/2009 10:02 pm
STS-132 Crew Assignments:

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2009/05/atlantis-ready-launch-countdown-sts-132-crew-assigned/
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: History Buff on 05/06/2009 11:05 pm
STS-132 Crew Assignments:

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2009/05/atlantis-ready-launch-countdown-sts-132-crew-assigned/


Good crew!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Green013 on 05/06/2009 11:35 pm
STS-132 Crew Assignments:

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2009/05/atlantis-ready-launch-countdown-sts-132-crew-assigned/

SOLID crew!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Martin FL on 05/07/2009 02:10 pm
Veteran crew is a go!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 05/18/2009 09:33 pm
RELEASE: 09-105

NASA ASSIGNS CREW FOR STS-132 SPACE SHUTTLE MISSION

WASHINGTON -- NASA has assigned the crew for space shuttle mission
STS-132, targeted for launch in April 2010. This flight will deliver
the Russian-built Mini Research Module (MRM1) to the International
Space Station.

Navy Capt. Ken Ham will command the shuttle Atlantis for this 11-day
mission. Navy Cmdr. Tony Antonelli will serve as the pilot. Mission
specialists are Navy Capt. Steve Bowen, Karen Nyberg, Garrett
Reisman, and Piers Sellers.

Ham was born in Plainfield, N.J. He received a bachelor's degree from
the U.S. Naval Academy and a master's degree in aeronautical
engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School. He served as the
pilot on the STS-124 mission, which launched on May 31, 2008.

Antonelli was born in Detroit and grew up in Indiana and North
Carolina. He holds a bachelor's degree from the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology and a master's degree in aeronautics and
astronautics from the University of Washington. He served as the
pilot on STS-119, which flew to the space station in March.

STS-132 will be the second mission for Bowen, who served as a mission
specialist on STS-126 in November 2008. He was born in Cohasset,
Mass., and has a bachelor's degree from the U.S. Naval Academy and a
degree of ocean engineering from MIT.

STS-132 also will be the second spaceflight for Nyberg, who served as
a mission specialist on STS-124. She considers Vining, Minn., to be
her hometown. She holds a bachelor's degree from the University of
North Dakota, and a master's and a doctorate degree from the
University of Texas.

This will be Reisman's second spaceflight. Reisman served as a flight
engineer on the space station for portions of Expeditions 16 and 17,
spending more than three months in space. He was born in Morristown,
N.J., and considers Parsippany, N.J., his hometown. He has a
bachelor's degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a master's
and doctorate degree from the California Institute of Technology.

Sellers will be embarking on his third spaceflight, having served as a
mission specialist on STS-112 in 2002 and STS-121 in 2006. He was
born in Crowborough, Sussex, United Kingdom. He has a bachelor's
degree from University of Edinburgh and a doctorate from Leeds
University.

Video of the STS-132 crew members will air on NASA Television's Video
File at 10 p.m. EDT. For downlink and scheduling information and
links to streaming video, visit:



http://www.nasa.gov/ntv


For complete astronaut biographical information, visit:



http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios


For more information about NASA's Space Shuttle Program, visit:



http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Green013 on 05/28/2009 09:40 pm
Nobody has done this for awhile so I guess I will try and start it: Two possible shuttle flights left (STS-133 and STS-134), whose the crew?  Think it will be some combination of this:

STS-133
CDR: Greg H. Johnson
PLT: Greg C. Johnson
MS: Rex Walheim
MS: Anna Fisher
MS: Stan Love

STS-134
CDR: Mark Kelly
PLT: Eric Boe
MS: Mike Fossum
MS: Megan McArthur
MS: Shane Kimbrough

(Other Possibilities: Steve Swanson, Mike Massimino)

Please add and critique
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Webhamster on 05/29/2009 01:04 am
Nobody has done this for awhile so I guess I will try and start it: Two possible shuttle flights left (STS-133 and STS-134), whose the crew?  Think it will be some combination of this:

Anna Fisher seems to be a sentimental pick for longtime followers but I think that if she was going to get another flight it would have happened by now.  There's also some veteran commanders who could still be eligible for slots on these flights like Steve Frick and Pam Melroy.

Depending on the length of an extension (if it happens at all) I sometimes wonder if we could ever possibly see an odd case of a CDR being "demoted" to the PLT seat on one of those flights due to a lack of manpower...at the very least it could lead to a number of guys doing maybe 3 flights in the PLT seat (which has been done before).
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 05/29/2009 01:54 pm
I can't see that there would be any need to demote a CDR to a PLT seat. There are plenty of candidates for PLT slots, no matter how long the extension goes on for. Even if we see an extension to 2015, you have all of Group 18 (7 pilots, excluding Garan) and Group 19 (2 pilots) who could be recycled into a second PLT flight. As for commanders, depending on how long the extension is for, I presume they would just keep recycling them in something more-or-less similar to their current order: Johnson, Kelly, Ferguson, Archambault etc...

I would hope, though, that poor Ray Jay will skip ahead and get his first command before Ferguson et al get their second. They are all from the same group, after all...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ShuttleAtlantis on 05/29/2009 10:21 pm
These are my guesses assuming sts-133 has five astronauts and sts -134 has seven:

STS-133
CDR:Greg H. Johnson
PLT:Eric Boe
MS:Dan Burbank
MS:Anna Fisher
MS:Stan Love

STS-134
CDR:Pam Melroy
PLT:Greg C. Johnson
MS:Shane Kimbrough
MS:Dan Tani
MS:Greg Chamitoff
MS:Mike Fossum
MS:Rex Walheim
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 05/31/2009 03:26 pm
I always found the topic of crew selection very interesting...going all the way back to the Gemini program.

For example, seeing Ed White command the back-up crew on GT-7 and have John Young go on to command GT-10.

And in the current shuttle program, having Tony Antonelli flying STS-119 this year and being assigned to a second flight next year...and at the same time Julie Payette just getting her second mission on "127", after waiting 10 full years.

Keeps us all guessing...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: OV-107 on 05/31/2009 06:57 pm
I don´t think Pam Melroy and Steve Frick will command new shuttle mission. Melroy wasn´t interested of flying again after 120 and Frick is in management now.

I guess the crew of STS 133 could be G H Johnson, Boe, Kimbrough, Chamitoff, Arnold and Acaba and a possible 134 could be ,
Mark Kelly or Chris Ferguson as cdr, G C Johnson as plt, Fossum, Swanson, Feustel and McArthur as mission specialist.

Well, let´s see how this finally works out......



Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aurora899 on 05/31/2009 07:13 pm
You're right about Frick but I wouldn't write Pam Melroy off just yet. Agreed, she seemed largely indifferent to flying again when the question was put to her but that was at a time when no one thought the veteran commanders would make more than one post-columbia mission - only for Mark Polansky and, particularly, Rick Sturckow to be given additional assignments.
Personally, I think Pam Melroy would be a shoo-in for the last mission (although that could be either STS-133 or STS-134 depending on what order they're flown in). There will be enormous interest in the final flight because it is the final flight, and Pam Melroy ticks all the right PR boxes. But as you say, we'll have to see...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ShuttleAtlantis on 05/31/2009 10:59 pm
Here is a list of all the astronauts who could get assigned to the last two shuttle flights, please let me know of any I might have missed.
                         
Commanders and Pilots
Mark Kelly,Pam Melroy,Chris Ferguson,Greg H. Johnson,Greg C.Johnson,Eric Boe

Mission Specialists
Anna Fisher,Stan Love,Dan Burbank,Rex Walheim,Mike Fossum,Greg Chamitoff,Shane Kimbrough,Dan Tani,Steve Swanson,Drew Feustel,Mike Good,Megan McArthur,Mike Massimino,Al Drew,Peggy Whitson,Ricky Arnold,Joseph Acaba,Roberto Vittori
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 06/01/2009 12:19 am
Lee Archambault - CDR
Ron Garan -  PLT - don't believe he's been officially assigned to an ISS crew yet
Jim Kelly - CDR
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ChrisGebhardt on 06/01/2009 06:31 am
Lee Archambault - CDR
Ron Garan -  PLT - don't believe he's been officially assigned to an ISS crew yet
Jim Kelly - CDR

Jim Kelly is in management.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 06/01/2009 02:42 pm
Lee Archambault - CDR
Ron Garan -  PLT - don't believe he's been officially assigned to an ISS crew yet
Jim Kelly - CDR

If Garan has an "official" (that is, announced) backup ISS assignment, he has a prime assignment, too.  (And it's Exp 27.)  Anyone going into the ISS training flow (which is still two years or more) is there to fly.

(This is for NASA astronauts.  Chris Hadfield was an Exp 20 backup and has no official prime crew assignment yet.)

Michael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ShuttleAtlantis on 06/01/2009 04:58 pm
I meant to list Lee Archambault.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: astropl on 06/01/2009 08:17 pm
http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/media/advisories/2009/0601.asp

Space Serving Humanity
Canadian entrepreneur travels to space on philanthropic mission
Longueuil, Quebec, June 1, 2009 - Media representatives are invited to the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) for the announcement of the first philanthropic mission to the International Space Station by a private Canadian explorer, slated to launch with Soyuz TMA-16 crew this September.

The announcement will be made simultaneously in Moscow (Russia) and Longueuil (CSA Headquarters) and will take place on Thursday, June 4th 2009 at 9:30 a.m. EDT.

Live from Moscow will be representatives from Space Adventures and the first Canadian space explorer.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 06/01/2009 11:16 pm
Lee Archambault - CDR
Ron Garan -  PLT - don't believe he's been officially assigned to an ISS crew yet
Jim Kelly - CDR

If Garan has an "official" (that is, announced) backup ISS assignment, he has a prime assignment, too.  (And it's Exp 27.)  Anyone going into the ISS training flow (which is still two years or more) is there to fly.

(This is for NASA astronauts.  Chris Hadfield was an Exp 20 backup and has no official prime crew assignment yet.)

Michael Cassutt

Michael...looking over previous back-up assignments I noticed that ISS 4 back-up crew member Steve Robinson was never assigned as a prime crew member for an ISS crew.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: DwightM on 06/02/2009 12:24 am
Lee Archambault - CDR
Ron Garan -  PLT - don't believe he's been officially assigned to an ISS crew yet
Jim Kelly - CDR

If Garan has an "official" (that is, announced) backup ISS assignment, he has a prime assignment, too.  (And it's Exp 27.)  Anyone going into the ISS training flow (which is still two years or more) is there to fly.

(This is for NASA astronauts.  Chris Hadfield was an Exp 20 backup and has no official prime crew assignment yet.)

Michael Cassutt

Michael...looking over previous back-up assignments I noticed that ISS 4 back-up crew member Steve Robinson was never assigned as a prime crew member for an ISS crew.
That was then.  Now, 'backup' crewmembers are folks in training for future increments.  As Michael said - "Anyone going into the ISS training flow (which is still two years or more) is there to fly."
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 06/02/2009 12:18 pm
Does anyone know who if Greg H. Johnson has gone through CDR Upgrade yet?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 06/18/2009 06:47 pm
Roberto Vittori will return to NASA JSC by January 5, 2009.
He will train for a probable future Shutte flight.
Vittori has told this a few days ago, at Naples, Italy.


Roberto Vittori will fly a Shuttle mission as an ASI astronaut, yes he is an ESA astronaut but he will fly for the Italian Space Agency... That is what I heard two days ago in Paris...the rumor is that he will fly STS-130...

So is it possible that he will be added to the STS-130 crew to bring Node-3 up ??

Or will he fly on 133 or 134 ??


Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Green013 on 06/18/2009 10:06 pm
Roberto Vittori will return to NASA JSC by January 5, 2009.
He will train for a probable future Shutte flight.
Vittori has told this a few days ago, at Naples, Italy.


Roberto Vittori will fly a Shuttle mission as an ASI astronaut, yes he is an ESA astronaut but he will fly for the Italian Space Agency... That is what I heard two days ago in Paris...the rumor is that he will fly STS-130...

So is it possible that he will be added to the STS-130 crew to bring Node-3 up ??

Or will he fly on 133 or 134 ??




While I wouldn't be surprised if he got latched on with STS-130, I could also see him flying STS-133, especially if Donatello were flown, or if one of the MPLM's are attached permanently.  Is a permanent logistics module on the ISS for storage still a real possibility?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aquarius on 07/25/2009 12:18 am
According to www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/  Stefanyshyn-Piper has retired from NASA.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 07/25/2009 02:14 am
According to http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2009/jul/HQ_09-176_Melroy_Leaves_NASA.html Pamela Melroy is leaving NASA too.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aurora899 on 07/25/2009 08:24 am
According to www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/  Stefanyshyn-Piper has retired from NASA.

You are right!
"Captain Heide Stefanyshyn-Piper retired from NASA in July 2009 to return to the U.S. Navy at the Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington D.C."
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ChrisGebhardt on 07/27/2009 04:23 am
Both Heide and Pam will be missed. They were just as professional as could be and did some fine work on the ISS.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ShuttleAtlantis on 07/28/2009 05:54 pm
Could we be expecting the sts-133 or sts-134 crew to be announced any time soon, or maybe they will both be announced at the same time. And does anybody have any more predictions of who they might be.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 07/30/2009 10:17 am
Well, with Melroy gone, it reduces the options for CDR. My money is on one of the Johnsons to command.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 07/30/2009 10:22 am
So all women astronauts are MS now ?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: kevind on 07/30/2009 12:58 pm
NASA may not be in too big of a hurry to assign the 133 and 134 crews.  Under all three of the Sally Ride options proposed to the Augustine Commission, the two flights could possibly be two years away.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: DwightM on 07/30/2009 03:31 pm
NASA may not be in too big of a hurry to assign the 133 and 134 crews.  Under all three of the Sally Ride options proposed to the Augustine Commission, the two flights could possibly be two years away.
I imagine they'll be planning for the 'what is' instead of the 'what if'.  There is precedent for that - Lindsey wanted to ensure that all rookies flew by 131 seeing at that time 132 and 133 were still officially listed as contingency flights even though it looked likely that they would fly. 
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 07/30/2009 06:48 pm
Hazarding guesses:

STS 134:
CDR: Greg H. Johnson
PLT: Eric Boe
MS's: Burbank, Love, Morin, Vittori, Kimbrough

STS 133:
CDR: Steve Frick or Mark Kelly
PLT: Gregory C. Johnson
MS's: Walheim, Fisher, Tani
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Green013 on 07/30/2009 08:51 pm
My 2 cents:

STS-134:
CDR: Greg H. Johnson
PLT: Eric Boe
MS1: Mike Fossum
MS2: Megan McArthur
MS3: Stan Love
MS4: Greg Chamitoff

STS-133:
CDR: Mark Kelly or Chris Ferguson
PLT: Doug Hurley
MS1: Shane Kimbrough
MS2: Rex Walheim
MS3: Anna Fisher

- Honestly think the last two crews will look something like this, depending on the ascent performance margins for STS-130, I almost positive Roberto Vittori will be added to that flight.  Feel free to critique.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ShuttleAtlantis on 07/30/2009 11:49 pm
Here are my guesses:

STS-134:
CDR:Greg H. Johnson
PLT:Eric Boe
MS1:Dan Burbank
MS2:Megan McArthur
MS3:Stan Love
MS4:Shane Kimbrough
MS5:Rex Walheim

STS-133:
CDR:Mark Kelly
PLT:Greg C. Johnson
MS1:Anna Fisher
MS2:Dan Tani
MS3:Mike Fossum

Other possibilities are:Greg Chamitoff,Peggy Whitson,Mike Good,Drew Feustal,and Roberto Vittori.


Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 07/31/2009 06:55 am
Surely the fact that the flights 'may' be two years into the future won't affect NASA assigning them. After all, some crews have trained for far more than a year for their flights. Look at the STS-125 crew...even without the delays caused by Hubble, it was always intended that they would train for at least 18 months.

My suggestion:

STS-134
CDR: Gregory H. Johnson
PLT: Eric A. Boe
MS: Daniel C. Burbank
MS: Daniel M. Tani
MS: Gregory E. Chamitoff
MS: Michael T. Good

STS-133
CDR: Gregory C. Johnson
PLT: Douglas G. Hurley
MS: Rex J. Walheim
MS: K. Megan McArthur
MS: Andrew J. Feustel
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 07/31/2009 07:18 am
Vittori (ESA) will be on one of these two flights.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: WBeck on 07/31/2009 08:47 am
There are some other non-rookie-flights:

STS-31 (Hubble)
STS-61 (First Hubble Service Mission)
STS-62
STS-76 (Third Shuttle-MIR)
STS-79 (Fourth Shuttle-MIR)
STS-80
STS-81 (Fifth Shuttle-MIR)
STS-82 (Second Hubble Service Mission)
STS-94 (STS-83 again)
STS-97 (P6)

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aquarius on 07/31/2009 11:08 am
How many crew members are to be launched on STS-134, 6 or 7?

Thanks.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 07/31/2009 05:18 pm
I thought they were going down to five to maximize the upload mass on these final flights ?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Green013 on 07/31/2009 05:44 pm
As of now, STS-134 is baselined  with a crew of six

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2009/06/sts-134-prcb-shuttle-ams-to-station/
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aquarius on 08/01/2009 10:46 pm
Can anybody tell me where to find the list of the management astronauts?

Thanks.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: wjbarnett on 08/02/2009 01:04 am
Can anybody tell me where to find the list of the management astronauts?

Scroll down on this page (http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/astrobio.html)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 08/05/2009 06:16 am
Today the Dutch newspaper "Telegraaf" reports that Andre Kuipers will fly in space again. launch with a Soyuz in december 2011:

In Dutch:
http://www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/4545925/__Kuipers_gaat_opnieuw_de_ruimte_in__.html?p=3,1


Google translation:
http://translate.google.nl/translate?prev=hp&hl=nl&js=y&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.telegraaf.nl%2Fbinnenland%2F4545925%2F__Kuipers_gaat_opnieuw_de_ruimte_in__.html%3Fp%3D3%2C1&sl=nl&tl=en&history_state0=


Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John44 on 08/05/2009 08:26 am
Today the Dutch newspaper "Telegraaf" reports that Andre Kuipers will fly in space again. launch with a Soyuz in december 2011:


Good news. Andre Kuipers  was de backup voor the OasISS mission (Frank De Winne)

Biography
http://www.esa.int/esaHS/ESAMWUZUMOC_astronauts_0.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jester on 08/05/2009 09:37 am
esa waking up ;)

http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMDZZUHYXF_index_0.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 08/05/2009 12:28 pm
Which also confirms Vittori for a Shuttle flight (STS-133 or STS-134 ?)

Quote
Roberto Vittori (I) is awaiting confirmation of his assignment to an ASI-owned flight opportunity on board the NASA Shuttle, possibly in the second half of 2010.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: DwightM on 08/05/2009 06:37 pm
Today the Dutch newspaper "Telegraaf" reports that Andre Kuipers will fly in space again. launch with a Soyuz in december 2011:
And from this thread:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=4962.0
it looks like Don Pettit will be his crewmate on Expedition 30/31.
Mike Fossum is assigned to Expedition 28/29.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: orbiter62995 on 08/07/2009 05:40 am
Why was Garan the flight engineer when he was trained as a pilot?

And, isn't he supposedly going to serve as an ISS Flight Engineer (which isn't unheard of for CDRs and PLTs but I was just wondering if it was affirmed)?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Davejfb on 08/07/2009 06:05 am
Today the Dutch newspaper "Telegraaf" reports that Andre Kuipers will fly in space again. launch with a Soyuz in december 2011:
And from this thread:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=4962.0
it looks like Don Pettit will be his crewmate on Expedition 30/31.
Mike Fossum is assigned to Expedition 28/29.


I read on collectspace that astronaut Dan Burbank joins Expedition 29/30


http://www.collectspace.com/ubb/Forum30/HTML/000709.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 08/07/2009 06:55 am
esa waking up ;)
http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMDZZUHYXF_index_0.html

Interesting. The release also mentions a long-duration flight by an astronaut from Germany in 2013 or 2014. That could be Schlegel, but I wonder if he will still be around. I assume it will more likely be Gerst.

When Cristoforetti made an appearance on TV5 in France, she mentioned that her group will start flying in "treize" or "quatorze". If my French does not fail me, that's '13 or '14. This should kind of confirm Gerst, would You not think?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 08/07/2009 09:12 am
In view of the fact that there are (so far) only one or two more CDR/PLT slots available for Shuttle, are there any Shuttle pilots (other than Garan) under consideration for ISS expeditions?

Surely, if ISS expedition training requires at least 2 years, Gerst won't be available for the German slot. If Nespoli flies in 2010 and Kuipers in 2011, then the German will go in ?2012? That must mean Schlegel, as Gerst might not be ready by then?

Are there any more Canadians scheduled to fly? I assume that Hadfield is next in line for an expedition.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 08/07/2009 09:53 am


Surely, if ISS expedition training requires at least 2 years, Gerst won't be available for the German slot. If Nespoli flies in 2010 and Kuipers in 2011, then the German will go in ?2012? That must mean Schlegel, as Gerst might not be ready by then?

The Germans were pushing very hard to get the "Kuipers" slot in 2011... I think they wanted Schlegel to fly first becouse of his age...

The new group of ESA astro's will begin training (as said before) in Septemeber for 1 1/2 years, and then 2 year ISS training... they will be ready at the end of 2013 to fly..so many things can happen, so I would not put my money on a German to fly first from this group...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: orbiter62995 on 08/07/2009 01:49 pm
In view of the fact that there are (so far) only one or two more CDR/PLT slots available for Shuttle, are there any Shuttle pilots (other than Garan) under consideration for ISS expeditions?

Surely, if ISS expedition training requires at least 2 years, Gerst won't be available for the German slot. If Nespoli flies in 2010 and Kuipers in 2011, then the German will go in ?2012? That must mean Schlegel, as Gerst might not be ready by then?

Are there any more Canadians scheduled to fly? I assume that Hadfield is next in line for an expedition.

Most likely Hadfield.  By 2012, David Saint Jacques and Jeremy Hansen will have been certified as CSA astronauts…which means a little while of a wait until we can have full Canadian presence again…isn't it true that Payette could become an F.E. no sooner than 2011?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: orbiter62995 on 08/07/2009 01:53 pm
What are the flight assignments for JAXA?

I know we have Noguchi on Expedition 22 or 23 as a Flight Engineer, but when will we see Satoshi Furukawa up there?  He isn't assigned to a shuttle flight, unless Steve Lindsey puts him on STS-133 or STS-134.  Yamazaki has a shuttle flight, which means she has to wait until 2012, no?  Also, the JAXA group of 2009 could be flying by 2013 is this correct?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Green013 on 08/07/2009 03:41 pm
Satoshi Furukawa has already been assigned to Expedition 28/29 as a flight engineer

http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2008/12/20081217_iss_j.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: orbiter62995 on 08/07/2009 03:47 pm
Satoshi Furukawa has already been assigned to Expedition 28/29 as a flight engineer

http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2008/12/20081217_iss_j.html

Oh. Okay.  Thanks much, did not know of this.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: orbiter62995 on 08/07/2009 03:48 pm
one final question ––– will Andy Thomas, Mike Foale, or Mike Gernhardt ever fly again?  Gernhardt has 4 flights but none since 2001…
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Green013 on 08/07/2009 04:27 pm
Two more flights left with no crew assignments out yet, with a good amount of people going over to ISS training who could have had those seats it's possible, but not real likely
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: orbiter62995 on 08/07/2009 04:54 pm
I figured, but wasn't sure.  Thanks.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jorge on 08/07/2009 11:03 pm
Why was Garan the flight engineer when he was trained as a pilot?

Lindsey's goal was to get all shuttle astronauts assigned by STS-131 because at the time 134 didn't exist and 132/133 were "contingency" logistics flights that weren't guaranteed to happen. There were more pilots than PLT slots. So he offered MS2 slots to PLTs and Garan accepted.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jorge on 08/07/2009 11:04 pm

STS-134
CDR: Gregory H. Johnson
PLT: Eric A. Boe
MS: Daniel C. Burbank
MS: Daniel M. Tani
MS: Gregory E. Chamitoff
MS: Michael T. Good

Two out of six. :)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jorge on 08/07/2009 11:07 pm
Here are my guesses:

STS-134:
CDR:Greg H. Johnson
PLT:Eric Boe
MS1:Dan Burbank
MS2:Megan McArthur
MS3:Stan Love
MS4:Shane Kimbrough
MS5:Rex Walheim

One out of six. :)

Quote
Other possibilities are:Greg Chamitoff,Peggy Whitson,Mike Good,Drew Feustal,and Roberto Vittori.

Ooh, you could have *almost* run the table... :)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jorge on 08/07/2009 11:11 pm
OK, that's enough teasing for now.

One more clue: There is only one crewmember on 134 that *nobody* here guessed recently (either explicitly for 134, or for 133 or "other possibilities").
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: orbiter62995 on 08/08/2009 02:20 am
Why was Garan the flight engineer when he was trained as a pilot?

Lindsey's goal was to get all shuttle astronauts assigned by STS-131 because at the time 134 didn't exist and 132/133 were "contingency" logistics flights that weren't guaranteed to happen. There were more pilots than PLT slots. So he offered MS2 slots to PLTs and Garan accepted.

Oh, great, well that makes sense.  I gotcha, because the same happened with Bresnik (obviously) because he's about to launch, no?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Green013 on 08/08/2009 02:24 am
Wait you know, I have to know if you know who it is, don't mean to sound annoying, but i gotta to know

STS-134
CDR: Greg H. Johnson
PLT: Doug Hurley
MS1: Mike Good
MS2: Peggy Whitson
MS3: Drew Feustel
MS4: Roberto Vittori

STS-133
CDR: Mark Kelly
PLT: Greg C. Johnson
MS1: Mike Gernhardt
MS2: Anna Fisher
MS3: Shane Kimbrough

Please respond ASAP
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: orbiter62995 on 08/08/2009 02:30 am
Wait you know, I have to know if you know who it is, don't mean to sound annoying, but i gotta to know

STS-134
CDR: Greg H. Johnson
PLT: Doug Hurley
MS1: Mike Good
MS2: Peggy Whitson
MS3: Drew Feustel
MS4: Roberto Vittori

STS-133
CDR: Mark Kelly
PLT: Greg C. Johnson
MS1: Mike Gernhardt
MS2: Anna Fisher
MS3: Shane Kimbrough

Please respond ASAP

We don't know yet, but this is a possibility.  Doubtfully will we see Mike Gernhardt because he has 4 flights logged as is.  Your STS-134 manifest is an entirely possible option, but Morin or Walheim could be part of that lineup and these two crews could be intermingled (ie. Good/Whitsen/Kimbrough/Fisher or some other combination).  The pilot for STS-134 theoretically could be Barry Wilmore, but likely it'll be Doug.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: orbiter62995 on 08/08/2009 02:33 am
Why was Garan the flight engineer when he was trained as a pilot?

Lindsey's goal was to get all shuttle astronauts assigned by STS-131 because at the time 134 didn't exist and 132/133 were "contingency" logistics flights that weren't guaranteed to happen. There were more pilots than PLT slots. So he offered MS2 slots to PLTs and Garan accepted.

Which other PLT's were asked, any idea?  (Besides Bresnik)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Green013 on 08/08/2009 02:34 am
Wait you know, I have to know if you know who it is, don't mean to sound annoying, but i gotta to know

STS-134
CDR: Greg H. Johnson
PLT: Doug Hurley
MS1: Mike Good
MS2: Peggy Whitson
MS3: Drew Feustel
MS4: Roberto Vittori

STS-133
CDR: Mark Kelly
PLT: Greg C. Johnson
MS1: Mike Gernhardt
MS2: Anna Fisher
MS3: Shane Kimbrough

Please respond ASAP

We don't know yet, but this is a possibility.  Doubtfully will we see Mike Gernhardt because he has 4 flights logged as is.  Your STS-134 manifest is an entirely possible option, but Morin or Walheim could be part of that lineup and these two crews could be intermingled (ie. Good/Whitsen/Kimbrough/Fisher or some other combination).  The pilot for STS-134 theoretically could be Barry Wilmore, but likely it'll be Doug.

Jorge's hinting that he knows, forgot to tag his quote to the post, sorry
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jorge on 08/08/2009 02:37 am
Why was Garan the flight engineer when he was trained as a pilot?

Lindsey's goal was to get all shuttle astronauts assigned by STS-131 because at the time 134 didn't exist and 132/133 were "contingency" logistics flights that weren't guaranteed to happen. There were more pilots than PLT slots. So he offered MS2 slots to PLTs and Garan accepted.

Which other PLT's were asked, any idea?  (Besides Bresnik)

I believe it was an open call for volunteers.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: orbiter62995 on 08/08/2009 02:38 am
OK, that's enough teasing for now.

One more clue: There is only one crewmember on 134 that *nobody* here guessed recently (either explicitly for 134, or for 133 or "other possibilities").

Clay Anderson?  Mike Barratt?  Tim Kopra?

____________________________________________________________
My guesses:

STS-134 Crew:
CDR: Greg H. "Box" Johnson
PLT: Eric Boe
MS1: Anna Fisher
MS2/FE: Gregory Chamitoff
MS3: Drew Feustel
MS4: Shane Kimbrough

STS-133 Crew:
CDR: Mark Kelly or Steve Frick -or- Dom Gorie (probs. unlikely tho)
PLT: Greg C. Johnson
MS2/FE: Peggy Whitson
MS3: Mike Good
MS4: Roberto Vittori
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: orbiter62995 on 08/08/2009 02:40 am

Jorge's hinting that he knows, forgot to tag his quote to the post, sorry

Now how could he possibly know…He sounds like he does

BUT how could he?

He work for NASA?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jim on 08/08/2009 02:44 am

He work for NASA?

yes, like many of us
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: DwightM on 08/08/2009 06:39 am
OK, that's enough teasing for now.

One more clue: There is only one crewmember on 134 that *nobody* here guessed recently (either explicitly for 134, or for 133 or "other possibilities").
Oh geez, I'll bite.  My guess for 134:
Ferguson (or M.Kelly)
G.H.Johnson
Massimino
Vittori
Good (will Feustel go to ISS Exp because of his NEMO time?)
Chamitoff

for what it's worth.  I'm just glad AMS is a go.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 08/08/2009 03:16 pm
We don't know yet, but this is a possibility.  Doubtfully will we see Mike Gernhardt because he has 4 flights logged as is. 

Two astronauts did manage to slip past the "five flight" rule in recent history: Scott Parazynski and John Grunsfeld. With everyone assigned now, that rule could be out the window.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aquarius on 08/08/2009 04:10 pm
Can somebody explain to me why so many people in this thread think Anna Fisher´s going to fly?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: orbiter62995 on 08/08/2009 06:18 pm
Can somebody explain to me why so many people in this thread think Anna Fisher´s going to fly?

I think she is.  It may seem unlikely because of her age, but listen.  She is an active astronaut, and she could still yet be assigned to a mission.  It says in her NASA Bio "awaiting an assignment as either a Space Shuttle crewmember on a Space Station assembly mission or as a crewmember aboard the International Space Station" and that page was updated in 2008.  That's relatively recent ––– Moschenko's hasn't been touched since '01.

That bio can be found at: http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/fisher-a.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: orbiter62995 on 08/08/2009 06:20 pm
We don't know yet, but this is a possibility.  Doubtfully will we see Mike Gernhardt because he has 4 flights logged as is. 

Two astronauts did manage to slip past the "five flight" rule in recent history: Scott Parazynski and John Grunsfeld. With everyone assigned now, that rule could be out the window.

Then that seat could be given to Andy Thomas, as well, no?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Green013 on 08/08/2009 09:06 pm
We don't know yet, but this is a possibility.  Doubtfully will we see Mike Gernhardt because he has 4 flights logged as is. 

Two astronauts did manage to slip past the "five flight" rule in recent history: Scott Parazynski and John Grunsfeld. With everyone assigned now, that rule could be out the window.

Then that seat could be given to Andy Thomas, as well, no?

One of those flights is in line with Expedition 25, where you would have Scott Kelly and Shannon Walker meeting up with Mark Kelly and Andy Thomas on a potential shuttle crew.  Good way to increase public attraction to the flight if you have two twin brothers and married couple meeting at the ISS.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Webhamster on 08/09/2009 01:56 am
One of those flights is in line with Expedition 25, where you would have Scott Kelly and Shannon Walker meeting up with Mark Kelly and Andy Thomas on a potential shuttle crew.  Good way to increase public attraction to the flight if you have two twin brothers and married couple meeting at the ISS.

Maybe the twin brother thing could happen, but the married couple thing?  Never.  It's against policy and for good reason.  NASA would forever be dealing with questions and "theories" about the "200 Mile High Club".  They still have to deny that silly urban legend about STS-75 that was started 8 years *before* the flight even flew with an all-male crew.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Green013 on 08/09/2009 03:00 am
One of those flights is in line with Expedition 25, where you would have Scott Kelly and Shannon Walker meeting up with Mark Kelly and Andy Thomas on a potential shuttle crew.  Good way to increase public attraction to the flight if you have two twin brothers and married couple meeting at the ISS.

Maybe the twin brother thing could happen, but the married couple thing?  Never.  It's against policy and for good reason.  NASA would forever be dealing with questions and "theories" about the "200 Mile High Club".  They still have to deny that silly urban legend about STS-75 that was started 8 years *before* the flight even flew with an all-male crew.

Married couple has flown before, however they weren't together at the time the crew was selected.  STS-47, Jan Davis and Mark Lee: sidenote, airlock and Spacelab flight, plenty of spaces with potential for "privacy", haha
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jorge on 08/09/2009 03:11 am
One of those flights is in line with Expedition 25, where you would have Scott Kelly and Shannon Walker meeting up with Mark Kelly and Andy Thomas on a potential shuttle crew.  Good way to increase public attraction to the flight if you have two twin brothers and married couple meeting at the ISS.

Maybe the twin brother thing could happen, but the married couple thing?  Never.  It's against policy and for good reason.  NASA would forever be dealing with questions and "theories" about the "200 Mile High Club".  They still have to deny that silly urban legend about STS-75 that was started 8 years *before* the flight even flew with an all-male crew.

Married couple has flown before, however they weren't together at the time the crew was selected.  STS-47, Jan Davis and Mark Lee: sidenote, airlock and Spacelab flight, plenty of spaces with potential for "privacy", haha

Nope, dual shift crew so there were always people working around those spaces. And the couple was on opposite shifts.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 08/09/2009 04:19 am
What was the "silly urban legend about STS-75"?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Green013 on 08/09/2009 04:41 am
What was the "silly urban legend about STS-75"?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Document_12-571-3570
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 08/09/2009 02:59 pm
One of those flights is in line with Expedition 25, where you would have Scott Kelly and Shannon Walker meeting up with Mark Kelly and Andy Thomas on a potential shuttle crew.  Good way to increase public attraction to the flight if you have two twin brothers and married couple meeting at the ISS.

Maybe the twin brother thing could happen, but the married couple thing?  Never.  It's against policy and for good reason.  NASA would forever be dealing with questions and "theories" about the "200 Mile High Club".  They still have to deny that silly urban legend about STS-75 that was started 8 years *before* the flight even flew with an all-male crew.

Married couple has flown before, however they weren't together at the time the crew was selected.  STS-47, Jan Davis and Mark Lee: sidenote, airlock and Spacelab flight, plenty of spaces with potential for "privacy", haha

Nope, dual shift crew so there were always people working around those spaces. And the couple was on opposite shifts.

Wasn't that also a unique case: namely, Mark Lee and Jan Davis got hitched during training? They weren't assigned to the flight as a married couple.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: cd-slam on 08/09/2009 04:16 pm
What was the "silly urban legend about STS-75"?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Document_12-571-3570
Thanks, I was wondering what STS-75 might have to do with married couples in space, given that it was an all-male mission. Some people have way too much free time...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jim on 08/09/2009 04:36 pm
What was the "silly urban legend about STS-75"?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Document_12-571-3570

never heard of it
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jorge on 08/09/2009 04:48 pm
One of those flights is in line with Expedition 25, where you would have Scott Kelly and Shannon Walker meeting up with Mark Kelly and Andy Thomas on a potential shuttle crew.  Good way to increase public attraction to the flight if you have two twin brothers and married couple meeting at the ISS.

Maybe the twin brother thing could happen, but the married couple thing?  Never.  It's against policy and for good reason.  NASA would forever be dealing with questions and "theories" about the "200 Mile High Club".  They still have to deny that silly urban legend about STS-75 that was started 8 years *before* the flight even flew with an all-male crew.

Married couple has flown before, however they weren't together at the time the crew was selected.  STS-47, Jan Davis and Mark Lee: sidenote, airlock and Spacelab flight, plenty of spaces with potential for "privacy", haha

Nope, dual shift crew so there were always people working around those spaces. And the couple was on opposite shifts.

Wasn't that also a unique case: namely, Mark Lee and Jan Davis got hitched during training? They weren't assigned to the flight as a married couple.

Yup, I think green013 mentioned that above.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 08/09/2009 05:18 pm
Any more word on the STS-133 crew?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jorge on 08/09/2009 05:23 pm
Any more word on the STS-133 crew?

No.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: orbiter62995 on 08/09/2009 05:39 pm
We don't know yet, but this is a possibility.  Doubtfully will we see Mike Gernhardt because he has 4 flights logged as is. 

Two astronauts did manage to slip past the "five flight" rule in recent history: Scott Parazynski and John Grunsfeld. With everyone assigned now, that rule could be out the window.

Then that seat could be given to Andy Thomas, as well, no?

One of those flights is in line with Expedition 25, where you would have Scott Kelly and Shannon Walker meeting up with Mark Kelly and Andy Thomas on a potential shuttle crew.  Good way to increase public attraction to the flight if you have two twin brothers and married couple meeting at the ISS.

Ah, yes, so enough.  I wasn't thinking about that lol but that's a good point.  I understand.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: FNG on 08/09/2009 06:15 pm
OK, that's enough teasing for now.

One more clue: There is only one crewmember on 134 that *nobody* here guessed recently (either explicitly for 134, or for 133 or "other possibilities").

Mike Fincke has never got a shuttle flight, so I would include him alongside Greg Johnson as CDR and Dan Tani as another MS.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 08/09/2009 07:21 pm

Yup, I think green013 mentioned that above.

D'oh! That's what happens when you over-quote.  :P
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Green013 on 08/09/2009 08:26 pm
Any more word on the STS-133 crew?

No.

Any word on when the STS-134 crew is officially coming out, ending the guessing game
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 08/10/2009 07:12 am
Out of curiosity, how long does it take ISS astronauts to 'wind down' and be physically reconditioned after an expedition before they are eligible for reassignment?

I remember Mike Foale was assigned to STS-103 in August 1998, only 10 months after coming home from Mir and Clay Anderson and Garrett Reisman were named to Shuttle crews a year or so after ending their ISS increments - but is there a 'rule' that they must recondition their bodies for a certain length of time? I remember something about them requiring six months, but am not sure.

Thanks
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Spiff on 08/10/2009 10:17 am
There is only one crewmember on 134 that *nobody* here guessed recently (either explicitly for 134, or for 133 or "other possibilities").

Sunita Williams?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: orbiter62995 on 08/10/2009 01:05 pm
There is only one crewmember on 134 that *nobody* here guessed recently (either explicitly for 134, or for 133 or "other possibilities").

Sunita Williams?

Very smart, I thought of her but I think she's probs. the Deputy Director for good at this point…or at least for another several years…

I have a question ––- what ever happened to Vegas (Jim) Kelly?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ender0319 on 08/10/2009 02:08 pm
Here's my guess for the 134 crew…
Mark Kelly
Box Johnson
Drew Feustel
Mike Fincke
Greg Chamitoff
Roberto Vittori
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jorge on 08/10/2009 02:12 pm
Here's my guess for the 134 crew…
Mark Kelly
Box Johnson
Drew Feustel
Mike Fincke
Greg Chamitoff
Roberto Vittori


Aw, you cheated... :)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Orbiter on 08/10/2009 03:29 pm
I think for STS-134 Eric Boe will get Command of.
For STS-133 I think Doug Hurley or Ray J Johnson will get that one.
Why? It seems that the PLT's from almost every mission starting with 115 got assigned with a CDR mission starting with STS-124.
Mark Kelly was PLT on 121, CDR on 124.
Christopher Ferguson was PLT on 115, CDR on 126
Mark Polansky was CDR on 116, CDR on 127 But I think Bill Oefelein would have commanded 127 if wasn't involved in that love triangle thing.
Lee Archambault was PLT on 117, CDR on 119.
Charles Hobaugh was PLT on 118, going to be CDR on 129.
George Zamka was PLT on 120, going to be CDR on 130.
Alan Poindexter was PLT on 122, going to be CDR on 131
Skipped over 123 it seems,
Ken Ham was PLT on 124, going to be CDR on 132.
So that means it wouldn't be surprising to see Eric Boe CDR of 134,
that means either Ray J Johnson or Doug Hurley will get the last flight. 'Course this is all just speculation but I found the slight pattern interesting.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 08/10/2009 03:41 pm
Jorge,
So Ham has not only skipped over Johnson for a second flight, but Ham also gets a command and Johnson stays a PLT? Was this Johnson's choice - can't imagine a PLT would want to NOT upgrade to CDR.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Green013 on 08/10/2009 04:23 pm
Here's my guess for the 134 crew…
Mark Kelly
Box Johnson
Drew Feustel
Mike Fincke
Greg Chamitoff
Roberto Vittori


Aw, you cheated... :)

Wait....these are real?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: DwightM on 08/10/2009 05:32 pm
Here's my guess for the 134 crew…
Mark Kelly
Box Johnson
Drew Feustel
Mike Fincke
Greg Chamitoff
Roberto Vittori


Aw, you cheated... :)

Wait....these are real?
If Ender and/or Jorge say it is, then it is.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ender0319 on 08/10/2009 05:37 pm
Ooops.

I like being correct.

Here's my guess for the 134 crew…
Mark Kelly
Box Johnson
Drew Feustel
Mike Fincke
Greg Chamitoff
Roberto Vittori


Aw, you cheated... :)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ShuttleAtlantis on 08/10/2009 05:41 pm
I can't believe that Mike Fincke is getting another flight this fast, I was really hoping Anna Fisher or Peggy Whitson would get assigned to this flight.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aquarius on 08/10/2009 06:10 pm
Ender0319, how about guessing the 133 crew?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 08/10/2009 06:21 pm
Jorge,
So Ham has not only skipped over Johnson for a second flight, but Ham also gets a command and Johnson stays a PLT? Was this Johnson's choice - can't imagine a PLT would want to NOT upgrade to CDR.

If so, I suspect its due to his role as STS 400's PLT. He may have been tied up in that role, while Ken Ham was able to go through his CDR upgrade training. I just figured that would result in him just getting skipped ahead of by Ham on the flight line, not still flying as PLT.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jorge on 08/10/2009 06:32 pm
Jorge,
So Ham has not only skipped over Johnson for a second flight, but Ham also gets a command and Johnson stays a PLT? Was this Johnson's choice - can't imagine a PLT would want to NOT upgrade to CDR.

As Jim would put it, "stop trying to make sense out of it." :)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Orbiter on 08/10/2009 09:12 pm
Ooops.

I like being correct.

Here's my guess for the 134 crew…
Mark Kelly
Box Johnson
Drew Feustel
Mike Fincke
Greg Chamitoff
Roberto Vittori


Aw, you cheated... :)

So wait, that's the crew for STS-134? Figures a Kelly gets another flight  ;)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 08/10/2009 09:20 pm
I think for STS-134 Eric Boe will get Command of.
For STS-133 I think Doug Hurley or Ray J Johnson will get that one.
Why? It seems that the PLT's from almost every mission starting with 115 got assigned with a CDR mission starting with STS-124.
Mark Kelly was PLT on 121, CDR on 124.
Christopher Ferguson was PLT on 115, CDR on 126
Mark Polansky was CDR on 116, CDR on 127 But I think Bill Oefelein would have commanded 127 if wasn't involved in that love triangle thing.
Lee Archambault was PLT on 117, CDR on 119.
Charles Hobaugh was PLT on 118, going to be CDR on 129.
George Zamka was PLT on 120, going to be CDR on 130.
Alan Poindexter was PLT on 122, going to be CDR on 131
Skipped over 123 it seems,
Ken Ham was PLT on 124, going to be CDR on 132.
So that means it wouldn't be surprising to see Eric Boe CDR of 134,
that means either Ray J Johnson or Doug Hurley will get the last flight. 'Course this is all just speculation but I found the slight pattern interesting.


While we're all speculating, keep in mind that both Boe and Hurley are Group 18 astronauts as is Antonelli, who flew as PLT on 119 and chosen as PLT again for 132.
Both Johnsons are from Group 17 where it seems that only 1 flight as PLT was needed before flying as CDR (ie: Archambault, Ferguson, Ham, Poindexter, Zamka).
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: arkaska on 08/10/2009 09:42 pm
What's the chance for Christer Fuglesang to stay for 6 months on ISS?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Green013 on 08/10/2009 10:09 pm
What's the chance for Christer Fuglesang to stay for 6 months on ISS?

He's just about to fly his second shuttle mission, so my guess that STS-128 will be his last flight, since you also have to account for the new group of astronauts joining ESA who are all training for Expedition flights down the line.  If by some chance he does get an ISS tour, it won't be for awhile down the line
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Rocket Guy on 08/10/2009 10:13 pm
NASA has confirmed the STS-134 crew in today's release for tomorrow's video file.

NASA ASSIGNS CREW FOR STS-134 SHUTTLE MISSION – JSC (NEW)   

NASA has assigned the crew for space shuttle mission STS-134 to the International Space Station. The flight will deliver the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS), an experiment that will use the unique environment of space to advance our knowledge of the universe.

Navy Capt. Mark Kelly will serve as the commander of the STS-134 mission, targeted for launch in 2010. Air Force Col. Gregory H. Johnson will serve as the pilot. Mission specialists are Air Force Col. Michael Fincke, Gregory Chamitoff and Andrew Feustel. European Space Agency astronaut and Italian Air Force Col. Roberto Vittori will serve as a mission specialist.

The flight will include three spacewalks and the installation of the AMS to the exterior of the space station using both the shuttle and station arms. Once attached to the right side of the station’s truss, or backbone, AMS, a state-of-the-art cosmic ray particle physics detector, will search for evidence of exotic forms of matter elsewhere in our galaxy and beyond.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: astronut7 on 08/10/2009 10:35 pm
I was informed that Anna Fisher will not probably get another flight on the shuttle.  I could be wrong.  The STS-133 commander will be a shuttle veteran commander, but not sure who?  Jim Kelly is waiting for the Orion flights from what I heard from other members.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 08/10/2009 10:36 pm
All veteran crew for STS 134...albeit 2 shuttle rookies.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 08/10/2009 10:38 pm
QUOTE..."The STS-133 commander will be a shuttle veteran commander, but not sure who"?

My guess...Chris Ferguson.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: orbiter62995 on 08/10/2009 10:41 pm
Here's my guess for the 134 crew…
Mark Kelly
Box Johnson
Drew Feustel
Mike Fincke
Greg Chamitoff
Roberto Vittori

did you know all along?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: astronut7 on 08/10/2009 11:18 pm
I was also informed that the spacewalkers from the Hubble mission have a good chance on getting on the last two shuttle flights.  I think Mike Good will be on STS-133 and I think Chris Ferguson and Greg"RayJ" Johnson might be the pilot.  I could be wrong, but??
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: orbiter62995 on 08/10/2009 11:26 pm
I was also informed that the spacewalkers from the Hubble mission have a good chance on getting on the last two shuttle flights.  I think Mike Good will be on STS-133 and I think Chris Ferguson and Greg"RayJ" Johnson might be the pilot.  I could be wrong, but??
It probably will be Mike Good.  Mike Massimino could fit this description, but that would be his 3rd flight and Good could have the 2nd flight in this event of his career.  We may see both, but I doubt it.  Obviously, as far as I'm concerned, Grunsfeld is out in terms of the mission specialist perspective.

Also, Mike Fincke got a shuttle flight and Peggy Whitson hasn't had one yet.  She is a very possible candidate for this mission.

Ferguson is a very realistic option and I would imagine that this is a probable choice, because he flew last in 2008.  Theoretically, however, couldn't it be Lee Archaumbault?  For that matter, I would also consider Steve Frick as a sincere option.

Here's my predictions:

STS-133 Crew
CDR: Chris Ferguson (3rd flight; 2nd as CDR)
PLT: Greg "RayJ" C. Johnson (2nd flight)
MSP 1: Mike Good (2nd flight)
MSP 2/FE: Peggy Whitson (3rd flight; 1st on shuttle)
MSP 3: Lee Morin (2nd flight)

Again, other candidates would be Rex Walheim [3rd flight], Megan McArthur [2nd flight] as MSPs; Lee Archaumbault [3rd flight, 2nd as CDR] or Steve Frick [3rd flight; 2nd as CDR]
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: astronut7 on 08/10/2009 11:45 pm
I was hoping that Greg'Ray J" Johnson would get the last command of the shuttle program but I was told that it is basically too late for him to get the command.  I think he might get the last pilot slot for STS-133.  STS-133 will be the last flight of the shuttle program and I think it will be an all Navy pilot crew(commander and pilot) just like STS-1 was an all Navy pilot crew. I think Mike Good has a good chance as well as some others for the mission specalist slots.  It will be a crew of five.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: astronut7 on 08/11/2009 12:00 am
I was also informed that the STS-134 and STS-133 crews should be annonced realively soon and close to each other and I heard that Lee Morin was working on the Orion project.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ezra1313 on 08/11/2009 12:11 am
This is what I know...

Mike Good is replacing Karen Nyberg as MS-2 on STS-132 due to personal reasons which I will not mention as I don't know if they are public knowledge yet.

STS-134 crew looks like this from what I saw in an email today...

CDR -Mark Kelly

PLT -Greg Johnson

MS-1 Mike Fincke

MS-2 Greg Chamitoff

MS-3 Roberto Vittori

MS-4 Drew Feustel
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: MBK004 on 08/11/2009 12:31 am

MSP 2/FE: Peggy Whitson (3rd flight; 1st on shuttle)
Peggy's first flight to the ISS was up and down on Shuttle.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Green013 on 08/11/2009 12:33 am
This is what I know...

Mike Good is replacing Karen Nyberg as MS-2 on STS-132 due to personal reasons which I will not mention as I don't know if they are public knowledge yet.

STS-134 crew looks like this from what I saw in an email today...

CDR -Mark Kelly

PLT -Greg Johnson

MS-1 Mike Fincke

MS-2 Greg Chamitoff

MS-3 Roberto Vittori

MS-4 Drew Feustel

Is Karen Nyberg married to Doug Hurley, heard that somewhere, not sure if it's true or not
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: collectSPACE on 08/11/2009 02:16 am
Is Karen Nyberg married to Doug Hurley, heard that somewhere, not sure if it's true or not

At the STS-127 homecoming celebration at Ellington Field, Doug Hurley began his remarks by thanking his wife, Karen, adding "I think we're even now". So, yes...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 08/11/2009 07:21 am
Surely, if ISS expedition training requires at least 2 years, Gerst won't be available for the German slot. If Nespoli flies in 2010 and Kuipers in 2011, then the German will go in ?2012? That must mean Schlegel, as Gerst might not be ready by then?

I am sorry, but I do not quite get Your point. The release states that there will be a flight of a German astronaut in the 2013/14 timeframe. That matches with the time frame in which the new group is supposed to start flying. So why should Gerst be ruled out? We are not talking about 2012 here.

The Germans were pushing very hard to get the "Kuipers" slot in 2011... I think they wanted Schlegel to fly first becouse of his age...

I would love to see Schlegel fly again, but I believe that the ESA release and the statement from the Italian lady imply differently.

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 08/11/2009 08:16 am
Any idea about the crew of STS-335 ? Will they assign a specific crew, or will they take a subset of a previous crew, such as STS-132 or STS-134 ?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: orbiter62995 on 08/11/2009 02:01 pm
Okay, several things.

  Mike Good is replacing Karen Nyberg as MS-2 on STS-132 due to personal reasons which I will not mention as I don't know if they are public knowledge yet.
Is Karen Nyberg married to Doug Hurley, heard that somewhere, not sure if it's true or not

Now, if Karen can't fly and Doug is married to her, then does that mean we may not see him fly (not like that wasn't an alternative anyhow, but if there was an extension to the program I'd anticipate him to be the first pilot)

____________________________________________________________
I was hoping that Greg'Ray J" Johnson would get the last command of the shuttle program but I was told that it is basically too late for him to get the command.  I think he might get the last pilot slot for STS-133.  STS-133 will be the last flight of the shuttle program and I think it will be an all Navy pilot crew(commander and pilot) just like STS-1 was an all Navy pilot crew. I think Mike Good has a good chance as well as some others for the mission specalist slots.  It will be a crew of five.

He probably would have been assigned to this mission, but then Nyberg left STS-132 so that changes everything.

That said, here's my new predictions (of course, I keep changing them):
STS-133 Crew
CDR: Chris Ferguson (3rd flight; 2nd as CDR)
PLT: Greg "RayJ" C. Johnson (2nd flight)
MS1: Meg McArthur (2nd flight)
MS2: Peggy Whitson (3rd flight; 1st on shuttle)
MS3: Rex Walheim (3rd flight)

Other alternatives are Mike Massimino and Nick Patrick for MSPs, Doug Hurley (if Karen's absence isn't related to his in any way) or Eric Boe as PLT, and Brew Archaumbalt and Steve Frick for CDRs.

____________________________________________________________
Any idea about the crew of STS-335 ? Will they assign a specific crew, or will they take a subset of a previous crew, such as STS-132 or STS-134 ?

The answer to your question is that it will probably be Mark Kelly [CDR], Box Johnson [PLT], Drew Feustel [MS1], and Mike Fincke [MS2].

____________________________________________________________
Speaking of Nick Patrick, why hasn't he gotten a second flight?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 08/11/2009 02:04 pm
MS2: Peggy Whitson (3rd flight; 1st on shuttle)
MS3: Rex Walheim (3rd flight; 1st on shuttle)

Huh? Whitson flew on the shuttle and Walheim flew on the shuttle. What makes You think they have not yet?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: orbiter62995 on 08/11/2009 02:06 pm
MS2: Peggy Whitson (3rd flight; 1st on shuttle)
MS3: Rex Walheim (3rd flight; 1st on shuttle)

Huh? Whitson flew on the shuttle and Walheim flew on the shuttle. What makes You think they have not yet?

She flew on it to get to the station, and I didn't mean to put that about Walheim.  He has only flown shuttles, my bad.  Whitson hasn't formally been part of a shuttle crew that has launched and landed together; only used it as a space ferry.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aurora899 on 08/11/2009 02:12 pm
____________________________________________________________
Speaking of Nick Patrick, why hasn't he gotten a second flight?

Nick Patrick is assigned to STS-130.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: orbiter62995 on 08/11/2009 02:19 pm
____________________________________________________________
Speaking of Nick Patrick, why hasn't he gotten a second flight?

Nick Patrick is assigned to STS-130.

Oh, forgot, so many people to think about, sorry.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ender0319 on 08/11/2009 02:23 pm
Knowing and being well informed are not the same in my book.  I didn't know for a long period of time.  I suspect Jorge knew before I did.

Here's my guess for the 134 crew…
Mark Kelly
Box Johnson
Drew Feustel
Mike Fincke
Greg Chamitoff
Roberto Vittori

did you know all along?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: orbiter62995 on 08/11/2009 02:46 pm
Knowing and being well informed are not the same in my book.  I didn't know for a long period of time.  I suspect Jorge knew before I did.

Here's my guess for the 134 crew…
Mark Kelly
Box Johnson
Drew Feustel
Mike Fincke
Greg Chamitoff
Roberto Vittori

did you know all along?

True.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 08/11/2009 04:21 pm
RELEASE: 09-187

NASA ASSIGNS CREW FOR STS-134 SHUTTLE MISSION, CHANGE TO STS-132

WASHINGTON -- NASA has assigned the crew for space shuttle mission
STS-134 to the International Space Station. The flight will deliver
the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer, or AMS, to the station. The AMS is a
state-of-the-art cosmic ray particle physics detector designed to
examine fundamental issues about matter and the origin and structure
of the universe.

Navy Capt. Mark Kelly will command the STS-134 mission. Retired Air
Force Col. Gregory H. Johnson will serve as the pilot. Mission
Specialists are Air Force Col. Michael Fincke, Greg Chamitoff and
Andrew Feustel. European Space Agency astronaut and Italian Air Force
Col. Roberto Vittori also will serve as a mission specialist.

The flight will include three spacewalks and the installation of the
AMS to the exterior of the space station using both the shuttle and
station arms. The AMS will be attached to the right side of the
station's truss, or backbone.

NASA also has named Air Force Col. Michael Good to replace Karen
Nyberg on shuttle Atlantis' STS-132 mission, targeted to launch in
May 2010. Nyberg is being replaced due to a temporary medical
condition. Nyberg will be assigned to a technical role while she
awaits a future assignment.

Kelly previously served as the pilot of STS-108 in 2001 and STS-121 in
2006, and commander for STS-124 in 2008. He was born in Orange, N.J.,
and considers West Orange, N.J., to be his hometown. Kelly has a
bachelor's degree from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, King's
Point, N.Y., and a master's degree from the Naval Postgraduate School
in Monterey, Calif.

Johnson previously flew as a pilot on STS-123 in 2008. He was born in
South Ruislip, Middlesex, United Kingdom, but graduated from Park
Hills High School in Fairborn, Ohio. Johnson has a bachelor's from
the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., and master's
degrees from Columbia University and the University of Texas, Austin.


Fincke is a veteran of two long-duration missions aboard the space
station. He served as the NASA science officer and flight engineer on
Expedition 9, and commander for Expedition 18. He was born in
Pittsburgh and considers Emsworth, Pa., his hometown. He has an
Associate Science degree from El Camino College in Torrance, Calif.,
two bachelor's degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology, and master's degrees from Stanford University and the
University of Houston - Clear Lake.

Chamitoff, also a veteran of a long-duration spaceflight, served as
NASA science officer and a flight engineer on Expeditions 17 and 18.
He was born in Montreal and grew up in San Jose, Calif. He holds a
bachelor's degree from California Polytechnic State University, a
master's degree from the California Institute of Technology, a second
master's degree from UHCL and a doctorate from MIT.

STS-134 is the second mission for Feustel, who flew as a mission
specialist on STS-125 in May. He has an Associate Science degree from
Oakland Community College, Mich., a bachelor's and a master's degree
from Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind., and a doctorate from
Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Feustel considers Lake
Orion, Mich., his hometown.

Vittori is a veteran of two prior spaceflights to the space station
aboard the Russian Soyuz spacecraft. He was born in Viterbo, Italy.
He received his bachelor's degree from the Italian Air Force Academy
and earned master's degrees from the University of Naples and
University of Perugia.

This will be the second mission for Good, who flew on STS-125. He was
born in Parma, Ohio, and considers Broadview Heights, Ohio to be his
hometown. He holds bachelor's and master's degrees from the
University of Notre Dame.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 08/11/2009 04:21 pm
Press Release No.18-2009
Paris, 11 August 2009

ESA astronaut Roberto Vittori to fly to ISS in 2010

ESA astronaut Roberto Vittori from Italy has been assigned as a Mission Specialist to Space Shuttle mission STS-134, which is currently scheduled for launch to the International Space Station (ISS) in July or September 2010. This mission will deliver the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) to the Station. Vittori's flight opportunity stems from a bilateral agreement between the Italian space agency (ASI) and NASA involving the utilisation of the Italian-built Multi Purpose Logistics Modules.

It will be Roberto Vittori's third flight into space and to the International Space Station, but his first on the Space Shuttle. In April 2002, Vittori spent 10 days on the ISS performing a concise experimental programme. Three years later, he returned to the Station for another 10 days this time to conduct an extensive programme consisting of 22 experiments. On both missions Roberto Vittori flew as a Flight Engineer on the Russian Soyuz spacecraft.

"This assignment underlines once again the strong and long-lasting cooperation between the European Space Agency and the Italian space agency," said ESA Director General Jean-Jacques Dordain. "The choice of Roberto Vittori for this mission fits well with ESA's plans for the utilisation of its astronaut corps, with an experienced astronaut capable of performing missions that suit the needs of both ESA and ASI, as well as those of the Italian Air Force."

"Roberto Vittori's mission," said Enrico Saggese, ASI President, "represents a further achievement resulting from the bilateral cooperation between ASI and NASA, in the framework of the agreement on the utilisation of the Italian modules Leonardo, Raffaello and Donatello, with the important support of the European Space Agency, and confirms Italy's key role in what is such an ambitious international undertaking: the ISS programme."

"After the two Soyuz flights in 2002 and 2005 I am now looking forward to flying in 2010 on the Space Shuttle," said Roberto Vittori, adding, "The ISS has changed considerably in the last few years. Most importantly, Europe's Columbus space laboratory has been attached, allowing 
European scientists to conduct more and more experiments in conditions of weightlessness." Vittori will be the first ESA astronaut from Italy to have flown on both the Shuttle and Soyuz.

"I am very satisfied with Roberto Vittori's assignment to STS-134 along with the AMS experiment," said ESA's Director of Human Spaceflight Simonetta Di Pippo. "This is an important mission for science, for human spaceflight and for Europe and Italy in particular. As we demonstrate how critical the ISS can be in supporting great scientific quests, we are also marking two important achievements rooted in international cooperation: AMS, which is supported by 16 countries worldwide, and Vittori's assignment, which is made possible by the cooperation between ASI, which owns the flight opportunity, ESA and NASA."

"This is the second flight of a European astronaut scheduled for 2010," Di Pippo added. "We have flown astronauts regularly in the last few years, even flying two missions a year since 2008. We are working very hard to secure and carry out those missions for the benefit of Europe and ESA's Member States, and are committed to obtaining additional flight opportunities so as to exploit all our potential in terms of research, training and to gain even more experience. This assignment is further recognition of the level we and the European Astronaut Corps have attained and demonstrates the maturity human spaceflight has acquired in Europe. It is a very solid basis on which to prepare future cooperative undertakings in human spaceflight and exploration."

The STS-134 mission will be commanded by NASA astronaut Mark Kelly. NASA astronaut Gregory H. Johnson will serve as the pilot. Mission Specialists are NASA astronauts Michael Fincke, Greg Chamitoff and Andrew Feustel. ESA astronaut Roberto Vittori will also serve as a Mission Specialist.

The flight will include three spacewalks and the installation of AMS to the exterior of the Space Station. Once attached to the right side of the Station's truss, AMS will collect information from cosmic sources to search for evidence of anti-matter and further advance our knowledge of the Universe. Before its flight, AMS will arrive at ESA's research and technology centre, ESTEC, in the Netherlands in November 2009 to undergo an extensive three-month test campaign.

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SpaceInformer on 08/11/2009 05:40 pm
What´s up with an assignment of Frank Caldeiro? Selected in 1996.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: orbiter62995 on 08/11/2009 06:40 pm
What´s up with an assignment of Frank Caldeiro? Selected in 1996.

Same with Yvonne Cagle, I have no idea why they didn't fly but they aren't going to be.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jhf on 08/11/2009 06:43 pm
What´s up with an assignment of Frank Caldeiro? Selected in 1996.

If you look back through the thread, you'll find it asserted that Caldeiro and Yvonne Cagle's fate have been repeatedly discussed on the forums, but a search for Caldiero or Cagle doesn't turn it up.  Perhaps it's on the L2 forums; I don't have access.

I can only speculate:

1. Cagle and Caldiero are always lumped together.
2. The general opinion seems to be that neither will ever fly.
3. No one wants to talk about it.
4. A book of dubious origin links Cagle to a minor scandal: http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=7771.msg134206 (http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=7771.msg134206)

So it seems that both are in the doghouse, and beyond a Dave-Wolf-style redemption.  I've seen no suggestion that their fates are connected in any way.

...come to think on it, perhaps the reason I cannot find the relevant posts is that they were deleted, out of concern for privacy.  That doesn't seem to make much sense, since it only leads to speculation, but again, I don't know the details.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: orbiter62995 on 08/11/2009 07:07 pm
What´s up with an assignment of Frank Caldeiro? Selected in 1996.

If you look back through the thread, you'll find it asserted that Caldeiro and Yvonne Cagle's fate have been repeatedly discussed on the forums, but a search for Caldiero or Cagle doesn't turn it up.  Perhaps it's on the L2 forums; I don't have access.

I can only speculate:

1. Cagle and Caldiero are always lumped together.
2. The general opinion seems to be that neither will ever fly.
3. No one wants to talk about it.
4. A book of dubious origin links Cagle to a minor scandal: http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=7771.msg134206 (http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=7771.msg134206)

So it seems that both are in the doghouse, and beyond a Dave-Wolf-style redemption.  I've seen no suggestion that their fates are connected in any way.

...come to think on it, perhaps the reason I cannot find the relevant posts is that they were deleted, out of concern for privacy.  That doesn't seem to make much sense, since it only leads to speculation, but again, I don't know the details.

Hmmm.

By "clumped together" do you mean "often associated" (not correcting your word choice just I wanted to see what you meant).

By Dave-Wolf-Style, how do you mean?

Lastly, you have no details on Frank C.?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jhf on 08/11/2009 07:58 pm
By "clumped together" do you mean "often associated" (not correcting your word choice just I wanted to see what you meant).

Whenever one is mentioned, the other is always brought up.  I have no reason to suppose this is for any reason other than that they are both active astronauts who it seems will never fly.

By Dave-Wolf-Style, how do you mean?

Dave Wolf was implicated in a scandal, then arrested for public intoxication.  From what I've read, he was pretty blameless on both counts, just in the wrong place in the wrong time.  A cloud settled over him.

He volunteered to fly to Mir  -- not many did.  He ended up being the next astronaut to launch to Mir after the collision with the Progress.  He never hesitated, and performed well.  He's flown two missions since then.

(Please note that, unlike some on these boards, I'm not connected to NASA in any way and I'm not privy to any sort of inside information.  I kind of feel uncomfortable about having brought Wolf up; it seems unprofessional to talk about what I wasn't a part of.  Perhaps that's why no one is talking about Caldiero and Cagle.

So: it made me think.)

Lastly, you have no details on Frank C.?

No.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 08/11/2009 08:51 pm
Awful for Karen Nyberg
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: DwightM on 08/11/2009 08:51 pm
Dave Wolf's account is well documented in 'Dragonfly' by Bryan Burroughs.  As for the others - most long time forum members have learned that a) they likely won't fly and b) the reasons are (rightfully) none of our business.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 08/11/2009 08:55 pm
I was wondering where I read it, I was thinking of either 'Dragonfly' or the Linenger book . Thanks.

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Green013 on 08/11/2009 09:47 pm
Awful for Karen Nyberg

everyone is guessing that her temporary condition is bad, but for all we know she could be pregnant, she's entitled to her privacy
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: orbiter62995 on 08/11/2009 10:04 pm
Now I know I've mentioned this before, but no response.

Is there a possibility in Steve Frick taking the last shuttle mission?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 08/11/2009 10:22 pm
Has Fincke trained 'recently' on Shuttle systems? Is it fair to assume that, since both his previous flights were exclusively Soyuz/ISS, he has not done Shuttle-specific Mission Specialist training for some time?

And if this is the case, how long does it take for an astronaut to get back 'up to speed', in terms of systems knowledge/training, if they are changing from ISS/Soyuz crewmember to Shuttle crewmember (ie Fincke) or Shuttle crewmember back to ISS/Soyuz crewmember (ie Pettit)? Can we assume (from Fincke's example) that it doesn't take too long...?

Also, linking back to comments about Jim Kelly and his involvement with Orion. Since Vegas last flew, Mark Kelly has/will have gone through no fewer than THREE one-year Shuttle training cycles (two of them as CDR). Others have gone through two-year-plus ISS training cycles, then reverted back to Shuttle for one-year training cycles (Reisman, Anderson, Chamitoff etc). With this in mind, it seems difficult to accept that Jim Kelly 'needs' to train/prepare/support Orion from 2005-2014 and 'needs' to be completely out of the Shuttle loop to do so. He could have commanded a Shuttle flight long ago and still had more than enough time to train for an Orion command.

Linked to this question: it may be too early to say, but how long does NASA anticipate Orion mission training cycles to last? One year (like STS)? Two to four years (like ISS)? More?










 
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Orbiter on 08/11/2009 10:23 pm
I think this is possible, at least judging by what NASA said about Karen Nyberg that she might get assigned to another missions. Orion or 133.

Commander: Steven W. Lindsey.
Pilot: Eric A. Boe
Mission Specialist 1: Karen Nyberg (if her condition isn't to serious)
Mission Specialist 2: Thomas Marshburn
Mission Specialist 3: Daniel C. Burbank
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: DwightM on 08/11/2009 11:11 pm

Mission Specialist 3: Daniel C. Burbank

Dan Burbank is assigned to Expedition 29/30.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: orbiter62995 on 08/11/2009 11:50 pm
I think this is possible, at least judging by what NASA said about Karen Nyberg that she might get assigned to another missions. Orion or 133.

Commander: Steven W. Lindsey
Pilot: Eric A. Boe
Mission Specialist 1: Karen Nyberg (if her condition isn't to serious)
Mission Specialist 2: Thomas Marshburn
Mission Specialist 3: Daniel C. Burbank


How can Lindsey serve as a commander because he's not working directly as an astronaut, is he?  Also, since he makes the crews, wouldn't it be a bit weird to assign yourself?

Nyberg is likely Constellation material I would imagine but either way.  Let's give her her privacy.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 08/12/2009 12:18 am
I think this is possible, at least judging by what NASA said about Karen Nyberg that she might get assigned to another missions. Orion or 133.

Commander: Steven W. Lindsey
Pilot: Eric A. Boe
Mission Specialist 1: Karen Nyberg (if her condition isn't to serious)
Mission Specialist 2: Thomas Marshburn
Mission Specialist 3: Daniel C. Burbank


How can Lindsey serve as a commander because he's not working directly as an astronaut, is he?  Also, since he makes the crews, wouldn't it be a bit weird to assign yourself?

Lindsey could easily assign himself as commander for a mission to be launched a year from now.  Plenty of time to get ready.  He's been chief astronaut for three years, and that is close to the maximum tour.  He could be up for a job change.

"Weird to assign yourself"?  You ought to do more research in this subject.

Michael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: orbiter62995 on 08/12/2009 12:33 am
I think this is possible, at least judging by what NASA said about Karen Nyberg that she might get assigned to another missions. Orion or 133.

Commander: Steven W. Lindsey
Pilot: Eric A. Boe
Mission Specialist 1: Karen Nyberg (if her condition isn't to serious)
Mission Specialist 2: Thomas Marshburn
Mission Specialist 3: Daniel C. Burbank


How can Lindsey serve as a commander because he's not working directly as an astronaut, is he?  Also, since he makes the crews, wouldn't it be a bit weird to assign yourself?

Lindsey could easily assign himself as commander for a mission to be launched a year from now.  Plenty of time to get ready.  He's been chief astronaut for three years, and that is close to the maximum tour.  He could be up for a job change.

"Weird to assign yourself"?  You ought to do more research in this subject.

Michael Cassutt

That's not entirely what I meant.  I am saying would he actually do that?  I'm not saying that he can't but I'm just saying that with all of the speculation (in and out of NASA) wouldn't it be awkward in this situation?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jorge on 08/12/2009 12:56 am
I think this is possible, at least judging by what NASA said about Karen Nyberg that she might get assigned to another missions. Orion or 133.

Commander: Steven W. Lindsey
Pilot: Eric A. Boe
Mission Specialist 1: Karen Nyberg (if her condition isn't to serious)
Mission Specialist 2: Thomas Marshburn
Mission Specialist 3: Daniel C. Burbank


How can Lindsey serve as a commander because he's not working directly as an astronaut, is he?  Also, since he makes the crews, wouldn't it be a bit weird to assign yourself?

Lindsey could easily assign himself as commander for a mission to be launched a year from now.  Plenty of time to get ready.  He's been chief astronaut for three years, and that is close to the maximum tour.  He could be up for a job change.

"Weird to assign yourself"?  You ought to do more research in this subject.

Michael Cassutt

That's not entirely what I meant.  I am saying would he actually do that?  I'm not saying that he can't but I'm just saying that with all of the speculation (in and out of NASA) wouldn't it be awkward in this situation?

What speculation?

Why would it be more awkward for Lindsey than it was for Deke Slayton, John Young, Dan Brandenstein, Hoot Gibson, Bob Cabana, and Ken Cockrell? (And that's probably not even a complete list of chief astronauts (FCOD chief in Slayton's case) who named themselves to flights at the end of their tenure as chief.)

I think it's highly *unlikely* he'll name himself, but it's not rare for it to happen.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Green013 on 08/12/2009 01:28 am
I think this is possible, at least judging by what NASA said about Karen Nyberg that she might get assigned to another missions. Orion or 133.

Commander: Steven W. Lindsey
Pilot: Eric A. Boe
Mission Specialist 1: Karen Nyberg (if her condition isn't to serious)
Mission Specialist 2: Thomas Marshburn
Mission Specialist 3: Daniel C. Burbank


How can Lindsey serve as a commander because he's not working directly as an astronaut, is he?  Also, since he makes the crews, wouldn't it be a bit weird to assign yourself?

Lindsey could easily assign himself as commander for a mission to be launched a year from now.  Plenty of time to get ready.  He's been chief astronaut for three years, and that is close to the maximum tour.  He could be up for a job change.

"Weird to assign yourself"?  You ought to do more research in this subject.

Michael Cassutt

That's not entirely what I meant.  I am saying would he actually do that?  I'm not saying that he can't but I'm just saying that with all of the speculation (in and out of NASA) wouldn't it be awkward in this situation?

What speculation?

Why would it be more awkward for Lindsey than it was for Deke Slayton, John Young, Dan Brandenstein, Hoot Gibson, Bob Cabana, and Ken Cockrell? (And that's probably not even a complete list of chief astronauts (FCOD chief in Slayton's case) who named themselves to flights at the end of their tenure as chief.)

I think it's highly *unlikely* he'll name himself, but it's not rare for it to happen.

John Young actually did it twice, he assigned himself to STS-9, and STS-61J, which was the original flight to deploy the HST, but after Challenger, that flight got canceled, and he was basically blacklisted
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Webhamster on 08/12/2009 01:48 am
Awful for Karen Nyberg

everyone is guessing that her temporary condition is bad, but for all we know she could be pregnant, she's entitled to her privacy

That was actually the first thing that crossed my mind when I read how the release was worded.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: orbiter62995 on 08/12/2009 01:51 am
I think this is possible, at least judging by what NASA said about Karen Nyberg that she might get assigned to another missions. Orion or 133.

Commander: Steven W. Lindsey
Pilot: Eric A. Boe
Mission Specialist 1: Karen Nyberg (if her condition isn't to serious)
Mission Specialist 2: Thomas Marshburn
Mission Specialist 3: Daniel C. Burbank


How can Lindsey serve as a commander because he's not working directly as an astronaut, is he?  Also, since he makes the crews, wouldn't it be a bit weird to assign yourself?

Lindsey could easily assign himself as commander for a mission to be launched a year from now.  Plenty of time to get ready.  He's been chief astronaut for three years, and that is close to the maximum tour.  He could be up for a job change.

"Weird to assign yourself"?  You ought to do more research in this subject.

Michael Cassutt

That's not entirely what I meant.  I am saying would he actually do that?  I'm not saying that he can't but I'm just saying that with all of the speculation (in and out of NASA) wouldn't it be awkward in this situation?

What speculation?

Why would it be more awkward for Lindsey than it was for Deke Slayton, John Young, Dan Brandenstein, Hoot Gibson, Bob Cabana, and Ken Cockrell? (And that's probably not even a complete list of chief astronauts (FCOD chief in Slayton's case) who named themselves to flights at the end of their tenure as chief.)

I think it's highly *unlikely* he'll name himself, but it's not rare for it to happen.

I know, I don't sound like an expert, and I know a lot about the shuttle program but next to you I look like I know absolutely nothing, I'm sorry.

I find it to be an opinionated matter, because I personally feel that it would be awkward.  Sure, maybe Bob Cabana and Cockrell and Danny B. and Gibson did this, but their colleagues had other chances to fly.  This would be the last flight, and as I see it, it would be a selfish move.  You may think it sounds incorrect, but again, I find it to be an opinionated matter, I think it would be slightly "selfish".  Reason being: no more scheduled shuttle flights post-133.  Maybe there's Orion, but that's not the shuttle and 4 years is a long wait for some.  Does it make sense when I say it this way.  That's my justification.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 08/12/2009 02:59 am
I was informed that Anna Fisher will not probably get another flight on the shuttle.  I could be wrong.  The STS-133 commander will be a shuttle veteran commander, but not sure who?  Jim Kelly is waiting for the Orion flights from what I heard from other members.

That's no surprise. Isn't it almost an unwritten rule that you don't go up at age 60+? Anna Fisher will be 61 next year. As I understand that's what happened with Story Musgrave.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: orbiter62995 on 08/12/2009 03:33 am
As for Anna Fisher, 60 does seem to be the age cap.

Okay, let me put it out there because I'm really curious to hear from the experts.

The possible CDRs for STS-133 could be the following, no?

The criteria is:  It has to be a veteran CDR; thus indicating that the pilot has to be a NASA graduate of 2000, unless Randy Bresnik serves as MSP and then a PLT.  Nobody from 2000 or up can be CDR:  The mission commander will be a veteran –– likely from the 1998 class or with a chance of a surprise from 1996.

The possible CDRs for STS-133 could be the following, no?

Dom Gorie; Steve Lindsey; Steve Frick; Chris Ferguson; Lee Archaumbalt

That leaves only pilots from 2000 except for RayJ Johnson, which is the probable pilot choice.  Alternatives may be:  Eric Boe, Doug Hurley, Barry Wilmore, or Kevin Ford.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 08/12/2009 08:59 am
Guys, guys -- isn't this getting out of control?

;)

My guess:

CDR: Youg
PLT: Hurley
MS1: Nyberg
MS2: Cagle
MS3: Woodward
MS4: Caldiero

Sorry, I know: I am a party pooper ...

Seriously, You could permute all the names that are still in the game and come up with endless possibilities on who will be on the final shuttle -- but is this still fun? I guess the final crew will not look ike anything posted here.

Well, whoever it's gonna be: I hope for Fisher! I really do! Hoping is allowed, or is it not?

Edit: Now if Ender0319 or Jorge make a posting and claim that two or three of the names are right on the money, then I gonna eat my hat. Or watch a Star Trek marathon ...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 08/12/2009 12:03 pm
Well there is a need for some indulgence.

This is the final time, maybe, that this game can be played, before maybe a five-year gap.

Soon we will have only the ISS Expeditions left.

So I can understand people want to play this game one last time.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 08/12/2009 12:28 pm
What is the possibility of Nyberg & Hurley (Husband & Wife) both getting assigned to STS-133 together?

I mean, what is NASA's policy on Husbands & Wives flying together?
I believe it has been done once before.

If they were assigned together, it would surely bring a lot of press coverage - especially if it was the final Shuttle flight.

Of course, this is assuming that Nyberg would be eligible for flight assignment to STS-133.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 08/12/2009 12:52 pm
So I can understand people want to play this game one last time.

Yes, that must be the reason for this impressive name game!

But what if the program continues?

:D

If they were assigned together, it would surely bring a lot of press coverage - especially if it was the final Shuttle flight.

Well, I included them in my not so serious guess at STS-133 because I considered their assignment highly unlikely -- and NASA has a policy regarding married couples.

But having said that, You never know what PAO comes up with. Maybe they will have the final word on STS-133 flight crew assignment ...

;)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: orbiter62995 on 08/12/2009 02:45 pm
Guys, guys -- isn't this getting out of control?

;)

My guess:

CDR: Youg
PLT: Hurley
MS1: Nyberg
MS2: Cagle
MS3: Woodward
MS4: Caldiero

Sorry, I know: I am a party pooper ...

Seriously, You could permute all the names that are still in the game and come up with endless possibilities on who will be on the final shuttle -- but is this still fun? I guess the final crew will not look ike anything posted here.

Well, whoever it's gonna be: I hope for Fisher! I really do! Hoping is allowed, or is it not?

Edit: Now if Ender0319 or Jorge make a posting and claim that two or three of the names are right on the money, then I gonna eat my hat. Or watch a Star Trek marathon ...

I understand your guesses, but unfortunately Woodward retired.  Also, who do you mean for CDR?  Hurley and Nyberg would not fly like this; this was actually discussed earlier in the post about Walker and Thomas (I wondered the same thing).  Mark Lee and Jan Davis were a married couple that went into space, but they got married during training, after the fact, and worked separate SPACEHAB shifts.

It's a good thought though.  Don't want to kill the joy, but you're thinking logically.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 08/12/2009 03:29 pm
Chief Astronauts who got assigned missions during their tenure:
Al Shepard - Apollo 14
John Young - STS 1, STS 9, STS 61-J (later canceled)
Dan Brandenstein - STS 32, STS 49
Hoot Gibson - STS 71
Bob Cabana - STS 88
Ken Cockrell - STS 98 (or was he assigned well after leaving his position?)

In the case of Shepard and Young, flight crews didn't originate with them. They originated with the FCO Director. Slayton and Abbey respectively. In "Dragonfly" its noted Brandenstein ticked many in the Astronaut Office off for giving himself STS 32 and 49, both plum assignments. When Gibson took over he tried to avoid taking STS 71, submitting it to Abbey with Steve Nagel as CDR...which was rejected.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 08/12/2009 07:13 pm
Since its one more time around the block...guesses for STS 133:

CDR: Chris Ferguson
PLT: Eric Boe
MS's: Megan McArthur, Rex Walheim and Stan Love
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: OV-107 on 08/12/2009 09:32 pm
My guess:

CDR - Chris Ferguson

PLT - Greg C Johnson

MS 1, EV 1 - Rex Walheim

MS 2, FE, RMS - Eric Boe ( I know, he will probably not fly as an ms but this is just fun speculation)

MS 3, EV 2 - Mike Massimino

However I would love to see Steve Lindsey as the final CDR.



Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Austin on 08/12/2009 09:34 pm
One of those flights is in line with Expedition 25, where you would have Scott Kelly and Shannon Walker meeting up with Mark Kelly and Andy Thomas on a potential shuttle crew.  Good way to increase public attraction to the flight if you have two twin brothers and married couple meeting at the ISS.

Maybe the twin brother thing could happen, but the married couple thing?  Never.  It's against policy and for good reason.  NASA would forever be dealing with questions and "theories" about the "200 Mile High Club".  They still have to deny that silly urban legend about STS-75 that was started 8 years *before* the flight even flew with an all-male crew.

Married couple has flown before, however they weren't together at the time the crew was selected.  STS-47, Jan Davis and Mark Lee: sidenote, airlock and Spacelab flight, plenty of spaces with potential for "privacy", haha

Nope, dual shift crew so there were always people working around those spaces. And the couple was on opposite shifts.

Wasn't that also a unique case: namely, Mark Lee and Jan Davis got hitched during training? They weren't assigned to the flight as a married couple.

What about Hoot Gibson and Rhea Seddon?  Were they ever assigned to the same flight?  (I know that they never actually flew together).
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ShuttleAtlantis on 08/12/2009 09:58 pm
My guess for STS-133:

CMD: Chris Ferguson
PLT: Greg C. Johnson
MS: Rex Walheim
MS: Dan Tani
MS: Peggy Whitson
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Green013 on 08/12/2009 10:24 pm
STS-133 Crew:

CDR: Chris Ferguson
PLT: Greg C. Johnson
MS1: Steve Swanson
MS2: Megan McArthur
MS3: Shane Kimbrough

Other possibilities I'd say are likely:

PLT: Eric Boe
MS: Peggy Whitson
MS: Mike Massimino
MS: Dan Tani
MS: Stan Love
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ShuttleAtlantis on 08/13/2009 12:26 am
Say you were Steve Lindsey,and you could assign any active astronaut no matter how many flight they have, who would you assign to STS-133? This is who I would assign. Just for fun.

STS-133:

CMD:Dom Gorie
PLT:Greg C.Johnson
MS:Mike Foale
MS:Mike Gernhardt
MS:Anna Fisher
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jorge on 08/13/2009 12:46 am
A few notes of a general nature on medical. HIPAA's privacy rule generally prohibits disclosure of personal medical data without the permission of the individual, and even then the disclosure must reveal the minimum data necessary.

Therefore, if an astronaut who is assigned to a flight crew is medically grounded, at most there will be a terse press release along the lines of the recent announcement of Karen Nyberg's "temporary medical condition". No further details will be released unless the astronaut grants permission.

And if an astronaut who is *not* assigned to a flight crew is medically grounded, the public will hear *nothing*. For reasons that should be blindingly obvious by now, this paragraph should not be construed to apply specifically to any of the astronauts who have been subject to speculation in this thread. Just sayin'.

It is my hope that this post will at least slow the rate of speculation on such matters as "why was Astronaut A assigned to Mission C instead of Astronaut B? It's not FAIRRRR!" It is probably too much to hope that it will end the speculation entirely. But at least the post is out there now, and linkable for reference.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ChrisGebhardt on 08/13/2009 02:30 am
Well said, Jorge.  Well said.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 08/13/2009 02:31 am
Good post, and to back it up the moderators have been instructed to delete any further "what's wrong with her" posts.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 08/13/2009 07:20 am
After all, I am starting to love this thread more than ever before!

Also, who do you mean for CDR?

I said, Young -- and that's what I meant. But do not check: he is retired as well (at least, I think so) ...

Don't You know John Young? The Young of  "Old and Crippled" fame? STS-1?

;)

Hurley and Nyberg would not fly like this; this was actually discussed earlier in the post about Walker and Thomas (I wondered the same thing).

... and that's why I actually listed Hurley and Nyberg. Say, You noticed that my initial posting was intended not to be taken too seriously, didn't You? I just wanted to make a little fun of this vibrant name game.

Sorry!

:D

Mark Lee and Jan Davis were a married couple that went into space, but they got married during training, after the fact, and worked separate SPACEHAB shifts.

Right, but that was on Spacelab. S/HAB modules were not even flying when STS-47 was launched. Just for historical correctness ...

It's a good thought though.  Don't want to kill the joy, but you're thinking logically.

Me? Thinking logically? No, don't You scare me ...

:D

And now to something completely different ...

Well said, Jorge.  Well said.

I concur.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 08/13/2009 09:22 am
Can I repeat a few questions about Mike Fincke - or in fact about any astronauts who go back from ISS-side to Shuttle-side training or vice-versa (eg Chamitoff, Reisman, Anderson etc).

How long does it take for an astronaut to 'decondition' (not sure if that's the right word) from a long-duration mission and be ready for reassignment to a new mission? Foale moved from Mir to HST SM-3 in about 10 months (October 1997 landing vs August 1998 assignment) and obviously Fincke has now done it in much less time. I was always under the impression that long-duration astronauts went through up to six months of physical reconditioning after long flights. Is this inaccurate or has it been relaxed?

Coupled with this, how long does it take to 're-train' (again, if that is the right term) an astronaut who has previously been up to speed on ISS/Soyuz systems and returns to train Shuttle systems as a PLT or dedicated MS? (Or vice-versa).

Finally (sorry): It might be far too early to ask, but in view of the five years or so that the early Shuttle crews trained, the first Orion assignments may come out soon. Has NASA decided how long an Orion crew training cycle will last? One year (like most STS missions)? Two to four years (like ISS expeditions)? Longer? or much shorter?

Sorry to repeat questions, and apologies if these sound juvenile and simplistic, but they've been nagging at me...

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: FNG on 08/13/2009 09:07 pm
Others on this forum are much more qualified to answer Ben’s question about the time needed for physical reconditioning after long duration flights, but I would have thought it may be some time before the intensity of the training flow for STS 134 kicks in. In the interim Mike Fincke can continue with his re-conditioning.

Regarding the training cycle, when the OFT 1 crew was named in March 1978 it was  ". . .scheduled for launch from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in the spring of 1979." RELEASE NO' 78-15 March 16, 1978. So a training flow of about 12 months was envisaged.

Having said that, as there is no 'logic' to flight crew assignments, I would not be surprised to see the first Orion crew named next week!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ChrisGebhardt on 08/13/2009 09:13 pm

...as there is no 'logic' to flight crew assignments, I would not be surprised to see the first Orion crew named next week!


While there is no logic in WHO is assigned to a mission, there IS a logic to when the crew is assigned.  That logic is that the crew of a particular mission is assigned shortly before the start of mission specific training.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 08/14/2009 12:02 am
Can I repeat a few questions about Mike Fincke - or in fact about any astronauts who go back from ISS-side to Shuttle-side training or vice-versa (eg Chamitoff, Reisman, Anderson etc).

How long does it take for an astronaut to 'decondition' (not sure if that's the right word) from a long-duration mission and be ready for reassignment to a new mission? Foale moved from Mir to HST SM-3 in about 10 months (October 1997 landing vs August 1998 assignment) and obviously Fincke has now done it in much less time. I was always under the impression that long-duration astronauts went through up to six months of physical reconditioning after long flights. Is this inaccurate or has it been relaxed?

Coupled with this, how long does it take to 're-train' (again, if that is the right term) an astronaut who has previously been up to speed on ISS/Soyuz systems and returns to train Shuttle systems as a PLT or dedicated MS? (Or vice-versa).

Finally (sorry): It might be far too early to ask, but in view of the five years or so that the early Shuttle crews trained, the first Orion assignments may come out soon. Has NASA decided how long an Orion crew training cycle will last? One year (like most STS missions)? Two to four years (like ISS expeditions)? Longer? or much shorter?

Sorry to repeat questions, and apologies if these sound juvenile and simplistic, but they've been nagging at me...

Well, yes, you have a mixture of the simplistic and unanswerable, leavened with unfounded assumptions and errors.  It takes six months for an experienced Shuttle crew member to train for a specific mission -- and depending on the operations required, maybe not that much.  Fincke will have adequate time to get ready.

As noted by others here, there was no "five years" of training for the first Shuttle misison, and there won't be multiple years of training for Orion.  Potential flight crew members will be involved in the spacecraft development as they have been for years.  At some point they will be assigned to specific missions.  I find it difficult to believe that will be much more than a year prior to schedule launch.  Since the first Orion missions will go to ISS, you might have a two-year lead time... but for the ISS flow, not Orion.

Now, don't ask this a third time.  ;)
Michael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 08/14/2009 05:21 am
Many thanks for the replies
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: orbiter62995 on 08/15/2009 03:17 pm
Say you were Steve Lindsey,and you could assign any active astronaut no matter how many flight they have, who would you assign to STS-133? This is who I would assign. Just for fun.

STS-133:

CMD:Dom Gorie
PLT:Greg C.Johnson
MS:Mike Foale
MS:Mike Gernhardt
MS:Anna Fisher

That would be fun.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: orbiter62995 on 08/15/2009 03:21 pm
Say you were Steve Lindsey,and you could assign any active astronaut no matter how many flight they have, who would you assign to STS-133? This is who I would assign. Just for fun.

STS-133:

CMD:Dom Gorie
PLT:Greg C.Johnson
MS:Mike Foale
MS:Mike Gernhardt
MS:Anna Fisher

That would be fun.

After all, I am starting to love this thread more than ever before!

Also, who do you mean for CDR?

I said, Young -- and that's what I meant. But do not check: he is retired as well (at least, I think so) ...

Don't You know John Young? The Young of  "Old and Crippled" fame? STS-1?

;)

Hurley and Nyberg would not fly like this; this was actually discussed earlier in the post about Walker and Thomas (I wondered the same thing).

... and that's why I actually listed Hurley and Nyberg. Say, You noticed that my initial posting was intended not to be taken too seriously, didn't You? I just wanted to make a little fun of this vibrant name game.

Sorry!

:D

Mark Lee and Jan Davis were a married couple that went into space, but they got married during training, after the fact, and worked separate SPACEHAB shifts.

Right, but that was on Spacelab. S/HAB modules were not even flying when STS-47 was launched. Just for historical correctness ...

It's a good thought though.  Don't want to kill the joy, but you're thinking logically.

Me? Thinking logically? No, don't You scare me ...

:D

And now to something completely different ...

Well said, Jorge.  Well said.

I concur.

As for the logical thinking, you raise an excellent point, I was trying to be polite, but it is indeed fun to be rediculous on the rare occasion.

After all, I am starting to love this thread more than ever before!

Also, who do you mean for CDR?

I said, Young -- and that's what I meant. But do not check: he is retired as well (at least, I think so) ...

Don't You know John Young? The Young of  "Old and Crippled" fame? STS-1?

As for Johnny boy, yes, I know, haha, but indeed, he's long gone.  lol I thought you were serious and I was like…um…no way.  For historical correctness, I was incorrect; indeed this is the truth (I wondered that to myself) and I always mix the two up.

I'll probably get corrected for this too, but the two are conceptually similar.

And don't worry, I have respect for you and the game so I was equally joking, worry not.

Sorry, this is kind of a disorganized post, but it happens.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 08/18/2009 08:57 am
I'll probably get corrected for this too, but the two are conceptually similar.

You could say that both enlarge the habitable volume available for shutte missions, so they are indeed conceptually similar. They both are non-deployable and "feed" on orbiter ressources. Spacelab however is better suited for lab functionality, while the S/HAB basically augments the middeck and aptly accomodates locker-type experiments -- and space station logistics of course.

So I see no need for corrections!

;)

Huh? This is getting off-topic ...

To the STS-133 discussion, I would like to add one thing: I really think NASA will select a crew roster just like for any other mission. Although I would love to see Fisher fly or any other old-time veteran (Young!Young!Young!), I expect this to be an ordinary crew -- if that adjective can be applied to a shuttle crew at all ...

Keep in mind: when STS-133 is assigned, it might be regarded as the final one. But politics could eventually decide to extend the program, of course. So there is no gurantee that the supposedly final crew will indeed be the last one to fly.

Just my two cents ...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: orbiter62995 on 08/19/2009 01:58 am
I'll probably get corrected for this too, but the two are conceptually similar.

You could say that both enlarge the habitable volume available for shutte missions, so they are indeed conceptually similar. They both are non-deployable and "feed" on orbiter ressources. Spacelab however is better suited for lab functionality, while the S/HAB basically augments the middeck and aptly accomodates locker-type experiments -- and space station logistics of course.

So I see no need for corrections!

;)

Huh? This is getting off-topic ...

To the STS-133 discussion, I would like to add one thing: I really think NASA will select a crew roster just like for any other mission. Although I would love to see Fisher fly or any other old-time veteran (Young!Young!Young!), I expect this to be an ordinary crew -- if that adjective can be applied to a shuttle crew at all ...

Keep in mind: when STS-133 is assigned, it might be regarded as the final one. But politics could eventually decide to extend the program, of course. So there is no gurantee that the supposedly final crew will indeed be the last one to fly.

Just my two cents ...

Thanks about the S/L and S/H, that's exactly how I meant because they add to the orbiter and if you think about their positioning and engineering they are similar (airlock tunnel, position in Pld. Bay, etc.), and the purposes also have paralells.  Thanks for not correcting me :D!

Yes, absolutely, I was kidding about Fisher and I wouldn't be surprised if she was to be assigned to a mission but I don't anticipate that she will.  Who knows.  I also didn't mean that about Foale and all, but who knows…we may see one of them.  I also didn't realize this until now, but Suni Williams is still in the mix as well.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 08/19/2009 09:00 am
Maybe Suni Williams will be on the final flight? Chief and deputy chief astronauts have tended to get plum assignments in the past...

Someone mentioned earlier that the CDR of STS-133 will be a veteran commander. Is this based on the fact that the crew has already been internally named, or the fact that no new PLTs (ie Johnson, Boe) have gone through CDR Upgrade or is it just speculation?

I'd guess Ferguson or Archambault for CDR and Boe or Johnson for PLT.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: orbiter62995 on 08/21/2009 11:25 pm
I'd guess Ferguson or Archambault for CDR and Boe or Johnson for PLT.

My guess, Fergy and Johnson but any of the above could occur.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 08/23/2009 01:31 am
This isn't really relevant to future flight crew assignments, but it relates to the recent STS-134 crew assignment.
----------

STS-134 CDR Mark Kelly is now on Twitter! ;D He will be providing updates on the training for his mission!

http://twitter.com/ShuttleCDRKelly


Scott Kelly is now on Twitter as well! :) Again, he will be providing training updates for his mission.

http://twitter.com/StationCDRKelly
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: orbiter62995 on 08/24/2009 11:02 pm
I have a flight crew assignment question, but not pertaining to STS-133.

Why is it that Marcos Pontes never flew as a full-fledged shuttle or station astronaut (I don't count spaceflight participant status in this instance)?  I think I know the obvious answer but can an expert just verify it for me?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aurora899 on 08/25/2009 09:52 am
Chief Astronauts who got assigned missions during their tenure:
Al Shepard - Apollo 14
John Young - STS 1, STS 9, STS 61-J (later canceled)
Dan Brandenstein - STS 32, STS 49
Hoot Gibson - STS 71
Bob Cabana - STS 88
Ken Cockrell - STS 98 (or was he assigned well after leaving his position?)

In the case of Shepard and Young, flight crews didn't originate with them. They originated with the FCO Director. Slayton and Abbey respectively. In "Dragonfly" its noted Brandenstein ticked many in the Astronaut Office off for giving himself STS 32 and 49, both plum assignments. When Gibson took over he tried to avoid taking STS 71, submitting it to Abbey with Steve Nagel as CDR...which was rejected.

Presumably, Jim Wetherbee assigned himself to at least one (and possibly two?) shuttle missions while he was serving as Director of Flight Crew Operations.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Green013 on 08/25/2009 05:31 pm
I have a flight crew assignment question, but not pertaining to STS-133.

Why is it that Marcos Pontes never flew as a full-fledged shuttle or station astronaut (I don't count spaceflight participant status in this instance)?  I think I know the obvious answer but can an expert just verify it for me?

Pontes didn't fly as a spaceflight participant, he did fly as a flight engineer on a Soyuz transfer flight, just like Pedro Duque.  He was supposed to fly on the shuttle when it delivered the Brazilian built ELC, but due to delays and ultimately Columbia, the Brazilian government opted to pay Russia for a seat on a Soyuz. Think he may also still be with the astronaut office though
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: orbiter62995 on 08/26/2009 04:54 am
I have a flight crew assignment question, but not pertaining to STS-133.

Why is it that Marcos Pontes never flew as a full-fledged shuttle or station astronaut (I don't count spaceflight participant status in this instance)?  I think I know the obvious answer but can an expert just verify it for me?

Pontes didn't fly as a spaceflight participant, he did fly as a flight engineer on a Soyuz transfer flight, just like Pedro Duque.  He was supposed to fly on the shuttle when it delivered the Brazilian built ELC, but due to delays and ultimately Columbia, the Brazilian government opted to pay Russia for a seat on a Soyuz. Think he may also still be with the astronaut office though

Oh.  I see that, but do you have any idea which flight that was and when he was scheduled to fly pre-Columbia?  Not that I'm suggesting his flight was before Feb. 1, 2003, but that his assignment was made before that date.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: dcfowler1 on 08/26/2009 04:55 am
Actually, I believe Pontes was indeed titled a "Spaceflight participant" on his mission.

See:

http://www.astronaut.ru/index/in_pers/04_006.htm

Стартовал 30 марта 2006 года в качестве участника космического полета

(Launched on 30 March 2006 in capacity of spaceflight participant)

Dave
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aquarius on 08/26/2009 05:35 am
I have a flight crew assignment question, but not pertaining to STS-133.

Why is it that Marcos Pontes never flew as a full-fledged shuttle or station astronaut (I don't count spaceflight participant status in this instance)?  I think I know the obvious answer but can an expert just verify it for me?

Pontes didn't fly as a spaceflight participant, he did fly as a flight engineer on a Soyuz transfer flight, just like Pedro Duque.  He was supposed to fly on the shuttle when it delivered the Brazilian built ELC, but due to delays and ultimately Columbia, the Brazilian government opted to pay Russia for a seat on a Soyuz. Think he may also still be with the astronaut office though

Oh.  I see that, but do you have any idea which flight that was and when he was scheduled to fly pre-Columbia?  Not that I'm suggesting his flight was before Feb. 1, 2003, but that his assignment was made before that date.
Actually, Pontes never had an official assignment. But in 2004 several sites reported that he was supposed to fly on STS-128. Again, that was not official information.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: orbiter62995 on 08/26/2009 11:01 pm
I have a flight crew assignment question, but not pertaining to STS-133.

Why is it that Marcos Pontes never flew as a full-fledged shuttle or station astronaut (I don't count spaceflight participant status in this instance)?  I think I know the obvious answer but can an expert just verify it for me?

Pontes didn't fly as a spaceflight participant, he did fly as a flight engineer on a Soyuz transfer flight, just like Pedro Duque.  He was supposed to fly on the shuttle when it delivered the Brazilian built ELC, but due to delays and ultimately Columbia, the Brazilian government opted to pay Russia for a seat on a Soyuz. Think he may also still be with the astronaut office though

Oh.  I see that, but do you have any idea which flight that was and when he was scheduled to fly pre-Columbia?  Not that I'm suggesting his flight was before Feb. 1, 2003, but that his assignment was made before that date.
Actually, Pontes never had an official assignment. But in 2004 several sites reported that he was supposed to fly on STS-128. Again, that was not official information.

What classifies him as an Int'l Flight Engineer (ie. Duque/Kuipers/De Winne) instead of an SFP?  If it were a NASA crewmember at hand I can see the distinct difference in operations on the Soyuz, or even an ESA crewmember.  However, because a Brazilian astronaut isn't part of this, if you will, web, what's the difference?

Also, speaking of Soyuz flight engineers, that brings back a long-lost question.  What is a flight engineer's responsibility during a Soyuz flight?  This does not include station operations.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: dcfowler1 on 08/27/2009 05:24 am
Novosti Kosmonavtiki, the journal of record for all things having to do with Russian spaceflight, also states that he flew as a spaceflight participant:

http://www.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/content/z30.03.06.shtml

under:
30.03.2006 / 06:31    Стартовал космический корабль “Союз ТМА-8” 

ПОНТЕС Маркус Цезар [PONTES Marcos Cesar] (Бразилия) – участник космического полета по программе ЭП-10.

Pontes, Marcos Cesar (Brazil) spaceflight participant for the EP-10 program.

Dave
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aquarius on 08/27/2009 08:03 am
Just to clarify, when I said Pontes never had an official assignment, I meant on the shuttle, not on Soyuz.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: orbiter62995 on 08/27/2009 03:18 pm
When Gibson took over he tried to avoid taking STS 71, submitting it to Abbey with Steve Nagel as CDR...which was rejected.

I'm surprised Hoot Gibson didn't want to take a trip to Mir ––– I would imagine that taking the first trip to Mir aboard a shuttle would be an honorable assignment.

Also, I am curious as to why Steve Nagel's application for this flight was denied ––– he would have been an ideal candidate wouldn't he have?  Apparently not, but there was a perfect time in between spaceflights and getting the CDR seat for the second time instead of the third may have made more sense.  Maybe it was a matter of Hoot Gibson having more experience, though.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Green013 on 08/27/2009 05:08 pm
When Gibson took over he tried to avoid taking STS 71, submitting it to Abbey with Steve Nagel as CDR...which was rejected.

I'm surprised Hoot Gibson didn't want to take a trip to Mir ––– I would imagine that taking the first trip to Mir aboard a shuttle would be an honorable assignment.

Also, I am curious as to why Steve Nagel's application for this flight was denied ––– he would have been an ideal candidate wouldn't he have?  Apparently not, but there was a perfect time in between spaceflights and getting the CDR seat for the second time instead of the third may have made more sense.  Maybe it was a matter of Hoot Gibson having more experience, though.

When I heard Gibson speak at a presentation 2 years ago, he stated that he had not planned on flying again after becoming chief of the astronaut office, but said that the Russians wanted the head astronaut flying the first docking due to concerns mainly over safety.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 08/27/2009 08:25 pm

I'm surprised Hoot Gibson didn't want to take a trip to Mir ––– I would imagine that taking the first trip to Mir aboard a shuttle would be an honorable assignment.

Also, I am curious as to why Steve Nagel's application for this flight was denied ––– he would have been an ideal candidate wouldn't he have?  Apparently not, but there was a perfect time in between spaceflights and getting the CDR seat for the second time instead of the third may have made more sense.  Maybe it was a matter of Hoot Gibson having more experience, though.

When I heard Gibson speak at a presentation 2 years ago, he stated that he had not planned on flying again after becoming chief of the astronaut office, but said that the Russians wanted the head astronaut flying the first docking due to concerns mainly over safety.

This makes sense from a Russian POV.

Burrough's in "Dragonfly" insinuates that Gibson's assignment over Nagel to STS-71 was done by George Abbey to force Gibson to step down as Chief of the Astronaut Office. They'd butted heads over flight crew assignments since Abbey returned to JSC as the center's director.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: orbiter62995 on 08/27/2009 10:37 pm

I'm surprised Hoot Gibson didn't want to take a trip to Mir ––– I would imagine that taking the first trip to Mir aboard a shuttle would be an honorable assignment.

Also, I am curious as to why Steve Nagel's application for this flight was denied ––– he would have been an ideal candidate wouldn't he have?  Apparently not, but there was a perfect time in between spaceflights and getting the CDR seat for the second time instead of the third may have made more sense.  Maybe it was a matter of Hoot Gibson having more experience, though.

When I heard Gibson speak at a presentation 2 years ago, he stated that he had not planned on flying again after becoming chief of the astronaut office, but said that the Russians wanted the head astronaut flying the first docking due to concerns mainly over safety.

This makes sense from a Russian POV.

Burrough's in "Dragonfly" insinuates that Gibson's assignment over Nagel to STS-71 was done by George Abbey to force Gibson to step down as Chief of the Astronaut Office. They'd butted heads over flight crew assignments since Abbey returned to JSC as the center's director.

Do you believe it though?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: orbiter62995 on 08/27/2009 10:41 pm

I'm surprised Hoot Gibson didn't want to take a trip to Mir ––– I would imagine that taking the first trip to Mir aboard a shuttle would be an honorable assignment.

Also, I am curious as to why Steve Nagel's application for this flight was denied ––– he would have been an ideal candidate wouldn't he have?  Apparently not, but there was a perfect time in between spaceflights and getting the CDR seat for the second time instead of the third may have made more sense.  Maybe it was a matter of Hoot Gibson having more experience, though.

When I heard Gibson speak at a presentation 2 years ago, he stated that he had not planned on flying again after becoming chief of the astronaut office, but said that the Russians wanted the head astronaut flying the first docking due to concerns mainly over safety.

This makes sense from a Russian POV.

Burrough's in "Dragonfly" insinuates that Gibson's assignment over Nagel to STS-71 was done by George Abbey to force Gibson to step down as Chief of the Astronaut Office. They'd butted heads over flight crew assignments since Abbey returned to JSC as the center's director.

No love lost it sounds like between the two.  It would make sense, but then what about the Russian side of the matter?  Below, I posted the quote, where aurora899 said that he heard Richard Gibson in a speech relatively recently and that Rosaviakosmos requested the most experienced CDR during docking #1.  It could be a cover-up or it could be both, I suppose… I hope it was the former rather than the friction between the two.


When I heard Gibson speak at a presentation 2 years ago, he stated that he had not planned on flying again after becoming chief of the astronaut office, but said that the Russians wanted the head astronaut flying the first docking due to concerns mainly over safety.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 08/28/2009 03:15 pm
Do you believe it though?

George Abbey probably took advantage of a request by the Russians to have the Chief Astronaut command the flight. If he could have fought it, he didn't.

Since Abbey seldom shared why the heck he did anything in terms of crew assignments it would have appeared as George playing his games to everyone else. 
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: orbiter62995 on 08/28/2009 03:42 pm
Do you believe it though?

George Abbey probably took advantage of a request by the Russians to have the Chief Astronaut command the flight. If he could have fought it, he didn't.

Since Abbey seldom shared why the heck he did anything in terms of crew assignments it would have appeared as George playing his games to everyone else. 

Yeah, that's what I figured… Rosaviakosmos logically asking for an experienced commander was a perfect opportunity to get Hoot out of the Cheif position.

Now, I just became aware about Heide Stefanyshyn-Piper's retirement, and I am again going to steer the subject from one crew assignment to another (which I must say, I have asked many questions, sorry, but I joined to ask them)…  If you ask me, if she was active at NASA she was a realistic candidate for STS-133 or possibly another mission following it if the program were to be extended.  Was her "retirement" more of a dismissal?  By this, I mean was she "requested" to return to the Navy and leave NASA for reasons that may not be discussed, possibly the loss of the $100K crew lock bag, like Bill Oefelein?  Is it that she was dismissed because of something, or did she legit retire from NASA?  I'm just thinking along the lines of Bill because he was given a place back in the armed forces, and Heide retired rather suddenly.  From what I gathered, she enjoyed NASA.  I don't know if it's just a simple retirement.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 08/28/2009 04:21 pm
I think, if the story in Burrough's Dragonfly is to be believed, Gibson feared the fallout in the astronaut corps of appearing to take a plum assignment for himself.

As for Nagel, I've always wondered why, after being dropped from consideration for STS-71, he didn't get a subsequent Shuttle-Mir command.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 08/28/2009 07:05 pm
I think, if the story in Burrough's Dragonfly is to be believed, Gibson feared the fallout in the astronaut corps of appearing to take a plum assignment for himself.

As for Nagel, I've always wondered why, after being dropped from consideration for STS-71, he didn't get a subsequent Shuttle-Mir command.

I suppose he could have landed a later docking. He left the Astronaut Office in 1995 however for a management position, eventually ending up in Aircraft Ops where he remains today. He could have felt his chances of another flight in an Abbey directed JSC were slim.  Or he could have also been fed-up with the politics of the Astronaut Office (not an infrequent reason for why people leave).

His wife, Linda Godwin however had no issue landing a couple more flight assignments (STS-76 and STS-108).
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Kel on 08/28/2009 09:48 pm
Do you believe it though?

George Abbey probably took advantage of a request by the Russians to have the Chief Astronaut command the flight. If he could have fought it, he didn't.

Since Abbey seldom shared why the heck he did anything in terms of crew assignments it would have appeared as George playing his games to everyone else. 

Yeah, that's what I figured… Rosaviakosmos logically asking for an experienced commander was a perfect opportunity to get Hoot out of the Cheif position.

Now, I just became aware about Heide Stefanyshyn-Piper's retirement, and I am again going to steer the subject from one crew assignment to another (which I must say, I have asked many questions, sorry, but I joined to ask them)…  If you ask me, if she was active at NASA she was a realistic candidate for STS-133 or possibly another mission following it if the program were to be extended.  Was her "retirement" more of a dismissal?  By this, I mean was she "requested" to return to the Navy and leave NASA for reasons that may not be discussed, possibly the loss of the $100K crew lock bag, like Bill Oefelein?  Is it that she was dismissed because of something, or did she legit retire from NASA?  I'm just thinking along the lines of Bill because he was given a place back in the armed forces, and Heide retired rather suddenly.  From what I gathered, she enjoyed NASA.  I don't know if it's just a simple retirement.

Heide announced that she was returning to the Navy before STS-126 launched. Nothing sudden about it.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: orbiter62995 on 08/29/2009 04:57 am
I am more than aware that this is off topic, but today is Chris Hadfield's 50th birthday.  As a present he should get a seat on STS-133 lol.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aurora899 on 08/30/2009 08:58 am
When Gibson took over he tried to avoid taking STS 71, submitting it to Abbey with Steve Nagel as CDR...which was rejected.

I'm surprised Hoot Gibson didn't want to take a trip to Mir ––– I would imagine that taking the first trip to Mir aboard a shuttle would be an honorable assignment.

Also, I am curious as to why Steve Nagel's application for this flight was denied ––– he would have been an ideal candidate wouldn't he have?  Apparently not, but there was a perfect time in between spaceflights and getting the CDR seat for the second time instead of the third may have made more sense.  Maybe it was a matter of Hoot Gibson having more experience, though.

Dare I say it but was STS-71 just too high profile a mission to be commanded by an Air Force guy i.e. Nagel? Surely it was always going to be a Navy officer in the front left hand seat??!!!

Of course, I jest. But I thought I'd throw it into the mix anyway!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: orbiter62995 on 08/30/2009 02:54 pm
When Gibson took over he tried to avoid taking STS 71, submitting it to Abbey with Steve Nagel as CDR...which was rejected.

I'm surprised Hoot Gibson didn't want to take a trip to Mir ––– I would imagine that taking the first trip to Mir aboard a shuttle would be an honorable assignment.

Also, I am curious as to why Steve Nagel's application for this flight was denied ––– he would have been an ideal candidate wouldn't he have?  Apparently not, but there was a perfect time in between spaceflights and getting the CDR seat for the second time instead of the third may have made more sense.  Maybe it was a matter of Hoot Gibson having more experience, though.

Dare I say it but was STS-71 just too high profile a mission to be commanded by an Air Force guy i.e. Nagel? Surely it was always going to be a Navy officer in the front left hand seat??!!!

Of course, I jest. But I thought I'd throw it into the mix anyway!

Maybe, but I tend to believe this logic:


George Abbey probably took advantage of a request by the Russians to have the Chief Astronaut command the flight. If he could have fought it, he didn't.

Since Abbey seldom shared why the heck he did anything in terms of crew assignments it would have appeared as George playing his games to everyone else.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 08/30/2009 03:55 pm

Dare I say it but was STS-71 just too high profile a mission to be commanded by an Air Force guy i.e. Nagel? Surely it was always going to be a Navy officer in the front left hand seat??!!!

Of course, I jest. But I thought I'd throw it into the mix anyway!

I'm sure that was what some in the Astronaut Office were thinking. "Oh, Abbey's back and once again giving the plum assignments to the Navy guys." His apparent favoritism of Navy Astronauts that colored his tenure as FCOD seems to have vanished while JSC Director. Of course he was no longer creating the crews, just influencing them.

Some total speculation is, maybe Abbey was never impressed with Nagel. He flew his first mission as a Mission Specialist, something that, in "Riding Rockets" Mike Mullane states angered even the Navy Pilots in the Astronaut Office. Nagel of course did well enough in the post-Abbey Astronaut Office, commanding two missions. Once Abbey came back to JSC, and the crew politics with STS-71 came up, he could have just said "the heck with this."
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: orbiter62995 on 08/30/2009 04:14 pm

Dare I say it but was STS-71 just too high profile a mission to be commanded by an Air Force guy i.e. Nagel? Surely it was always going to be a Navy officer in the front left hand seat??!!!

Of course, I jest. But I thought I'd throw it into the mix anyway!

I'm sure that was what some in the Astronaut Office were thinking. "Oh, Abbey's back and once again giving the plum assignments to the Navy guys." His apparent favoritism of Navy Astronauts that colored his tenure as FCOD seems to have vanished while JSC Director. Of course he was no longer creating the crews, just influencing them.

Some total speculation is, maybe Abbey was never impressed with Nagel. He flew his first mission as a Mission Specialist, something that, in "Riding Rockets" Mike Mullane states angered even the Navy Pilots in the Astronaut Office. Nagel of course did well enough in the post-Abbey Astronaut Office, commanding two missions. Once Abbey came back to JSC, and the crew politics with STS-71 came up, he could have just said "the heck with this."

What reason was given for him to fly as an MSP?  It would be doubtful that it was because of the Air Force – I looked it up for some other CDRs who also served as MSPs on their first flight.  Precourt was a USAF guy, but Ken Cockrell was a Navy officer.

Does this mean, with MSPs going into pilot and later CDR training, that Garan and Bresnik could be assigned as pilots if the shuttle program was to be extended?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aurora899 on 08/30/2009 04:36 pm

Dare I say it but was STS-71 just too high profile a mission to be commanded by an Air Force guy i.e. Nagel? Surely it was always going to be a Navy officer in the front left hand seat??!!!

Of course, I jest. But I thought I'd throw it into the mix anyway!

I'm sure that was what some in the Astronaut Office were thinking. "Oh, Abbey's back and once again giving the plum assignments to the Navy guys." His apparent favoritism of Navy Astronauts that colored his tenure as FCOD seems to have vanished while JSC Director. Of course he was no longer creating the crews, just influencing them.

I hadn't realised until I read Mullane's book that Abbey was actually an ex-USAF officer, which makes his pro-Navy bias when assigning flight crews even harder to understand. Or was he just conditioned by a NASA hierarchy who were always suspicious of the Air Force?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 08/31/2009 12:40 am
What reason was given for him to fly as an MSP?  It would be doubtful that it was because of the Air Force – I looked it up for some other CDRs who also served as MSPs on their first flight.  Precourt was a USAF guy, but Ken Cockrell was a Navy officer.

Does this mean, with MSPs going into pilot and later CDR training, that Garan and Bresnik could be assigned as pilots if the shuttle program was to be extended?

It was probably a matter of getting flights for the TFNG's, however the USAF Astronauts saw it as another swipe at the Air Force guys. According to Mullane, the outrage was because Nagel was believed by his peers to have superior ability and judgment to some of the Navy Astronauts flying before him as PLT. He did at least get a quick turn-around to fly as PLT on STS 61-A.

Cockrell and Precourt are somewhat unique. They flew as MS's before any member of the 1990 PLT's flew as, well, pilots.

If the shuttle program continued, I'd say Bresnik's chances of flying as a PLT were good. Garan on the other hand is assigned to an ISS flight, so I doubt it.

Quote
I hadn't realised until I read Mullane's book that Abbey was actually an ex-USAF officer, which makes his pro-Navy bias when assigning flight crews even harder to understand. Or was he just conditioned by a NASA hierarchy who were always suspicious of the Air Force?

Certainly a good question. Joe Engle, an Air Force guy, seems to have been close to Abbey. The first flights of both Discovery and Atlantis were commanded by Air Force astronauts. The main points I see the Navy-bias bleed through are with Bob Crippen's quick turn-arounds as CDR, and the assignment of USAF Astronauts as PLT's on each of the first Spacelab missions.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: orbiter62995 on 08/31/2009 01:22 am
What reason was given for him to fly as an MSP?  It would be doubtful that it was because of the Air Force – I looked it up for some other CDRs who also served as MSPs on their first flight.  Precourt was a USAF guy, but Ken Cockrell was a Navy officer.

Does this mean, with MSPs going into pilot and later CDR training, that Garan and Bresnik could be assigned as pilots if the shuttle program was to be extended?

It was probably a matter of getting flights for the TFNG's, however the USAF Astronauts saw it as another swipe at the Air Force guys. According to Mullane, the outrage was because Nagel was believed by his peers to have superior ability and judgment to some of the Navy Astronauts flying before him as PLT. He did at least get a quick turn-around to fly as PLT on STS 61-A.

Cockrell and Precourt are somewhat unique. They flew as MS's before any member of the 1990 PLT's flew as, well, pilots.

If the shuttle program continued, I'd say Bresnik's chances of flying as a PLT were good. Garan on the other hand is assigned to an ISS flight, so I doubt it.

Quote
I hadn't realised until I read Mullane's book that Abbey was actually an ex-USAF officer, which makes his pro-Navy bias when assigning flight crews even harder to understand. Or was he just conditioned by a NASA hierarchy who were always suspicious of the Air Force?

Certainly a good question. Joe Engle, an Air Force guy, seems to have been close to Abbey. The first flights of both Discovery and Atlantis were commanded by Air Force astronauts. The main points I see the Navy-bias bleed through are with Bob Crippen's quick turn-arounds as CDR, and the assignment of USAF Astronauts as PLT's on each of the first Spacelab missions.

Oh, that's right, I wasn't thinking…didn't process that.  Thanks.

Most PLTs will be making 3 and 4 flights as PLTS without CDR upgrade training if the program is extended…  Maybe not 4.  Will there be any PLT to CDR upgrade training in the future (if the program is extended), ie. Eric Boe or Doug Hurley (those are examples from the '00 group).

Also, is the following list of PLT/CDRs the only who have flown as MSPs (not counting ISS crewmembers made out of shuttle CDRs, which is also somewhat uncommon)?:

– Cockrell
– Precourt
– Nagel
– Bresnik
– Garan
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 08/31/2009 01:57 am
The following also flew as MS:
Peterson Group 7
Griggs Group 8
McMonagle Group 12
Readdy Group 12
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 08/31/2009 08:10 am
At the risk of upsetting Jim with another 'it's not fair' point, can I ask the following:

Greg H. Johnson has just been assigned as PLT on 134, his second flight as a pilot, whereas all the other active Group 17ers (except Ray Jay) have already flown or received commands (Ferguson, Archambault, Zamka, Poindexter and Ham). I assume that NASA did not consider it necessary (due to expense, perhaps?) to put more veteran PLTs through CDR upgrade training and hence gave Johnson a second PLT slot, a position for which he was already trained?

Are any of the pilots annoyed, do you think, at receiving a right-seat assignment when many of their classmates have scooped a left-seat command? I know astronauts frequently comment that 'there are no bad missions' and some would be happy for any mission, whatever seat they are given, but I remember Hammond was annoyed that he did not get a command and everyone else in his class did. Going back to the 60s, McDivitt was annoyed that he was pencilled-in to fly right-seat to Al Shepard on A13 and didn't take the assignment accordingly. These guys are, after all, hyper-competitive test pilots and, surely, COMMAND (ie left-seat) is in their blood? I wonder if Johnson had the opportunity to go through CDR Upgrade or was simply told that he either flew again as a PLT or he didn't fly again?

Has anyone else gone through CDR Upgrade since Ham? If not, that surely implies that the next run of CDR vacancies (STS-133 plus extension) 'should' start with the likes of Ferguson, Archambault, Polansky etc with Boe, Johnson, Hurley etc as PLTs?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Webhamster on 08/31/2009 12:20 pm
At the risk of upsetting Jim with another 'it's not fair' point, can I ask the following:

Greg H. Johnson has just been assigned as PLT on 134, his second flight as a pilot, whereas all the other active Group 17ers (except Ray Jay) have already flown or received commands (Ferguson, Archambault, Zamka, Poindexter and Ham). I assume that NASA did not consider it necessary (due to expense, perhaps?) to put more veteran PLTs through CDR upgrade training and hence gave Johnson a second PLT slot, a position for which he was already trained?

Are any of the pilots annoyed, do you think, at receiving a right-seat assignment when many of their classmates have scooped a left-seat command? I know astronauts frequently comment that 'there are no bad missions' and some would be happy for any mission, whatever seat they are given, but I remember Hammond was annoyed that he did not get a command and everyone else in his class did. Going back to the 60s, McDivitt was annoyed that he was pencilled-in to fly right-seat to Al Shepard on A13 and didn't take the assignment accordingly. These guys are, after all, hyper-competitive test pilots and, surely, COMMAND (ie left-seat) is in their blood? I wonder if Johnson had the opportunity to go through CDR Upgrade or was simply told that he either flew again as a PLT or he didn't fly again?

Has anyone else gone through CDR Upgrade since Ham? If not, that surely implies that the next run of CDR vacancies (STS-133 plus extension) 'should' start with the likes of Ferguson, Archambault, Polansky etc with Boe, Johnson, Hurley etc as PLTs?

I think that they are pros and recognize the "numbers game".  There are only so many flights left and no more rookie pilots so it makes sense that *somebody* is going to have to be "passed over".  This is a unique situation compared to the others you cite.  This is a program that's ending, the pool of available talent is short, and by the luck (or bad luck) of the draw these guys just happened to get the last few rookie PLT assignments from their class which means they're the ones who get recycled to the right seat for the last 3 flights.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ender0319 on 08/31/2009 04:37 pm
STS-133 Prediction:
Lindsey (CDR)
Boe (PLT)

I have no basis for it but it's my guess.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 08/31/2009 04:56 pm
All star crew part 1? :)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 08/31/2009 09:13 pm
Quote..."Are any of the pilots annoyed"?

One incident that comes to mind is Gene Cernan.
He was willing to give up a lunar landing on Apollo 16 in order to get command of Apollo 17.

The whole flight crew assignment is quite interesting.
Even in recent shuttle flight crew assignments, you have 2 members from Group 17 (Ferguson and Archambault) getting CDR positions before Group 16 astronauts Hobaugh and (Jim) Kelly.

In 1994 you had Bob Cabana (Group 11) getting a CDR flight assignment before Blaine Hammond (Group 10) flew as PLT for the second time.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 08/31/2009 09:42 pm
Quote..."Are any of the pilots annoyed"?

One incident that comes to mind is Gene Cernan.
He was willing to give up a lunar landing on Apollo 16 in order to get command of Apollo 17.

The whole flight crew assignment is quite interesting.
Even in recent shuttle flight crew assignments, you have 2 members from Group 17 (Ferguson and Archambault) getting CDR positions before Group 16 astronauts Hobaugh and (Jim) Kelly.

In 1994 you had Bob Cabana (Group 11) getting a CDR flight assignment before Blaine Hammond (Group 10) flew as PLT for the second time.

Ferguson, Archambault and Hobaugh all received CDR assignments sequentially from their last flights as PLT's. It doesn't strike me as that odd considering it was decided most of the 1998 PLT's would fly once as PLT before rotating to the left-seat. Actually, its one of the few times flight crew assignments were making sense.

As for Jim Kelly...that's been covered to death now. We don't know what's up, and won't know for awhile I suspect.

Blaine Hammond, he was black-balled in the Astronaut Corps. Why is a bit of a mystery. Burrough's covers it in "Dragonfly". I'm more confounded about it after Mike Mullane gives an account in his book of flying back-seat with Hammond when their T-38 caught fire, and how Hammond still managed to land the aircraft.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 08/31/2009 10:13 pm
Burrough implies that it was Abbey, and not the Astronaut Office, which black-balled Hammond. I remember reading that Cabana put Hammond's name forward for a command, but it was declined. Plus something about a walkaround of the orbiter after STS-64 which Hammond wasn't permitted to do? Dick Richards was apparently as annoyed as Hammond about it. The implication is that Hammond was actually highly regarded within the corps. I haven't heard anything different.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: orbiter62995 on 09/01/2009 12:32 am
Another two unfair questions pertaining to the assignments.

The names Brown, Rominger, and Horowitz come to mind instantly, there's more who have gone through this but I am having an all-to-frequent space brain lapse.  Anyhow, what renders them for three PLT assignments?  Was it because the original PLT withdrew?  I would imagine not, though.  What renders them for this?  Anything?  It is ironic because Husband got one PLT assignment and his first flight was while all 3 of these astronauts were active.  He got one PLT before the CDR assignment, whereas a guy like Horowitz, who was selected earlier, got 3 PLT assignments during his time before Husband.  Ironic that Husband, "lucky" enough to get the command, should have such an ill fate.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Webhamster on 09/01/2009 12:59 am
Another two unfair questions pertaining to the assignments.

The names Brown, Rominger, and Horowitz come to mind instantly, there's more who have gone through this but I am having an all-to-frequent space brain lapse.  Anyhow, what renders them for three PLT assignments?  Was it because the original PLT withdrew?  I would imagine not, though.  What renders them for this?  Anything?  It is ironic because Husband got one PLT assignment and his first flight was while all 3 of these astronauts were active.  He got one PLT before the CDR assignment, whereas a guy like Horowitz, who was selected earlier, got 3 PLT assignments during his time before Husband.  Ironic that Husband, "lucky" enough to get the command, should have such an ill fate.

In the case of Brown and Rominger their third PLT assignments were specifically because the currently assigned pilot had to pull out.  In Rominger's case it was Jeff Ashby who was assigned to STS-85 and had to pull out for family reasons.  The switch came in March 1997 and launch was in August and Rominger was the most recently returned (hence fully trained) pilot who could recycle and slip into the seat with such a shortened training cycle.  I believe he was also guaranteed that it wouldn't cost him a command. 

I don't recall who the original pilot of STS-77 was supposed to be (Brown's substitution came before the crew was publicly announced but after training had started) but my understanding is that it was a similar set of circumstances as above.

I'm not sure what the case was with Horowitz, but I imagine it was much the same.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: orbiter62995 on 09/01/2009 04:23 am
Another two unfair questions pertaining to the assignments.

The names Brown, Rominger, and Horowitz come to mind instantly, there's more who have gone through this but I am having an all-to-frequent space brain lapse.  Anyhow, what renders them for three PLT assignments?  Was it because the original PLT withdrew?  I would imagine not, though.  What renders them for this?  Anything?  It is ironic because Husband got one PLT assignment and his first flight was while all 3 of these astronauts were active.  He got one PLT before the CDR assignment, whereas a guy like Horowitz, who was selected earlier, got 3 PLT assignments during his time before Husband.  Ironic that Husband, "lucky" enough to get the command, should have such an ill fate.

In the case of Brown and Rominger their third PLT assignments were specifically because the currently assigned pilot had to pull out.  In Rominger's case it was Jeff Ashby who was assigned to STS-85 and had to pull out for family reasons.  The switch came in March 1997 and launch was in August and Rominger was the most recently returned (hence fully trained) pilot who could recycle and slip into the seat with such a shortened training cycle.  I believe he was also guaranteed that it wouldn't cost him a command. 

I don't recall who the original pilot of STS-77 was supposed to be (Brown's substitution came before the crew was publicly announced but after training had started) but my understanding is that it was a similar set of circumstances as above.

I'm not sure what the case was with Horowitz, but I imagine it was much the same.

I figured, and I heard something about Ashby trading flights with somebody because his wife passed, so that affirms Rominger I think.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 09/01/2009 06:42 am
I don't recall who the original pilot of STS-77 was supposed to be (Brown's substitution came before the crew was publicly announced but after training had started) but my understanding is that it was a similar set of circumstances as above.

Are You sure this is correct? Did the replacement issue involve the PLT position? I thought that Blaine Hammond was to command STS-77, but George Abbey intervened.

Sorry, I do not have a reference link for htis, but I remember Hammond told so himself in a Florida Today interview.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 09/01/2009 08:06 am
I suppose the choice of Rominger to replace Ashby on 85 probably also had something to do with the fact that he already had SPAS/rendezvous experience from STS-80 and STS-85 was also carrying a SPAS payload.

I was never aware of 'another' PLT for STS-77. I always believed that Brown was chosen because a PLT with rendezvous experience was needed, in light of the SPTN-207 deploy/retrieve ops, and Brown had previously flown the CRISTA-SPAS mission on STS-66. At the time of the 77 assignment (June 1995), there were no other PLTs with such experience, available for flight: Bill Gregory (for some reason) never flew again, Eileen Collins was pregnant and Kregel, Rominger, Jett and Horowitz were training for their first flights and wouldn't have had enough time to recycle to 77. There were also no more rookie pilots, as Group 15 had only just started its Ascan training, and most other veteran PLTs were well into training for other flights (Cockrell, Searfoss, Wilcutt).

With that in mind, I don't think there COULD have been 'another' PLT available for 77, besides Brown.

As for Hammond, Burrough mentions him going for STS-78, which he labelled as a Mir docking flight, but seems to have got his dates wrong because he hints that Hammond's name was pencilled in for this command sometime in 1995. Well, by that time, STS-79, a Mir docking flight, had already long since received its CDR (Readdy). Maybe Burrough was confusing it with the LMS mission (the actual STS-78), which Henricks ultimately commanded. Henricks was named to the 78 CDR seat in October 1995, so perhaps that was the mission that Burrough meant.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Webhamster on 09/01/2009 12:56 pm
I was never aware of 'another' PLT for STS-77. I always believed that Brown was chosen because a PLT with rendezvous experience was needed, in light of the SPTN-207 deploy/retrieve ops, and Brown had previously flown the CRISTA-SPAS mission on STS-66. At the time of the 77 assignment (June 1995), there were no other PLTs with such experience, available for flight: Bill Gregory (for some reason) never flew again, Eileen Collins was pregnant and Kregel, Rominger, Jett and Horowitz were training for their first flights and wouldn't have had enough time to recycle to 77. There were also no more rookie pilots, as Group 15 had only just started its Ascan training, and most other veteran PLTs were well into training for other flights (Cockrell, Searfoss, Wilcutt).

With that in mind, I don't think there COULD have been 'another' PLT available for 77, besides Brown.

On that one, I'm just going with what I heard...that a substitution had taken place.  It could be totally wrong.  Maybe the person who mentioned that to me was confuzzling 77 and 85.  Both involved Brown so I could see how that could happen.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aurora899 on 09/01/2009 01:16 pm
I was never aware of 'another' PLT for STS-77. I always believed that Brown was chosen because a PLT with rendezvous experience was needed, in light of the SPTN-207 deploy/retrieve ops, and Brown had previously flown the CRISTA-SPAS mission on STS-66. At the time of the 77 assignment (June 1995), there were no other PLTs with such experience, available for flight: Bill Gregory (for some reason) never flew again, Eileen Collins was pregnant and Kregel, Rominger, Jett and Horowitz were training for their first flights and wouldn't have had enough time to recycle to 77. There were also no more rookie pilots, as Group 15 had only just started its Ascan training, and most other veteran PLTs were well into training for other flights (Cockrell, Searfoss, Wilcutt).

With that in mind, I don't think there COULD have been 'another' PLT available for 77, besides Brown.

On that one, I'm just going with what I heard...that a substitution had taken place.  It could be totally wrong.  Maybe the person who mentioned that to me was confuzzling 77 and 85.  Both involved Brown so I could see how that could happen.

Somebody once suggested that Eileen Collins had been pencilled in as pilot for STS-77 but became pregnant before the official announcment was made and that Curt Brown was effectively her replacement.

Poor Bill Gregory was nominated for a second flight in the PLT position on a number of occasions but never made it onto the final crew. It appears that his selection was continually blocked by someone at the very highest level of the Johnson Space Center. In the end, he quit in frustration.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 09/01/2009 01:53 pm
Which mission was Gregory nominated for?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Webhamster on 09/01/2009 02:24 pm
With that in mind, I don't think there COULD have been 'another' PLT available for 77, besides Brown.

On that one, I'm just going with what I heard...that a substitution had taken place.  It could be totally wrong.  Maybe the person who mentioned that to me was confuzzling 77 and 85.  Both involved Brown so I could see how that could happen.

Somebody once suggested that Eileen Collins had been pencilled in as pilot for STS-77 but became pregnant before the official announcment was made and that Curt Brown was effectively her replacement.

That actually makes perfect sense.  Recycling from STS-63 to STS-77 would have been just about right if not for the pregnancy right after returning.  It was probably that *and* the lack of rookie pilots that led to Brown taking the seat.  And since Brown ended up getting recycled as CDR of 85 just about a year later I think he probably got a promise of a quick command turnaround for taking the 3rd run in the PLT seat.  Pure speculation though, but everything would seem to make sense there (which, as I've learned, is odd when it comes to crew assignments ;) ).
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 09/01/2009 02:50 pm
Burrough implies that it was Abbey, and not the Astronaut Office, which black-balled Hammond. I remember reading that Cabana put Hammond's name forward for a command, but it was declined. Plus something about a walkaround of the orbiter after STS-64 which Hammond wasn't permitted to do? Dick Richards was apparently as annoyed as Hammond about it. The implication is that Hammond was actually highly regarded within the corps. I haven't heard anything different.

The thing that throws me about Hammond, and it being all Abbey's fault is I'm not sure how he gets all the blame here. Abbey returned to JSC in 1994. By then every member of his Astronaut class who stuck around had flown as CDR (or assigned). I don't know about Dan Brandenstein, but Hoot Gibson stated for Burroughs that prior to Abbey's return every crew roster he submitted was approved. The only crew Gibson could have submitted Hammond for was STS-64...as PLT. Why did he not rotate to the left-seat, and why did he wait so long for a second flight? Abbey certainly torpedoed his shot at Command of STS-78/STS-79 (whichever), but somebody wasn't too crazy about him beforehand.

With Horowitz and STS-101, I always suspected that as the first "glass cockpit" flight may have had something to do with it. Maybe he'd done a lot of technical work on that?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: orbiter62995 on 09/01/2009 03:27 pm
With Horowitz and STS-101, I always suspected that as the first "glass cockpit" flight may have had something to do with it. Maybe he'd done a lot of technical work on that?

Again, I don't work for NASA (obviously, it shows!) but he was among NASA's most experienced PLTs at the time – I'm sure he was, because of his selection date and training for two previous right-seat flights, a prime candidate indeed.  Because he had the two PLT assignments, this new technical advancement itself may have been the cause for the recycling into right-seat for 101.  I have no clue, just putting it out there.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 09/01/2009 04:56 pm
Jeez, go off-line for a few days....

Some additional information:

Rominger replaced Ashby on 85 because Ashby withdrew for personal reasons.

Brown and Horowitz flew as PLTs a third time because of numbers -- Webhamster's post gives a good summary of the situation.  (I was at JSC the week the 77 crew was announced, and expressed mild amazement about Brown as PLT a third time.... was told it was numbers, and that Brown was offered the assignment thusly:  "Want to fly next year as a PLT again, or wait 18 months to two years for the next open CDR spot?"  He took the earlier flight, no doubt knowing he wasn't hurting himself with the chief astronaut for being a team player.)

"Never heard" of Hammond being regarded as a less than stellar performer within the astronaut office?  Better ask again.

Michael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aurora899 on 09/01/2009 05:43 pm
Which mission was Gregory nominated for?

To be honest I've no idea. My info is based purely on a small piece in "Spaceflight" magazine written a few weeks after Bill Gregory had resigned. Gregory stated that he'd "enjoyed the full support" of Dave Leestma (who was the Director of Flight Crew Operations at the time) and that several attempts had been made to nominate him for a second flight. Each time it was rejected.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aurora899 on 09/01/2009 07:50 pm

As for Hammond, Burrough mentions him going for STS-78, which he labelled as a Mir docking flight, but seems to have got his dates wrong because he hints that Hammond's name was pencilled in for this command sometime in 1995. Well, by that time, STS-79, a Mir docking flight, had already long since received its CDR (Readdy). Maybe Burrough was confusing it with the LMS mission (the actual STS-78), which Henricks ultimately commanded. Henricks was named to the 78 CDR seat in October 1995, so perhaps that was the mission that Burrough meant.

From what I remember, Hammond actually did all the Russian language training in advance of a Shuttle-Mir command but then got shunted off to USAF liason or something. He was serving as Chief of the Astronaut Office's Safety Branch at the time of the infamous Progress tanker collision and, I believe, was one of the few voices who objected to continuing with US astronauts making long duration flights aboard Mir. I don't think his objections were that well received in some quarters and he quit not long after.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Stevo on 09/02/2009 12:47 am
Which mission was Gregory nominated for?

To be honest I've no idea. My info is based purely on a small piece in "Spaceflight" magazine written a few weeks after Bill Gregory had resigned. Gregory stated that he'd "enjoyed the full support" of Dave Leestma (who was the Director of Flight Crew Operations at the time) and that several attempts had been made to nominate him for a second flight. Each time it was rejected.

I've always found it interesting that neither Oswald (CDR) or Gregory (PLT) got another assignment after STS-67. The rest of the crew went on to further flights, but the CDR and PLT never did. This was Oswald's first command and Gregory's first flight period so one could assume that they were just beginning or in the prime of their careers. Did something happen on the flight or did they clash with management a la the crew of Apollo 7?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Orbiter on 09/02/2009 01:35 am
STS-133 Prediction:
Lindsey (CDR)
Boe (PLT)

I have no basis for it but it's my guess.

Oh so that actually isn't going to be the CDR and the PLT? Because you told us the 134 crew well in advance  ;)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Webhamster on 09/02/2009 04:21 am
I've always found it interesting that neither Oswald (CDR) or Gregory (PLT) got another assignment after STS-67. The rest of the crew went on to further flights, but the CDR and PLT never did. This was Oswald's first command and Gregory's first flight period so one could assume that they were just beginning or in the prime of their careers. Did something happen on the flight or did they clash with management a la the crew of Apollo 7?

I won't get into rumours but I've read that both Gregory and Hammond were in the (career-ending) doghouse for various reasons.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 09/02/2009 10:52 am
Oswald went off into management after STS-67. He did return to the Astronaut Office in 1998 - and I was kinda hoping he would get another command - but retired from NASA in 2000.

One wonders, now that the 133 crew is close to being named, how many astros are brushing up on their Russian and getting fitted for Soyuz seat liners? There's only 5 seats remaining (and just one more CDR/PLT pairing) and I'm surprised that (with the exception of Garan), no PLTs have made that transition yet. Are they all sticking around for Orion 'Operator 1' positions - or can we expect a mass exodus of veteran PLTs from the corps in the coming months?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 09/02/2009 03:03 pm

[snipagge]

I've always found it interesting that neither Oswald (CDR) or Gregory (PLT) got another assignment after STS-67. The rest of the crew went on to further flights, but the CDR and PLT never did. This was Oswald's first command and Gregory's first flight period so one could assume that they were just beginning or in the prime of their careers. Did something happen on the flight or did they clash with management a la the crew of Apollo 7?

Check out Oswald's oral history on the JSC History site: he was worn down by training and flying 67, sought out a management assignment.... which took him briefly to the Pentagon, then to NASA HQ for almost three years.  When he returned to JSC, he expected to spend a year in the "penalty box" (his term, and a great one) getting requalified for a new flight assignment.  As that period stretched out, he was offered a civil service retirement package he couldn't pass up.

He talked to Abbey, who told him he had planned to assign him to one or two ISS assembly commands, but still chose to leave (Jan 2001). 

Michael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 09/03/2009 08:11 pm
QUOTE..."...Brown was chosen because a PLT with rendezvous experience was needed, in light of the SPTN-207 deploy/retrieve ops, and Brown had previously flown the CRISTA-SPAS mission on STS-66. At the time of the 77 assignment (June 1995), there were no other PLTs with such experience, available for flight".

Which brings to mind another question...
Why was it important to have a "rendezvous experienced" PLT on STS 77, but not important to have one on STS 63, which rendezvoused with two vehicles?
Thank you.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 09/04/2009 02:12 am
Which brings to mind another question...
Why was it important to have a "rendezvous experienced" PLT on STS 77, but not important to have one on STS 63, which rendezvoused with two vehicles?
Thank you.

The number of available PLT's was also a stated reason for Brown's assignment. If someone's going to be flying a third time, it may as well be someone with the experience to make the job easier.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 09/04/2009 06:45 am
Michael,
I've just read Oswald's oral history and an interesting point came up. He mentions that Group 11 "were on a fast track" to fly only 2 years after selection - presumably they would have made first flights in 1987, had it not been for Challenger? I had always suspected that, had 24 missions flown in 1987 as planned, NASA would have quickly 'run out' of available PLTs, so presumably each of the Group 9, 10 and 11 PLTs would have had to fly at least twice? Maybe we would have seen similar Brown-type situations?
Thanks.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Webhamster on 09/04/2009 01:09 pm
Michael,
I've just read Oswald's oral history and an interesting point came up. He mentions that Group 11 "were on a fast track" to fly only 2 years after selection - presumably they would have made first flights in 1987, had it not been for Challenger? I had always suspected that, had 24 missions flown in 1987 as planned, NASA would have quickly 'run out' of available PLTs, so presumably each of the Group 9, 10 and 11 PLTs would have had to fly at least twice? Maybe we would have seen similar Brown-type situations?
Thanks.

I think it was always the idea that future selectees would spend spend more time in the right seat before moving up to CDR.  The goal with groups 8, 9, and 10 was to fast track them to CDR status (which is why all of those pilots were promoted after only 1 flight) to create a stable of certified CDR's for the increasing flight rate and thus why new selectees had to be fast tracked to PLT status.  There was also some suggestion of creating commander-pilot teams (at least I believe Deke Slayton suggested it) who would fly together often to reduce the training cycle for quick turnarounds.  But none of it came to pass of course.

This is why you only see the first pilot to fly twice show up in the post-Challenger era (Richard Covey...discounting Steve Nagel since his first flight was as an MS).
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 09/04/2009 02:25 pm
Michael,
I've just read Oswald's oral history and an interesting point came up. He mentions that Group 11 "were on a fast track" to fly only 2 years after selection - presumably they would have made first flights in 1987, had it not been for Challenger? I had always suspected that, had 24 missions flown in 1987 as planned, NASA would have quickly 'run out' of available PLTs, so presumably each of the Group 9, 10 and 11 PLTs would have had to fly at least twice? Maybe we would have seen similar Brown-type situations?
Thanks.

I think it was always the idea that future selectees would spend spend more time in the right seat before moving up to CDR.  The goal with groups 8, 9, and 10 was to fast track them to CDR status (which is why all of those pilots were promoted after only 1 flight) to create a stable of certified CDR's for the increasing flight rate and thus why new selectees had to be fast tracked to PLT status.  There was also some suggestion of creating commander-pilot teams (at least I believe Deke Slayton suggested it) who would fly together often to reduce the training cycle for quick turnarounds.  But none of it came to pass of course.

This is why you only see the first pilot to fly twice show up in the post-Challenger era (Richard Covey...discounting Steve Nagel since his first flight was as an MS).

The "fast track" was a response to the increasing flight rate (as seen pre-Challenger, of course) combined with the expected attrition of the Apollo-era holdovers and even some Group 8/1978 pilots.  It wasn't just Oswald's year... the 1984s were on a fast track, too: McCulley was selected in May 1984, qualified as a PLT a year or so later, and assigned to 61-N in November.

A tiny correction to Webhamster: the group 10/1984 pilots were originally supposed to do two tours as PLT before moving to the left seat.  Both Wetherbee and Casper were given second PLT assignments (STS-46 and STS-50) before being shifted to commands (STS-52 and STS-54).

It wasn't just Slayton who suggested CDR/PLT teams.... flight crew ops under Abbey was considering the same thing as of March 1982, looking ahead to flight rates of 18/year.

And Covey's assignment as PLT for a second time was not part of a major plan.... it was simply that Roy Bridges left NASA and his PLT spot on Hauck's crew to return to the Air Force, post-Challenger.  Since the Hauck crew was one of maybe three crews that continued generic mission training after the accident, Covey -- assigned as capcom -- began sitting in.  When it came time to name the return-to-flight crew, Hauck requested Covey... Covey accepted the offer.

Michael Cassutt

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 09/04/2009 03:25 pm
It wasn't just Slayton who suggested CDR/PLT teams.... flight crew ops under Abbey was considering the same thing as of March 1982, looking ahead to flight rates of 18/year.

The closest this appears to have come to be (on paper) was the names for Astro 1, 2 and even 3 I've seen float around. CDR: Jon McBride and PLT: Dick Richards.

I know that's accurate for Astro 1 as originally planned (STS 61-E). What about the other two?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Webhamster on 09/04/2009 04:07 pm
It wasn't just Slayton who suggested CDR/PLT teams.... flight crew ops under Abbey was considering the same thing as of March 1982, looking ahead to flight rates of 18/year.

Did they actually try it with Henricks/Kregel on STS-70 and STS-78?  Or was that just coincidence/numbers that led to them being assigned as a "team" back-to-back?  I recall reading something about the idea being tested on them to see if it led to any efficiencies and I've always believed it since less than one year seems like a quick turnaround for command assignments.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 09/04/2009 04:25 pm
Looking at how the crew assignments were panning out in 85-86, it looked like all the Group 9ers would have flown twice as a PLT and all the Group 8ers (except Nagel, Griggs and Covey) would have flown as CDR on their second mission. If you look at the manifest for 87, quite a few missions were DoD, carrying Navstar payloads, so presumably they might have been the ones to see CDR/PLT (and perhaps MS) 'teams'? Plus the obvious ones like ASTRO-1, ASTRO-2 and ASTRO-3.

I still imagine that they'd have run out of PLTs pretty quickly, though. Even flying twice or even three times in the right-seat, and judging from the enormous flight rate (24+ per year) the number of PLTs selected in 1980 (7), 1984 (6) and 1985 (5) would surely have been exhausted long before the 1987 PLTs were qualified. Would some have flown 4 times as PLT, perhaps?



 
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Webhamster on 09/04/2009 06:28 pm
I still imagine that they'd have run out of PLTs pretty quickly, though. Even flying twice or even three times in the right-seat, and judging from the enormous flight rate (24+ per year) the number of PLTs selected in 1980 (7), 1984 (6) and 1985 (5) would surely have been exhausted long before the 1987 PLTs were qualified. Would some have flown 4 times as PLT, perhaps?

I imagine that would be the case.  I think the best analogy would be looking at it from the perspective of an airline crew where one is not necessarily guaranteed promotion unless a spot opens up.  I have an old book about the shuttle from about 1978 forecasting weekly flights (even more than one flight in the same week).  That was what the idea the program was sold on so I could easily see (if it had actually worked out that way) PLT's doing 6, 7, even 8 flights before moving up.  I believe that was the idea...space as accessible as an airline ride.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aurora899 on 09/05/2009 10:20 am

As for Hammond, Burrough mentions him going for STS-78, which he labelled as a Mir docking flight, but seems to have got his dates wrong because he hints that Hammond's name was pencilled in for this command sometime in 1995. Well, by that time, STS-79, a Mir docking flight, had already long since received its CDR (Readdy). Maybe Burrough was confusing it with the LMS mission (the actual STS-78), which Henricks ultimately commanded. Henricks was named to the 78 CDR seat in October 1995, so perhaps that was the mission that Burrough meant.

From what I remember, Hammond actually did all the Russian language training in advance of a Shuttle-Mir command but then got shunted off to USAF liason or something. He was serving as Chief of the Astronaut Office's Safety Branch at the time of the infamous Progress tanker collision and, I believe, was one of the few voices who objected to continuing with US astronauts making long duration flights aboard Mir. I don't think his objections were that well received in some quarters and he quit not long after.


Talking about Shuttle-Mir, does anyone know why Frank Culbertson (NASA's Shuttle-Mir Program Manager) didn't command one of the docking missions? I only ask because I recently came across an old newspaper article from around the time of STS-71 which stated that Culbertson and his Russian counterpart, Valery Ryumin, would probably fly together on the last mission (there were only seven manifested at that time). Well, Ryumin did fly on the last mission (STS-91) but Culbertson stayed firmly on the ground. Either the newspaper article was incorrect or something changed. I wondered if it was to do with the on-board fire and Progress Tanker collision? Perhaps NASA thought it better to have their Project Manager concentrating fully on the job in hand at such a critical time rather than being distracted by the demands of a spaceflight?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 09/05/2009 03:07 pm
I don't know about STS-91, but I do remember reading a letter in SPACEFLIGHT sometime in 1996. The person who sent the letter had spoken to Culbertson, who was anticipating assignment as CDR to STS-86. Ultimately, Wetherbee received that command.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 09/05/2009 03:32 pm
Talking about Shuttle-Mir, does anyone know why Frank Culbertson (NASA's Shuttle-Mir Program Manager) didn't command one of the docking missions? I only ask because I recently came across an old newspaper article from around the time of STS-71 which stated that Culbertson and his Russian counterpart, Valery Ryumin, would probably fly together on the last mission (there were only seven manifested at that time). Well, Ryumin did fly on the last mission (STS-91) but Culbertson stayed firmly on the ground. Either the newspaper article was incorrect or something changed. I wondered if it was to do with the on-board fire and Progress Tanker collision? Perhaps NASA thought it better to have their Project Manager concentrating fully on the job in hand at such a critical time rather than being distracted by the demands of a spaceflight?

Burroughs wrote something similar, noting at the end of "Dragonfly" that Culbertson was hoping to command the final Mir docking (STS-91). This seems surprising that it was a question as late as the book's publishing as the it concludes around the time Andy Thomas was up on Mir (when the STS-91 crew had surely been named).

There may not have been time with the collision and all to get Culbertson back into the training cycle. He hadn't flown since STS-51 in 1993. He'd been constantly dealing with managerial responsibilities related to the Shuttle-Mir program. Unless he was replaced in say, 1997 at the latest, I don't see how he could have gotten the flight.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 09/05/2009 09:48 pm
It wasn't just Slayton who suggested CDR/PLT teams.... flight crew ops under Abbey was considering the same thing as of March 1982, looking ahead to flight rates of 18/year.

The closest this appears to have come to be (on paper) was the names for Astro 1, 2 and even 3 I've seen float around. CDR: Jon McBride and PLT: Dick Richards.

I know that's accurate for Astro 1 as originally planned (STS 61-E). What about the other two?

It's possible that McBride-Richards were going to fly two or three ASTRO missions, as seen pre-Challenger, but I've never heard that.  The flight rate wasn't projected to be high enough in 1987-89 to require that kind of recycling.

On a related point, however, the same docs that show CDR-PLT teams recyling as a unit (when flight rates hit 18+ missions/year) also show pairs of MS doing the same thing.

Re Culbertson and STS-91, I had heard he was indeed aimed at that mission, the last Shuttle-Mir visit, with Ryumin, but the summer 1997 Mir follies forced NASA to keep Culbertson where he was -- manager of the program.  Precourt got the mission instead.... (I suspect the short, year-long appointment of Ken Cockrell as chief of the astronaut office was related to Precourt's STS-91-induced unavailability for that job.)

Michael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aurora899 on 09/07/2009 10:08 am
In his excellent book 'Riding Rockets', Mike Mullane notes that Rick Hauck (the ranking military pilot) was the Group 8 "class leader" and, as such, expected to be assigned first. Well, that's exactly what happened. Hauck flew on STS-7 along with three other TFNGs, including Sally Ride. I assume that subsequent astronaut intakes also had a class leader, so would that particular individual have been assigned first or, at least, been high up the pecking order?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 09/07/2009 10:13 am
I heard that Blaha was team leader for Group 9 and he was one of the last to be assigned/flew. Also, Greg C. Johnson was once described as the team leader for Group 17 and flew last. (Having said that, in the wake of the Lisa Nowak affair, the two astronauts who accompanied her were Steve Lindsey, as CB chief, and Chris Ferguson, as her "ranking senior officer").

Does anyone know the names of other team leaders and whether they were formal or informal in nature?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 09/07/2009 02:10 pm
I heard that Blaha was team leader for Group 9 and he was one of the last to be assigned/flew. Also, Greg C. Johnson was once described as the team leader for Group 17 and flew last. (Having said that, in the wake of the Lisa Nowak affair, the two astronauts who accompanied her were Steve Lindsey, as CB chief, and Chris Ferguson, as her "ranking senior officer").

Does anyone know the names of other team leaders and whether they were formal or informal in nature?

Informal I'd assume. By the time of the Nowak affair Ray-J had retired from the Navy and Ferguson was the ranking Navy Astronaut.

Also, in spite of being one of the last to fly, the STS-125 crew was named before the crews of at least two ISS Assembly flights (STS 123 and 124) if my memory is right.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aurora899 on 09/07/2009 03:14 pm
I heard that Blaha was team leader for Group 9 and he was one of the last to be assigned/flew. Also, Greg C. Johnson was once described as the team leader for Group 17 and flew last. (Having said that, in the wake of the Lisa Nowak affair, the two astronauts who accompanied her were Steve Lindsey, as CB chief, and Chris Ferguson, as her "ranking senior officer").

Does anyone know the names of other team leaders and whether they were formal or informal in nature?
Informal I'd assume.

Re-reading the relevant passages from Mullane's book, it appears that Hauck took his responsibilities as "class leader" quite seriously - even if it was informal. From day one, he seems to have co-ordinated a number of administrative tasks among his fellow TFNGs so I think it was a bit more than just cleaning the blackboard at the start of every lesson!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 09/07/2009 05:04 pm
I heard that Blaha was team leader for Group 9 and he was one of the last to be assigned/flew. Also, Greg C. Johnson was once described as the team leader for Group 17 and flew last. (Having said that, in the wake of the Lisa Nowak affair, the two astronauts who accompanied her were Steve Lindsey, as CB chief, and Chris Ferguson, as her "ranking senior officer").

Does anyone know the names of other team leaders and whether they were formal or informal in nature?
Informal I'd assume.

Re-reading the relevant passages from Mullane's book, it appears that Hauck took his responsibilities as "class leader" quite seriously - even if it was informal. From day one, he seems to have co-ordinated a number of administrative tasks among his fellow TFNGs so I think it was a bit more than just cleaning the blackboard at the start of every lesson!

There were two 1978 class leaders -- Hauck and Fabian -- who acted as traffic cops or points-of-contact for half the group.  The size of that first class required it to be split for sessions, Hauck group in the morning, Fabian in the afternoon, then swap.

Yes, both Hauck and Fabian wound up among the first TFNGs to be assigned, but I doubt it was ordained from July 1978... more a case where both were senior officers, highly-experienced and capable to begin with.... and who no doubt benefited from face-to-face dealings with their bosses.

(The statement that Hauck "expected" to be assigned first is not actually what's in Mullane's book.  The passage shows Mullane's _assumption_ that that's what's in Hauck's mind.... logical, and probably applicable to many of the TFNGs.  Hauck's thoughts are not given.)

All in all, you're making too much of this team leader business.  It was not, as far as I know, used consistently -- or memorably.  (Tom Jones doesn't even mention a "team leader" for the 1990 ASCAN group in his book, SKYWALKING.)

When designated, an ASCAN class leader would have been a senior officer or someone like Greg C Johnson, who had spent something like a decade in JSC flight crew ops prior to selection.  That is, someone skilled at serving as an interface between JSC bureaucracy and new arrivals.

(The mention of "senior office" in situations like the Nowak mess is an entirely different matter: active duty astronauts still have a vestigal military reporting structure, complete with officer efficiency reports.  The chief astronaut signs them, but I believe the senior military officer for each service has input and responsibility for matters affecting military careers.)

Michael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aurora899 on 09/07/2009 05:58 pm

(The statement that Hauck "expected" to be assigned first is not actually what's in Mullane's book.  The passage shows Mullane's _assumption_ that that's what's in Hauck's mind.... logical, and probably applicable to many of the TFNGs.  Hauck's thoughts are not given.)

All in all, you're making too much of this team leader business. 

Michael Cassutt

You are right. The exact wording is, "Rick Hauck...our class leader, took a seat at the THE table....he was making a statement: I'm going to be the first TFNG in space. Everyone of us glared at him..."

As you say, we've probably gone down a bit of a blind alley with this class leader business. I think we'll forget that one!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: orbiter62995 on 09/07/2009 06:04 pm

Re Culbertson and STS-91, I had heard he was indeed aimed at that mission, the last Shuttle-Mir visit, with Ryumin, but the summer 1997 Mir follies forced NASA to keep Culbertson where he was -- manager of the program.  Precourt got the mission instead.... (I suspect the short, year-long appointment of Ken Cockrell as chief of the astronaut office was related to Precourt's STS-91-induced unavailability for that job.)

Michael Cassutt

Is that the reason that Culbertson was given ISS CMD as a shuttle CDR?  I knew it happened after that and Kelly is going to do this soon but he was the first…I am curious.  If this is the reason, then who would have had ISS-CMD of the station in place of him?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 09/07/2009 06:36 pm

Re Culbertson and STS-91, I had heard he was indeed aimed at that mission, the last Shuttle-Mir visit, with Ryumin, but the summer 1997 Mir follies forced NASA to keep Culbertson where he was -- manager of the program.  Precourt got the mission instead.... (I suspect the short, year-long appointment of Ken Cockrell as chief of the astronaut office was related to Precourt's STS-91-induced unavailability for that job.)

Michael Cassutt

Is that the reason that Culbertson was given ISS CMD as a shuttle CDR?  I knew it happened after that and Kelly is going to do this soon but he was the first…I am curious.  If this is the reason, then who would have had ISS-CMD of the station in place of him?

Bowersox was originally assigned as putative ISS-3 commander, an expected rotation from his backup job on ISS-1.  Information, by the way, easily found... do you do much or any research before posting?

Michael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: astronut7 on 09/07/2009 08:15 pm
I asked Steve Nagel about the STS-71/Mir flight and he said yes that there was a chance that he could of have commanded it but didn't.  As far as the Astro 1 and Astro-2 flights Jon McBride were assigned to them with crew members.  I think I remember him telling me that he might have had the Astro-3 flight as well. 
Also, like someone mentioned the STS-125 crew was selected in October 2006 before some of the shuttle/ISS flights were selected.  I also spoke to Susan Still about being the first member of her class/group to fly and she told me that Jeff Ashby was the group leader and that he was originally assigned to the STS-83 flight and when he stepped down for personal reasons she was assigned then. 
Frank Culbertson was aiming to be the commander for STS-91 but it went to Charlie Precourt.
Like I posted earlier, STS-133 will be a veteran commander and pilot.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Stevo on 09/08/2009 12:41 am
I knew that Ashby stepped down from STS-85 but I never knew that he was assigned to STS-83 before that.

In the case of Susan Still (Kilrain), does anyone know why she never got a command?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: dcfowler1 on 09/08/2009 04:08 am
Sue Kilrain's husband (also in the Navy) was transferred (Roosevelt Roads, PR, IIRC), and she opted to move with him, rather than stay on at JSC.

Dave
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 09/08/2009 07:53 am
JAXA Selects An Additional Astronaut Candidate for ISS Crewmember


                                               September 8, 2009 (JST)
                             Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has decided to hire
another astronaut candidate who is on the list of the back-up
candidate.
He will join Yui Kimiya and Takuya Onishi, who had been hired in April
this year, in the training together. Therefore, the three will train
for two years in the astronaut candidate training course and will be
certified as astronaut upon completion of the training.
When assigned to a mission, the assigned astronaut will receive
mission specific training and stay aboard the International Space
Station (ISS) to operate / maintain ISS, including the Japanese
Experiment Module "Kibo", and conduct various space experiments.

1. Selected Astronaut:
   Mr. Norishige Kanai, M.D.

2. Schedule:
   - September 12, 2009: JAXA employment.
   - After employing to JAXA, he will take part in orientation
     sessions in Japan, then will participate in the National
     Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) astronaut candidate
     training course for two years to acquire science and engineering
     knowledge as well as to gain familiarity with the ISS and Kibo
     systems, which is required for astronauts. After completing the
     astronaut candidate training course, he will be certified as JAXA
     astronaut based on training result evaluation.

Attachment-1 Brief biography of the candidate
http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2009/09/20090908_select_e.html#at1
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 09/09/2009 07:05 pm
Sept. 9, 2009

RELEASE: 09-207

VETERAN ASTRONAUT HEIDEMARIE M. STEFANYSHYN-PIPER LEAVES NASA

HOUSTON -- NASA astronaut and U.S. Navy Capt. Heidemarie M.
Stefanyshyn-Piper has left NASA to return to the Navy.
Stefanyshyn-Piper is a veteran of two space shuttle flights and five
spacewalks.

"Heide has been an outstanding astronaut, contributing significantly
to the space shuttle and space station programs," said Steve Lindsey,
chief of the Astronaut Office at NASA's Johnson Space Center in
Houston. "In particular, her superb leadership as lead spacewalker
during the STS-126 mission resulted in restoring full power
generation capability to the International Space Station. We wish her
the best of luck back in the Navy -- she will be missed."

NASA selected Stefanyshyn-Piper as an astronaut in April 1996. She
flew on the STS-115 mission in 2006 and STS-126 in 2008, logging more
than 27 days in space and more than 33 hours spacewalking. Her
flights to the space station helped install a truss segment and
expanded the living quarters for additional crew members to live at
the station.

For Stefanyshyn-Piper's complete biography, visit:
http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/stefanys.html

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Orbiter on 09/14/2009 12:56 pm
I'm going to make another guess, and see how close it is to the real one once it comes out.

CDR Steve Lindsey
PLT Eric Boe
MS 1 Megan McArthur
MS 2 Tom Marshburn
MS 3 Ricky Arnold

Lets see If I get any. :P
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 09/15/2009 02:38 pm
...or perhaps

Chris Ferguson (Commander)
Greg C. Johnson (Pilot)
Rex Walheim (Mission Specialist)
Megan McArthur (Mission Specialist)
Dan Tani (Mission Specialist)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 09/15/2009 03:06 pm
or maybe Shanon Lucid gets another flight   LOL

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Green013 on 09/15/2009 05:13 pm
Remember this one, because it's probably right:

CDR: Chris Ferguson
PLT: Greg C. Johnson
MS1: Rex Walheim
MS2: Megan McArthur
MS3: Shane Kimbrough
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ShuttleAtlantis on 09/15/2009 10:28 pm
Here's my final prediction:

CDR: Chris Ferguson
PLT: Greg C. Johnson
MS: Rex Walheim
MS: John Phillips
MS: Peggy Witson
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: orbiter62995 on 09/16/2009 02:47 am
Do we know how long left in the wait for the STS-133 crew?

What would the dream crew be?

If I could bring back retired or active astronauts, I would make this crew:

CDR:  Steven Lindsey
PLT: William Gregory
MS1: Heidemerie Stefanyshyn-Piper
MS2: Chris Hadfield (CSA)
MS3: Michael Gernhart
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Malderi on 09/17/2009 04:57 am
Isn't John Young still technically an active astronaut? Maybe they'll give him the stick, one more time...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 09/17/2009 11:45 am
Takao Doi has left NASA and JAXA for a new job.

http://www.collectspace.com/ubb/Forum38/HTML/001060.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: DwightM on 09/17/2009 03:17 pm
Isn't John Young still technically an active astronaut? Maybe they'll give him the stick, one more time...
No, he retired at the end of 2006.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ShuttleAtlantis on 09/17/2009 05:46 pm
Any guesses on who might go into training for an ISS expedition, here are my guesses.

Ricky Arnold
Al Drew
Joseph Acaba
Tom Masburn
Chris Cassidy
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 09/17/2009 09:04 pm
Any guesses on who might go into training for an ISS expedition, here are my guesses.

Ricky Arnold
Al Drew
Joseph Acaba
Tom Masburn
Chris Cassidy

I'd say all good guesses. Especially Drew as he is currently Director of Operations in Star City. That's usually a path towards an ISS flight.

I'd imagine we won't see any of the 2009 Astronaut intake flying until 2012 or 2013 as ISS flight assignments are covered through 2011.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: DwightM on 09/17/2009 11:35 pm
I'd imagine we won't see any of the 2009 Astronaut intake flying until 2012 or 2013 as ISS flight assignments are covered through 2011.
Probably farther out than that.  By the time their initial training is complete next year, another year of assignments will have been announced.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 09/18/2009 12:28 pm
Do astros 'volunteer' for ISS expeditions...or are they assigned them?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ender0319 on 09/18/2009 02:27 pm
The morning buzz is that the 133 crew has been announced within the astronaut office.  Emails are starting to slip out to the JSC folks who need to know.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ShuttleAtlantis on 09/18/2009 02:52 pm
How much longer until the public will know who the crew of STS-133 will be?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Rocket Guy on 09/18/2009 07:03 pm
Note there are six people, not five, on the mission.

RELEASE: 09-218

NASA ASSIGNS CREW FOR FINAL SCHEDULED SPACE SHUTTLE MISSION

WASHINGTON -- NASA has assigned the crew for the last scheduled space
shuttle mission, targeted to launch in September 2010. The flight to
the International Space Station will carry a pressurized logistics
module to the station.

Veteran shuttle commander and retired Air Force Col. Steven W. Lindsey
will command the eight-day mission, designated STS-133. Air Force
Col. Eric A. Boe will serve as the pilot; it will be his second
flight as a shuttle pilot. Mission Specialists are shuttle mission
veteran Air Force Col. Benjamin Alvin Drew, Jr., and long-duration
spaceflight veterans Michael R. Barratt, Army Col. Timothy L. Kopra
and Nicole P. Stott.

Lindsey will be making his fifth shuttle flight. He served as the
pilot of STS-87 in 1997 and STS-95 in 1998, and commanded STS-104 in
2001 and STS-121 in 2006. Lindsey was born in Arcadia, Calif., and
considers Temple City, Calif., to be his hometown. He has a
bachelor's degree from the U.S. Air Force Academy and a master's
degree from the Air Force Institute of Technology.

Lindsey currently is chief of the Astronaut Office. Long-duration
spaceflight veteran and former space station commander Peggy A.
Whitson has been named his successor when Lindsey transitions in
October to training for his spaceflight. Whitson was a flight
engineer aboard the station during Expedition 5 in 2002 and the
commander of Expedition 16 in 2007 to 2008.

Boe will be making his second shuttle flight. He was the pilot of
STS-126 in 2008. He was born in Miami and grew up in Atlanta. Boe has
a bachelor's degree from the U.S. Air Force Academy and a master's
degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Drew flew as a mission specialist on STS-118 in 2007 and is currently
the director of Operations at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center
in Star City, Russia. He was born in Washington, D.C. Drew has two
bachelor's degrees and a master's degree from the U.S. Air Force
Academy and a master's degree from Embry Riddle University.

Barratt, a medical doctor, currently is on his first mission, aboard
the space station as a flight engineer for Expeditions 19 and 20. He
launched to the station on a Russian Soyuz spacecraft March 26 and is
due to return to Earth on the same Soyuz Oct. 11. Barratt was born in
Vancouver, Wash., and considers Camas, Wash., his hometown. He has a
bachelor's degree from the University of Washington, a master's
degree from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, and a doctorate
of medicine from Northwestern University.

Kopra just completed his first spaceflight, as a flight engineer
aboard the space station for Expedition 20. He launched July 15 on
shuttle mission STS-127 and landed aboard shuttle mission STS-128 on
Sept. 11. Kopra was born in Austin, Texas. He has a bachelor's degree
from the U.S. Military Academy, and master's degrees from the Georgia
Institute of Technology and the U.S. Army War College.

Stott is in the midst of her first mission as a flight engineer aboard
the station with Barratt for Expeditions 20 and 21. She launched
aboard STS-128 on Aug. 28 and is due to return at the end of STS-129,
targeted for launch Nov. 12. She was born in Albany, N.Y., and
considers Clearwater, Fla., her hometown. She has a bachelor's degree
from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and a master's degree from
the University of Central Florida.


Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 09/18/2009 07:08 pm
Lets hope it's not "final" :(
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: arkaska on 09/18/2009 08:44 pm
Really surprised they have three astronauts currently (or almost) in space. Mike Barrat is understandable since he hasn't flown on the shuttle before but Nicole Stott and Tim Kopra?

I would have loved to see Megan McArthur on board. She hasn't been at the ISS get and all all the other "young" astronauts on STS-125 will fly again.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 09/18/2009 08:54 pm
Really surprised they have three astronauts currently (or almost) in space. Mike Barrat is understandable since he hasn't flown on the shuttle before but Nicole Stott and Tim Kopra?

I would have loved to see Megan McArthur on board. She hasn't been at the ISS get.

Really odd crew. Why the push to get astronauts who have flown on Soyuz flights on the shuttle (or ISS flights)? It seems sort of backwards. It's a system slated to be retired....you don't need new people with the experience. Flying veterans would seem more logical. I thought Rex Walheim and/or Stan Love would end up on this flight. Guessed only right with Boe though.

Also, I believe Whitson will be the first Mission Specialist/non-shuttle CDR to serve as Astronaut Office Chief. Perhaps indicative of the Corps' future until Orion flies.

EDIT: I'm likely expecting logic in the wrong place.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: psloss on 09/18/2009 08:59 pm
Really odd crew. Why the push to get astronauts who have flown on Soyuz flights on the shuttle (or ISS flights)? It seems sort of backwards. It's a system slated to be retired....you don't need new people with the experience. Flying veterans would seem more logical.
These are all vets -- seems logical to me to have people who are very familiar with the current station when ULF-5 will have a very short (relatively speaking) docked stay.  Only Barratt has not flown on Shuttle.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: arkaska on 09/18/2009 08:59 pm
Really surprised they have three astronauts currently (or almost) in space. Mike Barrat is understandable since he hasn't flown on the shuttle before but Nicole Stott and Tim Kopra?

I would have loved to see Megan McArthur on board. She hasn't been at the ISS get.

Really odd crew. Why the push to get astronauts who have flown on Soyuz flights on the shuttle (or ISS flights)? It seems sort of backwards. It's a system slated to be retired....you don't need new people with the experience. Flying veterans would seem more logical.

Also, I believe Whitson will be the first Mission Specialist/non-shuttle CDR to serve as Astronaut Office Chief. Perhaps indicative of the Corps' future until Orion flies.

The reason is probably really easy. Tey have the ISS experience, and more than that they have recent experience. They know how things work on bard ISS and can get right at what they are supposed to do. That's likely the reason they picked experience ISS residents.

Why they picked Drew is more of a mystery for me.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 09/18/2009 09:06 pm
Why they picked Drew is more of a mystery for me.

He's been serving as Director of Operations in Star City, a position that tends to get rewarded. He may have been given a choice...ISS Flight or the last shuttle flight.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: LostInSpace on 09/19/2009 12:57 am
Just throwing this out there for debate but could the reflight of Stott and Kopra be related to long duration/reflight physiological evals?  It could be the last chance for data (directly to the US) before long duration flights?

Someone here on NSF called "CDR=Lindsey" a loooooong time ago.  Correct?

When is the STS-135 crew going to be announced?  ;-)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: orbiter62995 on 09/19/2009 01:05 am
Just throwing this out there for debate but could the reflight of Stott and Kopra be related to long duration/reflight physiological evals?  It could be the last chance for data (directly to the US) before long duration flights?

Someone here on NSF called "CDR=Lindsey" a loooooong time ago.  Correct?

When is the STS-135 crew going to be announced?  ;-)

IF the SSP is extended, with this crew instated, here's what I predict for STS-135.

CDR:  Chris Ferguson
PLT:  Greg C. "RayJ" Johnson
MS1:  Sunny Williams
MS2:  Daniel Tani
MS3:  Stan Love
MS4:  Chris Hadfield

The reason I suggest Hadfield is because he isn't assigned to an ISS flight any time soon but he is the last Canadian JSC astronaut to be around that hasn't been recycled in an ISS flight since 2006 (behind Steve MacLean, Dave Williams, Bob Thirsk, and then Julie Payette respectively).

Steve Lindsey's a great CDR, and I'm secretly delighted to have him in this roll, but it was incorrect of him to name himself in my opinion.  Maybe it has been done before, but my opinion is my opinion.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Rocket Guy on 09/19/2009 01:12 am
I think until there is an STS-135 mission there shouldn't be any crew guessing games. Case in point, virtually no one guessed 133 or that it even had six crewmembers. The game is getting silly.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Orbiter on 09/19/2009 03:26 pm
I called this a while ago.
CDR Steve Lindsey
PLT Eric Boe
MS 1 Megan McArthur
MS 2 Tom Marshburn
MS 3 Ricky Arnold


The final crew
CDR Steve Lindsey
PLT Eric Boe
MS 1 Alvin Drew
MS 2 Michael Barratt
MS 3 Tim Kopera
MS 4 Nicole Stott


Well, I got two of them right. :)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 09/19/2009 03:52 pm
Very unusual, unexpected crew. So, although it was never strictly a 'rule', presumably the four-flight-limit tradition is no more? I certainly hope so...

A few questions:
1) Did Lindsey assign himself, or was he assigned by Jett?
2) Any ideas on who will be the next chief?
3) Was Stott told before she launched or will she (uniquely) be informed whilst in orbit?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: psloss on 09/19/2009 04:06 pm
2) Any ideas on who will be the next chief?
Peggy Whitson -- noted in the press release.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: arkaska on 09/19/2009 04:07 pm
Very unusual, unexpected crew. So, although it was never strictly a 'rule', presumably the four-flight-limit tradition is no more? I certainly hope so...

A few questions:
1) Did Lindsey assign himself, or was he assigned by Jett?
2) Any ideas on who will be the next chief?
3) Was Stott told before she launched or will she (uniquely) be informed whilst in orbit?

2) Peggy A. Whitson
3) She was likely informed while she was in orbit, the same for Mike.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: collectSPACE on 09/19/2009 05:21 pm
Was Stott told before she launched or will she (uniquely) be informed whilst in orbit?

I asked this question of JSC news chief James Hartsfield yesterday and he said that both Stott and Barratt were likely informed during one of their regular weekly telecons with management, although because the meetings are private, it was unknown as to when.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ShuttleAtlantis on 09/19/2009 05:27 pm
I'm glad to see Steve Lindsey is getting another command.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: missleman01 on 09/19/2009 05:36 pm
Couple comments (.02$ stuff)

Everything Ive ever heard about Lindsey is always positive.

Him being assigned as such isnt anything new. John Young took STS-1 on as Chief Astronaut, and Brandestein took the LDEF rescue and Endeavour maiden flight as Chief too if I understand correctly.

Especially if we look at the Astronaut Corp as the professional flying outfit it is I think its rather fitting to have the squadron commander take the Orbiter on its last sortie.

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jorge on 09/19/2009 05:48 pm
Couple comments (.02$ stuff)

Everything Ive ever heard about Lindsey is always positive.

Him being assigned as such isnt anything new. John Young took STS-1 on as Chief Astronaut, and Brandestein took the LDEF rescue and Endeavour maiden flight as Chief too if I understand correctly.

Especially if we look at the Astronaut Corp as the professional flying outfit it is I think its rather fitting to have the squadron commander take the Orbiter on its last sortie.



It was once a common practice but it fell out of favor after Abbey left JSC in 2001. That's why I wasn't expecting it, anyway.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 09/19/2009 06:41 pm
Very unusual, unexpected crew. So, although it was never strictly a 'rule', presumably the four-flight-limit tradition is no more? I certainly hope so...

I only thought it would be in effect until all the rookies flew. Even under the "rule" a couple slipped through: Scott Parazynski (fifth flight on STS-120) and John Grunsfeld (fifth on STS-125).

I suppose one day we'll hear the full story about Terry Wilcutt and Jim Halsell. I thought I'd read they were first asked to stand aside as CDR on STS-116 and STS-120. Wilcutt did, Halsell didn't. Then Halsell was "told" he wouldn't be CDR on STS-120.

I expected Michael Gernhardt to also be an exception, or maybe get one of the last flights as he was attached to STS-119 for a long stretch there. Further, having flown with Lindsey on STS-104 I'm surprised he didn't sneak on to his crew. He could have of course chosen to remain in management.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 09/19/2009 08:47 pm
It's interesting that both the first and last Shuttle CDRs will have a few things in common...both 50 years old when they flew/will fly, both on their 5th flight and both previously CB chief.

Wonder if Young will be waiting on the runway to shake Lindsey's hand? That would be a nice photo-op.

I can understand, now, the need for former ISS residents and their expertise, but considering the fact that the PLM is being left attached to the station anyway, what's the urgency in having to unpack it whilst the Shuttle is present? Why not just let the ISS crew unpack it after the Shuttle leaves?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: psloss on 09/19/2009 09:11 pm
I can understand, now, the need for former ISS residents and their expertise, but considering the fact that the PLM is being left attached to the station anyway, what's the urgency in having to unpack it whilst the Shuttle is present? Why not just let the ISS crew unpack it after the Shuttle leaves?
That may be the case, anyway, and the PLM won't be fully loaded like recent MPLM-only flights.  Given the changes to crew size and mission duration, don't forget that they'll only have about four docked days -- I'm guessing that docking moves back to the middle of FD3 with undocking possibly on FD7.  (If undocking were at the beginning of FD7, that might mean hatches close at the end of FD6!)

Given how little docked time that is, it makes sense to me to have a station-experienced crew that is ready to do the "sprint" of the ELC and PLM robotics and then the PLM activation and ingress.  Not sure how much mid-deck upmass there will be, but that obviously needs to be transferred during the docked stay.  That might be the balance of the docked time there is, without considering unpack of the PLM.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Thorny on 09/19/2009 09:14 pm
Wonder if Young will be waiting on the runway to shake Lindsey's hand? That would be a nice photo-op.

I'd like to see both Young and Crippen there.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Orbiter on 09/19/2009 09:33 pm
Alright I'll buy into the hypothetical extension scenario for the first two missions (if missions get added on instead of the current schedule getting stretched out)

STS-135.
CDR Chris Ferguson
PLT Gregory C. Johnson
MS 1 Chris Cassidy
MS 2 Shane Kimbrough
MS 3 Koichi Wakata
MS 4 Sandra Magnus

STS-136.
CDR Lee Archambault
PLT Doug Hurley
MS 1 Jose Hernández
MS 2 Daniel Tani
MS 3 Léopold Eyharts
MS 4 Sunita Williams
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Alpha Control on 09/19/2009 09:35 pm
Wonder if Young will be waiting on the runway to shake Lindsey's hand? That would be a nice photo-op.

I'd like to see both Young and Crippen there.

That's a great idea, guys. The 1st CDR & PLT, with the last CDR & PLT. Would be a memorable event.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: arkaska on 09/19/2009 10:04 pm
I can understand, now, the need for former ISS residents and their expertise, but considering the fact that the PLM is being left attached to the station anyway, what's the urgency in having to unpack it whilst the Shuttle is present? Why not just let the ISS crew unpack it after the Shuttle leaves?
That may be the case, anyway, and the PLM won't be fully loaded like recent MPLM-only flights.  Given the changes to crew size and mission duration, don't forget that they'll only have about four docked days -- I'm guessing that docking moves back to the middle of FD3 with undocking possibly on FD7.  (If undocking were at the beginning of FD7, that might mean hatches close at the end of FD6!)

Given how little docked time that is, it makes sense to me to have a station-experienced crew that is ready to do the "sprint" of the ELC and PLM robotics and then the PLM activation and ingress.  Not sure how much mid-deck upmass there will be, but that obviously needs to be transferred during the docked stay.  That might be the balance of the docked time there is, without considering unpack of the PLM.


Remember that you'll have the inspection of the heat shield while docked as well. That will tie up at least to crew members. Drew and Boe? That will leave only experienced ISS crew members and the commander to work within ISS the first and last day (late inspection).

But don't they need an EVA to tie down the OBSS on the truss and complete the mating of the PLM (they have always needed an EVA for attaching permanent modules before)?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: psloss on 09/19/2009 10:12 pm
Remember that you'll have the inspection of the heat shield while docked as well. That will tie up at least to crew members. Drew and Boe? That will leave only experienced ISS crew members and the commander to work within ISS the first and last day (late inspection).

But don't they need an EVA to tie down the OBSS on the truss and complete the mating of the PLM (they have always needed an EVA for attaching permanent modules before)?
The OBSS unit being left on station will be done on ULF-6/STS-134.  For ULF-5/STS-133, there's probably going to need to be a block in the timeline for a focused inspection, if necessary, while docked.  But it will fly that OBSS unit up and down.

Edit: I forgot to consider the mission extension day for ULF-5/133 if it's now 8+1(+2).
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 09/19/2009 10:42 pm
Probably too early to know (and impossible to know), but I wonder if Lindsey picked himself for this mission BECAUSE it is the last mission? Or had his transition from CB management back onto active flight status been on the cards for months?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 09/19/2009 11:18 pm
Wonder if Young will be waiting on the runway to shake Lindsey's hand? That would be a nice photo-op.

I'd like to see both Young and Crippen there.

Ideally greeting the last shuttle crews on the runway would be as follows:
STS 132 (Atlantis) - STS 51-J's crew.
STS 134 (Endeavour) - STS 49 and STS 6's crew (Endeavour replaced Challenger, in a sense it carried on her legacy).
STS 133 (Discovery) - STS 41-D and STS 1's crew.

Of course, I can see a diversion to Edwards easily ruining a NASA PR moment.  ;)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ChrisGebhardt on 09/19/2009 11:28 pm
Wonder if Young will be waiting on the runway to shake Lindsey's hand? That would be a nice photo-op.

I'd like to see both Young and Crippen there.

Ideally greeting the last shuttle crews on the runway would be as follows:
STS 132 (Atlantis) - STS 51-J's crew.
STS 134 (Endeavour) - STS 49 and STS 6's crew (Endeavour replaced Challenger, in a sense it carried on her legacy).
STS 133 (Discovery) - STS 41-D and STS 1's crew.

Of course, I can see a diversion to Edwards easily ruining a NASA PR moment.  ;)

For nostalgia, I'd love to see the final mission land at Edwards.  That way the first and last missions would not only launch from Pad-A, but also conclude at Edwards.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: The-Hammer on 09/20/2009 12:26 am
Of course, I can see a diversion to Edwards easily ruining a NASA PR moment.  ;)

They could cover their bases by placing the CDR s plus half the MS s at Kennedy and the PLT s and the other half of the MS s at Edwards.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jeff Lerner on 09/20/2009 02:22 am

IF the SSP is extended, with this crew instated, here's what I predict for STS-135.

CDR:  Chris Ferguson
PLT:  Greg C. "RayJ" Johnson
MS1:  Sunny Williams
MS2:  Daniel Tani
MS3:  Stan Love
MS4:  Chris Hadfield

The reason I suggest Hadfield is because he isn't assigned to an ISS flight any time soon but he is the last Canadian JSC astronaut to be around that hasn't been recycled in an ISS flight since 2006 (behind Steve MacLean, Dave Williams, Bob Thirsk, and then Julie Payette respectively).

Steve Lindsey's a great CDR, and I'm secretly delighted to have him in this roll, but it was incorrect of him to name himself in my opinion.  Maybe it has been done before, but my opinion is my opinion.


I don't see Chris Hadfield getting this flight. I spoke to him at the CSA reception the night before the original STS-127 launch and he told me that he is next in line for a Canadian astronaut representation on an ISS Expedition.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ShuttleAtlantis on 09/20/2009 02:59 am
If the shuttle program is extended here are my predictions for the next two shuttle flights.

STS-135
CMD: Dominic Gorie
PLT: Greg C. Johnson
MS: Megan McArthur
MS: Mike Gernhardt
MS: Rex Walheim
MS: Mike Massimino

STS-136
CMD: Scott Altman
PLT: Doug Hurley
MS: John Phillips
MS: Danny Olivas
MS: Mike Foale
MS: Janice Voss
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aurora899 on 09/20/2009 10:19 am
I think until there is an STS-135 mission there shouldn't be any crew guessing games. Case in point, virtually no one guessed 133 or that it even had six crewmembers. The game is getting silly.

Game over!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aurora899 on 09/20/2009 10:20 am
Probably too early to know (and impossible to know), but I wonder if Lindsey picked himself for this mission BECAUSE it is the last mission? Or had his transition from CB management back onto active flight status been on the cards for months?

I’m sure that Lindsey selected himself – as I always had the sneaking suspicion that he would. It wasn’t until you guys started promoting Chris Ferguson as STS-133 CDR over the last few weeks that I began to doubt myself.
I would love to have been a fly on the wall at the traditional Monday morning astro meeting when this crew was announced. I’m currently reading Michael Cassutt’s excellent “Tango Midnight.” This is, of course, a work of fiction but there’s a chapter called “The Pilots’ Meeting” where Michael notes “heckling the chief astronaut was a pilots’ meeting tradition going back at least forty years.” Knowing Michael, he’ll have done his research so although he might have employed a bit of artistic license, I suspect that the relevant passages are fairly realistic. Which leads me onto my point:
Steve Lindsey: “I’d like to introduce the STS-133 crew to you. The commander will be, um, me.”
I wonder how the assembled astros reacted to that? A polite round of applause...or a chorus of good-natured jeers and boos?!!!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Orbiter on 09/20/2009 12:03 pm
I think until there is an STS-135 mission there shouldn't be any crew guessing games. Case in point, virtually no one guessed 133 or that it even had six crewmembers. The game is getting silly.

Game over!

But hey I'm having fun! :)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: astronut7 on 09/20/2009 01:06 pm
I have talked with Scott Altman and he told me that STS-125 was his last flight.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: orbiter62995 on 09/20/2009 01:31 pm
Who would active CDRs be then?  If you ask me, should the program be extended, the breakdown would be as follows:

PILOTS
– Randy Bresnik
– Jim Dutton
– Kevin Ford
– Doug Hurley
– Greg C. "RayJ" Johnson
– Terry Virts
– Barry Wilmore

COMMANDERS
– Lee Archaumbalt
– Chris Ferguson
– Dom Gorie
– Greg H. "Box" Johnson
– Mark Kelly
– Alan Poindexter
– Rick "C.J." Sturckow
– George Zamka

That's 7 PLTs and 8 CDRs, more than the amount needed.  However, if for some reason we should ever reach 8 flights during the extension, we would have to re-fly a PLT for a third flight.  Last time this was done was Scott Horowitz, which we went over on page, eh, 87 or so.  I would pick Bresnik because he would then only have 2 PLT flights and 1 MS flight if he were to take this position.  It is not likely that we will run across this issue, though.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: arkaska on 09/20/2009 01:40 pm
Who would active CDRs be then?  If you ask me, should the program be extended, the breakdown would be as follows:

PILOTS
– Randy Bresnik
– Jim Dutton
– Kevin Ford
– Doug Hurley
– Greg C. "RayJ" Johnson
– Terry Virts
– Barry Wilmore

COMMANDERS
– Lee Archaumbalt
– Chris Ferguson
– Dom Gorie
– Greg H. "Box" Johnson
– Mark Kelly
– Alan Poindexter
– Rick "C.J." Sturckow
– George Zamka

That's 7 PLTs and 8 CDRs, more than the amount needed.  However, if for some reason we should ever reach 8 flights during the extension, we would have to re-fly a PLT for a third flight.  Last time this was done was Scott Horowitz, which we went over on page, eh, 87 or so.  I would pick Bresnik because he would then only have 2 PLT flights and 1 MS flight if he were to take this position.  It is not likely that we will run across this issue, though.

Don't forget Mark Polansky.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 09/20/2009 02:45 pm
Of course, I can see a diversion to Edwards easily ruining a NASA PR moment.  ;)

They could cover their bases by placing the CDR s plus half the MS s at Kennedy and the PLT s and the other half of the MS s at Edwards.

White Sands it is then!  :D
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: joseamatos on 09/20/2009 04:17 pm
I would offer Steve Lindsey the BEST of luck commanding the crown-achievement of the SSP, though I thought it was have been John Young being selected as commander (No offense!).

GOOD LUCK COMMANDER LINDSEY, I'LL BE WATCH YOU!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: kimmern123 on 09/20/2009 08:09 pm
Who would active CDRs be then?  If you ask me, should the program be extended, the breakdown would be as follows:

PILOTS
– Randy Bresnik
– Jim Dutton
– Kevin Ford
– Doug Hurley
– Greg C. "RayJ" Johnson
– Terry Virts
– Barry Wilmore

COMMANDERS
– Lee Archaumbalt
– Chris Ferguson
– Dom Gorie
– Greg H. "Box" Johnson
– Mark Kelly
– Alan Poindexter
– Rick "C.J." Sturckow
– George Zamka

That's 7 PLTs and 8 CDRs, more than the amount needed.  However, if for some reason we should ever reach 8 flights during the extension, we would have to re-fly a PLT for a third flight.  Last time this was done was Scott Horowitz, which we went over on page, eh, 87 or so.  I would pick Bresnik because he would then only have 2 PLT flights and 1 MS flight if he were to take this position.  It is not likely that we will run across this issue, though.

Don't forget Mark Polansky.
Doubt Polansky will fly again. He has said so himself that he thinks 127 was his final flight.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Webhamster on 09/21/2009 03:22 pm
Doubt Polansky will fly again. He has said so himself that he thinks 127 was his final flight.

Well, I think when he would have said that it would be because he anticipates the end of the program, not an extension (which I don't think will happen anyway).  If there is an extension though, he would probably be a prime candidate for a slot depending on how many fights get added.

And, while I'm surprised that my long ago prediction of Lindsey as CDR of the final flight was spot on it does make sense in the tradition of the fleet commander taking out the last flight.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: kimmern123 on 09/22/2009 07:57 am
The way he said it when I spoke to him was in a more sort of way that he himself thought he had got his share, rather than it being a problem of not having enough assignments. However, if there's an extension I wouldn't be surprised if he flew again, but I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't either.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: arkaska on 09/22/2009 08:24 am
The way he said it when I spoke to him was in a more sort of way that he himself thought he had got his share, rather than it being a problem of not having enough assignments. However, if there's an extension I wouldn't be surprised if he flew again, but I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't either.

That means he should be included on the list of available commanders.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 09/22/2009 08:54 am
Dragon crew.

Just as a matter of curiosity, has there been any statement about who would crew a first crewed Dragon. Would it be Space-X astronauts or people from JSC-CB ?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skyrocket on 09/22/2009 09:14 am
Dragon crew.

Just as a matter of curiosity, has there been any statement about who would crew a first crewed Dragon. Would it be Space-X astronauts or people from JSC-CB ?

No announcement yet
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jim on 09/22/2009 09:24 am
Dragon crew.

Just as a matter of curiosity, has there been any statement about who would crew a first crewed Dragon. Would it be Space-X astronauts or people from JSC-CB ?

There first has to be a crewed Dragon
After that, the contract and who ever is paying for the first flight will determine who crew it. 

More likely, even if NASA astronauts fly on it, they may be passengers just like on Soyuz.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 09/22/2009 10:44 am
Dragon crew.

Just as a matter of curiosity, has there been any statement about who would crew a first crewed Dragon. Would it be Space-X astronauts or people from JSC-CB ?

There first has to be a crewed Dragon
After that, the contract and who ever is paying for the first flight will determine who crew it. 

More likely, even if NASA astronauts fly on it, they may be passengers just like on Soyuz.

If that ends up being the case, it will be an interesting day. Mike Mullane noted that the main reason Astronauts lived under the insanity that is Astronaut Office politics is because NASA is the only ride in town. If a private company were to become an option, would they hire former NASA Astronauts? Or create their own corps?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jim on 09/22/2009 10:46 am
If a private company were to become an option, would they hire former NASA Astronauts? Or create their own corps?

All of the above.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: William Barton on 09/22/2009 11:20 am
Dragon crew.

Just as a matter of curiosity, has there been any statement about who would crew a first crewed Dragon. Would it be Space-X astronauts or people from JSC-CB ?

I no longer remember where, but I recall an interview with Musk where he said the first crewed Dragon, when and if, would carry SpaceX employees, and that he wouldn't personally be aboard, that he wanted to see his children grow up before making any spaceflights.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 09/22/2009 12:42 pm
Has he got children at this point ?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aquarius on 09/22/2009 04:19 pm
Has he got children at this point ?

He has five sons.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 09/22/2009 10:28 pm
If a private company were to become an option, would they hire former NASA Astronauts? Or create their own corps?

All of the above.

Fair enough. The most likely thing I can imagine would be a small group of former Astronauts being recruited by SpaceX to train the company's own Astronauts to fly Dragon, and possibly flying themselves. Further, as every manned US spacecraft has had Astronaut input, it would be wise of SpaceX to do the same.

SpaceX would especially be appealing to prospective civilian astronauts (especially with a pilot background), but I imagine military ones will still apply to JSC, as they can transfer there and remain on active duty.

I see that Ken Bowersox is currently working with SpaceX...any other former Astronauts with the company?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: orbiter62995 on 09/24/2009 11:23 pm
Several things to cover.

PILOTS
– Randy Bresnik
– Jim Dutton
– Kevin Ford
– Doug Hurley
– Greg C. "RayJ" Johnson
– Terry Virts
– Barry Wilmore

COMMANDERS
– Lee Archaumbalt
– Chris Ferguson
– Dom Gorie
– Ken Ham
– Charles Hobaugh
– Greg H. "Box" Johnson
– Mark Kelly
– Steve Lindsey
– Alan Poindexter
– Mark Polansky
– Rick "C.J." Sturckow
– George Zamka

REVISED LIST (now includes Ham, Hobaugh, Lindsey, Polansky).  This totally shows that there is a vastly outnumbered pool of pilots; hence some will have to fly four times if 10 flights are added.  IF.  I also know that Lindsey won't fly again (probably) but he's still active, so…

If I had to make sequential picks of the crews here's what I'd do:

1).  Chris Ferguson and RayJ Johnson
2).  Lee Archaumbalt and Doug Hurley
3).  Dom Gorie and Kevin Ford
4).  George Zamka and Barry Wilmore
5).  Mark Polansky and Terry Virts
6).  Alan Poindexter and Randy Bresnik


It's funny to fancy that I once was so excited to hear of the STS-129 assignment; way back last year I was so excited.  Wow almost a year ago; hard to believe for me.  But that's a personal side note.

Question; I rather doubt it myself but because Clervoy is still an active CNES astronaut is he possibly in the mix for an ISS flight in 2013?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TheMightyM on 09/25/2009 02:24 am
Should there be a lengthy extension, the current group of astronaut candidates would undoubtedly also become available for shuttle assignments. There are three test pilots in the 2009 astronaut class (Jack D. Fischer, Scott D. Tingle, Gregory R. (Reid) Wiseman) and I'd have to presume that all three could/would become shuttle pilots.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: dcfowler1 on 09/25/2009 03:46 am
Clervoy is an ESA, not an CNES astronaut. CNES no longer has an in-house astronaut corps. My sense is that he's gotten into other test management work now and isn't all that involved in ESA astronaut operations anymore. Also, is now a DGA general officer. Flag officers rarely get spaceflights.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: MBK004 on 09/25/2009 04:25 am
Flag officers rarely get spaceflights.
I do believe that Leopold Eyharts was already a General in the French Air Force when he made his second spaceflight as a part of Expedition 16.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 09/25/2009 07:54 pm
Wasn't Tognini also a brigadier-general on STS-93?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: orbiter62995 on 09/25/2009 10:51 pm
Should there be a lengthy extension, the current group of astronaut candidates would undoubtedly also become available for shuttle assignments. There are three test pilots in the 2009 astronaut class (Jack D. Fischer, Scott D. Tingle, Gregory R. (Reid) Wiseman) and I'd have to presume that all three could/would become shuttle pilots.

Yes, I considered them but don't they have to decide relatively quickly whether to give these men Orion or Shuttle PLT training?

Clervoy is an ESA, not an CNES astronaut. CNES no longer has an in-house astronaut corps.

I know this.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: psloss on 09/26/2009 11:38 pm
Note there are six people, not five, on the mission.

RELEASE: 09-218

NASA ASSIGNS CREW FOR FINAL SCHEDULED SPACE SHUTTLE MISSION
Short interview with Steve Lindsey by Joe Johnson of the LA Times:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-sci-shuttleqanda26-2009sep26,0,2728594.story
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TheMightyM on 09/27/2009 12:49 am
Should there be a lengthy extension, the current group of astronaut candidates would undoubtedly also become available for shuttle assignments. There are three test pilots in the 2009 astronaut class (Jack D. Fischer, Scott D. Tingle, Gregory R. (Reid) Wiseman) and I'd have to presume that all three could/would become shuttle pilots.

Yes, I considered them but don't they have to decide relatively quickly whether to give these men Orion or Shuttle PLT training?

Well, the Obana Administration is expected to outline its space policy next month, right? That's in plenty of time to train members of the new astronaut candidates as shuttle pilots for missions in, say, 2013 or 2014. And as your analysis shows, it becomes a bit difficult to fill exactly those PLT slots without, well, additional pilots.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aurora899 on 09/27/2009 09:10 am
Should there be a lengthy extension, the current group of astronaut candidates would undoubtedly also become available for shuttle assignments. There are three test pilots in the 2009 astronaut class (Jack D. Fischer, Scott D. Tingle, Gregory R. (Reid) Wiseman) and I'd have to presume that all three could/would become shuttle pilots.

Yes, I considered them but don't they have to decide relatively quickly whether to give these men Orion or Shuttle PLT training?

Well, the Obana Administration is expected to outline its space policy next month, right? That's in plenty of time to train members of the new astronaut candidates as shuttle pilots for missions in, say, 2013 or 2014. And as your analysis shows, it becomes a bit difficult to fill exactly those PLT slots without, well, additional pilots.

Sorry but I don't agree! Even the most ambitious shuttle extension scenario calls for only six additional flights (stretching the current manifest into 2011 and then flying just TWO missions per year in 2012, 2013 and 2014). In the highly unlikely event of that happening, there are enough existing PLTS to cover the flights.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: orbiter62995 on 09/28/2009 08:40 pm
Should there be a lengthy extension, the current group of astronaut candidates would undoubtedly also become available for shuttle assignments. There are three test pilots in the 2009 astronaut class (Jack D. Fischer, Scott D. Tingle, Gregory R. (Reid) Wiseman) and I'd have to presume that all three could/would become shuttle pilots.

Yes, I considered them but don't they have to decide relatively quickly whether to give these men Orion or Shuttle PLT training?

Well, the Obana Administration is expected to outline its space policy next month, right? That's in plenty of time to train members of the new astronaut candidates as shuttle pilots for missions in, say, 2013 or 2014. And as your analysis shows, it becomes a bit difficult to fill exactly those PLT slots without, well, additional pilots.

Thank you, that's what I figured but I really wasn't sure because I had no idea when Obama was going to call the deal here.

Should there be a lengthy extension, the current group of astronaut candidates would undoubtedly also become available for shuttle assignments. There are three test pilots in the 2009 astronaut class (Jack D. Fischer, Scott D. Tingle, Gregory R. (Reid) Wiseman) and I'd have to presume that all three could/would become shuttle pilots.

Yes, I considered them but don't they have to decide relatively quickly whether to give these men Orion or Shuttle PLT training?

Well, the Obana Administration is expected to outline its space policy next month, right? That's in plenty of time to train members of the new astronaut candidates as shuttle pilots for missions in, say, 2013 or 2014. And as your analysis shows, it becomes a bit difficult to fill exactly those PLT slots without, well, additional pilots.

Sorry but I don't agree! Even the most ambitious shuttle extension scenario calls for only six additional flights (stretching the current manifest into 2011 and then flying just TWO missions per year in 2012, 2013 and 2014). In the highly unlikely event of that happening, there are enough existing PLTS to cover the flights.

If this is the case, then we have extra pilots, and a few extra CDRs.  What's the chance of one of them getting a station command, and if you think it's possible who would get the nomination?  Especially if we don't see an SSP extension, this makes this even more realistic of a possibility.  Dave Wolf could also become a station CDR, no?  For that matter, actually –– John Phillips, Andy Thomas too?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aurora899 on 10/04/2009 11:00 am
Burrough implies that it was Abbey, and not the Astronaut Office, which black-balled Hammond. I remember reading that Cabana put Hammond's name forward for a command, but it was declined. Plus something about a walkaround of the orbiter after STS-64 which Hammond wasn't permitted to do? Dick Richards was apparently as annoyed as Hammond about it. The implication is that Hammond was actually highly regarded within the corps. I haven't heard anything different.

I’ve just started reading Bryan Burrough’s “Dragonfly (nasa and the crisis aboard mir)” and there are several pages devoted to Blaine Hammond’s unfortunate astronaut career. It appears that Hammond’s fall from grace was triggered partly by an affair and “very messy” divorce but mainly by his actions while serving as the ASP for the STS-34/Galileo deployment mission. As he was preparing the flight deck, Hammond applied his Group 10 ‘Maggot’ stamp to the CDR and PLT’s checklists and data files, allegedly up to 50 times! Pilot and fellow Group 10 ‘maggot’ Mike McCulley thought it was funny but STS-34 Commander Don Williams was livid. “When he learned it was Hammond,” writes Burrough, “he went straight to the Astronaut Office and tried to have Hammond thrown out of the corps, a tempest that blew past only after Mike McCulley intervened on Hammond’s behalf.”
Presumably, George Abbey got to hear all about it, and you get the feeling that from that moment on, Hammond was a marked man.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 10/04/2009 12:19 pm
I read that, too, but have always wondered how much an episode like that would have really 'ruined' someone's career. Why was Williams so annoyed about it, and why would anyone have cared, in view of the fact that many other astronauts had done exactly the same? Sticking a few labels onto a flight data file hardly endangers the mission or crew. Mike Mullane tells tales of far more outrageous escapades that even occurred in the lead-up to his STS-36 mission, just a couple of months after the STS-34 incident.

Bear in mind also that Hammond was named to his STS-39 PLT position...at the end of Sept/beginning of Oct 1989, precisely the time that this (apparently) damning incident took place. If Abbey was so frakked off, why not just drop him from the STS-39 crew before his training really got underway? Even Hoot Gibson (one of Abbey's favourites) and Dave Walker, both highly-regarded CDRs, were suspended from missions following aircraft incidents in 1989. Hammond wasn't. He can't have been regarded THAT badly.

Imagine getting a ticking-off at work for a small misdemeanour - generally it's not career-threatening - and it just seems to me that, if people were so annoyed with Hammond about the label incident, and annoyed to an extent that they wanted to end his astronaut career, he wouldn't have got ANY flights. A PLT is hardly a minor role on the Shuttle crew and Hammond did it twice. There must have been more to it. There must have been something else that happened that we don't know.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 10/04/2009 03:07 pm
Bear in mind also that Hammond was named to his STS-39 PLT position...at the end of Sept/beginning of Oct 1989, precisely the time that this (apparently) damning incident took place. If Abbey was so frakked off, why not just drop him from the STS-39 crew before his training really got underway? Even Hoot Gibson (one of Abbey's favourites) and Dave Walker, both highly-regarded CDRs, were suspended from missions following aircraft incidents in 1989. Hammond wasn't. He can't have been regarded THAT badly.

Abbey wasn't at JSC during the time. He was at NASA HQ on an assignment that had zero bearing on flight crew assignments. If Hammond had been pulled other parties might have thrown up a frak storm (Mike Coats, the STS-39 CDR).

Further, I don't think what happened to Hammond is totally George Abbey. After STS-39, neither Dan Brandenstein or Hoot Gibson saw fit to assign him to a flight until STS-64 (and then as PLT). Abbey didn't help, by rejecting him for a CDR assignment later, but clearly he was not the only one who had reservations.

I always felt that Mike Mullane's account of Hammond's performance while their T-38 was on fire was intended to be an attempt to vindicate the man on some level. 
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jorge on 10/05/2009 06:00 pm
Frank Caldeiro has died after a struggle with brain cancer.

http://galvestondailynews.com/story.lasso?wcd=145117

Probably worth mentioning this again as well:

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=740.msg458342#msg458342
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aurora899 on 10/07/2009 04:53 pm
Peggy Whitson must be pretty highly rated to get the gig as Chief Astronaut. Even having a woman in that position would have been unthinkable as little as 10-15 years ago.
Peggy strikes me as a tough cookie. I'd love to see how she deals with some of the alpha males in the Office when they start heckling her at the traditional monday morning briefing!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 10/07/2009 07:48 pm
RELEASE: 09-233

NASA AND ITS INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS ASSIGN SPACE STATION CREWS

HOUSTON -- NASA and its international partners have assigned five new
International Space Station crews and made changes to four previously
assigned station crews.

Among the newly announced crews for future station missions is the
assignment of NASA astronauts Ron Garan, who was born in Yonkers,
N.Y.; Mike Fossum, who grew up in McAllen, Texas; Dan Burbank, who
considers Yarmouthport, Mass., his hometown; and Don Pettit, who was
born in Silverton, Ore. European Space Agency astronaut Andre Kuipers
and Satoshi Furukawa, an astronaut with the Japan Aerospace
Exploration Agency, or JAXA, also have been assigned to upcoming
crews.

Changes were made to previously announced station crews that include
multiple alterations to Russian cosmonaut assignments: Alexander
Skvortsov replaces Alexander Kaleri as the Soyuz 21 commander and
Expedition 24 commander; Feodor Yurchikhin replaces Skvortsov as the
Soyuz 23 commander and Expedition 24/25 flight engineer; Kaleri
replaces Dmitri Kondratiev as the Soyuz 24 commander and Expedition
25/26 flight engineer; and Kondratiev replaces Andrew Borisienko as
the Soyuz 25 commander and joins Expedition 26 as a flight engineer.

Additional cosmonauts assigned to upcoming crews are Alexander
Samkutyayev, Sergei Volkov, Anton Shkaplerov, Sergei Revin and Oleg
Kononenko.

Details of future station expeditions, along with the Soyuz spacecraft
aboard which the crew members will launch and land, are:

Expedition 27 (begins in March 2011, with the undocking of Soyuz 24):
-- Russian cosmonaut Dmitry Kondratiev, station commander (Soyuz 25)
-- NASA astronaut Catherine Coleman, flight engineer (Soyuz 25)
-- European Space Agency astronaut Paolo Nespoli (Soyuz 25)
-- Russian cosmonaut Alexander Samokutyayev (Soyuz 26)
-- Russian cosmonaut Andrei Borisienko (Soyuz 26)
-- NASA astronaut Ron Garan (Soyuz 26)

Coleman and Nespoli also are members of the Expedition 26 crew.

Expedition 28 (begins with Soyuz 25 undocking):
-- Russian cosmonaut Andrei Borisienko, station commander (Soyuz 26)
-- Russian cosmonaut Alexander Samokutayev (Soyuz 26)
-- NASA astronaut Ron Garan (Soyuz 26)
-- Russian cosmonaut Sergei Volkov (Soyuz 27)
-- NASA astronaut Mike Fossum (Soyuz 27)
-- JAXA astronaut Satoshi Furukawa (Soyuz 27)

Expedition 29 (begins with Soyuz 26 undocking):
-- NASA astronaut Mike Fossum, station commander (Soyuz 27)
-- JAXA astronaut Satoshi Furukawa (Soyuz 27)
-- Russian cosmonaut Sergei Volkov (Soyuz 27)
-- Russian cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov (Soyuz 28)
-- Russian cosmonaut Sergei Revin (Soyuz 28)
-- NASA astronaut Dan Burbank (Soyuz 28)

Expedition 30 (begins with the Soyuz 27 undocking):
-- NASA astronaut Dan Burbank, station commander (Soyuz 28)
-- Russian cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov (Soyuz 28)
-- Russian cosmonaut Sergei Revin (Soyuz 28)
-- Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko (Soyuz 29)
-- European Space Agency astronaut Andre Kuipers (Soyuz 29)
-- NASA astronaut Don Pettit (Soyuz 29)

Expedition 31 (begins with the Soyuz 28 undocking):
-- Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko, station commander (Soyuz 29)
-- ESA astronaut Andre Kuipers (Soyuz 29)
-- NASA astronaut Don Pettit (Soyuz 29)

Three additional crew members for Expedition 31 have yet to be
assigned. They will travel to and from the station aboard Soyuz 30.

For more information about the space station and its crew, visit:



http://www.nasa.gov/station
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Liss on 10/08/2009 07:35 pm
In this weird designation system, Alexander Skvortsov replaces Alexander Kaleri as the Soyuz 22 commander, not Soyuz 21. Also, NASA should decide if Borisenko's first name is Andrei or Andrew :-)

Update: Already corrected. Thanks.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 10/21/2009 06:06 pm
List of ISS Expeditions with correct positions of crewmembers (thanks to Sergey Shamsutdinov from Novosti kosmonavtiki magazine):

Expedition 21
CDR - Frank De Winne
FE1 - Maksim Suraev
FE2 - Nicole Stott
FE3 - Roman Romanenko
FE4 - Robert Thirsk
FE5 - Jeffrey Williams

Expedition 22
CDR - Jeffrey Williams
FE1 - Maksim Suraev
FE4 - Oleg Kotov
FE5 - Soichi Noguchi
FE6 - Timothy Creamer

Expedition 23
CDR - Oleg Kotov
FE1 - Aleksandr Skvortsov
FE2 - Mikhail Kornienko
FE3 - Tracy Caldwell
FE5 - Soichi Noguchi
FE6 - Timothy Creamer

Expedition 24
CDR - Aleksandr Skvortsov
FE2 - Mikhail Kornienko
FE3 - Tracy Caldwell
FE4 - Fyodor Yurchikhin
FE5 - Shannon Walker
FE6 - Douglas Wheelock

Expedition 25
CDR - Douglas Wheelock
FE1 - Aleksandr Kaleri
FE2 - Oleg Skripochka
FE3 - Scott Kelly
FE4 - Fyodor Yurchikhin
FE5 - Shannon Walker

Expedition 26
CDR - Scott Kelly
FE1 - Aleksandr Kaleri
FE2 - Oleg Skripochka
FE4 - Dmitriy Kondratyev
FE5 - Paolo Nespoli
FE6 - Catherine Coleman

Expedition 27
CDR - Dmitriy Kondratyev
FE1 - Aleksandr Samokutyaev
FE2 - Andrey Borisenko
FE3 - Ronald Garan
FE5 - Paolo Nespoli
FE6 - Catherine Coleman

Expedition 28
CDR - Andrey Borisenko
FE1 - Aleksandr Samokutyaev
FE3 - Ronald Garan
FE4 - Sergey Volkov
FE5 - Satoshi Furukawa
FE6 - Michael Fossum

Expedition 29
CDR - Michael Fossum
FE1 - Anton Shkaplerov
FE2 - Sergey Revin
FE3 - Daniel Burbank
FE4 - Sergey Volkov
FE5 - Satoshi Furukawa

Expedition 30
CDR - Daniel Burbank
FE1 - Anton Shkaplerov
FE2 - Sergey Revin
FE4 - Oleg Kononenko
FE5 - André Kuipers
FE6 - Donald Pettit

Expedition 31
CDR - Oleg Kononenko
FE1 - Russian cosmonaut
FE2 - Russian cosmonaut
FE3 - NASA astronaut
FE5 - André Kuipers
FE6 - Donald Pettit
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Green013 on 10/23/2009 03:16 pm
So, now that shuttle flight assignments are done barring any extension to the program, anyone want to take a swing at EVA assignments for the remaining shuttle flights?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 10/23/2009 11:15 pm
Anik,
Why are some FE numbers 'missing'? Expedition 22, for example, has an FE4, 5 and 6, but no FE2 and 3. Same too with a few other downstream expeditions. Is there a reason for this?
Do the FE numbers suggest some kind of seniority within the crew or are they purely random?
Thanks.


Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: arkaska on 10/23/2009 11:22 pm
Anik,
Why are some FE numbers 'missing'? Expedition 22, for example, has an FE4, 5 and 6, but no FE2 and 3. Same too with a few other downstream expeditions. Is there a reason for this?
Do the FE numbers suggest some kind of seniority within the crew or are they purely random?
Thanks.


It has to do with the next Soyuz crew. You have to remember that each soyuz crew is part of 2 expeditions and they want one crew to have sequential numbers. But it's mostly because a FE becomes commander and therefore frees up his old FE number.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 10/24/2009 08:21 am
So, now that shuttle flight assignments are done barring any extension to the program, anyone want to take a swing at EVA assignments for the remaining shuttle flights?

STS-129: three EVAs - Foreman/Satcher, Foreman/Bresnik, Satcher/Bresnik
STS-130: three EVAs - Behnken/Patrick (all)
STS-131: three EVAs - Mastracchio/Anderson (all)

In STS-132 mission EVs will be exactly Reisman and Good, and probably they will participate in all three EVAs. I suppose in STS-134 mission EVs will be Fincke and Feustel, which will perform three EVAs. There are not planned EVA in STS-133 mission, but I suppose contingency EVs will be Barratt and Kopra, or possibly Stott.

Why are some FE numbers 'missing'? Expedition 22, for example, has an FE4, 5 and 6, but no FE2 and 3. Same too with a few other downstream expeditions. Is there a reason for this?

As for Expedition 22, the absent FE2 is explained by Stott's landing in STS-129 during Expedition 21, the absent FE3 is explained by new rule, which begins from Expedition 22 and tells that FE1, FE2 and FE3 are crewmembers of Soyuz for Russian segment (exception is Soyuz TMA-16) and FE4, FE5 and FE6 are crewmembers of Soyuz for US segment. The absent FEs from Expedition 23 and onwards is explained that this flight engineer became commander.

Do the FE numbers suggest some kind of seniority within the crew or are they purely random?

FE1 and FE4 are Soyuz commanders, FE2 and FE5 are Soyuz flight engineers-1, FE3 and FE6 are Soyuz flight engineers-2.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: arkaska on 10/24/2009 08:52 am

Why are some FE numbers 'missing'? Expedition 22, for example, has an FE4, 5 and 6, but no FE2 and 3. Same too with a few other downstream expeditions. Is there a reason for this?

As for Expedition 22, the absent FE2 is explained by Stott's landing in STS-129 during Expedition 21, the absent FE3 is explained by new rule, which begins from Expedition 22 and tells that FE1, FE2 and FE3 are crewmembers of Soyuz for Russian segment (exception is Soyuz TMA-16) and FE4, FE5 and FE6 are crewmembers of Soyuz for US segment. The absent FEs from Expedition 23 and onwards is explained that this flight engineer became commander.

Do the FE numbers suggest some kind of seniority within the crew or are they purely random?

FE1 and FE4 are Soyuz commanders, FE2 and FE5 are Soyuz flight engineers-1, FE3 and FE6 are Soyuz flight engineers-2.

That dosen't add up. If FE1-3 is for RS segment and FE4-6 for US segment then FE4 can't be Soyuz commander, if a russian isn't part of the US segment then.

When you look at the list you can see that it alternates between an american and a russian being FE-3.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 10/24/2009 10:18 am
That dosen't add up. If FE1-3 is for RS segment and FE4-6 for US segment then FE4 can't be Soyuz commander, if a russian isn't part of the US segment then

There are two Soyuzes on ISS.

The first Soyuz always docks to Poisk module (exception is Soyuz TMA-16), i.e. this spacecraft is for Russian segment. He delivers FE1 (Soyuz commander), FE2 (Soyuz flight engineer-1) and FE3 (Soyuz flight engineer-2). FE1 and FE2 are crewmembers for Russian segment, FE3 is crewmember for US segment.

The second Soyuz always docks to Zarya/MRM-1 module (exception is Soyuz TMA-19), i.e. this spacecraft is for US segment. He delivers FE4 (Soyuz commander), FE5 (Soyuz flight engineer-1) and FE6 (Soyuz flight engineer-2). FE4 is crewmember for Russian segment, FE5 and FE6 are crewmembers for US segment.

What is unclear now?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 10/24/2009 06:26 pm
Thanks anik and arkaska.
One other question: I was surprised to see Good as an EV on STS-132, because I thought he was a direct replacement for Nyberg. My assumption was that Nyberg would have been doing 132 robotics (based on her previous experience from 124) and others (Reisman/Bowen?) would have done the EVAs. Since Good came on board 3 months into the 132 training flow, and ?presumably? EV crewmember assignments had probably been set by that point, does this mean that NYBERG was originally scheduled to do EVAs on 132?

Thanks again.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Green013 on 10/25/2009 02:57 am
Thanks anik and arkaska.
One other question: I was surprised to see Good as an EV on STS-132, because I thought he was a direct replacement for Nyberg. My assumption was that Nyberg would have been doing 132 robotics (based on her previous experience from 124) and others (Reisman/Bowen?) would have done the EVAs. Since Good came on board 3 months into the 132 training flow, and ?presumably? EV crewmember assignments had probably been set by that point, does this mean that NYBERG was originally scheduled to do EVAs on 132?

Thanks again.

It doesn't seem right to me that Good would be doing the EVA with Reisman, since you have both Bowen and Sellers on the flight.  I would guess it would be Bowen and Reisman outside, especially since Good joined the crew late in training, and also replaced Karen Nyberg who was assigned as the shuttle flight engineer
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 10/25/2009 05:47 am
It doesn't seem right to me that Good would be doing the EVA with Reisman

http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/shuttle/sts-132/html/jsc2009e215170.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 10/28/2009 07:55 pm
I noticed a picture on www.spaceflight.nasa.gov showing Fossum training back in 2008 with the Expedition-19 crew and he was listed as a "support crew member".

In view of the fact that Fossum is now assigned to an expedition of his own, I just wondered what 'other' astronauts are currently serving in a 'support' capacity for future expedition crews...and whether this might suggest a few pointers for subsequent ISS crews? My money would be on Arnold and Hernandez.

Any ideas?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 11/10/2009 07:50 pm
http://www.collectspace.com/ubb/Forum30/HTML/000709.html

"NASA astronaut Joe Acaba (STS-119) has begun training for Expedition 31"
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 11/18/2009 02:24 pm
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                       ***  JAXA MAIL SERVICE  ***
                   Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
----------------------------------------------------------------------
          Selection of Astronaut Akihiko Hoshide as a Member
                      of the ISS Expedition Crew

                                               November 18, 2009 (JST)
                             Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) would like to announce
that Astronaut Akihiko Hoshide has been selected as a crew member for
the 32nd/33rd Expedition Mission at the International Space Station
(ISS). Once there, he will engage in space activities mainly for space
environment utilization, including scientific experiments coordinated
by Japanese scientists and international partners at the ISS.

Astronaut Hoshide is currently continuing his astronaut training after
achieving success with the 1J mission on the space shuttle Discovery
(STS-124 mission, June 2008.) He is also contributing to ISS
operations as a Capsule Communicator (CAPCOM) at the NASA mission
Control Center, communicating with crew on board the ISS.

Period of stay at the ISS:
      About 6 months from early summer 2012
     
Transportation means to the ISS:
      Launch and return by Soyuz
     
Major tasks at the ISS:
      System operations at the ISS, including those in the Japanese
      Experiment Module, Kibo, as an ISS Flight Engineer; ISS robotic
      arm operations; and conducting scientific experiments
     
Schedule until the mission:
      Taking training sessions on operating ISS facilities, including
      Kibo and the ISS robotic arm; on conducting in-orbit scientific
      experiments; and on riding the Soyuz
     
Reference materials:
      Brief Personal History of Astronaut Hoshide (Attachment 1)
      http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2009/11/20091118_iss_e.html#at1
      Onboard Plan of Japanese Astronauts (Attachment 2)
      http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2009/11/20091118_iss_e.html#at2
      Comment from JAXA President (Attachment 3)
      http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2009/11/20091118_iss_e.html#at3
      Comment from Astronaut Hoshide (Attachment 4)
      http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2009/11/20091118_iss_e.html#at4
     

Reference link: Space Station/Kibo Information Center
http://iss.jaxa.jp/en/


This page URL:
http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2009/11/20091118_iss_e.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: orbiter62995 on 11/18/2009 11:14 pm
RELEASE: 09-233

NASA AND ITS INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS ASSIGN SPACE STATION CREWS

Changes were made to previously announced station crews that include
multiple alterations to Russian cosmonaut assignments: Alexander
Skvortsov replaces Alexander Kaleri as the Soyuz 21 commander and
Expedition 24 commander; Feodor Yurchikhin replaces Skvortsov as the
Soyuz 23 commander and Expedition 24/25 flight engineer; Kaleri
replaces Dmitri Kondratiev as the Soyuz 24 commander and Expedition
25/26 flight engineer; and Kondratiev replaces Andrew Borisienko as
the Soyuz 25 commander and joins Expedition 26 as a flight engineer.

This seems so incredibly irrational to me.  Kaleri is in the top 10 in terms of experience (I don't remember the exact ranking but it's like #6 at 604 or so days if I remember accurately which is unlikely) and he should get the CDR rank on Ex24.  Skvortsov hasn't been up once; Kaleri has been up 4 times but never a CMD?  Skvortsov gets it on his maiden flight?

That's happened before, yes, but look at the circumstances.

1). Kaleri is by far the most experienced out of that listed group and if not the most experienced cosmonaut currently active.

2). Kaleri has had one previous station flight as Soyuz CDR and station F.E.…but he has not had the opportunity to fly on the station and CMD it after more experience than anyone active.  Usually, one station flight as F.E. is enough for a CDR upgrade.

3). After 3 Mir F.E. positions, and lengthy ones at that, as F.E., that makes #2 even more supported…and the selection for Skvortsov to earn that role even more nonsensical.

That said, what is this justification?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: WBeck on 11/19/2009 08:51 am
Kaleri will command the first digital Soyuz - TMA-01M. He trained several years for this mission. The TMA-01M launch was moved from May to September 2010.

So he is assigned to two other Expeditions [25 und 26] und they are under american command.

By the way: Kaleri is the Number 5 wiht nearly 610 days :) But really good guessing!

---
Sorry for my english, isn't my native language :)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 11/19/2009 06:22 pm
The TMA-01M launch was moved from May to September 2010

Soyuz TMA-01M was never planned in May 2010. He was postponed from October 1, 2009 to March 30, 2010 and then to September 30, 2010. And explain to me, please, what does the "first digital Soyuz" mean?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: WBeck on 11/19/2009 08:31 pm
"First Digital Soyuz" was a term i read in a article about TMA-01M and it was a quotation of Vitaly Lopota. If i remember correctly, and see the wrong launchdate -March/May, sorry for that - it's possible i mixed something, but they wrote about the replacement of the "analog" ARGON-computer, maybe also about a new KURS ...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: orbiter62995 on 11/19/2009 11:54 pm
Kaleri will command the first digital Soyuz - TMA-01M. He trained several years for this mission. The TMA-01M launch was moved from May to September 2010.

So he is assigned to two other Expeditions [25 und 26] und they are under american command.

By the way: Kaleri is the Number 5 wiht nearly 610 days :) But really good guessing!

---
Sorry for my english, isn't my native language :)

WBeck, you speak perfect English as far as I'm concerned; not a single flaw that caught my eye.  Just one tiny thing; instead of "und" you meant "until".  Otherwise flawless.

That is a good point as I should have thought of that, yet Expedition 24 would NOT have this would they?  If they were to have such, I still don't see why he wouldn't get both CMDs.

Also, Kaleri trained for this mission but originally was assigned to Expedition 24 as commander; hence he should have been completing training as both and the F.E. to CMD training for station crewmembers I imagine would take a number of months, if not years.

I am embarrassed – I had looked it up just the other day!  604 is exact, I'm pretty sure.

"First Digital Soyuz" was a term i read in a article about TMA-01M and it was a quotation of Vitaly Lopota. If i remember correctly, and see the wrong launchdate -March/May, sorry for that - it's possible i mixed something, but they wrote about the replacement of the "analog" ARGON-computer, maybe also about a new KURS ...

I came to an assumption that it meant more of a MEADS display system; or along those lines; but I really am not up to speed on my Soyuz facts (hard to believe, isn't it  ;D like all other subjects).

Yes, I know, I know, TMA meant the GLASS cockpit implementation.  However, I am thinking maybe this means an advanced Kurs, and ARGON updates; alongside more of a manual–autonomous transition.

You would think that as Soyuz technologies advance, the training for manual operations shortens as the autonomous operations on the vehicles will increase.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jorge on 11/20/2009 12:06 am

You would think that as Soyuz technologies advance, the training for manual operations shortens as the autonomous operations on the vehicles will increase.

I wouldn't think that.

Autonomous systems can still fail.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 11/20/2009 04:38 pm
"First Digital Soyuz" was a term i read in a article about TMA-01M and it was a quotation of Vitaly Lopota

This is incorrect term. Yes, new Soyuz TMA is more digital than old Soyuz TMA (analogue telemetry system is replaced by digital telemetry system), but it is not the first digital Soyuz. The first digital device (Argon-16 computer) has flown on Soyuz in 1974.

604 is exact, I'm pretty sure

609:21:51:51.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: orbiter62995 on 11/21/2009 01:33 am

You would think that as Soyuz technologies advance, the training for manual operations shortens as the autonomous operations on the vehicles will increase.

I wouldn't think that.

Autonomous systems can still fail.

Doesn't mean crew can't intervene; look at an orbiter and how emphasized CDR/PLT training is on manually re-entering the vehicle in a damaged automatic state.

"First Digital Soyuz" was a term i read in a article about TMA-01M and it was a quotation of Vitaly Lopota

This is incorrect term. Yes, new Soyuz TMA is more digital than old Soyuz TMA (analogue telemetry system is replaced by digital telemetry system), but it is not the first digital Soyuz. The first digital device (Argon-16 computer) has flown on Soyuz in 1974.

604 is exact, I'm pretty sure

609:21:51:51.

I was pretty close.

I understand the concept.

Though I am aware of this, I still wonder why Kaleri can't be CDR of the station as originally planned.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 12/02/2009 04:06 pm
Updating of list of ISS Expeditions with correct positions of crewmembers:

Expedition 22
December 1, 2009 - March 18, 2010
CDR - Jeffrey Williams
FE1 - Maksim Suraev
FE4 - Oleg Kotov
FE5 - Soichi Noguchi
FE6 - Timothy Creamer

Expedition 23
March 18 - June 1, 2010
CDR - Oleg Kotov
FE1 - Aleksandr Skvortsov
FE2 - Mikhail Kornienko
FE3 - Tracy Caldwell
FE5 - Soichi Noguchi
FE6 - Timothy Creamer

Expedition 24
June 1 - September 15, 2010
CDR - Aleksandr Skvortsov
FE2 - Mikhail Kornienko
FE3 - Tracy Caldwell
FE4 - Fyodor Yurchikhin
FE5 - Shannon Walker
FE6 - Douglas Wheelock

Expedition 25
September 15 - November 25, 2010
CDR - Douglas Wheelock
FE1 - Aleksandr Kaleri
FE2 - Oleg Skripochka
FE3 - Scott Kelly
FE4 - Fyodor Yurchikhin
FE5 - Shannon Walker

Expedition 26
November 25, 2010 - March 15, 2011
CDR - Scott Kelly
FE1 - Aleksandr Kaleri
FE2 - Oleg Skripochka
FE4 - Dmitriy Kondratyev
FE5 - Paolo Nespoli
FE6 - Catherine Coleman

Expedition 27
March 15 - May 15, 2011
CDR - Dmitriy Kondratyev
FE1 - Aleksandr Samokutyaev
FE2 - Andrey Borisenko
FE3 - Ronald Garan
FE5 - Paolo Nespoli
FE6 - Catherine Coleman

Expedition 28
May 15 - September 15, 2011
CDR - Andrey Borisenko
FE1 - Aleksandr Samokutyaev
FE3 - Ronald Garan
FE4 - Sergey Volkov
FE5 - Satoshi Furukawa
FE6 - Michael Fossum

Expedition 29
September 15 - November 5, 2011
CDR - Michael Fossum
FE1 - Anton Shkaplerov
FE2 - Sergey Revin
FE3 - Daniel Burbank
FE4 - Sergey Volkov
FE5 - Satoshi Furukawa

Expedition 30
November 5, 2011 - March 15, 2012
CDR - Daniel Burbank
FE1 - Anton Shkaplerov
FE2 - Sergey Revin
FE4 - Oleg Kononenko
FE5 - André Kuipers
FE6 - Donald Pettit

Expedition 31
March 15 - May 16, 2012
CDR - Oleg Kononenko
FE1 - Russian cosmonaut
FE2 - Russian cosmonaut
FE3 - Joseph Acaba
FE5 - André Kuipers
FE6 - Donald Pettit

Expedition 32
May 16 - September 15, 2012
CDR - Russian cosmonaut
FE2 - Russian cosmonaut
FE3 - Joseph Acaba
FE4 - Russian cosmonaut
FE5 - Akihiko Hoshide
FE6 - NASA astronaut

Expedition 33
September 15 - November 5, 2012
CDR - NASA astronaut
FE1 - Russian cosmonaut
FE2 - Russian cosmonaut
FE3 - NASA astronaut
FE4 - Russian cosmonaut
FE5 - Akihiko Hoshide
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 12/03/2009 04:37 pm
There is rumor that ASI spaceflight in Expedition 36/37 in 2013 will be performed by Roberto Vittori.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 12/04/2009 12:36 pm
Anik,
Your dates imply that there will be 6-person crew all year round from 2011-2012 Does this mean that the partners are moving towards 'direct' rotations from 2011 onwards?

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 12/04/2009 02:36 pm
Your dates imply that there will be 6-person crew all year round from 2011-2012

No, dates mean a beginning and an ending of Expedition. They do not mean that all time of Expedition there will be a six-man crew. And forget about direct rotations for now.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Longhorn John on 12/07/2009 03:41 pm
Not baselined, I know, but let's say we need to find four more astros if they add STS-135. http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2009/12/nasa-evaluating-sts-135-addition-to-shuttle-manifest/

I'd assume it'd be experienced crew?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: The-Hammer on 12/07/2009 04:11 pm
This flight will need a crew regardless of whether it's baselined as a normal flight or LON.

Even if it remains as LON-only the crew will need time to train. Though, I imagine they could go the STS-400 path and choose a recently flown crew. Perhaps the STS-134 crew.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Orbiter on 12/07/2009 08:41 pm
If there is an STS-135, judging by the article I'd go with this, although will most likely be wrong if there is an STS-135.

CDR Steve Lindsdey
PLT Gregory 'Ray J' Johnson
MS 1 Al Drew
MS 2 Nicole Stott

EDIT: Doh, Jim Kelly left NASA a while ago.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 12/07/2009 09:14 pm
If there is an STS-135, judging by the article I'd go with this, although will most likely be wrong if there is an STS-135.

CDR Steve Lindsdey
PLT Gregory 'Ray J' Johnson
MS 1 Al Drew
MS 2 Nicole Stott

EDIT: Doh, Jim Kelly left NASA a while ago.

If that is the case, does STS-133 become something like this?

CDR: Steve Frick
PLT: Eric Boe
MS: Tim Kopra
MS: Mike Barratt
MS: Megan McArthur
MS: Stan Love (or Rex Walheim)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ray125 on 12/07/2009 11:47 pm
They should keep the STS-133 the same:

CDR Steve Lindsey
PLT Eric Boe
MS 1 Alvin Drew
MS 2 Michael Barratt
MS 3 Tim Kopera
MS 4 Nicole Stott

And make the STS-135 like this:

CDR Greg C. "RayJ" Johnson
PLT Doug Hurley
MS 1 Mike Foale
MS 2 Rex Walheim

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: DwightM on 12/07/2009 11:50 pm

EDIT: Doh, Jim Kelly left NASA a while ago.

Is that a fact?  Since when?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 12/08/2009 07:54 am
Does anyone know if any 'new' PLTs (ie Ray Jay) are going through CDR Upgrade at the moment? If he is, then can that be taken as an indicator that Johnson would be a candidate for a command? If not, then is he more likely to get a second PLT slot?

I asked a similar question some months ago about whether Box had gone through CDR Upgrade and the response was 'no'...and sure enough, he wound up as PLT again on STS-134. If Ray Jay has not yet gone through CDR Upgrade, it will surely give us a clue as to what position (CDR or PLT) he may or may not receive.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ray125 on 12/10/2009 08:56 pm
can anybody tell me if Commander Brent Jett could go up in space for the STS-135.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: DwightM on 12/10/2009 11:53 pm
can anybody tell me if Commander Brent Jett could go up in space for the STS-135.
No, per this article:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2009/12/nasa-evaluating-sts-135-addition-to-shuttle-manifest/
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jorge on 12/11/2009 12:22 am
Does anyone know if any 'new' PLTs (ie Ray Jay) are going through CDR Upgrade at the moment? If he is, then can that be taken as an indicator that Johnson would be a candidate for a command? If not, then is he more likely to get a second PLT slot?

I asked a similar question some months ago about whether Box had gone through CDR Upgrade and the response was 'no'...and sure enough, he wound up as PLT again on STS-134. If Ray Jay has not yet gone through CDR Upgrade, it will surely give us a clue as to what position (CDR or PLT) he may or may not receive.

There have been no CDR upgrades since Ham.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 12/11/2009 01:30 pm
http://www.collectspace.com/ubb/Forum30/HTML/000709.html

"Sunita Williams is scheduled to be launched in the spring of 2012 for Expedition 32/33, according to her NASA biography (same launch that JAXA's Akihido Hoshide is scheduled for)"

I have updated list of ISS Expeditions with correct positions of crewmembers:

Expedition 22
December 1, 2009 - March 18, 2010
CDR - Jeffrey Williams
FE1 - Maksim Suraev
FE4 - Oleg Kotov
FE5 - Soichi Noguchi
FE6 - Timothy Creamer

Expedition 23
March 18 - May 31, 2010
CDR - Oleg Kotov
FE1 - Aleksandr Skvortsov
FE2 - Mikhail Kornienko
FE3 - Tracy Caldwell
FE5 - Soichi Noguchi
FE6 - Timothy Creamer

Expedition 24
May 31 - September 15, 2010
CDR - Aleksandr Skvortsov
FE2 - Mikhail Kornienko
FE3 - Tracy Caldwell
FE4 - Fyodor Yurchikhin
FE5 - Shannon Walker
FE6 - Douglas Wheelock

Expedition 25
September 15 - November 25, 2010
CDR - Douglas Wheelock
FE1 - Aleksandr Kaleri
FE2 - Oleg Skripochka
FE3 - Scott Kelly
FE4 - Fyodor Yurchikhin
FE5 - Shannon Walker

Expedition 26
November 25, 2010 - March 15, 2011
CDR - Scott Kelly
FE1 - Aleksandr Kaleri
FE2 - Oleg Skripochka
FE4 - Dmitriy Kondratyev
FE5 - Paolo Nespoli
FE6 - Catherine Coleman

Expedition 27
March 15 - May 15, 2011
CDR - Dmitriy Kondratyev
FE1 - Aleksandr Samokutyaev
FE2 - Andrey Borisenko
FE3 - Ronald Garan
FE5 - Paolo Nespoli
FE6 - Catherine Coleman

Expedition 28
May 15 - September 15, 2011
CDR - Andrey Borisenko
FE1 - Aleksandr Samokutyaev
FE3 - Ronald Garan
FE4 - Sergey Volkov
FE5 - Satoshi Furukawa
FE6 - Michael Fossum

Expedition 29
September 15 - November 5, 2011
CDR - Michael Fossum
FE1 - Anton Shkaplerov
FE2 - Sergey Revin
FE3 - Daniel Burbank
FE4 - Sergey Volkov
FE5 - Satoshi Furukawa

Expedition 30
November 5, 2011 - March 15, 2012
CDR - Daniel Burbank
FE1 - Anton Shkaplerov
FE2 - Sergey Revin
FE4 - Oleg Kononenko
FE5 - André Kuipers
FE6 - Donald Pettit

Expedition 31
March 15 - May 16, 2012
CDR - Oleg Kononenko
FE1 - Russian cosmonaut
FE2 - Russian cosmonaut
FE3 - Joseph Acaba
FE5 - André Kuipers
FE6 - Donald Pettit

Expedition 32
May 16 - September 15, 2012
CDR - Russian cosmonaut
FE2 - Russian cosmonaut
FE3 - Joseph Acaba
FE4 - Russian cosmonaut
FE5 - Akihiko Hoshide
FE6 - Sunita Williams

Expedition 33
September 15 - November 5, 2012
CDR - Sunita Williams
FE1 - Russian cosmonaut
FE2 - Russian cosmonaut
FE3 - NASA astronaut
FE4 - Russian cosmonaut
FE5 - Akihiko Hoshide
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 12/11/2009 01:47 pm
...so if Johnson hasn't yet gone through CDR Upgrade, is it fair to assume that it wouldn't be seen as worthwhile to do so, since any new CDR would only fly one command on a spacecraft soon to be retired?

Further, Linnehan returned to CB in August - is this temporary, pending retirement, or is another flight on the horizon?

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jorge on 12/11/2009 04:40 pm
...so if Johnson hasn't yet gone through CDR Upgrade, is it fair to assume that it wouldn't be seen as worthwhile to do so, since any new CDR would only fly one command on a spacecraft soon to be retired?

It would not be fair to assume anything at this point.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Orbiter on 12/11/2009 06:58 pm

EDIT: Doh, Jim Kelly left NASA a while ago.

Is that a fact?  Since when?

I mean he's management now last I checked. Doubtful he will get another flight if there is an STS-135.

Orbiter
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 12/12/2009 09:47 am
According to this link, Ferguson replaces Williams as deputy chief of the Astronaut Office.

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/ferguson.html

Does this mean he'd be out of the running to command a hypothetical 135?

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 12/16/2009 02:12 pm
Not that it's totally relevant to this thread, but seems the best place to post this.....from that Twitter thingy ;)

"Astro_Mike
 
Just met Pope Benedict, gave him a Vatican Flag and photo that we flew in space for him on my spaceflight, it was a great honor to meet him."

Wow!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: orbiter62995 on 12/19/2009 01:11 pm
Does anyone know if any 'new' PLTs (ie Ray Jay) are going through CDR Upgrade at the moment? If he is, then can that be taken as an indicator that Johnson would be a candidate for a command? If not, then is he more likely to get a second PLT slot?

I asked a similar question some months ago about whether Box had gone through CDR Upgrade and the response was 'no'...and sure enough, he wound up as PLT again on STS-134. If Ray Jay has not yet gone through CDR Upgrade, it will surely give us a clue as to what position (CDR or PLT) he may or may not receive.

This is a good question.

According to my reports the commander of STS-135 will be Steve Lindsey, no matter what.  This means the pilot could be a number of people:

* Eric Boe, if moved from STS-133
* RayJ Johnson, if Boe isn't moved
* Doug Hurley, if Johnson isn't selected
* Kevin Ford is also a prime candidate
* Randy Bresnik, PERHAPS, but I'd bet unlikely, especially with a new daughter.

If there is an STS-135, judging by the article I'd go with this, although will most likely be wrong if there is an STS-135.

CDR Steve Lindsdey
PLT Gregory 'Ray J' Johnson
MS 1 Al Drew
MS 2 Nicole Stott

EDIT: Doh, Jim Kelly left NASA a while ago.

If that is the case, does STS-133 become something like this?

CDR: Steve Frick
PLT: Eric Boe
MS: Tim Kopra
MS: Mike Barratt
MS: Megan McArthur
MS: Stan Love (or Rex Walheim)

Should STS-135 be instated, a few different astronauts could take over STS-133.  I'd tend to think along the lines of Chris Ferguson instead of Steve Frick.  I'd also put Frick and Archaumbalt as prime candidates, though.

With Fergy's new position as Dep. Chief, this could change things greatly.

As for the MSPs, don't forget about Whitson.  We have no clue if Drew and Stott will be moved out of their crew position; it could be Barratt and Kopra or any combination of the four.  Whomever is changed around, Love, Walheim, OR Whitson could replace.

I like McArthur's chances though.  I also like RayJ's chances on getting on one of the two flights if one is added to the manifest.

Is Whitson slated for another station CMD ever again?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jorge on 12/19/2009 05:13 pm
Does anyone know if any 'new' PLTs (ie Ray Jay) are going through CDR Upgrade at the moment? If he is, then can that be taken as an indicator that Johnson would be a candidate for a command? If not, then is he more likely to get a second PLT slot?

I asked a similar question some months ago about whether Box had gone through CDR Upgrade and the response was 'no'...and sure enough, he wound up as PLT again on STS-134. If Ray Jay has not yet gone through CDR Upgrade, it will surely give us a clue as to what position (CDR or PLT) he may or may not receive.

This is a good question.

According to my reports the commander of STS-135 will be Steve Lindsey, no matter what.  This means the pilot could be a number of people:

* Eric Boe, if moved from STS-133
* RayJ Johnson, if Boe isn't moved
* Doug Hurley, if Johnson isn't selected
* Kevin Ford is also a prime candidate
* Randy Bresnik, PERHAPS, but I'd bet unlikely, especially with a new daughter.

If there is an STS-135, judging by the article I'd go with this, although will most likely be wrong if there is an STS-135.

CDR Steve Lindsdey
PLT Gregory 'Ray J' Johnson
MS 1 Al Drew
MS 2 Nicole Stott

EDIT: Doh, Jim Kelly left NASA a while ago.

If that is the case, does STS-133 become something like this?

CDR: Steve Frick
PLT: Eric Boe
MS: Tim Kopra
MS: Mike Barratt
MS: Megan McArthur
MS: Stan Love (or Rex Walheim)

Should STS-135 be instated, a few different astronauts could take over STS-133.  I'd tend to think along the lines of Chris Ferguson instead of Steve Frick.  I'd also put Frick and Archaumbalt as prime candidates, though.

With Fergy's new position as Dep. Chief, this could change things greatly.

As for the MSPs, don't forget about Whitson.  We have no clue if Drew and Stott will be moved out of their crew position; it could be Barratt and Kopra or any combination of the four.  Whomever is changed around, Love, Walheim, OR Whitson could replace.

I like McArthur's chances though.  I also like RayJ's chances on getting on one of the two flights if one is added to the manifest.

Is Whitson slated for another station CMD ever again?

Whitson is chief astronaut; she is not slated for anything.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 12/20/2009 07:21 am
Yes, I would doubt to see Whitson on another crew for a while.

With all the talk about STS-135 being a four-person crew, it got me wondering about STS-133 and all the earlier talk about THAT mission having a small crew. Maybe they'll take the four MSs (Drew, Barratt, Kopra and Stott) and put half each on the two crews, add the Lindsey/Boe team as CDR/PLT of one flight and name a new CDR/PLT for the other. Could they do that? Crews of four on both missions? Or is the 133 crew size set now, whatever happens to the flight?

Following Ferguson's promotion, my money is on Gorie or Archambault as CDR, with Hurley or Ford (or maybe Johnson) as PLT.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ChrisGebhardt on 12/22/2009 01:20 am
Yes, I would doubt to see Whitson on another crew for a while.

With all the talk about STS-135 being a four-person crew, it got me wondering about STS-133 and all the earlier talk about THAT mission having a small crew. Maybe they'll take the four MSs (Drew, Barratt, Kopra and Stott) and put half each on the two crews, add the Lindsey/Boe team as CDR/PLT of one flight and name a new CDR/PLT for the other. Could they do that? Crews of four on both missions? Or is the 133 crew size set now, whatever happens to the flight?

Following Ferguson's promotion, my money is on Gorie or Archambault as CDR, with Hurley or Ford (or maybe Johnson) as PLT.


Just my two cents on the PLT position for STS-135: Given the short training timeframe with a December 2010 launch, I would not rule out a more recently flown PLT, say Wilmore or even Virts (who's the PLT for STS-130 in Feb. 2010). That would cut down on some of the re-training efforts for PLT.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: orbiter62995 on 12/31/2009 01:54 am
Yes, I would doubt to see Whitson on another crew for a while.

With all the talk about STS-135 being a four-person crew, it got me wondering about STS-133 and all the earlier talk about THAT mission having a small crew. Maybe they'll take the four MSs (Drew, Barratt, Kopra and Stott) and put half each on the two crews, add the Lindsey/Boe team as CDR/PLT of one flight and name a new CDR/PLT for the other. Could they do that? Crews of four on both missions? Or is the 133 crew size set now, whatever happens to the flight?

Following Ferguson's promotion, my money is on Gorie or Archambault as CDR, with Hurley or Ford (or maybe Johnson) as PLT.


Just my two cents on the PLT position for STS-135: Given the short training timeframe with a December 2010 launch, I would not rule out a more recently flown PLT, say Wilmore or even Virts (who's the PLT for STS-130 in Feb. 2010). That would cut down on some of the re-training efforts for PLT.

Either the crew remains 6 and 4 or they divide them into 5 and 5.  The crew could be divided in 2 and another MSP added to each mission; one could receive one or three MSPs and the other the opposite (ie. Kopra stays with STS-133 and others move to STS-135).
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aurora899 on 01/05/2010 08:11 am
Just for info, John Grunsfeld has now left NASA to become Deputy Director of the Space Telescope Science Institute:

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=19990.0
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 01/16/2010 06:10 pm
I have updated list of ISS Expeditions with information from Sergey Shamsutdinov (one of editors of Novosti kosmonavtiki magazine):

Expedition 22
December 1, 2009 - March 18, 2010
CDR - Jeffrey Williams
FE1 - Maksim Suraev
FE4 - Oleg Kotov
FE5 - Soichi Noguchi
FE6 - Timothy Creamer

Expedition 23
March 18 - May 31, 2010
CDR - Oleg Kotov
FE1 - Aleksandr Skvortsov
FE2 - Mikhail Kornienko
FE3 - Tracy Caldwell Dyson
FE5 - Soichi Noguchi
FE6 - Timothy Creamer

Expedition 24
May 31 - September 16, 2010
CDR - Aleksandr Skvortsov
FE2 - Mikhail Kornienko
FE3 - Tracy Caldwell Dyson
FE4 - Fyodor Yurchikhin
FE5 - Shannon Walker
FE6 - Douglas Wheelock

Expedition 25
September 16 - November 26, 2010
CDR - Douglas Wheelock
FE1 - Aleksandr Kaleri
FE2 - Oleg Skripochka
FE3 - Scott Kelly
FE4 - Fyodor Yurchikhin
FE5 - Shannon Walker

Expedition 26
November 26, 2010 - March 16, 2011
CDR - Scott Kelly
FE1 - Aleksandr Kaleri
FE2 - Oleg Skripochka
FE4 - Dmitriy Kondratyev
FE5 - Paolo Nespoli
FE6 - Catherine Coleman

Expedition 27
March 16 - May 15, 2011
CDR - Dmitriy Kondratyev
FE1 - Aleksandr Samokutyaev
FE2 - Andrey Borisenko
FE3 - Ronald Garan
FE5 - Paolo Nespoli
FE6 - Catherine Coleman

Expedition 28
May 15 - September 14, 2011
CDR - Andrey Borisenko
FE1 - Aleksandr Samokutyaev
FE3 - Ronald Garan
FE4 - Sergey Volkov
FE5 - Satoshi Furukawa
FE6 - Michael Fossum

Expedition 29
September 14 - November 5, 2011
CDR - Michael Fossum
FE1 - Anton Shkaplerov
FE2 - Anatoliy Ivanishin
FE3 - Daniel Burbank
FE4 - Sergey Volkov
FE5 - Satoshi Furukawa

Expedition 30
November 5, 2011 - March 15, 2012
CDR - Daniel Burbank
FE1 - Anton Shkaplerov
FE2 - Anatoliy Ivanishin
FE4 - Oleg Kononenko
FE5 - André Kuipers
FE6 - Donald Pettit

Expedition 31
March 15 - May 16, 2012
CDR - Oleg Kononenko
FE1 - Gennadiy Padalka
FE2 - Konstantin Valkov
FE3 - Joseph Acaba
FE5 - André Kuipers
FE6 - Donald Pettit

Expedition 32
May 16 - September 15, 2012
CDR - Gennadiy Padalka
FE2 - Konstantin Valkov
FE3 - Joseph Acaba
FE4 - Yuriy Malenchenko
FE5 - Akihiko Hoshide
FE6 - Sunita Williams

Expedition 33
September 15 - November 5, 2012
CDR - Sunita Williams
FE1 - Roman Romanenko
FE2 - Sergey Revin
FE3 - NASA astronaut
FE4 - Yuriy Malenchenko
FE5 - Akihiko Hoshide

Changes on January 16
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: arkaska on 01/16/2010 10:02 pm
So Padalka will get a third turn in commanding the ISS and it looks like Romaneko who was part of the last mission will take a turn as commander as well.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 01/16/2010 10:19 pm
According to Yuri Malenchenko's Spacefacts biography, he retired from the Cosmonaut corps. on 27 July 2009.

www.spacefacts.de/bios/cosmonauts/english/malenchenko_yuri.htm
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 01/16/2010 11:50 pm
According to Yuri Malenchenko's Spacefacts biography, he retired from the Cosmonaut corps. on 27 July 2009.

www.spacefacts.de/bios/cosmonauts/english/malenchenko_yuri.htm

Malenchenko retired from the Russian Air Force on that date -- and the military still officially controlled the Gagarin Center cosmonaut team then.  But in August the unit was transferred to civilian control (along with the center) and Malenchenko applied for re-admission as a civilian.

Padalka is also a civilian.

Michael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 01/17/2010 08:02 am
So Padalka will get a third turn in commanding the ISS and it looks like Romanenko who was part of the last mission will take a turn as commander as well

I was told Gennadiy Padalka has agreed to command Expedition 32, because during it there will be possibly arrival of Russian Multipurpose laboratory module Nauka.

As for Roman Romanenko, he will not be ISS commander, because Expedition 34 should be commanded by US astronaut.

According to Yuri Malenchenko's Spacefacts biography, he retired from the Cosmonaut corps. on 27 July 2009

Decision about returning Yuriy Malenchenko in civilian GCTC cosmonaut detachment will be made till end of January, according to Sergey Shamsutdinov.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 01/17/2010 02:49 pm
Anik,

When you say Malenchenko will be returning to the "civilian GCTC detachment", does this mean he becomes a civilian, flight engineer-type cosmonaut or will he remain a pilot-cosmonaut eligible for command positions?

I know that, within NASA, pilots can retire from military service and continue to pilot/command missions as civilians, but I was under the impression that in Russia they have two distinct groups (military pilots and civilian engineers).
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 01/17/2010 03:17 pm
When you say Malenchenko will be returning to the "civilian GCTC detachment", does this mean he becomes a civilian, flight engineer-type cosmonaut or will he remain a pilot-cosmonaut eligible for command positions?

I thought Michael Cassutt has already explained that above. Again, Malenchenko is civilian Soyuz commander. As Padalka.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 01/17/2010 03:20 pm
Anik,

When you say Malenchenko will be returning to the "civilian GCTC detachment", does this mean he becomes a civilian, flight engineer-type cosmonaut or will he remain a pilot-cosmonaut eligible for command positions?

Judging by the fact that Malenchenko has not been assigned a CDR position, despite having flown two previous long-duration flights (Exp. 7 & Exp. 16), I would say that he is now only eligible for civilian FE positions, and not military CDR positions.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 01/17/2010 03:45 pm
Anik,

When you say Malenchenko will be returning to the "civilian GCTC detachment", does this mean he becomes a civilian, flight engineer-type cosmonaut or will he remain a pilot-cosmonaut eligible for command positions?

Judging by the fact that Malenchenko has not been assigned a CDR position, despite having flown two previous long-duration flights (Exp. 7 & Exp. 16), I would say that he is now only eligible for civilian FE positions, and not military CDR positions.

You'd be incorrect.  See Anik's post.  Malenchenko, as a multi-mission military veteran, already went from ISS commander to flight engineer, and could just as easily be commander again.  The ISS commander post is not affected by military status or lack of it.  Nor is the job of Soyuz commander.

Michael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: arkaska on 01/18/2010 11:48 am
Anik,

When you say Malenchenko will be returning to the "civilian GCTC detachment", does this mean he becomes a civilian, flight engineer-type cosmonaut or will he remain a pilot-cosmonaut eligible for command positions?

Judging by the fact that Malenchenko has not been assigned a CDR position, despite having flown two previous long-duration flights (Exp. 7 & Exp. 16), I would say that he is now only eligible for civilian FE positions, and not military CDR positions.

If you look you see that it's NASAs turn to have a commander and that's why he's not a commander. He is still the commander of the RS.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 01/18/2010 05:24 pm
Are there plans for another European CDR? or a Japanese CDR?

or was de Winne a one-off?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 01/18/2010 07:18 pm
Was wondering why Russian ISS commanders are sometimes spaceflight "rookies", while all ISS commanders on the U.S. side have flown at least 1 mission prior?
Thank you. 
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 01/19/2010 10:35 am
I don't think there ARE any rookies left in NASA's corps to be able to fly their first missions as a CDR.

Having said that, wasn't rookie Mike Barratt the backup CDR for Expedition 18?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: npuentes on 01/19/2010 12:21 pm
My understanding is that the assignment of ISS CDR is rotated, mostly back and forth between Russia and the U.S., with the other partners (only Europe so far) getting opportunities in proportion to their financial contribution.  So, if an experienced cosmonaut like Kaleri has an increment during which it is the U.S.' turn to have a commander, he will be FE.  The only instance I know of when this ruffled feathers was for Expedition 1.  Originally A. Solovyov was to serve on the crew, but he refused to have an American commander and was replaced by Gidzenko.  I imagine most cosmonauts and astronauts just want to fly and don't care too much about their designation.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TALsite on 01/19/2010 12:49 pm
Was wondering why Russian ISS commanders are sometimes spaceflight "rookies", while all ISS commanders on the U.S. side have flown at least 1 mission prior?
Thank you. 
Look at the fact that now, with a 6-men crew on ISS, all the rookies Russian ISS commanders are ISS Flight engineers on their first increments.  Skvortsorv (or later Kondratyev or Borisenko) will be Exp. 23  FE-1 and later will be Exp.24 CDR.  The last time (if my memory works) that ISS have a (“just docked”) rookie CDR was in Exp 17 with Sergei Volkov.

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 01/19/2010 02:20 pm
Having said that, wasn't rookie Mike Barratt the backup CDR for Expedition 18?

No, Yuriy Lonchakov and then Gennadiy Padalka were Expedition 18 backup commanders.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 01/19/2010 10:35 pm
QUOTE..."Look at the fact that now, with a 6-men crew on ISS, all the rookies Russian ISS commanders are ISS Flight engineers on their first increments.  Skvortsorv (or later Kondratyev or Borisenko) will be Exp. 23  FE-1 and later will be Exp.24 CDR.  The last time (if my memory works) that ISS have a (“just docked”) rookie CDR was in Exp 17 with Sergei Volkov".


TALsite...I never thought of it that way...it does make sense in that the "rookie" CDR will have spent about 2-3 months on orbit before taking over command.
And like you mentioned, the first (and most likely only) rookie ISS CDR would be Exp-17's Sergei Volkov.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 02/07/2010 03:38 pm
Seeing Jim Kelly this morning on STS 130 launch coverage had me thinking.
Most people speculated that he was in line to fly Orion.

With that program cancelled, do you think he'll be assigned to a long term ISS assignment?

Also, did anyone hear him say that Shane Kimbrough was assigned to an ISS flight?
Was that assignment made public?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 02/16/2010 03:31 pm
According to www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios, Mark Polansky is the new director of operations in Russia.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 02/16/2010 04:06 pm
Well, now that STS-135 is off the books, what will the LON crew for STS-335 look like? The Flight-deck crew of STS-132 maybe (or STS-131 as they will have MPLM experience)?

Hey, its a crew.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 02/16/2010 04:30 pm
...or the STS-134 crew, who also have ELC experience...?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: arkaska on 02/16/2010 05:10 pm
...or the STS-134 crew, who also have ELC experience...?

How does ELC experince some into play? The LON shuttle will not carry an ELC only a MPLM.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 02/17/2010 07:39 pm
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/structure/iss_manifest.html

STS-133 is also listed with ELC-4...unless this has changed?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: arkaska on 02/17/2010 07:58 pm
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/structure/iss_manifest.html

STS-133 is also listed with ELC-4...unless this has changed?
[/quote

Yes but wasn't we talking about the crew for LON-335? Then it doesn't mater if the crew has ELC experience or not since 335 will not carry a ELC.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: cd-slam on 02/17/2010 10:54 pm

STS-131 will be the last Shuttle mission with rookies after which time all of the astronaut class of 2004 (NASA Group 19) will have flown.

However, all of the class of 2009 (NASA Group 20) are rookies.  With no expectation of a Shuttle flight, these folks will be ISS crews.  I guess theoretically some of these folks could debut as an ISS CDR.  I may depend on how many of the more senior folks decide to retire.
Just one exception, Shannon Walker from NASA Group 19 will make her debut in June this year on board a Soyuz (she will be the only American member of this group not to fly on a shuttle).
None of these Group 20 crew have been assigned to an ISS mission up to end of 2012, meaning there will be no new NASA astronauts flown for at least the next 3 years. Sad. :(
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 02/17/2010 11:49 pm
Thinking about who might be in line for future expeditions got me looking at the NEEMO crews and I came across this article from the Orlando Sentinel from October 2009:

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_space_thewritestuff/2009/10/nasas-walks-underwater-to-get-ready-for-the-moon.html

It suggests that NEEMO-14 will take place sometime this spring...but with Eric Boe as its CDR, I imagine that he is already deep into STS-133 training. Is this NEEMO expedition going ahead or not?

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 02/21/2010 07:42 am
I have updated list of ISS Expeditions with information from Crew Training Status document published in L2 section of our forum:

Expedition 22
December 1, 2009 - March 18, 2010
CDR - Jeffrey Williams
FE1 - Maksim Suraev
FE4 - Oleg Kotov
FE5 - Soichi Noguchi
FE6 - Timothy Creamer

Expedition 23
March 18 - June 2, 2010
CDR - Oleg Kotov
FE1 - Aleksandr Skvortsov
FE2 - Mikhail Kornienko
FE3 - Tracy Caldwell Dyson
FE5 - Soichi Noguchi
FE6 - Timothy Creamer

Expedition 24
June 2 - September 16, 2010
CDR - Aleksandr Skvortsov
FE2 - Mikhail Kornienko
FE3 - Tracy Caldwell Dyson
FE4 - Fyodor Yurchikhin
FE5 - Shannon Walker
FE6 - Douglas Wheelock

Expedition 25
September 16 - November 26, 2010
CDR - Douglas Wheelock
FE1 - Aleksandr Kaleri
FE2 - Oleg Skripochka
FE3 - Scott Kelly
FE4 - Fyodor Yurchikhin
FE5 - Shannon Walker

Expedition 26
November 26, 2010 - March 16, 2011
CDR - Scott Kelly
FE1 - Aleksandr Kaleri
FE2 - Oleg Skripochka
FE4 - Dmitriy Kondratyev
FE5 - Paolo Nespoli
FE6 - Catherine Coleman

Expedition 27
March 16 - May 15, 2011
CDR - Dmitriy Kondratyev
FE1 - Aleksandr Samokutyaev
FE2 - Andrey Borisenko
FE3 - Ronald Garan
FE5 - Paolo Nespoli
FE6 - Catherine Coleman

Expedition 28
May 15 - September 14, 2011
CDR - Andrey Borisenko
FE1 - Aleksandr Samokutyaev
FE3 - Ronald Garan
FE4 - Sergey Volkov
FE5 - Satoshi Furukawa
FE6 - Michael Fossum

Expedition 29
September 14 - November 5, 2011
CDR - Michael Fossum
FE1 - Anton Shkaplerov
FE2 - Anatoliy Ivanishin
FE3 - Daniel Burbank
FE4 - Sergey Volkov
FE5 - Satoshi Furukawa

Expedition 30
November 5, 2011 - March 15, 2012
CDR - Daniel Burbank
FE1 - Anton Shkaplerov
FE2 - Anatoliy Ivanishin
FE4 - Oleg Kononenko
FE5 - André Kuipers
FE6 - Donald Pettit

Expedition 31
March 15 - May 16, 2012
CDR - Oleg Kononenko
FE1 - Gennadiy Padalka
FE2 - Konstantin Valkov
FE3 - Joseph Acaba
FE5 - André Kuipers
FE6 - Donald Pettit

Expedition 32
May 16 - September 15, 2012
CDR - Gennadiy Padalka
FE2 - Konstantin Valkov
FE3 - Joseph Acaba
FE4 - Yuriy Malenchenko
FE5 - Sunita Williams
FE6 - Akihiko Hoshide

Expedition 33
September 15 - November 5, 2012
CDR - Sunita Williams
FE1 - Maksim Suraev
FE2 - Roskosmos cosmonaut
FE3 - Kevin Ford
FE4 - Yuriy Malenchenko
FE6 - Akihiko Hoshide

Expedition 34
November 5, 2012 - March 2013
CDR - Kevin Ford
FE1 - Maksim Suraev
FE2 - Roskosmos cosmonaut
FE4 - Roman Romanenko
FE5 - Chris Hadfield
FE6 - Shane Kimbrough

Expedition 35
March - May 2013
CDR - Chris Hadfield
FE1 - Roskosmos cosmonaut
FE2 - Roskosmos cosmonaut
FE3 - NASA astronaut
FE4 - Roman Romanenko
FE6 - Shane Kimbrough
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: arkaska on 02/21/2010 05:03 pm
Thanks for this Anik but you have posted expedition 33 twice.

I'm still waiting for Russia to send up their first female expedition member.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 02/22/2010 08:54 am
It also surprises me that Japan has not yet had a station command, but Canada is getting one. Isn't Canada a more junior member, funding-wise?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 02/22/2010 09:13 am
I remember a time when Canada was even trying to get a Shuttle PLT assignment ...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: arkaska on 02/22/2010 10:20 am
It also surprises me that Japan has not yet had a station command, but Canada is getting one. Isn't Canada a more junior member, funding-wise?

That surprised me as well, not that Japan hasn't got a station command but that Canada will get one. It might be because Canada is a closer "ally"
with NASA and they give one of their commands to Canada.

I also though Julie Payette would be the next Canadian to be assigned a long duration mission. I know she is their Chief Astronaut but she has expressed wishes to be part of a long duration mission. And now that they are 2 new astronauts in training and their limited spots on ISS her chances are getting slimmer.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 02/22/2010 06:29 pm
Yes, I remember something about the Canadians being interested in a Shuttle PLT seat. When did that occur and how far did it go?


Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jeff Lerner on 02/22/2010 06:51 pm
I also though Julie Payette would be the next Canadian to be assigned a long duration mission. I know she is their Chief Astronaut but she has expressed wishes to be part of a long duration mission. And now that they are 2 new astronauts in training and their limited spots on ISS her chances are getting slimmer.

Chris Hadfield was backup to Bob Thirsk for Expedition 20/21. He's been in training for an ISS mission and having spoken to him at the STS-127 launch, an ISS mission is something he has been looking forward to for quite a while.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 02/22/2010 08:00 pm
Let's hope he is quickly followed by Payette, then?

It would be nice to see Schlegel get an expedition, too.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 02/22/2010 08:35 pm
When can we expect the first assignments for the Group 20 astronauts?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 02/23/2010 06:31 pm
Christer Fuglesang has been appointed the Head of the Science and Application Division at ESTEC in Noordwijk, The Netherlands, effective from May 1st 2010.

In this role, he will be coordinating ESA's science programs, including those on the ISS.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 02/23/2010 06:41 pm
When can we expect the first assignments for the Group 20 astronauts?

What's the rush?  They're still candidates and will be well into 2010.  One or more might be assigned an ISS expedition in 2012, which would mean a flight in 2014.  That would be the earliest I'd expect to see an 09 in space.

Michael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Targeteer on 02/27/2010 04:10 pm
I have updated list of ISS Expeditions with information from Crew Training Status document published in L2 section of our forum:

Expedition 22
December 1, 2009 - March 18, 2010
CDR - Jeffrey Williams
FE1 - Maksim Suraev
FE4 - Oleg Kotov
FE5 - Soichi Noguchi
FE6 - Timothy Creamer

Expedition 23
March 18 - June 2, 2010
CDR - Oleg Kotov
FE1 - Aleksandr Skvortsov
FE2 - Mikhail Kornienko
FE3 - Tracy Caldwell Dyson
FE5 - Soichi Noguchi
FE6 - Timothy Creamer

Expedition 24
June 2 - September 16, 2010
CDR - Aleksandr Skvortsov
FE2 - Mikhail Kornienko
FE3 - Tracy Caldwell Dyson
FE4 - Fyodor Yurchikhin
FE5 - Shannon Walker
FE6 - Douglas Wheelock

Expedition 25
September 16 - November 26, 2010
CDR - Douglas Wheelock
FE1 - Aleksandr Kaleri
FE2 - Oleg Skripochka
FE3 - Scott Kelly
FE4 - Fyodor Yurchikhin
FE5 - Shannon Walker

Expedition 26
November 26, 2010 - March 16, 2011
CDR - Scott Kelly
FE1 - Aleksandr Kaleri
FE2 - Oleg Skripochka
FE4 - Dmitriy Kondratyev
FE5 - Paolo Nespoli
FE6 - Catherine Coleman

Expedition 27
March 16 - May 15, 2011
CDR - Dmitriy Kondratyev
FE1 - Aleksandr Samokutyaev
FE2 - Andrey Borisenko
FE3 - Ronald Garan
FE5 - Paolo Nespoli
FE6 - Catherine Coleman

Expedition 28
May 15 - September 14, 2011
CDR - Andrey Borisenko
FE1 - Aleksandr Samokutyaev
FE3 - Ronald Garan
FE4 - Sergey Volkov
FE5 - Satoshi Furukawa
FE6 - Michael Fossum

Expedition 29
September 14 - November 5, 2011
CDR - Michael Fossum
FE1 - Anton Shkaplerov
FE2 - Anatoliy Ivanishin
FE3 - Daniel Burbank
FE4 - Sergey Volkov
FE5 - Satoshi Furukawa

Expedition 30
November 5, 2011 - March 15, 2012
CDR - Daniel Burbank
FE1 - Anton Shkaplerov
FE2 - Anatoliy Ivanishin
FE4 - Oleg Kononenko
FE5 - André Kuipers
FE6 - Donald Pettit

Expedition 31
March 15 - May 16, 2012
CDR - Oleg Kononenko
FE1 - Gennadiy Padalka
FE2 - Konstantin Valkov
FE3 - Joseph Acaba
FE5 - André Kuipers
FE6 - Donald Pettit

Expedition 32
May 16 - September 15, 2012
CDR - Gennadiy Padalka
FE2 - Konstantin Valkov
FE3 - Joseph Acaba
FE4 - Yuriy Malenchenko
FE5 - Sunita Williams
FE6 - Akihiko Hoshide

Expedition 33
September 15 - November 5, 2012
CDR - Sunita Williams
FE1 - Maksim Suraev
FE2 - Roskosmos cosmonaut
FE3 - Kevin Ford
FE4 - Yuriy Malenchenko
FE6 - Akihiko Hoshide

Expedition 34
November 5, 2012 - March 2013
CDR - Kevin Ford
FE1 - Maksim Suraev
FE2 - Roskosmos cosmonaut
FE4 - Roman Romanenko
FE5 - Chris Hadfield
FE6 - Shane Kimbrough

Expedition 35
March - May 2013
CDR - Chris Hadfield
FE1 - Roskosmos cosmonaut
FE2 - Roskosmos cosmonaut
FE3 - NASA astronaut
FE4 - Roman Romanenko
FE6 - Shane Kimbrough

I've seen in briefings that makeup of ISS crews is a negotiation between the partners, based on contributions, and obviously political but I'm dumbfounded that 12 of the next 14 including 12 straight have 3 Russian crew members.  Their contribution to the completed station is no where near 50 percent and they charge everyone to use their rockets.  Monitoring the ISS video and audio feeds indicates Russian crew members work almost exclusively in the Russian segment and deal with only with the Moscow control center.  How can the vastly larger non-russian segment with all the true research capability be appropriately utilized under this manning arrangement?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: cd-slam on 02/27/2010 04:42 pm
The crewing agreement has been 50% Russian, 50% US & IPs from day 1 of manned occupancy. What has changed?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 02/28/2010 02:27 pm
I've seen in briefings that makeup of ISS crews is a negotiation between the partners, based on contributions, and obviously political but I'm dumbfounded that 12 of the next 14 including 12 straight have 3 Russian crew members.  Their contribution to the completed station is no where near 50 percent and they charge everyone to use their rockets.  Monitoring the ISS video and audio feeds indicates Russian crew members work almost exclusively in the Russian segment and deal with only with the Moscow control center.  How can the vastly larger non-russian segment with all the true research capability be appropriately utilized under this manning arrangement?

That reminds me, while keeping tabs on the STS-130 photos, as the mission progressed it seemed like Kotov and Suraev had very little interaction with the STS-130 crew, in terms of getting Node 3 installed. Compared to past expeditions where you'd see the Russians floating around, helping with EVA preps or what not, the only pictures I saw of the two Cosmonauts were when the STS-130 crew came aboard, when they were leaving, and maybe the joint meals.

Did TSuP just keep them really busy with tasks on the Russian end while STS-130 was docked? Or had they received little to no training to provide any useful assistance to the STS-130 crew's tasks?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 03/01/2010 08:43 pm
I've seen in briefings that makeup of ISS crews is a negotiation between the partners, based on contributions, and obviously political but I'm dumbfounded that 12 of the next 14 including 12 straight have 3 Russian crew members.  Their contribution to the completed station is no where near 50 percent and they charge everyone to use their rockets.  Monitoring the ISS video and audio feeds indicates Russian crew members work almost exclusively in the Russian segment and deal with only with the Moscow control center.  How can the vastly larger non-russian segment with all the true research capability be appropriately utilized under this manning arrangement?

That reminds me, while keeping tabs on the STS-130 photos, as the mission progressed it seemed like Kotov and Suraev had very little interaction with the STS-130 crew, in terms of getting Node 3 installed. Compared to past expeditions where you'd see the Russians floating around, helping with EVA preps or what not, the only pictures I saw of the two Cosmonauts were when the STS-130 crew came aboard, when they were leaving, and maybe the joint meals.

Did TSuP just keep them really busy with tasks on the Russian end while STS-130 was docked? Or had they received little to no training to provide any useful assistance to the STS-130 crew's tasks?

I think the Russian crewmembers were just a little camera shy. ;)

I saw a video of Oleg Kotov helping the STS-130 crew remove cargo from Node 3's ISPs.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ShuttleAtlantis on 03/04/2010 10:11 pm
I noticed that Chris Hadfield is Sunita Williams backup for Expedition 32, and I was wondering if it is possible an American astronaut will be his backup for Expedition 35, even though he is scheduled to command the station. Hopefully though Julie Payette will be his backup.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aurora899 on 03/10/2010 08:55 am
Just read Chris' article on "STS-131 into FRRs – Managers check manifest status ahead of April decision":

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2010/03/sts-131-frr-managers-manifest-ahead-april-decision/

Look at the penultimate line:

"STS-133 is also highly likely to be reduced to a four person crew over the coming mission evaluation cycles."
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 03/10/2010 08:00 pm
Just read Chris' article on "STS-131 into FRRs – Managers check manifest status ahead of April decision":

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2010/03/sts-131-frr-managers-manifest-ahead-april-decision/

Look at the penultimate line:

"STS-133 is also highly likely to be reduced to a four person crew over the coming mission evaluation cycles."

Well, Steve Lindsey, Eric Boe are secure in their seats. I'll guess Tim Kopra, the Flight Engineer, is as well. That leaves Al Drew, Nicole Stott and Mike Barratt to get bumped.

BTW: The tight turnaround for Leonardo always surprised me. Why not make Raffaello the PLM or fly it on STS-131, leaving Leonardo on the ground with lots of time for the modification to PLM?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 03/10/2010 08:21 pm
"STS-133 is also highly likely to be reduced to a four person crew over the coming mission evaluation cycles."

What are the reasons for this?

Weight reduction?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SpaceInformer on 03/10/2010 08:23 pm
"STS-133 is also highly likely to be reduced to a four person crew over the coming mission evaluation cycles."

What are the reasons for this?

Weight reduction?

SOYUZ as rescue option - easier with 4 astros stranded on ISS
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: arkaska on 03/10/2010 08:25 pm

Well, Steve Lindsey, Eric Boe are secure in their seats. I'll guess Tim Kopra, the Flight Engineer, is as well. That leaves Al Drew, Nicole Stott and Mike Barratt to get bumped.

The best person to bump would be Drew since he has the least experience with ISS but since he took the job in Russia he is more or less guaranteed a flight.

If you are right about Kopra that leaves Stott and Barratt and since Barratt doesn't have any previous experience with shuttle flight I would say he is the one most likely to get bumped.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: DaveS on 03/10/2010 08:26 pm
"STS-133 is also highly likely to be reduced to a four person crew over the coming mission evaluation cycles."

What are the reasons for this?

Weight reduction?

SOYUZ as rescue option - easier with 4 astros stranded on ISS
How does this work? Soyuz only takes 3, not 4. One would be without a ride home.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 03/10/2010 08:27 pm
"STS-133 is also highly likely to be reduced to a four person crew over the coming mission evaluation cycles."

What are the reasons for this?

Weight reduction?

SOYUZ as rescue option - easier with 4 astros stranded on ISS

But I thought STS-133 was going to have STS-335 as a LON?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ChrisGebhardt on 03/10/2010 08:50 pm
"STS-133 is also highly likely to be reduced to a four person crew over the coming mission evaluation cycles."

What are the reasons for this?

Weight reduction?

SOYUZ as rescue option - easier with 4 astros stranded on ISS

But I thought STS-133 was going to have STS-335 as a LON?

Yep. That's the plan. STS-335 is the LON for STS-133.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 03/10/2010 08:53 pm
"STS-133 is also highly likely to be reduced to a four person crew over the coming mission evaluation cycles."

What are the reasons for this?

Weight reduction?

SOYUZ as rescue option - easier with 4 astros stranded on ISS

But I thought STS-133 was going to have STS-335 as a LON?

Yep. That's the plan. STS-335 is the LON for STS-133.

So then, why the crew reduction?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jorge on 03/10/2010 09:24 pm
"STS-133 is also highly likely to be reduced to a four person crew over the coming mission evaluation cycles."

What are the reasons for this?

Weight reduction?

SOYUZ as rescue option - easier with 4 astros stranded on ISS
How does this work? Soyuz only takes 3, not 4. One would be without a ride home.

No, two Soyuzes. One Russian CDR in each, with two rescued shuttle crewmembers.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: arkaska on 03/10/2010 10:15 pm

No, two Soyuzes. One Russian CDR in each, with two rescued shuttle crewmembers.

I know some ESA astronauts, and I guess some NASA astronauts as well, was certified to command a Soyuz on re-entry. Was this just for extreme cases if the Russian CDR would be incapacitated in some way?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ChrisGebhardt on 03/10/2010 10:25 pm
"STS-133 is also highly likely to be reduced to a four person crew over the coming mission evaluation cycles."

What are the reasons for this?

Weight reduction?

SOYUZ as rescue option - easier with 4 astros stranded on ISS

But I thought STS-133 was going to have STS-335 as a LON?

Yep. That's the plan. STS-335 is the LON for STS-133.

So then, why the crew reduction?

That would be the $64,000 question.  ???
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: The-Hammer on 03/10/2010 10:51 pm
Wild and crazy idea:

STS-135 is baselined as a normal 6-crew, 2-3 eva, 12 day mission carrying ELC4 and the ICC-VLD (or another ICC if the others are still available).

STS-135 launches before 133.

STS-133 is re-baselined as a 4-crew, 0 EVA, 8(ish) day mission carrying a crammed-full PMM. 

EDIT: Now that I think about it a bit more, 133 would probably need to be 10 days to accommodate FD-4 rendezvous.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jorge on 03/11/2010 01:15 am

No, two Soyuzes. One Russian CDR in each, with two rescued shuttle crewmembers.

I know some ESA astronauts, and I guess some NASA astronauts as well, was certified to command a Soyuz on re-entry. Was this just for extreme cases if the Russian CDR would be incapacitated in some way?

I believe so. I don't believe the Russians would ever *launch* with a non-Russian Soyuz CDR.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 03/11/2010 02:14 am
I think I might have worked this out! :)
It's a long shot, but here goes.

Consider the facts:

. STS-134 is likely to be pushed into 2011.

. NASA are very keen to have Steve Lindsey as CDR of the final Shuttle flight. But they don't want to move him to another mission, because of crew training issues.

. NASA are considering using FM-2 Raffaello as the PMM.

. The PMM should ideally fly last, because once the PMM is added, no MPLMs can be berthed to ISS due to software issues.

So, 133 cannot go before 134 - 133 must be the final flight.
But if 134 is delayed until 2011, & 133 goes after 134, then there will be a large gap between 132 & 134.

So here's a possible scenario:

NASA add 1 or 2 flights (135 & 136) in between 132 & 134 (possibly carrying FM-1 Leonardo - which could be why they are considering using FM-2 Raffaello as the PMM).
133 with Steve Lindsey as CDR flies last with no LON (hence the 4 person crew), and some of the 133 crew members move to new flights.

What do we think - is this plausible?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Lee Jay on 03/11/2010 02:20 am
What do we think - is this plausible?

Are you sure there's sufficient time for training and development of all the necessary flight products in this scenario?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 03/11/2010 02:28 am
What do we think - is this plausible?

Are you sure there's sufficient time for training and development of all the necessary flight products in this scenario?

I think there would be time if only 1 flight was added.

If Leonardo came down from 131 in late April, it could maybe be ready to fly again with some standard resupply racks by Sep./Oct./Nov.

And if the 2 bumped 133 crewmembers moved to this new mission, along with some recently "in the loop" MPLM trained crews (maybe from 131), then I think it might be doable.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nathan.moeller on 03/11/2010 04:08 am
I think there would be time if only 1 flight was added.

If Leonardo came down from 131 in late April, it could maybe be ready to fly again with some standard resupply racks by Sep./Oct./Nov.

And if the 2 bumped 133 crewmembers moved to this new mission, along with some recently "in the loop" MPLM trained crews (maybe from 131), then I think it might be doable.

Don't forget that it has to be baselined and the crew trained.  I think it takes about a year to plan a mission (at least).
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: arkaska on 03/11/2010 08:14 am

I believe so. I don't believe the Russians would ever *launch* with a non-Russian Soyuz CDR.

Can't a Soyuz launch and dock to ISS unmanned? If so a 6 person crew could be landed in just 2 Soyuz if they are launched unmanned.

. The PMM should ideally fly last, because once the PMM is added, no MPLMs can be berthed to ISS due to software issues.

Are you sure about this? LON-335 is scheduled to launch with a MPLM and that would be after the PMM is installed on ISS.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aquarius on 03/11/2010 11:54 am

I believe so. I don't believe the Russians would ever *launch* with a non-Russian Soyuz CDR.

Can't a Soyuz launch and dock to ISS unmanned? If so a 6 person crew could be landed in just 2 Soyuz if they are launched unmanned.


.

But still, they'd need  Russian CDRs to land those Soyuzes
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: arkaska on 03/11/2010 12:32 pm

But still, they'd need  Russian CDRs to land those Soyuzes
That's what we where talking about before that some ESA and NASA astronauts has been certified to command a Soyuz on its re-entry trip. That would make i able to land a 6 person shuttle crew with just 2 Soyuz. But this discussion fits better somewhere else since this thread is for crew assignments.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 03/11/2010 04:04 pm
Didn't they only baseline STS-106 in January 2000, assign the crew (admittedly a subset of STS-101) in February 2000 and launch in September 2000? Unless things have radically changed, that's eight months or so from conception to launch. If both STS-131 and a hypothetical 135 are both carrying MPLMs (as 101 and 106 both carried SPACEHABs), surely that will lessen processing worries?

As for the reduced 133 crew, looking at the images on spaceflight.nasa.gov's gallery, it seems to be Drew in the MS1 seat and Kopra in the MS2 seat, joining Lindsey and Boe as the flight deck team...would they risk breaking this unit after (already) several months' worth of training?

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 03/21/2010 12:57 am
With all shuttle flight crew assignments basically complete, I was wondering if Anna Fisher is eligible to fly a long duration mission on ISS via Soyuz?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: dcfowler1 on 03/21/2010 02:39 am
*Sigh.* The never-ending Anna Fisher question....
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 03/21/2010 03:18 pm
With all shuttle flight crew assignments basically complete, I was wondering if Anna Fisher is eligible to fly a long duration mission on ISS via Soyuz?

Fisher is over 60 years old. Either officially or unofficially, PR stunts aside, it seems NASA doesn't fly astronauts past the age of 60 (Musgrave was told when assigned to STS-80 it would be his last flight...which he flew at age 61).

So, no I don't see Anna Fisher flying again.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 03/21/2010 09:13 pm
With all shuttle flight crew assignments basically complete, I was wondering if Anna Fisher is eligible to fly a long duration mission on ISS via Soyuz?

Fisher is over 60 years old. Either officially or unofficially, PR stunts aside, it seems NASA doesn't fly astronauts past the age of 60 (Musgrave was told when assigned to STS-80 it would be his last flight...which he flew at age 61).

So, no I don't see Anna Fisher flying again.

You know, I never realized she was 61 years old...thank you.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 03/22/2010 11:39 am
...which does beg the question: why did she rejoin the Astronaut Office in 1996 (when she was only 47) and stick around for so long without a chance of flying?

I know astronauts often describe the ground work as exciting, and I'm sure it is, but you don't become an astronaut to just do ground work!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 03/22/2010 06:28 pm
...which does beg the question: why did she rejoin the Astronaut Office in 1996 (when she was only 47) and stick around for so long without a chance of flying?

I know astronauts often describe the ground work as exciting, and I'm sure it is, but you don't become an astronaut to just do ground work!

It's been suggested around here, that she returned while George Abbey was still JSC Director and he may have given her some assurances of a space flight. He leaves, but STS is going well...then the Columbia is lost, the shuttle is grounded essentially for three years, and when it does return to flight there are a finite number of missions, so rookies are flown as much as possible to build up spaceflight experience.

It's the way things happened, and since she is still there, she's likely happy to remain.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 03/24/2010 04:42 pm
Yes, but since Columbia, other astronauts - Robinson, Grunsfeld, Parazynski - have flown third, fourth and fifth missions, so the emphasis on flying rookies as a reason for Fisher remaining on the ground doesn't hold much water.

Also, Fisher returned to CB in February 1996, a full SEVEN YEARS before Columbia. During that time, even John Glenn got an assignment...and some astronauts began and completed four-flight careers!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: arkaska on 03/24/2010 05:41 pm
Glenn was flown because of an experiment on how space would affect old people.

Grunsfeld was flown because of his previous Hubble repair experience.

Parazynski and Robinson was likely flown because of their extensive EVA experience.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 03/24/2010 07:55 pm
Yes, but since Columbia, other astronauts - Robinson, Grunsfeld, Parazynski - have flown third, fourth and fifth missions, so the emphasis on flying rookies as a reason for Fisher remaining on the ground doesn't hold much water.

Also, Fisher returned to CB in February 1996, a full SEVEN YEARS before Columbia. During that time, even John Glenn got an assignment...and some astronauts began and completed four-flight careers!

As noted Grunsfeld had HST experience. Parazynski is a mystery. Robinson still fell under the "four flight" guideline (note I'm not calling it a rule).

Also, I'd imagine there's a big difference between an older astronaut who has been in constant training for years, and years with multiple missions, and an astronaut who flew one flight in 1984, left the astronaut office, then returned. As she came back in 1996 I suspect she was lumped in with the 1996 group in terms of when she could have had a flight assignment. Ultimately due to age, it may have been decided not to fly her with the delays due to RTF.

Who would you fly then? Someone from the 1998, 2000 and even 2004 selection, who will be around for the post-shuttle era, and can carry experience over to the next astronauts, or Fisher, with one flight, likely never to fly again even after a second flight?

Further, who is best suited to bring experience over to those rookies? Seasoned vets, like Robinson, Grunsfeld, and Parazynski. Whose flight experience is far more current than Fisher's.

Finally, you are aware John Glenn's role on a shuttle flight was entirely political, right?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Green013 on 03/24/2010 08:21 pm
Yes, but since Columbia, other astronauts - Robinson, Grunsfeld, Parazynski - have flown third, fourth and fifth missions, so the emphasis on flying rookies as a reason for Fisher remaining on the ground doesn't hold much water.

Also, Fisher returned to CB in February 1996, a full SEVEN YEARS before Columbia. During that time, even John Glenn got an assignment...and some astronauts began and completed four-flight careers!

As noted Grunsfeld had HST experience. Parazynski is a mystery. Robinson still fell under the "four flight" guideline (note I'm not calling it a rule).

Also, I'd imagine there's a big difference between an older astronaut who has been in constant training for years, and years with multiple missions, and an astronaut who flew one flight in 1984, left the astronaut office, then returned. As she came back in 1996 I suspect she was lumped in with the 1996 group in terms of when she could have had a flight assignment. Ultimately due to age, it may have been decided not to fly her with the delays due to RTF.

Who would you fly then? Someone from the 1998, 2000 and even 2004 selection, who will be around for the post-shuttle era, and can carry experience over to the next astronauts, or Fisher, with one flight, likely never to fly again even after a second flight?

Further, who is best suited to bring experience over to those rookies? Seasoned vets, like Robinson, Grunsfeld, and Parazynski. Whose flight experience is far more current than Fisher's.

Finally, you are aware John Glenn's role on a shuttle flight was entirely political, right?

Parazynski had been previously assigned to STS-118 prior to STS-107, and was subsequently transferred to STS-120 during the crew shuffle after the accident.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 03/24/2010 08:37 pm
Yes, I understand the logic about using more recently flown astronauts, but if you follow that line of thought, why bother putting her back into CB and onto active status in the first place? And why bother keeping her there? Why not just give her a management role?

If she was "lumped" in with the 1996 group, well, they had all flown or at least been assigned by 2002, which was BEFORE Columbia...and yet Fisher was overlooked. Here's a person who admittedly had flown many years earlier, but she had RMS experience, which would have been beneficial for ISS, and one other thing that she had that none of the others did...she had actual flight experience. Did all of THAT count for so little?

Incidently, Steve Hawley came back onto flight status at exactly the same time as Fisher and was immediately reassigned to STS-82 - yes, he had three previous flights to her one, but he hadn't flown for some years either.

It's purely academic, of course, but interesting, nonetheless.

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 03/24/2010 11:11 pm
2010 inductees into the Astronaut Hall Of Fame will be:

. Guion Bluford.
. Kenneth Bowersox.
. Frank Culbertson.
. Kathryn Thornton.

Source: http://astronautscholarship.org/2010ahof_induction.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 03/25/2010 02:05 am
Parazynski had been previously assigned to STS-118 prior to STS-107, and was subsequently transferred to STS-120 during the crew shuffle after the accident.

I cal Parazynski a mystery because Greg Harbaugh, was assigned to STS-119, and unlike Parazynski was left attached to STS-119 (on paper anyway) after it shifted downstream, and ultimately was not assigned to the flight.

Quote
If she was "lumped" in with the 1996 group, well, they had all flown or at least been assigned by 2002, which was BEFORE Columbia...and yet Fisher was overlooked. Here's a person who admittedly had flown many years earlier, but she had RMS experience, which would have been beneficial for ISS, and one other thing that she had that none of the others did...she had actual flight experience. Did all of THAT count for so little?

Incidently, Steve Hawley came back onto flight status at exactly the same time as Fisher and was immediately reassigned to STS-82 - yes, he had three previous flights to her one, but he hadn't flown for some years either.

Well, a couple of the 1996 group hadn't been assigned by the time of STS-107 (Yvonne Cagle....I don't know if Frank Caldiero's cancer had been diagnosed by 2003).

I hadn't realized Hawley came back that late. However, based on everything I've read, Hawley was highly regarded in the Astronaut Office. His flight assignments also seemed somewhat specific, as both involved telescopes (STS-82 - HST servicing, and STS-93 - Chandra deployment).

As with many things on this thread, I'm sure one day we'll discover the deal with Anna Fisher.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: arkaska on 03/25/2010 08:04 am
Steve Hawley was on the flight deploying HST and his first flight back after his "leave" was a HST service mission. That might explain his fast assignment.

Hawley never left NASA but had other assignments within NASA while Fisher left NASA altogether. Hawley's return to flight status was most likely planned before he actually returned so I don't think we can compare Hawley and Fisher.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 03/26/2010 11:03 pm
With STS 135 looking more promising, any thoughts on crew size or crew members?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ShuttleAtlantis on 03/27/2010 12:48 am
If STS-135 flies my prediction is it will be a six member crew, and it might go like this.

CMD: Dominic Gorie
PLT: Greg C. Johnson
MS: Dan Tani
MS: Rex Walheim
MS: TJ Creamer
MS: Danny Olivas
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SpaceUSMC on 03/27/2010 01:16 am
I could see TJ, he even though he is up now, he didn't get a shuttle flight.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ShuttleAtlantis on 03/29/2010 08:54 pm
Any guesses on who will be assigned to long duration missions on the ISS?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Orbiter on 03/29/2010 10:10 pm
If STS-135 flies my prediction is it will be a six member crew, and it might go like this.

CMD: Dominic Gorie
PLT: Greg C. Johnson
MS: Dan Tani
MS: Rex Walheim
MS: TJ Creamer
MS: Danny Olivas

It wont be Gorie, it will be Lindsey.

If there is an STS-135 the crew manifest might work like this.

STS-133
CDR: Chris Furgeson (possibly Lee Archambault)
PLT: Kevin Ford (Possibly even Doug Hurley)
MS1: Al Drew
MS2: Thomas Marshburn
MS3: Bobby Satcher
MS 4: Nicole Stott

STS-135
CDR: Steve Lindsey
PLT: Eric Boe
MS1: Tim Kopra
MS2: Michael Barratt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 03/30/2010 12:25 am
I clearly missed something this weekend...when did STS-135's chances of flying go back up?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Green013 on 03/30/2010 02:11 am
Beside from their being no confirmation, or raise in the chance of STS-135 happening, Kevin Ford would not be assigned to either in any capacity, as he is training for a future ISS Expedition.  Also, anyone correct me if I'm wrong, but if and when STS-133 is downsized to a crew of 4, Barratt and Stott are the most likely to lose there seats, because based on training images, their not on the flight deck crew.  However, I could see that swapping out Stott for Kopra in that instance also in order for the crew to be more politically correct for the press and public.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: kevind on 03/30/2010 02:27 am
Kevin Ford is already listed as training for an ISS visit, so that would probably rule him out for a PLT position on 135/133.  I think Doug Hurley would probably be next in line, with either Ferguson or Archambault as CDR.  I would be surprised if Greg C. Johnson got another flight since he would probably be 57 when it flew.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ChrisGebhardt on 03/30/2010 03:46 am
I clearly missed something this weekend...when did STS-135's chances of flying go back up?

You didn't miss anything. There's been absolutely no word on STS-135 recently.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: bothwell on 04/02/2010 02:43 pm
According to the latest Astronaut Biographies update, Gregory C. Johnson is now listed under the FCO Directorate section.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 04/05/2010 08:11 pm
Was wondering, with three female crew members aboard Discovery and one aboard ISS, is this the first time four women have been in space at the same time?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aquarius on 04/05/2010 08:14 pm
Was wondering, with three female crew members aboard Discovery and one aboard ISS, is this the first time four women have been in space at the same time?

Yes, it is.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: orbiter62995 on 04/11/2010 11:46 pm

But still, they'd need  Russian CDRs to land those Soyuzes
That's what we where talking about before that some ESA and NASA astronauts has been certified to command a Soyuz on its re-entry trip. That would make i able to land a 6 person shuttle crew with just 2 Soyuz. But this discussion fits better somewhere else since this thread is for crew assignments.

Where'd you post this topic (if you did) –– looking to read more.  Also, which active astronauts can land a Soyuz?  I know Thomas Reiter (though he's inactive) and Shannon Walker can, but who else?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ray125 on 04/12/2010 04:59 am
According to the latest Astronaut Biographies update,  is now listed under the FCO Directorate section.


Does that mean that Gregory C. Johnson can't go back to space.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aquarius on 04/12/2010 06:08 am
According to the latest Astronaut Biographies update,  is now listed under the FCO Directorate section.


Does that mean that Gregory C. Johnson can't go back to space.

He can't go back until he gets an active astronaut status again.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: orbiter62995 on 04/15/2010 07:24 pm
According to the latest Astronaut Biographies update,  is now listed under the FCO Directorate section.


Does that mean that Gregory C. Johnson can't go back to space.

He can't go back until he gets an active astronaut status again.

He's 57, how much more of an opportunity will he get?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 04/17/2010 08:41 pm
I have a question regarding recent ISS crew selections.
I always thought that a crew member who was assigned as Flight Engineer to a long duration increment, would get assigned as CDR if chosen to fly again.

I noticed several upcoming assignments in which that isn't so:

ISS 26  A. Kaleri
ISS 31  D. Pettit
ISS 34  M. Surayev
ISS 35  R. Romanenko

Comments?

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 04/17/2010 11:19 pm
I have a question regarding recent ISS crew selections.
I always thought that a crew member who was assigned as Flight Engineer to a long duration increment, would get assigned as CDR if chosen to fly again.

I noticed several upcoming assignments in which that isn't so:

ISS 26  A. Kaleri
ISS 31  D. Pettit
ISS 34  M. Surayev
ISS 35  R. Romanenko

Usually it boils down to whose turn it is as station CDR: the Americans or Russians (or even now, Europeans and soon to be Canadians).

Kaleri is a surprise, considering he'll be marking his fifth space flight. However, I've never gotten a firm impression on how in "command" the expedition CDR is. There just has always seemed something loose about it and I don't know if that's just my perception or not.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 04/18/2010 07:35 am
Is it just me, or has the much-publicised 'Science Officer' tag disappeared from ISS crew selections? It seemed a big deal when Whitson was named in 2002 and all crews during the STS-107 downtime had a Science Officer, who was named as such, but does it still exist? If so, who is it - Caldwell-Dyson, Creamer or both?
   
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 04/18/2010 08:19 am
Kaleri is a surprise, considering he'll be marking his fifth space flight

It is not surprise. It was stated many times on our forum that Aleksandr Kaleri's flight links to first flight of new modification of Soyuz TMA spacecraft. I.e. if spacecraft's launch postpones from September 30 to December 10, 2010, then he will be ISS Expedition 27 commander, because, as you pointed earlier, it is Russian turn to be ISS commander.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 04/19/2010 07:36 am
On the weekend, there was a feature on the Apollo 13 anniversary on German network WDR's "Aktuelle Stunde". They showed old footage, some shots from the Tom Hanks movie, an interview with Ulf Merbold on astronaut flight safety -- and also a short interview with Alexander Gerst conducted at the EAC in Cologne during ISS training activities. The interview centered on lessons learned from Apollo 13 regarding applicability to current programs. What's particularly interesting was an off-camera introduction to Gerst that mentioned he would fly to the ISS in 2012.

Huh?

I was kind of expecting him to be the first from the new batch of ESA astronauts to actually fly -- but not before 2013 or 2014. I guess that 2012 launch date was some kind of misinformation. Or has there been developments "back-stage" in the ISS program that would actually lead to an assignment for him in 2012?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aquarius on 04/19/2010 07:54 am
All the seats for 2012 flights are preliminarily assigned already, and Gerst or any other member of the most recent ESA astronaut class are not among them.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: DwightM on 04/19/2010 09:44 pm
Well, one cool thing about 134 potentially flying in November (or any time from then to March) would be that the Kelly brothers will be on station together.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: WBeck on 04/21/2010 11:18 am
The ESA Director General Dordain said, that a german astronaut could fly in the 2013/2014 timeframe. I guess Gerst is an obvious candidate :)

http://www.esa.int/esaCP/Pr_17_2009_p_EN.html (http://www.esa.int/esaCP/Pr_17_2009_p_EN.html)
- second paragraph -
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 04/24/2010 10:13 am
Presumably Hans Schlegel is out of the running, then?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 04/27/2010 08:04 pm
Any word if the mission swap of STS-133 and STS-134 will impact crew assignments at all? Or is the training cycle too far along to play games with that? Aside from Lindsey being pointed at the "last flight", I recall some mention of STS-133 being reduced to a crew of 4. Is that less likely now?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jorge on 04/27/2010 09:30 pm
Any word if the mission swap of STS-133 and STS-134 will impact crew assignments at all? Or is the training cycle too far along to play games with that?

Too far along.

Quote
Aside from Lindsey being pointed at the "last flight", I recall some mention of STS-133 being reduced to a crew of 4. Is that less likely now?

Less likely.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: WBeck on 04/28/2010 11:37 am
Presumably Hans Schlegel is out of the running, then?

Maybe Schlegel is in 2013/14 to old for an assignment. He was born in 1951 and the oldest expedtion member so far, if i remember correct, was Robert Thirsk (nearly 56). Pettit will likely break this record (56 1/2).

There also some quotation of Johann-Dietrich Wörner (DLR Chariman) in german media, that Gerst is the next german astronaut.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Martin FL on 05/05/2010 03:00 am
I wish people on Twitter had the good sense to say additions are listed here FIRST and not "also" when another site eventually gets around to listing the same info (leechers at spacefacts).
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Orbiter on 05/05/2010 10:02 pm
Wondering if Mike Massimino is in line for another mission (ISS expedition), he's still active and pretty active in the NASA community and in the public's eye also.

Orbiter
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: cd-slam on 05/06/2010 02:39 am
I'd love to see that. He's never been to the ISS.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 05/11/2010 09:35 pm
BBC News: "UK astronaut Tim Peake makes first weightless flight".

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8672012.stm
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 05/12/2010 01:25 am
Just as a note, Chris Hadfield and Tom Marshburn are currently serving on the 2 week NEEMO 14 mission. Most astronauts who serve on NEEMO missions go on to fly long duration. Hadfield is already assigned to a long duration flight, and so I wouldn't be too surprised to see Marshburn on a long duration flight sometime in 2014 or later, especially with his medical background.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 05/22/2010 10:04 am
Expedition 23
March 18 - June 2, 2010
CDR - Oleg Kotov
FE1 - Aleksandr Skvortsov
FE2 - Tracy Caldwell Dyson
FE3 - Mikhail Kornienko
FE5 - Soichi Noguchi
FE6 - Timothy Creamer

Expedition 24
June 2 - September 24, 2010
CDR - Aleksandr Skvortsov
FE2 - Tracy Caldwell Dyson
FE3 - Mikhail Kornienko
FE4 - Douglas Wheelock
FE5 - Fyodor Yurchikhin
FE6 - Shannon Walker

Expedition 25
September 24 - November 26, 2010
CDR - Douglas Wheelock
FE - Aleksandr Kaleri
FE - Oleg Skripochka
FE - Scott Kelly
FE5 - Fyodor Yurchikhin
FE6 - Shannon Walker

Expedition 26
November 26, 2010 - March 16, 2011
CDR - Scott Kelly
FE - Aleksandr Kaleri
FE - Oleg Skripochka
FE - Dmitriy Kondratyev
FE - Paolo Nespoli
FE - Catherine Coleman

Expedition 27
March 16 - May 16, 2011
CDR - Dmitriy Kondratyev
FE - Aleksandr Samokutyaev
FE - Andrey Borisenko
FE - Ronald Garan
FE - Paolo Nespoli
FE - Catherine Coleman

Expedition 28
May 16 - September 16, 2011
CDR - Andrey Borisenko
FE - Aleksandr Samokutyaev
FE - Ronald Garan
FE - Sergey Volkov
FE - Satoshi Furukawa
FE - Michael Fossum

Expedition 29
September 16 - November 16, 2011
CDR - Michael Fossum
FE - Anton Shkaplerov
FE - Anatoliy Ivanishin
FE - Daniel Burbank
FE - Sergey Volkov
FE - Satoshi Furukawa

Expedition 30
November 16, 2011 - March 16, 2012
CDR - Daniel Burbank
FE - Anton Shkaplerov
FE - Anatoliy Ivanishin
FE - Oleg Kononenko
FE - André Kuipers
FE - Donald Pettit

Expedition 31
March 16 - May 16, 2012
CDR - Oleg Kononenko
FE - Gennadiy Padalka
FE - Konstantin Valkov
FE - Joseph Acaba
FE - André Kuipers
FE - Donald Pettit

Expedition 32
May 16 - September 16, 2012
CDR - Gennadiy Padalka
FE - Konstantin Valkov
FE - Joseph Acaba
FE - Yuriy Malenchenko
FE - Sunita Williams
FE - Akihiko Hoshide

Expedition 33
September 16 - November 6, 2012
CDR - Sunita Williams
FE - Maksim Suraev
FE - Roskosmos cosmonaut
FE - Kevin Ford
FE - Yuriy Malenchenko
FE - Akihiko Hoshide

Expedition 34
November 6, 2012 - March 2013
CDR - Maksim Suraev
FE - Roskosmos cosmonaut
FE - Kevin Ford
FE - Roman Romanenko
FE - Chris Hadfield
FE - Shane Kimbrough

Expedition 35
March - May 2013
CDR - Chris Hadfield
FE - Roskosmos cosmonaut
FE - Roskosmos cosmonaut
FE - NASA astronaut
FE - Roman Romanenko
FE - Shane Kimbrough
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 05/22/2010 02:53 pm
Anik:
What was the reason for the CDR change from Ford to Suraev on EXP-34?
Thank you.

Expedition 34
November 6, 2012 - March 2013
CDR - Maksim Suraev
FE - Roskosmos cosmonaut
FE - Kevin Ford
FE - Roman Romanenko
FE - Chris Hadfield
FE - Shane Kimbrough
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 05/22/2010 04:24 pm
What was the reason for the CDR change from Ford to Suraev on EXP-34?

I do not know, that info was published in the latest issue of Russian Novosti kosmonavtiki magazine, that info is from GCTC.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 05/25/2010 07:25 pm
Quote from: Mike Massimino via Twitter
Was MC for a Astronaut Office farewell party for 6 astronauts including 2 guys from my last mission, it was fun getting everyone together.

Wow, 6 astronauts have left! The two guys from STS-125 are John Grunsfeld and I should think Scott Altman (or maybe Greg "Ray J" Johnson, but I doubt it due to his recent FCOD assignment). Any idea who the other 4 are?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 05/25/2010 08:42 pm
Quote from: Mike Massimino via Twitter
Was MC for a Astronaut Office farewell party for 6 astronauts including 2 guys from my last mission, it was fun getting everyone together.

Wow, 6 astronauts have left! The two guys from STS-125 are John Grunsfeld and I should think Scott Altman (or maybe Greg "Ray J" Johnson, but I doubt it due to his recent FCOD assignment). Any idea who the other 4 are?

Keep in mind, Ray J could leave the Astronaut Corps and remain working for FCOD, working Aircraft Ops. Steve Nagel is still a "Research Pilot" at Ellington Field but retired from the Astronaut Office sometime ago.

I thought Grunsfeld's retirement was effective some time ago.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Aobrien on 05/25/2010 09:41 pm
Still keep waiting to see Colbert pop up on one of these crew assignments  ;D
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 05/26/2010 08:56 pm
RELEASE: 10-123

VETERAN ASTRONAUTS GORIE AND OLIVAS LEAVE NASA

HOUSTON -- Veteran astronauts Dominic Gorie and John "Danny" Olivas
are leaving NASA. Olivas' last day with the agency was Tuesday, May
25 and Gorie's is June 4.

Gorie, a retired U.S. Navy captain, is a veteran of four space shuttle
flights. He has traveled more than 18 million miles in space during
his missions, serving as pilot and commander. Gorie served as pilot
on shuttle mission STS-91 in 1998 and STS-99 in 2000. He served as
commander on STS-108 in 2001 and STS-123 in 2008.

"Dom is a superlative leader of people who consistently treats others
with respect and professionalism," said Peggy Whitson, chief of the
Astronaut Office at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. "We will
sincerely regret the loss of his candor, humor and professionalism."

Olivas has flown on two shuttle flights and has accumulated more than
668 hours in space. He served as a mission specialist on STS-117 in
2007 and on STS-128 in 2009 and conducted five spacewalks. Olivas
accumulated more than 34 hours of extravehicular time in space.

"Danny's expertise in spacewalking and materials engineering will be
sorely missed with his departure," Whitson said.

For more information about NASA astronauts, visit:


http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/astrobio.html   


-end-
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jorge on 05/26/2010 09:22 pm
Quote from: Mike Massimino via Twitter
Was MC for a Astronaut Office farewell party for 6 astronauts including 2 guys from my last mission, it was fun getting everyone together.

Wow, 6 astronauts have left! The two guys from STS-125 are John Grunsfeld and I should think Scott Altman (or maybe Greg "Ray J" Johnson, but I doubt it due to his recent FCOD assignment). Any idea who the other 4 are?

Keep in mind, Ray J could leave the Astronaut Corps and remain working for FCOD, working Aircraft Ops. Steve Nagel is still a "Research Pilot" at Ellington Field but retired from the Astronaut Office sometime ago.

Correct, Ray-J is going to AOD.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ras391 on 05/26/2010 10:19 pm
In short....who are the six and where are they going?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 05/26/2010 10:40 pm
In short....who are the six and where are they going?

So far, the following astronauts are retiring:

. John Grunsfeld.
. Scott Altman or Greg "Ray J" Johnson.
. Dom Gorie.
. John "Danny" Olivas.

Grunsfeld is going to serve as the Deputy Director of the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) in Baltimore, MD. No idea where the others are going.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: dcfowler1 on 05/27/2010 04:49 pm
Ray J is one.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 05/27/2010 10:38 pm
Ray J is one.

Leaving after only one flight? Wouldn't he be in line for another flight if the Shuttle program is extended?

And do you know whether he is leaving the astronaut office to go to FCOD, or is he leaving NASA altogether?

Thanks.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 05/27/2010 11:59 pm
Ray J is one.

Leaving after only one flight? Wouldn't he be in line for another flight if the Shuttle program is extended?

First, Ray J is up there age wise. The Columbia accident screwed any shot of a multiple flight career. I think he was the oldest PLT to fly in the program.

Maybe if STS-125 hadn't been pushed back until after STS-126 and 119 he'd have been able to slip by Tony Antonelli and Eric Boe on STS-132 and 133.

Second, let's be honest about the odds of an STS extension.

Quote
And do you know whether he is leaving the astronaut office to go to FCOD, or is he leaving NASA altogether?

See Jorge's post. He's leaving the Astronaut Office and going to Aircraft Ops.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 05/28/2010 02:51 pm
So there's six resignations from the Astronaut Office:

Greg 'Ray J' Johnson
Dom Gorie
Danny Olivas
Scott Altman?
...and who else...?

(assuming of course that Grunsfeld actually left some time ago)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 05/28/2010 02:55 pm
...and as for flying 'ONLY one flight', I'm sure there are many people (myself included) who would kill for ONLY one flight on the Shuttle!

I'm sure flying the Shuttle, even 'only' once, was quite probably the pinnacle of any pilot's aviation career.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 06/07/2010 04:21 pm
NASA TV Video of the Astronaut Hall Of Fame (AHOF) 2010 Induction.
The inductees were Guy Bluford, Ken Bowersox, Frank Culbertson, and Kathy Thornton.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYaXA-7xo08
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 06/07/2010 04:49 pm
So there's six resignations from the Astronaut Office:

Greg 'Ray J' Johnson
Dom Gorie
Danny Olivas
Scott Altman?
...and who else...?

(assuming of course that Grunsfeld actually left some time ago)

It isn't that there were six new resignations.... Massimino reported that he had been MC for an office going-way party, and those whose departures were being noted were Grunsfeld, Ray Jay Johnson, Olivas and Gorie along with Parazynski and Melroy -- both of whom left last fall.

Michael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: NavySpaceFan on 06/07/2010 06:39 pm
NASA TV Video of the Astronaut Hall Of Fame (AHOF) 2010 Induction.
The inductees were Guy Bluford, Ken Bowersox, Frank Culbertson, and Kathy Thornton.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYaXA-7xo08

I've been looking for this, thanks Pete!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 06/07/2010 10:05 pm
Some hi-res photos of the AHOF 2010 induction are now up at the KSC Media Gallery.

http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/search.cfm
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 06/11/2010 09:14 pm
Here's a fantastic photo of the 2009 ASCAN class underneath Atlantis's heat shield in OPF-1.

More images of the 2009 ASCAN class's visit to KSC can be found at the KSC Media Gallery.
http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/search.cfm

Hi-res version: http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/images/large/2010-3797.jpg
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 06/22/2010 07:03 pm
According to collectSPACE (www.collectspace.com/review/issassignments_060210a-lg.jpg), there have been some changes to future ISS crew assignments.

Soyuz TMA-07M will now be:
CDR: Oleg Novitskiy.
FE-1: Kevin Ford.
FE-2: Evgeny Tarelkin.

Soyuz TMA-08M will now be:
CDR: Roman Romanenko.
FE-1: Chris Hadfield.
FE-2: Tom Marshburn.

Thus:

Expedition 33 will now be:
CDR: Sunita Williams.
FE: Oleg Novitskiy.
FE: Kevin Ford.
FE: Evgeny Tarelkin.
FE: Yuriy Malenchenko.
FE: Akihiko Hoshide.

Expedition 34 will now be:
CDR: Kevin Ford.
FE: Oleg Novitskiy.
FE: Evgeny Tarelkin.
FE: Roman Romanenko.
FE: Chris Hadfield.
FE: Tom Marshburn.

Expedition 35 will now be:
CDR: Chris Hadfield.
FE: Roscosmos cosmonaut.
FE: Roscosmos cosmonaut.
FE: NASA astronaut.
FE: Roman Romanenko.
FE: Tom Marshburn.

Maksim Suraev appears to have moved somewhere downstream.

And it looks as though Chris Hadfield & Tom Marshburn, who recently served together on the 14 day NEEMO 14 mission, will now get to fly in space together! :)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SpaceInformer on 06/22/2010 07:46 pm
And again Sergei Revin got no assignment  >:(

Selected in 1996 and waiting for a flight and later selected cosmonauts will fly earlier. Russian style of crew policy or what? Last year he was assigned for an expedition and now removed?

Met him 5 years ago and he hoped to get an assignment within 4 years. 

Greets,

Marius
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: cd-slam on 06/22/2010 08:43 pm
Per anik's post on the Russian launch schedule thread, Soyuz TMA-06M is the "5th Soyuz" for 2012 which is used for Space Adventures or other paying customer.

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=1133.0

So I think the assignments you are referring to are for Soyuz TMA-07M and Soyuz TMA-08M respectively.

Unless there is some change after anik's post.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 06/22/2010 09:00 pm
Per anik's post on the Russian launch schedule thread, Soyuz TMA-06M is the "5th Soyuz" for 2012 which is used for Space Adventures or other paying customer.

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=1133.0

So I think the assignments you are referring to are for Soyuz TMA-07M and Soyuz TMA-08M respectively.

Unless there is some change after anik's post.

Yes, you are correct. I have edited my previous post. Thanks! :)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 06/24/2010 03:25 pm
So presumably Kimbrough has been dropped from his expedition? Any ideas why?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Leardawg on 06/25/2010 12:24 am
So presumably Kimbrough has been dropped from his expedition? Any ideas why?

Maybe he's been pushed back to a later flight. It's happened before to others. These assignments are just "proposed" when they first emerge.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: npuentes on 06/25/2010 12:45 am
And again Sergei Revin got no assignment  >:(

Selected in 1996 and waiting for a flight and later selected cosmonauts will fly earlier. Russian style of crew policy or what? Last year he was assigned for an expedition and now removed?

Met him 5 years ago and he hoped to get an assignment within 4 years. 

Greets,

Marius

It's hard to know for sure the real reason.  For all we know he could be highly regarded, but is working on important ground technical issues until he flies.  For comparison, remember Leonid Kizim (recently deceased).  He was selected in 1965, but did not fly until 1980.  He then made two more flights within 6 years, including the first flight to Mir, which was highlighted by a transfer to Salyut 7 and back (the only time two space stations have been visited on one mission).  Just as in the U.S., Russian flight assignments depends on too many factors to reliably assess from outside the program.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 07/03/2010 08:32 pm
If STS-135 flies (and I know it's a big if), does anyone realistically know who the crew might be?

There has been much speculation over Ferguson or Archambault to command, but I wonder if a more recently flown crew with more recent time in the simulator would be preferable. Ferguson and Archambault haven't been in 'active' training for 18 months or more. Having said this, since 135 will probably carry an MPLM, would they perhaps assign a subset of the 131 crew, who are the most recently trained crew with MPLM experience? Or does it not matter eitherway?

OK, Jim, I'm waiting for the inevitable response: You are looking for logic where there is none!

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jim on 07/03/2010 09:30 pm
Who gives an "F"?   Discussions like these trivialize spaceflight and bring it down to the same level of discussions as what are Brittany Spears or Paris Hilton are doing.  There will be a crew.  Who they are is meaningless and insignificant. If spaceflight is to be routine then discussion like this are not worthy of websites such as this and should be relegated to grocery store rags (which are equivalent to British rags that feature Page 3 girls.)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 07/03/2010 11:16 pm
Who gives an "F"?   Discussions like these trivialize spaceflight and bring it down to the same level of discussions as what are Brittany Spears or Paris Hilton are doing.  There will be a crew.  Who they are is meaningless and insignificant. If spaceflight is to be routine then discussion like this are not worthy of websites such as this and should be relegated to grocery store rags (which are equivalent to British rags that feature Page 3 girls.)

I disagree - speculation on flight crews is one of the things I enjoy most about this site.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 07/04/2010 06:11 am
Many thanks for your time, Jim. Think I preferred the old "you are looking for logic..." response, though... ;)

My point was not to wonder aimlessly. I had read on this site some weeks ago that all Shuttle Mission Simulator training was coming to an end and I was curious to know which crews were still 'current' in terms of simulators etc, as a possible indicator for who might be assigned the next crew.

Let's just hope Paris Hilton isn't aboard as an MS!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jorge on 07/04/2010 06:26 am
Many thanks for your time, Jim. Think I preferred the old "you are looking for logic..." response, though... ;)

My point was not to wonder aimlessly. I had read on this site some weeks ago that all Shuttle Mission Simulator training was coming to an end and I was curious to know which crews were still 'current' in terms of simulators etc, as a possible indicator for who might be assigned the next crew.

That's not quite true. The SMS Fixed Base and Motion Base will remain active until the last flight deorbits. Training in the SMS Guidance and Navigation Simulator (GNS), a second fixed base, ended in April.

There is no longer any "generic" standalone SMS training, and generic integrated sims are now crewed by MOD volunteers instead of astronauts (this had been true for orbit sims since STS-131, but is now true of ascent/entry sims as well).

Since there is no longer any CDR Upgrade training, and all PLTs have now flown at least once, it is safe to assume that both the CDR and PLT for 135, if it flies, will be veterans at their positions. Likewise it is fairly safe to assume that at least one of the two MSes will have previous EVA flight experience and one will have previous RMS flight experience. Have fun.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 07/04/2010 01:13 pm
Okay, let's assume Ferguson as CDR and Hurley as PLT for 135.

Now, let's break down the whole MS debate. It's fair to assume that the two MSs will have had recent MPLM experience. However, if we break down "MPLM experience" into a specific skill, then what it really means is skills in transferring & stowing items aboard the ISS. Another thing to consider, as there would be no LON for 135, is that MSs with recent Soyuz experience would be desirable. So, we need MSs with recent experience in transferring & stowing items aboard the ISS, and recent Soyuz experience.

Essentially, that means any US long-duration crewmember who was aboard the ISS during the STS-131/19A stage would be in line for 135. Therefore, I'm thinking TJ Creamer and Tracy Caldwell-Dyson as MSs (a bonus of Caldwell-Dyson is that she has previous Shuttle experience, and will have EVA experience when she returns from Expedition 24 on 24th September).
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 07/04/2010 05:16 pm
That's not quite true. The SMS Fixed Base and Motion Base will remain active until the last flight deorbits. Training in the SMS Guidance and Navigation Simulator (GNS), a second fixed base, ended in April.

There is no longer any "generic" standalone SMS training, and generic integrated sims are now crewed by MOD volunteers instead of astronauts (this had been true for orbit sims since STS-131, but is now true of ascent/entry sims as well).

Since there is no longer any CDR Upgrade training, and all PLTs have now flown at least once, it is safe to assume that both the CDR and PLT for 135, if it flies, will be veterans at their positions. Likewise it is fairly safe to assume that at least one of the two MSes will have previous EVA flight experience and one will have previous RMS flight experience. Have fun.

Is the SAIL still being staffed by Astronauts/in operation?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jim on 07/04/2010 05:51 pm

Is the SAIL still being staffed by Astronauts/in operation?

SAIL isn't a training device, it is an engineering tool and would have to be in use until the shuttle program is ended.  Thus, it is not used by the astronauts (very much)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 07/05/2010 04:04 am

Is the SAIL still being staffed by Astronauts/in operation?

SAIL isn't a training device, it is an engineering tool and would have to be in use until the shuttle program is ended.  Thus, it is not used by the astronauts (very much)


I thought astronauts were typically attached to the SAIL (usually before they get flight assignments).
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jorge on 07/05/2010 04:17 am

Is the SAIL still being staffed by Astronauts/in operation?

SAIL isn't a training device, it is an engineering tool and would have to be in use until the shuttle program is ended.  Thus, it is not used by the astronauts (very much)


I thought astronauts were typically attached to the SAIL (usually before they get flight assignments).

Yes, but it's considered an engineering task, not a training task.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 07/05/2010 04:10 pm
Yes, but it's considered an engineering task, not a training task.

Well, this has become unnecessarily long-winded, and if I wasn't clear I'm sorry. I was never asking if SAIL was used as a training tool. My question was if there are still astronauts attached to it.

I'll assume yes, as it was noted it'll be in use until the end of the program.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 07/08/2010 07:56 pm
RELEASE: 10-161

NASA AND PARTNERS ASSIGN CREWS FOR UPCOMING SPACE STATION MISSIONS

WASHINGTON -- NASA and its international partners, the Russia Federal
Space Agency and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), have
assigned four new International Space Station crews.

The crews include NASA astronauts Joe Acaba, Sunita Williams and Kevin
Ford. Acaba was born in Inglewood, Calif., and raised in Anaheim,
Calif. Williams was born in Euclid, Ohio, but considers Needham,
Mass., her hometown. Ford was born in Portland, Ind., and considers
Montpelier, Ind., his hometown.

Russian cosmonaut Oleg Konenenko, European Space Agency astronaut
Andre Kuipers and NASA astronaut Don Pettit were previously announced
as Expedition 31 crew members. Expedition 31 begins when Soyuz 28
undocks from the station in March 2012.

Soyuz 30 is set to launch in April 2012 with the following crew
members who have been added to Expedition 31:
-- NASA astronaut Joe Acaba, flight engineer
-- Russian cosmonaut Gennady Padalka, flight engineer
-- Russian cosmonaut Konstantin Valkov, flight engineer (Soyuz 30)

Expedition 32 will begin with the undocking of Soyuz 29 in May 2012.
Soyuz 31 is set to launch in June 2012 with the crew members listed
below who will join the three station residents already aboard.
-- Russian cosmonaut Gennady Padalka, station commander (Soyuz 30)
-- NASA astronaut Joe Acaba, flight engineer (Soyuz 30)
-- Russian cosmonaut Konstantin Valkov, flight engineer (Soyuz 30)
-- NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, flight engineer (Soyuz 31)
-- Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko, flight engineer (Soyuz 31)
-- JAXA astronaut Akihiko Hoshide, flight engineer (Soyuz 31)

Expedition 33 will begin with the undocking of Soyuz 30 in September
2012. Soyuz 32 is set to launch in October 2012 with the crew members
listed below who will join the three station residents already
aboard.
-- NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, station commander
-- Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko, flight engineer
-- JAXA astronaut Akihiko Hoshide, flight engineer
-- NASA astronaut Kevin Ford, flight engineer (Soyuz 32)
-- Russian cosmonaut Oleg Novitskiy, flight engineer (Soyuz 32)
-- Russian cosmonaut Evgeny Tarelkin, flight engineer (Soyuz 32)

Expedition 34 will begin with the undocking of Soyuz 31 in November
2012.
-- NASA astronaut Kevin Ford, station commander (Soyuz 32)
-- Russian cosmonaut Oleg Novitskiy, flight engineer (Soyuz 32)
-- Russian cosmonaut Evgeny Tarelkin, flight engineer (Soyuz 32)

Three additional crew members for Expedition 34 have yet to be
assigned. They will travel to and from the station aboard Soyuz 33.

For complete biographical information about NASA astronauts, visit:

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/bios


For more information about the space station, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/station


For the announcement of the Expedition 27-31 crew members, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2009/oct/HQ_09-233_Space_Station_Crews.html

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: orbiter62995 on 07/13/2010 09:57 pm
I know I haven't showed up on here in forever, but for once I don't have a question.

Okay, let's assume Ferguson as CDR and Hurley as PLT for 135.

Both flew previously on logistics missions; most likely.

Now, let's break down the whole MS debate. It's fair to assume that the two MSs will have had recent MPLM experience. However, if we break down "MPLM experience" into a specific skill, then what it really means is skills in transferring & stowing items aboard the ISS. Another thing to consider, as there would be no LON for 135, is that MSs with recent Soyuz experience would be desirable. So, we need MSs with recent experience in transferring & stowing items aboard the ISS, and recent Soyuz experience.

Essentially, that means any US long-duration crewmember who was aboard the ISS during the STS-131/19A stage would be in line for 135. Therefore, I'm thinking TJ Creamer and Tracy Caldwell-Dyson as MSs (a bonus of Caldwell-Dyson is that she has previous Shuttle experience, and will have EVA experience when she returns from Expedition 24 on 24th September).

Tracy Caldwell-Dyson is indeed a good candidate for STS-135 because of of all of these things, as well.  Somebody a ways back mentioned RMS experience, too.  She worked the shuttle arm on STS-118, and also Canadarm2 (obviously) during her station flight.  One more thing –  she was the SPACEHAB loadmaster on 118, correct?  It's not the MPLM, but it's comparable.

Also, TJ Creamer is semi-prepared for EVA because he and Noguchi trained for a contingency spacewalk if they had to perform one.

So, we need MSs with recent experience in transferring & stowing items aboard the ISS, and recent Soyuz experience.

They don't need to be anything more than Soyuz flight engineers, as I understand it – but would it be favorable to have somebody on the crew like Shannon Walker, who can command a Soyuz?  If not, who'd the Soyuz taxi commanders be?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Orbiter on 07/19/2010 04:56 am
Okay, let's assume Ferguson as CDR and Hurley as PLT for 135.

Now, let's break down the whole MS debate. It's fair to assume that the two MSs will have had recent MPLM experience. However, if we break down "MPLM experience" into a specific skill, then what it really means is skills in transferring & stowing items aboard the ISS. Another thing to consider, as there would be no LON for 135, is that MSs with recent Soyuz experience would be desirable. So, we need MSs with recent experience in transferring & stowing items aboard the ISS, and recent Soyuz experience.

Essentially, that means any US long-duration crewmember who was aboard the ISS during the STS-131/19A stage would be in line for 135. Therefore, I'm thinking TJ Creamer and Tracy Caldwell-Dyson as MSs (a bonus of Caldwell-Dyson is that she has previous Shuttle experience, and will have EVA experience when she returns from Expedition 24 on 24th September).

Tell me if this sounds reasonable Pete, seeing as STS-135 will happen if the bill going through the Congress passes.

Chris Ferguson (3), Commander
James Dutton (2), Pilot
Richard Mastracchio (4), Mission Specialist 1
Clay Anderson (3), Mission Specialist 2

My reasoning is that the STS-135 crew if selected in say October will have 10 months to train for a mission in June. As mentioned before, this is possible without EVAs.. but I think NASA will want to go with a crew with recent MPLM experience. I'll probably be dead wrong, but its fun to speculate.

Orbiter
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 07/19/2010 05:37 am
Kevin Ford has just been selected for Expedition 33/34, see above.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Orbiter on 07/19/2010 06:20 am
Your right, I could see Dutton however for PLT of 135.

Orbiter
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 07/19/2010 02:42 pm
Keep in mind Chris Ferguson is currently Deputy Chief of the Astronaut Office. A position I expect will be held by a Shuttle CDR until the last orbiter calls "Wheels stop."

This doesn't stop Ferguson from getting STS-135, I know, its just a thought I wanted to throw out there.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nathan.moeller on 07/19/2010 03:27 pm
I heard recently that the crew of STS-135 would be a CDR, a PLT and two MORE PLTs who would fly at MSes.  If that's the case, we need only look at the rotation to make a good guess as to who would fly the mission.

Chris Ferguson is next in line for a CDR position and he's the only one being discussed in NASA circles.  Greg (Ray Jay) Johnson (STS-125) would be next in line for a PLT position, but he just retired.  That position now moves to Doug Hurley from STS-127.

If two more PLTs are to be assigned as MSes for STS-135, we can look down the line.  Kevin Ford (STS-128) is training for Expedition 33/34 in 2012 so we can count him out.  Next up are Barry Wilmore (STS-129), Terry Virts (STS-130) and Jim Dutton (STS-131).  Since only two spots are left in this possible scenario, that would likely leave us with Wilmore and Virts.

So, based on that, my guess for the STS-135 crew is as follows -

CDR - Chris Ferguson (3)
PLT - Doug Hurley (2)
MS1 - Barry Wilmore (2)
MS2 - Terry Virts (2)

I guess we'll find out in the next few months.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nathan.moeller on 07/19/2010 03:28 pm
Keep in mind Chris Ferguson is currently Deputy Chief of the Astronaut Office. A position I expect will be held by a Shuttle CDR until the last orbiter calls "Wheels stop."

This doesn't stop Ferguson from getting STS-135, I know, its just a thought I wanted to throw out there.

Remember that Steve Lindsey was THE chief of the astronaut office and was still assigned to STS-133.  Giving STS-135 to Ferguson would be no issue.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 07/19/2010 05:51 pm
Interesting point about having flown PLTs in MS seats...highly unusual and irregular, considering there are many MSs with flight experience available.

Is this a serious possibility or just an opinion? I can't see many PLTs would relish the step down to an MS seat, but could be wrong.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 07/19/2010 06:27 pm
I can't see many PLTs would relish the step down to an MS seat, but could be wrong.

I think they would, as an MS seat is better than no seat! ;)
It's unlikely that any of the remaining PLTs are ever going to get a Shuttle CDR position now, so they might as well just take what they can get.

Maybe NASA are trying to give spaceflight experience to as many PLTs as possible, as most long-duration ISS assignments tend to go to former MSs, as opposed to former CDRs/PLTs. Maybe PLTs with more spaceflight experience would make them better candidates to fly long-duration?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 07/19/2010 06:56 pm
This doesn't stop Ferguson from getting STS-135, I know, its just a thought I wanted to throw out there.

Remember that Steve Lindsey was THE chief of the astronaut office and was still assigned to STS-133.  Giving STS-135 to Ferguson would be no issue.

Well, I thought I was clear that I was aware of that fact (you even quote me to that effect). I was merely pointing out it makes this a little interesting.

1) The flight assignment could go to another veteran CDR, like Lee Archambualt or Steve Frick if Ferguson remains in his current position.

2) If Ferguson were to fly STS-135, a new Deputy Chief of the Astronaut Office would be selected, most likely a veteran Shuttle CDR.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: kevind on 07/19/2010 07:56 pm
I would be surprised if PLT's were assigned to fly as MS's on 135, but if offered I can't see them turning the seats down.  Unless 136 would get approved down the road, the only other seats the PLT's might get in the next 4 or 5 years would be as a Soyuz FE.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Orbiter on 07/19/2010 10:43 pm

2) If Ferguson were to fly STS-135, a new Deputy Chief of the Astronaut Office would be selected, most likely a veteran Shuttle CDR.

 Never thought about the last one, Ferguson just became the Deputy Chief and to give it down only months into it would be something I can't see happening personally. Sturckow could be CDR in that case.

Orbiter
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 07/19/2010 10:45 pm
Well, my money is on Ferguson or Archambault to command, Hurley as pilot and Creamer/Caldwell-Dyson as mission specialists.

I seem to remember Frick stated after 122 that he probably wouldn't fly again and I think Polansky alluded to the same. Hence the pool of available CDRs gets shallower.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Leardawg on 07/20/2010 12:10 am
My money's on Ferguson as CDR. I wouldn't completely rule out Scott Altman or Scorch Hobaugh, however. Archambault and Polansky are also possibilities IMO. (Since Polansky is currently NASA Director Of Operations at the Gagarin Center, I wonder if he's in line for an ISS expedition assignment down the road).

I'd bet a ton of money that Doug Hurley would be PLT and T.J. Creamer one of the two MS.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 07/20/2010 02:28 am
Just as a note, Scott Altman can't be CDR as he retired from NASA in June.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Leardawg on 07/20/2010 02:31 am
Just as a note, Scott Altman can't be CDR as he retired from NASA in June.

Which will be reflected in his official NASA biography in November 2011.  ::)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aquarius on 07/20/2010 12:51 pm
Just as a note, Scott Altman can't be CDR as he retired from NASA in June.

Has it been announced officially?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: tlc125 on 07/24/2010 04:07 am
Here's a different take on the crew of 135 -- Lindsey, Boe, Drew and Kopra.

My thinking is that, from a training perspective, having returned from 133, they would be the most trained crew available to fly 335 in support of 134.   When the launch on need requirement is over, they slip into 135.

And Lindsey still gets the final flight.

Just a thought.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Leardawg on 07/24/2010 03:28 pm
Just as a note, Scott Altman can't be CDR as he retired from NASA in June.

Has it been announced officially?

I've always wondered why some astronauts' departure is announced by a press release, while others just simply leave without any mention or fanfare, and we find out months after the fact.  Personal preference maybe?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ChrisGebhardt on 07/24/2010 09:27 pm
Here's a different take on the crew of 135 -- Lindsey, Boe, Drew and Kopra.

My thinking is that, from a training perspective, having returned from 133, they would be the most trained crew available to fly 335 in support of 134.   When the launch on need requirement is over, they slip into 135.

And Lindsey still gets the final flight.

Just a thought.

Crew selection is not about placating people's personal desires. Lindsey tried to get himself on the last flight and it didn't work out quite the way he'd hoped. That doesn't mean he should get 135.

(Venting now, not directed at anyone) I mean, what happens if there's a 136? Does that mean Lindsey just keeps getting assigned until the program actually ends?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 07/24/2010 10:00 pm
Here's a different take on the crew of 135 -- Lindsey, Boe, Drew and Kopra.

My thinking is that, from a training perspective, having returned from 133, they would be the most trained crew available to fly 335 in support of 134.   When the launch on need requirement is over, they slip into 135.

And Lindsey still gets the final flight.

Just a thought.

Crew selection is not about placating people's personal desires. Lindsey tried to get himself on the last flight and it didn't work out quite the way he'd hoped. That doesn't mean he should get 135.

(Venting now, not directed at anyone) I mean, what happens if there's a 136? Does that mean Lindsey just keeps getting assigned until the program actually ends?

That's why I think Ferguson will get 135 - he's practically the chief's No. 2 man (there's no possibility of the current chief, Peggy Whitson, getting 135, as she doesn't have a piloting background).
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Leardawg on 07/24/2010 11:42 pm
According to Lindsey, he was asked to take STS-133. No indication he actually sought and went after the assignment.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 07/25/2010 12:02 am
As I understand it, Lindsey was asked (by Jett?) to command STS-133, having already stated that he intended 121 to have been his last mission.

Why would he have been 'asked' to command 133, of all missions, unless it WAS the final flight? With an MPLM and an ELC, it hardly had anything else to recommend it which required the outgoing chief astronaut in command. All previous chiefs have only flown really high-priority missions - STS-1 (Young), STS-32 & 49 (Brandenstein), STS-71 (Gibson), STS-88 (Cabana), STS-98 (Cockrell) etc. Yes, with the changes to 134, it didn't quite turn out right for Lindsey in the end, but although I would HOPE crew assignments isn't down to personal desire or the desires of others, I think in at least some cases this IS indeed the case. The fact that Lindsey was hand-picked for what is effectively a fairly 'vanilla' ISS logistics flight surely supports this.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: tlc125 on 07/25/2010 04:11 pm
"Crew selection is not about placating people's personal desires. Lindsey tried to get himself on the last flight and it didn't work out quite the way he'd hoped. That doesn't mean he should get 135.

(Venting now, not directed at anyone) I mean, what happens if there's a 136? Does that mean Lindsey just keeps getting assigned until the program actually ends?"
[/quote]

I agree.   But the reason this scenario came to mind is:

1.  I seem to recall that returning Apollo crews (16?) were recycled into backup roles for the end of that program, and I think that was done because of the minimal amount of training they needed, having just completed a mission (I should double check this).

2.  The (apparently) smaller training window available for a 135 crew.

3.  The program's willingness to shift Lindsey to 135 as late as April 2010 with 133 still  manifested  for September  (documented on this site) looks to me like extraordinary measures would have been taken to allow Lindsey to get the last flight.

In the end, I guess it doesn't really matter who gets to fly 135, as long as SOMEONE gets to fly it!!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 07/25/2010 04:48 pm
As I understand it, Lindsey was asked (by Jett?) to command STS-133, having already stated that he intended 121 to have been his last mission.

This sounds consistent with the perception Astronaut Office Chiefs like to project when they take a flight. Hoot Gibson, was assigned to STS-71 after publicly stating he had no intention to fly it. He had Dave Leestma, the Director of Flight Crew Ops tell the Astronaut Office directly that HE was asking Gibson to fly STS-71 (which was accurate as Gibson submitted the STS-71 crew with Steve Nagel as CDR). Apparently Dan Brandenstein had ticked some of his colleagues off by taking STS-32 and STS-49 and Gibson wanted to avoid the same.

The same may have happened, with Jett feeling the Astronaut Office Chief should fly the final mission if possible.

1.  I seem to recall that returning Apollo crews (16?) were recycled into backup roles for the end of that program, and I think that was done because of the minimal amount of training they needed, having just completed a mission (I should double check this).

Deke Slayton didn't like to assign people to backup assignments which left people with no chance of cycling to prime crew of a similar mission. Remember, Apollo 16's original backup crew was to be Haise, Pogue, Carr pointed at Apollo 19. When 18 and 19 were canceled, Deke moved the rookies, Pogue and Carr, to Skylab so they could get familiar with that program and secure flights, and assigned Apollo 14's Stu Roosa and Ed Mitchell.

What about Apollo 15's backup crew? They were too far into the training cycle to break up when 18 was canceled (probably a good thing in the long run for Jack Schmitt).

Apollo 17's backup crew was supposed to be Apollo 15's crew of Scott, Worden and Irwin. When they were grounded after the stamp incident it became Young, Roosa and Duke.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 07/25/2010 06:22 pm
I guess Stu Roosa made up for his assignment to a prime crew without serving as a back-up, by serving on 2 consecutive back-up crews.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Leardawg on 07/25/2010 11:54 pm
The Apollo 15 backup crew of Gordon, Brand and Schmitt was also in the running to fly Apollo 17 for a while.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 07/26/2010 02:57 am
The Apollo 15 backup crew of Gordon, Brand and Schmitt was also in the running to fly Apollo 17 for a while.

With slightly over a year to go before Apollo 17's launch, and having swapped crew members previously on Apollo 13, Slayton must have felt that an entire crew change wasn't necessary.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 07/26/2010 04:05 am
The Apollo 15 backup crew of Gordon, Brand and Schmitt was also in the running to fly Apollo 17 for a while.

With slightly over a year to go before Apollo 17's launch, and having swapped crew members previously on Apollo 13, Slayton must have felt that an entire crew change wasn't necessary.

No, but they hung in there hoping that Slayton might break rotation and fly them.

According to Deke, Dave Scott tried to lobby for Gordon, Brand and Schmitt flying Apollo 17. Gene Cernan I think noted that he believed Pete Conrad could have lobbied for Dick Gordon's crew as well.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 07/27/2010 12:16 am
...but Cernan had Stafford and Shepard in his corner.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Webhamster on 07/27/2010 01:52 am
This sounds consistent with the perception Astronaut Office Chiefs like to project when they take a flight. Hoot Gibson, was assigned to STS-71 after publicly stating he had no intention to fly it. He had Dave Leestma, the Director of Flight Crew Ops tell the Astronaut Office directly that HE was asking Gibson to fly STS-71 (which was accurate as Gibson submitted the STS-71 crew with Steve Nagel as CDR). Apparently Dan Brandenstein had ticked some of his colleagues off by taking STS-32 and STS-49 and Gibson wanted to avoid the same.

I also recall reading (I think it was in "Dragonfly") that the Russians were also insisting that the Chief Astronaut fly the first Mir docking.  It's not 100% clear in what I've read if that was an actual reason or one that was made up to get Gibson to take the flight (either to get him out of the chief's role or because Abbey had an issue with Nagel).  I've seen both versions of the story.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Leardawg on 07/27/2010 03:03 am
My guess is that Slayton eventually decided that Cernan had done a good job up until that point, had proven himself, and deserved to command Apollo 17, which was his mission in the rotation. It was Dick Gordon's mission that was cancelled, not Cernan's, and any sentimentality aside, Cernan had earned it. There was no reason to take it away from him.

Slayton did originally submit Cernan, Evans and Engle as the prime crew for Apollo 17, which was rejected because the higher ups wanted Schmitt on the flight. Slayton probably knew this would happen, but likely went ahead and did it anyway, if anything to give Joe Engle as fair a shake as possible. Slayton was described by many as a very fair man, and probably felt that all three deserved that flight.

I remember reading somewhere that Jim McDivitt, as Apollo Program Manager, objected to Cernan's selection and threatened to resign if he was picked. Interesting that McDivitt left NASA prior to Apollo 17. I also read where McDivitt recently said something about having problems with the way crews were assigned back then, but declined to elaborate.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: DwightM on 07/27/2010 04:44 am
Nearly all of this MGA stuff is covered in the fantastic book "Deke!" by Slayton & Michael Cassutt.  It sounds like most people are referencing that book as well as "A Man on the Moon" by Andrew Chaikin (also awesome).
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 07/27/2010 05:27 am
I also recall reading (I think it was in "Dragonfly") that the Russians were also insisting that the Chief Astronaut fly the first Mir docking.  It's not 100% clear in what I've read if that was an actual reason or one that was made up to get Gibson to take the flight (either to get him out of the chief's role or because Abbey had an issue with Nagel).  I've seen both versions of the story.

Yeah, I remember discussing that on this forum as well. In any case, it appears Gibson didn't lobby for the flight, and tried to make it clear to the Astronaut Corps that this was being done by Abbey's directive. Not his. Thus avoiding any resentment by his peers, that Brandenstein may have gotten for giving himself STS-32 and STS-49.

My guess is that Slayton eventually decided that Cernan had done a good job up until that point, had proven himself, and deserved to command Apollo 17, which was his mission in the rotation. It was Dick Gordon's mission that was cancelled, not Cernan's, and any sentimentality aside, Cernan had earned it. There was no reason to take it away from him.

There was probably no chance of Deke not submitting Cernan's crew to fly on Apollo 17. Apollo 13/14 aside, he followed the rotation he started with Gemini almost to the letter. Cernan's crew was up next, and he believed them better trained than Gordon's.

Gordon's crew probably held out hope of flying 17 until the crew was officially announced. Dick Gordon retired after Apollo 15, and was out of the Astronaut office before 17 flew. You can't fault them. They may have banked on HQ demanding Schmitt fly, and Deke could have decided to outright swap crews to satisfy this demand (as happened with Apollo 13/14). Or equally, Cernan could have fallen on his sword for Engle and said "screw this, I'm not flying without Joe Engle"....then Deke may well have had to turn to Gordon, Brand and Schmitt.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 07/27/2010 05:37 am
Short question: Is there a possibility that Mr. Lindsey will command both missions(STS-133 and STS-135)?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 07/27/2010 09:35 am
Short question: Is there a possibility that Mr. Lindsey will command both missions(STS-133 and STS-135)?

A possibility? Why not?

I remember that Jim Halsell and the STS-101 crew werde at one point considered for STS-106. It has been a while since and I do not remember if that would have included the ISS-02 crew members, that paid an early visit to their future home on STS-101 -- but I definetly remember the mentioning of Halsell as commander in the space news media back then.

But on the other hand: the time from announcement to launch for STS-106 was way shorter, I think. I mean: it's eleven months to launch of STS-135 -- if it happens.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ray125 on 07/28/2010 07:13 pm
if Steve Lindsey is assign for sts 135 that would not be fair for the other commanders that are waiting to get the STS-135 flight like Chris Ferguson or Lee  Archambault, and if STS-125 was not delayed from its October 2008 missioin probably Gregory C. Johnson would have flown this mission, but sadly Ray J retired from nasa. So either Chris Ferguson or Lee  Archambault should command this flight. so Steve Lindsey should stick with flying the final flight of Discovery, Mark Kelly with the Final flight of Endeavour, and either Chris Ferguson or Lee Archambult with the final flight of Atlantis.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: OV-107 on 07/28/2010 10:03 pm
Long time ago since I wrote here now..........

I would love to see Fergie on 135 if it´s flown but I wonder if he is ready to give up his new job as deputy chief of the astronaut office so fast.....

 I wonder if Steve Frick is an option ? I know he is in management but does that rule him out ? Wasn´t Scott Altman in management when he get sts 125 ?

As for PLT and MS I think they will skip the list about who is in line and assign a recently flown Pilot and 2 recently flown mission specialists.

My prediction is Frick or Archambault as CDR , Dutton as PLT and Creamer and Caldwell Dyson as Mission Specialists.



Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Orbiter on 07/28/2010 10:20 pm
Frick has stated in a interview that he intends STS-122 to have been his last flight and Scott Altman retired IIRC. Sturckow is a good bet for CDR position, he's a very veteran commander and his last mission, STS-128, had a MPLM. I could easily see Ferguson as CDR of 135 too as his last mission, STS-126 had a MPLM. I could see for a PLT slot Dutton or Hurley, more keen on Dutton. MS's are pretty hard to choose but I'm willing to bet it will be 2 MS with recent MPLM experiencing, leads me to think Dyson and Creamer might be good choices for MS'es. Keep in mind, crew selection is completely random with no logic to it, and this crew will likely not be announced until September if the bill with STS-135 passes. Still its interesting to speculate.

Orbiter
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ray125 on 07/28/2010 11:36 pm
this is my prediction for the STS-135 Crew:

CDR: Chris Ferguson
PLT: Douglas Hurley
MS:  Robert S. Kimbrough
       Thomas Marshburn


Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 07/28/2010 11:38 pm
this is my prediction for the STS-135 Crew:

CDR: Chris Ferguson
PLT: Douglas Hurley
MS:  Robert S. Kimbrough
       Thomas Marshburn

Both Kimbrough & Marshburn are already assigned to long-duration ISS flights.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ray125 on 07/28/2010 11:42 pm
Chris Ferguson has a great chances of being CDR and Douglas Hurley as the PLT. Anybody have any guess who might be the MS ?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Orbiter on 07/28/2010 11:51 pm
 Like I said, If I had to guess it would be either Anderson, Dyson, or Creamer.

Orbiter
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aurora899 on 07/29/2010 09:29 am
if Steve Lindsey is assign for sts 135 that would not be fair for the other commanders that are waiting to get the STS-135 flight

Since when has being 'fair' had anything to do with flight crew assignments?!!! :)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 07/29/2010 01:28 pm
...One would hope it became 'more fair' when veteran astronauts who lived through 'more unfair' times started entering senior positions in FCOD, as JSC Director, KSC Director etc. If you believe Burrough, with Abbey in charge of JSC, it was probably not fair. With Coats at the helm, perhaps there is a difference...?

The relatively recent appointment of Ferguson as deputy chief shouldn't preclude him from the 135 command. After all, Coats took the deputy chief mantle after STS-29 and was named to command STS-39 barely six months later.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 07/29/2010 03:05 pm
...One would hope it became 'more fair' when veteran astronauts who lived through 'more unfair' times started entering senior positions in FCOD, as JSC Director, KSC Director etc. If you believe Burrough, with Abbey in charge of JSC, it was probably not fair. With Coats at the helm, perhaps there is a difference...?

The relatively recent appointment of Ferguson as deputy chief shouldn't preclude him from the 135 command. After all, Coats took the deputy chief mantle after STS-29 and was named to command STS-39 barely six months later.

Flight crews have made a modicum of more sense than they appeared to. For example, the 1998 pilots have mostly been assigned as CDR's in the order they flew as PLT's (excluding Box Johnson, my guess is because he was initially tied to the STS-400 LON mission allowing Ken Ham to leap ahead of him).

Abbey's tenure appears to have been an exercise in frustration, with no rationale given to Astronauts as to how they were assigned to missions and clear favoritism was out there to boot (Crippen flying three missions as CDR before three of his peers flew one as CDR...Hoot Gibson getting the second post-Challenger mission, after flying the last successful pre-Challenger mission...this is a laundry list really).

As far as Coats, his tenure as Assistant Chief seemed to be clearly to fill in for Dan Brandenstein while he was in training for STS-32. In addition, by then all his fellow pilot TFNG's who had stuck around long enough had flown at least once as CDR. It seemed like his "turn".
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aurora899 on 07/29/2010 05:00 pm
...One would hope it became 'more fair' when veteran astronauts who lived through 'more unfair' times started entering senior positions in FCOD, as JSC Director, KSC Director etc. If you believe Burrough, with Abbey in charge of JSC, it was probably not fair. With Coats at the helm, perhaps there is a difference...?

I suspect that it is 'more fair' now but given the lack of transparency that surrounds the whole process we'll probably never know - and that's not just me saying that but the astronauts themselves. Remember the JSC Astronaut Survey Report, conducted in the wake of the Lisa Nowak scandal? It's findings were published in January 2008 (not that long ago) and included a section on the crew assignment process:

"astronauts reported lower agreement with the statement that...they understand the crew assignment process and criteria being used...
Specifically, astronauts noted a desire to increase the transparency of the crew assignment process, including the factors being considered, the inputs used for decision making, understanding of their personal standing for eligibility and assignment, and more insight into the likelihood for and the timing of flights."
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 08/08/2010 04:50 pm
This photo recently emerged of the STS-134 crew receiving a briefing on the Sensor Test for Orion Relative Navigation Risk Mitigation DTO. Interestingly, Megan McArthur can be seen receiving the briefing along with the STS-134 crew.

Surely the only reason that Megan would be receiving a briefing on a Shuttle-based DTO is if she is in line to fly on the Shuttle? What's the possibility that some potential STS-135 crewmembers are sitting in on training sessions with the STS-134 crew, so that they will have a head start on training should 135 be approved?

If the above is possible, then maybe Megan could be heading to the ISS?! :)

Hi-res version of image: www.spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/shuttle/sts-134/hires/jsc2010e110213.jpg
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jorge on 08/08/2010 05:17 pm
This photo recently emerged of the STS-134 crew receiving a briefing on the Sensor Test for Orion Relative Navigation Risk Mitigation DTO. Interestingly, Megan McArthur can be seen receiving the briefing along with the STS-134 crew.

Surely the only reason that Megan would be receiving a briefing on a Shuttle-based DTO is if she is in line to fly on the Shuttle?

She is not. And don't call me Shirley. :)

Megan was there because she's the lead CAPCOM on STS-134. If any real-time troubleshooting for STORRM were to be required, she'd be the one to relay verbal instructions from the flight control team. So she felt like she needed to have some understanding of STORRM in order to do that.

Quote
What's the possibility that some potential STS-135 crewmembers are sitting in on training sessions with the STS-134 crew, so that they will have a head start on training should 135 be approved?

I haven't seen any.

Quote
If the above is possible, then maybe Megan could be heading to the ISS?! :)

Quite possible. But not on a shuttle flight. Her 134 lead CAPCOM duties would preclude her from training for 135.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 08/12/2010 01:52 am
IIRC, only three astronauts flew as PLT on 3 shuttle missions:

Curt Brown
Kent Rominger
Scott Horowitz

No doubt, the third flight each flew as PLT must have been to replace another astronaut that for some reason could not fly.

I know Rominger replaced Ashby on STS 85.

Anyone know who the "original" PLT may have been on STS 77 and STS 101?

Thanks.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aurora899 on 08/12/2010 07:08 am
IIRC, only three astronauts flew as PLT on 3 shuttle missions:

Curt Brown
Kent Rominger
Scott Horowitz

No doubt, the third flight each flew as PLT must have been to replace another astronaut that for some reason could not fly.

I know Rominger replaced Ashby on STS 85.

Anyone know who the "original" PLT may have been on STS 77 and STS 101?

Thanks.

I think this has all been discussed earlier in the thread but good luck wading through the previous 114 pages to find it!
From what I can remember of the discussion, Eileen Collins had been 'pencilled in' for STS-77 but then became pregnant. Curt Brown was effectively her replacement but this all happened in advance of any official announcement regarding the crew selection.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 08/12/2010 02:35 pm
Thanks, aurora899 ...appreciate your help!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 08/12/2010 09:36 pm
Was there a reason why Horowitz got a third PLT slot? I don't recall any talk of him 'replacing' anyone.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Webhamster on 08/17/2010 01:53 pm
Was there a reason why Horowitz got a third PLT slot? I don't recall any talk of him 'replacing' anyone.

IIRC, from earlier in this thread or somewhere else, it was because STS-101 was the first flight with the glass cockpit and Horowitz had been deeply involved with that.  But I stand to be corrected.  It could have also been a simple "numbers" issue.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Orbiter on 08/20/2010 09:56 pm
 NSF article says crew selection to occur on September 14th for STS-135. Is it going to go public that day too?

Orbiter
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: billshap on 08/21/2010 04:58 pm
Assuming 135 gets approved, who will have the most say re crew selection?  Will it be Peggy Whitson, current Chief of the Astronaut Office (is this a permanent title, or is she interim?)?  Will it be Brent Jett, Director of FCOD?  Will Steve Lindsay, former and perhaps chief again after 133, have significant input?  Or. . .anyone else?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: orbiter62995 on 08/22/2010 03:15 pm
Assuming 135 gets approved, who will have the most say re crew selection?  Will it be Peggy Whitson, current Chief of the Astronaut Office (is this a permanent title, or is she interim?)?  Will it be Brent Jett, Director of FCOD?  Will Steve Lindsay, former and perhaps chief again after 133, have significant input?  Or. . .anyone else?

If I understand your question correctly (which I don't think I do), Whitson, because she assembles crews and nominates them for approval through JSC.  She chooses the crews, just as Lindsey did in succession to her.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: billshap on 08/22/2010 09:35 pm
Sorry if my questions were confusing.  Some consider Peggy Whitson a short-term Chief of the Astronaut Office; one theory having Steve Lindsay returning to the job when finished with 133.  That line of thinking, combined with Whitson being the first non-pilot to head the office, can give the impression she may not have the same influence in crew selection that other chiefs have enjoyed.  Normally the Astronaut Office Chief nominates a crew, which gets sent up the ladder and must be signed off by the head of the FCOD (Brent Jett), JSC Director (Mike Coats), and others at NASA HQ.  Considering the magnitude of this flight, one would think even the Administrator (Charlie Bolden) would have input/approval.  These being former astronauts--CDRs at that--only adds to the speculation.

I was wondering if all these circumstances make for a different process, and am looking others' insight.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 08/23/2010 02:44 pm
Sorry if my questions were confusing.  Some consider Peggy Whitson a short-term Chief of the Astronaut Office; one theory having Steve Lindsay returning to the job when finished with 133.  That line of thinking, combined with Whitson being the first non-pilot to head the office, can give the impression she may not have the same influence in crew selection that other chiefs have enjoyed.

I saw it as indicative of the type of Flight Crew Assignments that will be coming out of JSC for the next several years....ISS crews. As a two-time ISS flyer she is more than qualified to judge who would be well suited for assignment on ISS. She doesn't strike me as a push-over type either.

Her Deputy is a veteran CDR, Chris Ferguson. As far as the Pilot Astronauts go first, at the time of Whitson's assignment, there were no Pilot Assignments to be made (STS-133 was to be the last after all). But, for STS-135 and any future assignments she has Ferguson's consul on the strengths and weaknesses of the Pilot Astronauts.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TALsite on 08/27/2010 07:40 pm
STS-135

CDR: ?
PLT: ?
MS1: Michael Fossum
MS2: Sandy Magnus

This is why I choose Fossum:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=22593.0
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ChrisGebhardt on 08/27/2010 08:04 pm
STS-135

CDR: ?
PLT: ?
MS1: Michael Fossum
MS2: Sandy Magnus

This is why I choose Fossum:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=22593.0

I think we will truly be surprised by the flight crew assignment for STS-135.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ras391 on 08/27/2010 08:20 pm
WHy? DO YOU KNOW ?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ChrisGebhardt on 08/28/2010 05:44 pm
WHy? DO YOU KNOW ?

I have no idea who the crew for STS-135 will be. I'm just saying I think all the guessing will prove to be futile and we'll all end up being surprised by who's chosen for 135.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Orbiter on 08/28/2010 07:53 pm
WHy? DO YOU KNOW ?

I have no idea who the crew for STS-135 will be. I'm just saying I think all the guessing will prove to be futile and we'll all end up being surprised by who's chosen for 135.

 I would guess there would be a small amount of logic for STS-135's crew selection given the relatively shorter time to train for a mission. Guess we'll know for sure on September 14th.

Orbiter
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 08/28/2010 09:05 pm
WHy? DO YOU KNOW ?

I have no idea who the crew for STS-135 will be. I'm just saying I think all the guessing will prove to be futile and we'll all end up being surprised by who's chosen for 135.

 I would guess there would be a small amount of logic for STS-135's crew selection given the relatively shorter time to train for a mission. Guess we'll know for sure on September 14th.

Orbiter


No we would only know the LON STS-335 crew....there is no STS-135 mission at this point and it could take a while before it will be there, if it comes.....at all.....
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ChrisGebhardt on 08/29/2010 03:25 pm
WHy? DO YOU KNOW ?

I have no idea who the crew for STS-135 will be. I'm just saying I think all the guessing will prove to be futile and we'll all end up being surprised by who's chosen for 135.

 I would guess there would be a small amount of logic for STS-135's crew selection given the relatively shorter time to train for a mission. Guess we'll know for sure on September 14th.

Orbiter

Didn't say there wouldn't be a certain logic behind the selection. I'm just saying all the guessing here on the forum will probably by futile and those who are guessing will be surprised by the final selection.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 08/30/2010 08:23 pm
Dr. Godwin retired from NASA in August 2010.
http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/godwin.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 08/31/2010 09:21 pm
RELEASE: 10-204

ASTRONAUTS LINDA GODWIN AND SCOTT ALTMAN LEAVE NASA

HOUSTON -- NASA astronauts Linda Godwin and Scott Altman have
announced plans to leave the agency. Godwin will retire and Altman
will take a job in the private sector.

Godwin joined NASA in 1980 and worked in the Payload Operations
Division. She was selected as an astronaut candidate in 1985. A
veteran of four spaceflights, Godwin logged more than 38 days in
space, including more than 10 hours during two spacewalks. She flew
aboard STS-37 in 1991; served as payload commander of STS-59 in 1994;
and flew on STS-76 in 1996 and STS-108 in 2001. Godwin also supported
numerous technical assignments within NASA's Astronaut Office and
most recently served as the assistant to the director for
exploration, Flight Crew Operations Directorate.

"Linda's 30-year career at NASA was filled with contributions to the
human spaceflight mission," said Brent Jett, director of Flight Crew
Operations at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. "She should be
proud of her service to the agency and the country."

Altman, a retired U.S. Navy captain, joined NASA in March 1995. He
also has flown four shuttle missions, logging more than 51 days in
space. He was the pilot of STS-90 in 1998 and STS-106 in 2000, and
was commander of the final two missions to the Hubble Space
Telescope, STS-109 in 2002 and STS-125 in 2009.

Altman also performed other technical duties within the agency,
including temporary duty to NASA Headquarters as deputy director of
the Requirements Division of the Exploration Systems Mission
Directorate. Most recently, he served as chief of the Exploration
Branch of the Astronaut Office.

"Scott has been a tremendous contribution to the astronaut corps and
this agency," said Peggy Whitson, chief of the Astronaut Office. "In
his 15 years with NASA, he has performed flawlessly and demonstrated
leadership in every position he's served. He will be greatly missed."


For complete astronaut biographical information, visit:



http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 09/01/2010 11:32 am
According to Sergey Shamsutdinov from Novosti-kosmonavtiki magazine, Christopher Cassidy is in Expedition 33/34 backup crew, Karen Nyberg - in Expedition 34/35 backup crew.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 09/01/2010 12:48 pm
Minister of State Goodyear to Announce
An Important Space Mission

Longueuil, Quebec, September 1, 2010 — The Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology), on behalf of  the Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for the Canadian Space Agency will make an important announcement regarding a future space mission for a Canadian Astronaut. Minister Goodyear will be joined by Honourable Josée Verner, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, President of the Queen’s Privy Council and Minister for La Francophonie, and Steve MacLean, President of the Canadian Space Agency.

Journalists who cannot be on-site will be able to watch the event live on CSA Website at www.asc-csa.gc.ca. 

 

WHAT:                        Press Conference

 

WHEN:                        September 2, 2010

 

TIME:                          9:30 a.m.

 

WHO:                          The Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology)
The Honourable Josée Verner, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, President of the Queen’s Privy Council and Minister for La Francophonie

Steve MacLean, President of the Canadian Space Agency

 

WHERE:                   Canadian Space Agency

                                    6767 route de l’Aeroport

                                    Longueuil, Quebec

                                    J3Y 8Y9



For more information, please contact:

Media Relations Office
Canadian Space Agency
Tel.: (450) 926-4370
www.space.gc.ca


Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 09/01/2010 03:40 pm
Minister of State Goodyear to Announce
An Important Space Mission

Cool, let's hope for Julie Payette! :D

Great news that Karen Nyberg is getting another shot at a flight too.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aquarius on 09/01/2010 03:55 pm
I think they're going to announce Chris Hadfield's assignment, officially he hasn't been assigned yet.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 09/01/2010 08:34 pm
Minister of State Goodyear to Announce
An Important Space Mission

Cool, let's hope for Julie Payette! :D

Great news that Karen Nyberg is getting another shot at a flight too.

Not a big shock though as she was assigned to STS-132 before being pulled for a "temporary medical condition", which sounded like pregnancy to some here. If that was the case, she was in line to fly, and without a shuttle flight, ISS it is.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 09/01/2010 10:17 pm
Veteran Astronaut Joins ASRC Research and Technology Solutions.

ASRC Research and Technology Solutions today announced that former NASA astronaut and retired U.S. Navy Capt. Scott Altman has joined ARTS as vice president of strategic planning. A veteran of four space flights, Altman most recently served as chief of the Exploration Branch within the Astronaut Office at NASA’s Johnson Space Center.

In his new position, Altman will lead ARTS' strategic planning process and will focus on leveraging the company's expertise in engineering, information technology and technical services within the space, aviation and defense industries. He will also lead new business initiatives within the commercial space market.

"Scott brings extensive leadership and technical expertise that will help ARTS define our future path as we strive to provide outstanding service to NASA, the FAA, the Navy and other government agencies," said Gregg Einfalt, ARTS president. "As a former Navy pilot and space shuttle commander, Scott lends a unique perspective to our company's vision for future growth within these government sectors and the evolving commercial space market. He will play a key role in executing our strategy for long-term success."

Prior to joining ARTS, Altman had a distinguished career with NASA and the Navy. He has logged more than 7,000 hours in over 40 types of aircraft and was awarded the Navy Air Medal for his role as a strike leader flying over Southern Iraq in support of Operation Southern Watch.

Altman has logged more than 51 days in space. He was the pilot on the STS-90 Neurolab science mission in 1998 and the STS-106 mission in 2000 to prepare the International Space Station for arrival of the first permanent crew. He was mission commander on two Hubble Space Telescope servicing missions—STS-109 in 2002 and STS-125 in 2009. Additional NASA assignments included shuttle branch chief for the Astronaut Office, lead for the Cockpit Avionics Upgrade, and temporary duty as deputy director of the Requirements Division of the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters.

Altman has a bachelor's degree in aeronautical and astronautical engineering from the University of Illinois and a master's in aeronautical engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School.

ASRC Research and Technology Solutions provides a broad range of research, engineering, scientific and product development services to government and industry, including the aerospace, defense, energy and transportation sectors. ARTS, a subsidiary of ASRC Federal Holding Company, is headquartered in Greenbelt, Md. For more information about ARTS, please visit: www.asrcrts.com

Source. (http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20100901005412/en)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aurora899 on 09/02/2010 07:08 am
Minister of State Goodyear to Announce
An Important Space Mission

Cool, let's hope for Julie Payette! :D

Great news that Karen Nyberg is getting another shot at a flight too.

Not a big shock though as she was assigned to STS-132 before being pulled for a "temporary medical condition", which sounded like pregnancy to some here. If that was the case, she was in line to fly, and without a shuttle flight, ISS it is.

I know we weren't supposed to speculate on Karen Nyberg's 'temporary medical condition' but her official bio (and that of partner Doug Hurley) has recently been updated to say, 'Married. One child.'

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/nyberg-kl.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jeff Lerner on 09/02/2010 02:24 pm
"Harper Government Announces the First Canadian Commander
of the International Space Station"


http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/media/news_releases/2010/0902.asp
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jorge on 09/02/2010 03:40 pm
Minister of State Goodyear to Announce
An Important Space Mission

Cool, let's hope for Julie Payette! :D

Great news that Karen Nyberg is getting another shot at a flight too.

Not a big shock though as she was assigned to STS-132 before being pulled for a "temporary medical condition", which sounded like pregnancy to some here. If that was the case, she was in line to fly, and without a shuttle flight, ISS it is.

I know we weren't supposed to speculate on Karen Nyberg's 'temporary medical condition' but her official bio (and that of partner Doug Hurley) has recently been updated to say, 'Married. One child.'

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/nyberg-kl.html

Well, people were free to speculate, but anyone at NASA privy to the real situation would be in violation of federal law (HIPAA) if they disclosed it without Karen's permission, and there appeared to be people on these threads "fishing" for just such a disclosure. *That* was what was raising my ire.

Anyway, it's in her bio now, so it's obviously public info now.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 09/02/2010 07:59 pm
RELEASE: 10-209

NASA AND ITS PARTNERS ANNOUNCE A NEW SPACE STATION CREW

HOUSTON -- NASA and its international partners have assigned three new
International Space Station crew members. They are targeted to launch
to the station in November 2012 aboard the Russian Soyuz 33
spacecraft.

NASA astronaut and Statesville, N.C., native Tom Marshburn, Canadian
Space Agency astronaut Chris Hadfield and Russian cosmonaut Roman
Romanenko will serve as flight engineers for the Expedition 34
mission.

NASA astronaut Kevin Ford and Russian cosmonauts Oleg Novitskiy and
Evgeny Tarelkin were previously announced as the other crew members
for Expedition 34, which begins when Soyuz 31 undocks from the
station in October 2012.

Expedition 35 will begin with the undocking of Soyuz 32 in March 2013.
At that time, Hadfield will serve as station commander, with
Marshburn and Romanenko continuing as flight engineers.

Three additional crew members for Expedition 35 have yet to be
assigned. They will travel to the station aboard Soyuz 34 in March
2013.

For complete astronaut biographical information, visit:



http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios


For more information about the space station and its crew, visit:



http://www.nasa.gov/station
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 09/03/2010 02:45 pm
Russia Today: "Space blogger [Maxim Suraev] turned down as 'Hero of Russia' candidate". (http://rt.com/Top_News/2010-09-02/space-blogger-hero-award.html)

This is just terrible, I have no idea why they've suddenly decided to do this. :(
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 09/05/2010 09:14 am
This is just terrible, I have no idea why they've suddenly decided to do this. :(

Also, Russian Ministry of Defence has refused to give Oleg Kotov the award "For merits before Fatherland of 4th degree" after the second spaceflight. It shows the attitude of the Ministry of Defence to military cosmonauts. They aren't necessary to it. Roman Romanenko too could not receive a rank of the Hero of Russia. The Ministry of Defence refused to award him, but Day of Cosmonautics and visit of the prime minister to Star city has helped.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 09/07/2010 05:25 pm
Yahoo News: "Medal snub for Russian cosmonaut sparks 'cosmic scandal'". (http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100907/sc_afp/russiaspacepoliticsiss;_ylt=Aj5jS_ZoKmS68GcMqjG9v5mHgsgF;_ylu=X3oDMTJ0dWhuc3I0BGFzc2V0A2FmcC8yMDEwMDkwNy9ydXNzaWFzcGFjZXBvbGl0aWNzaXNzBHBvcwM0BHNlYwN5bl9wYWdpbmF0ZV9zdW1tYXJ5X2xpc3QEc2xrA21lZGFsc251YmZvcg--)

Quote
"The entire Russian cosmonaut community is up in arms at what is happening and in the end they may all go on strike."

:o
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 09/08/2010 09:15 am
Quote
"The entire Russian cosmonaut community is up in arms at what is happening and in the end they may all go on strike."

:o

Does this include the on-orbit personnel as well?

;)

Anyway, this would free up lots of Soyuz seats, so maybe the time is right to get some more Europeans, Japanese and Canadians up there! Lets re-activate Thomas Reiter. He has a Soyuz license and may ferry non-Russian astronauts up and down while the Russians are on strike -- and he thought he had retired ...

:o

Well, well -- here's something new. The London tube staff on strike? The Greek air traffic controlers? Lufthansa's pilots? No -- it is Russia's cosmonauts.

But seriously: if that report is correct, than those guys really must be frakked-off. They deserve their medals, right?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Orbiter on 09/13/2010 05:13 pm
Will NASA announce the STS 335/135 crew this coming week?

It should be named tomorrow, as indicated from the August 20th article on STS-135.

Oh, I'd forgotten about that! Now you've got me all excited (although we probably won't get to hear about it for a week or so yet).

This probably belongs in the flight crew assignment thread, thought I'd bring the conversation here.

If I recall, STS-134's crew was announced on here before the press announcement was made so we 'might' hear about it earlier.

Orbiter
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 09/14/2010 10:29 pm
Glad they've released this :)

RELEASE: 10-222

NASA ASSIGNS CREW FOR FINAL LAUNCH ON NEED SHUTTLE MISSION

WASHINGTON -- NASA announced the four astronauts who will make up the
crew of STS-335, the rescue mission that would fly only if needed to
bring home the members of space shuttle Endeavour's STS-134 mission,
currently the final scheduled shuttle flight.

Chris Ferguson, a retired U.S. Navy captain and veteran of two
previous shuttle missions, would command the flight. Astronaut and
U.S. Marine Col. Doug Hurley would serve as pilot, and astronauts
Sandy Magnus and retired U.S. Air Force Col. Rex Walheim would be the
mission specialists.

Based on recommendations made after the loss of space shuttle Columbia
in February 2003, NASA has trained a launch on need crew to be ready
to fly in the event of irreparable damage to a shuttle while in
orbit. Typically, the next crew to fly serves as the rescue crew for
the current mission. The STS-335 crew will prepare for a potential
rescue mission and preserve flexibility if another shuttle flight is
added to the launch manifest.

"These astronauts will begin training immediately as a rescue crew as
well as in the baseline requirements that would be needed to fly an
additional shuttle flight," said Bill Gerstenmaier, associate
administrator for NASA's Space Operations Mission Directorate in
Washington. "The normal training template for a shuttle crew is about
one year prior to launch, so we need to begin training now in order
to maintain the flexibility of flying a rescue mission if needed, or
alter course and fly an additional shuttle mission if that decision
is made."

If required, the STS-335 rescue mission would launch on shuttle
Atlantis in June 2011 to bring home the STS-134 crew from the
International Space Station. STS-134 currently is scheduled to lift
off on Feb. 26, 2011, from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. If
converted to an additional shuttle flight, STS-335 would be
redesignated STS-135 and targeted to launch in June 2011.

Ferguson, who was born in Philadelphia, flew on two prior shuttle
missions, STS-115 in 2006 and STS-126 in 2008. Hurley, who was born
in Endicott, N.Y., but considers Apalachin, N.Y., his hometown,
served as the pilot on STS-127 in 2009. Magnus, of Belleville, Ill.,
flew on STS-112 in 2002 and launched to the space station in 2008 on
STS-126, where she served four and a half months as a flight engineer
and science officer on Expedition 18 before returning to Earth on
STS-119 in 2009. Walheim was born in Redwood City, Calif., and
considers San Carlos, Calif., his hometown. He flew on STS-110 in
2002 and STS-122 in 2008.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 09/14/2010 10:36 pm
So pleased that I predicted Fergie & Hurley! :D
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 09/15/2010 03:16 am
So, who'll be taking over Fergie's job as deputy Astronaut Office Chief?

As predicted, a former ISS crew member was chosen (Magnus). I'll call Rex Walheim the surprise here, as I don't recall anybody floating his name.

Three branches represented on this flight though: One Navy, one Marine, one Air Force.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TALsite on 09/15/2010 10:37 am
Quote
Space Pete

So pleased that I predicted Fergie & Hurley! :D
Quote
TALsite on http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=22593.0

In the crew of Atlantis I would include:
-For MS2 I choose an astronaut with ISS experience.  Sandy Magnus is a good choice for me.  She was ISS FE during 133 days, has Soyuz training, and she was an MS2 on STS-112, and fly a MPLM mission on STS-126.
-For MS1 I choose Michael Fossum (bumped from the delayed TMA-02M flight).  He has MPLM experience with STS-121 and six EVAS under his belt.



Yes...  and I predicted Magnus!  A 50% for me... or more, because I proposed to fly Fossum from the Soyuz TMA-02M
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 09/15/2010 02:49 pm
Quote
Space Pete

So pleased that I predicted Fergie & Hurley! :D
Quote
TALsite on http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=22593.0

In the crew of Atlantis I would include:
-For MS2 I choose an astronaut with ISS experience.  Sandy Magnus is a good choice for me.  She was ISS FE during 133 days, has Soyuz training, and she was an MS2 on STS-112, and fly a MPLM mission on STS-126.
-For MS1 I choose Michael Fossum (bumped from the delayed TMA-02M flight).  He has MPLM experience with STS-121 and six EVAS under his belt.



Yes...  and I predicted Magnus!  A 50% for me... or more, because I proposed to fly Fossum from the Soyuz TMA-02M

So NSF members predicted 75% of the crew - not bad! We've come a long way since those early RTF days! ;D
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 09/15/2010 07:35 pm
Maybe Peggy Whitson and Brent Jett just couldn't decide...so they logged on to NSF for some advice...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: kimmern123 on 09/19/2010 11:44 am
Really great to see Rex getting another assignment, even if it isn't 100 % sure the flight will happen
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 09/20/2010 01:10 pm
Maybe Peggy Whitson and Brent Jett just couldn't decide...so they logged on to NSF for some advice...

Gee, that must be the question to all answers!

:lol:
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 09/20/2010 03:12 pm
Maybe Peggy Whitson and Brent Jett just couldn't decide...so they logged on to NSF for some advice...

Whitson to Jett: "Okay, we'll go with Pete's CDR & PLT, plus TALsite's MS-1. Then we'll add Walheim just to make it seem unpredictable". ;D
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 10/12/2010 06:52 pm
Interagency Board Approves ISS-31/32 Backup and ISS-32/33 Prime Crews.

Today, on Oct. 12, Cosmonaut Selection Interagency Board chaired by Roscosmos Head Anatoly Perminov approved ISS-31/32 backup and ISS-32/33 prime crews, following proposals of RSC-Energia, Gagarin CTC, IBMP:

ISS-31/32 Backup Crew:
Oleg Novitsky – ISS-31, ISS-32 flight engineer, Soyuz TMA commander (Roscosmos).
Evgeny Tarelkin – ISS-31, ISS-32flight engineer, Soyuz-TMA flight engineer (Roscosmos).
Kevin Ford - ISS-31, ISS-32flight engineer, Soyuz-TMA flight engineer-2 (NASA).
 
ISS-32/33 Prime Crew:
Sunita Williams – ISS-32flight engineer / ISS-33 commander, Soyuz-TMA flight engineer (NASA).
Yury Malenchenko – ISS-32, ISS-33 flight engineer, Soyuz TMA commander (Roscosmos).
Akihiko Hoshide – ISS-32, ISS-33 flight engineer, Soyuz TMA flight engineer-2  (JAXA).
 
Roscosmos PAO.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 10/12/2010 09:54 pm
NASA Selects Astronaut Leland D. Melvin to Lead Office of Education.

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden announced Tuesday the selection of Leland D. Melvin as the agency's new associate administrator for education, effective immediately. He succeeds James L. Stofan, who had served in an acting capacity since the spring.

Since April 2010, Melvin has been assigned to the Office of Education at Headquarters leading the Education Design Team. His job was to develop a strategy to improve NASA's education offerings and to assist the agency in establishing goals, structures, processes and evaluation techniques to implement a sustainable and innovative science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education program. He also served as the partnership development manager for the agency's new Summer of Innovation education initiative, aimed at engaging middle school students in STEM activities during the summer break.

"I am delighted to have Leland lead the Office of Education at a time when engaging more students in STEM-related studies and careers is so critical -- not only to NASA but to our nation," Bolden said. "With his dedication and passion, I know we will have a bright future in education under his leadership."

"I also want to thank Jim Stofan for the outstanding job he has done leading the Office of Education since April," Bolden added. "He launched several key new education programs during his tenure and will continue to be a valued asset as he resumes his previous role as deputy associate administrator."

As associate administrator, Melvin will be responsible for the development and implementation of the agency's education programs that strengthen student involvement and public awareness about NASA's scientific goals and missions.

"My passion for education was inspired by my parents, who were both middle school teachers," Melvin said. "I witnessed the direct impact that educators can have in a community and on an individual's destiny. NASA's people, programs and resources are unparalleled. Our unique assets are poised to engage students, to captivate their imagination and to encourage their pursuit of STEM-related studies that are so vital to their future. This is an exciting challenge and I am ready to work with Administrator Bolden, my colleagues at NASA, our partners, and students across the country to usher in a new era of opportunity to inspire that next generation of explorers."

Melvin joined NASA in 1989 as an aerospace research engineer at the agency's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va. He joined the astronaut corps in 1998 and has served as a mission specialist on two space shuttle missions: STS-122 in 2008 and STS-129 in 2009. He has logged more than 565 hours in space. In 2003, Melvin co-managed the former Educator Astronaut Program, which recruited teachers to become fully-trained astronauts in an effort to connect space exploration with students across the country.

Melvin earned a bachelor of science in chemistry from the University of Richmond and a master's degree in materials science engineering from the University of Virginia.

For more information about NASA and agency education programs, visit:
www.nasa.gov/education


www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2010/oct/HQ_10-255_Melvin_Selected_EducationAA.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 10/25/2010 11:59 pm
FYI, Bob Thirsk has said (http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2010/10/25/astronuat-bob-thirsk.html) that he won't be going into space again.

So that's Bob & Julie Payette out now. :(

After Hadfield, I suspect the Canadian 2009 ASCANS will go up.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 11/02/2010 08:18 pm
Yahoo News: "Medal snub for Russian cosmonaut sparks 'cosmic scandal'". (http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100907/sc_afp/russiaspacepoliticsiss;_ylt=Aj5jS_ZoKmS68GcMqjG9v5mHgsgF;_ylu=X3oDMTJ0dWhuc3I0BGFzc2V0A2FmcC8yMDEwMDkwNy9ydXNzaWFzcGFjZXBvbGl0aWNzaXNzBHBvcwM0BHNlYwN5bl9wYWdpbmF0ZV9zdW1tYXJ5X2xpc3QEc2xrA21lZGFsc251YmZvcg--)

Quote
"The entire Russian cosmonaut community is up in arms at what is happening and in the end they may all go on strike."

:o


Just an FYI, Maxim Suraev was named a Hero of Russia today. :)

Quote
The award was long overdue. Cosmonauts are traditionally awarded the title upon finishing their mission. However the Defense Ministry denied Suraev the honor twice.

The reason for this has never been revealed, although some media cited their sources familiar with the situation as saying that the delay was due to red tape. Apparently all the problems have now been resolved.

“The story is over. It was a procedural delay relating to the fact that some cosmonauts also serve in the defense ministry. Now we have an award order dated 30 October,” RIA Novosti cites Sergey Krikalev, head of the Cosmonaut Training Center as saying.
http://rt.com/Top_News/2010-11-02/space-blogger-hero-russia.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 11/10/2010 04:46 pm
Mike Good is moving from Texas to Colorado Springs, to work as the liaison for NASA with the USAF at Petersen AFB. It will be a two-year assignment, and will begin the week after Thanksgiving.

Good is apparently still open to flying. "I'm keeping that option open", he said.

Source. (http://www.cleveland.com/sunstarcourier/index.ssf/2010/11/local_astronaut_michael_good_r.html)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 11/22/2010 05:35 pm
According to a BBC News article about ESA ASCAN Tim Peake's graduation, there are 3 ESA flight opportunities on ISS before 2015.

One slot in 2013 and another slot in 2015 will go to the ASI (Samantha Cristoforetti and Luca Parmitano).

ESA has one other slot in 2014 for an astronaut of its choosing (likely another class of 2009 astronaut).

In other words, 50% of the ESA class of 2009 will fly on ISS before 2015! :D
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 12/05/2010 01:04 pm
According to a new L2document Expediton 36 crew will be Pavel Vinogradov(CDR), Aleksander Misurkin and Chris Cassidy, Expedition 37 crew Maxim Surajew(CDR), Luca Parmitano and Karen Nyberg.
They will be the back-up crews for Exp 34 and Exp 35 too.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 12/05/2010 03:29 pm
Per the last post, this is how Expeditions 35, 36 & 37 look:

Expedition 35
March - May 2013
CDR - Chris Hadfield
FE - Pavel Vinogradov
FE - Aleksander Misurkin
FE – Chris Cassidy
FE - Roman Romanenko
FE - Tom Marshburn

Expedition 36
May - September 2013
CDR - Pavel Vinogradov
FE - Maxim Suraev
FE - Luca Parmitano
FE - Karen Nyberg
FE - Aleksander Misurkin
FE - Chris Cassidy

Expedition 37
September - November 2013
CDR - Maxim Suraev
FE - Luca Parmitano
FE - Karen Nyberg
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 12/08/2010 05:20 pm
According to this (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-11940501) BBC News article, Piers Sellers received his UK Astronaut Pin in London yesterday. He is the 3rd person to receive such a Pin (the other two being Helen Sharman & Richard Garriott).

Michael Foale and Nicholas Patrick will get their Pins next year.

Sellers said that he won't fly in space again, because he wants to give the younger people a chance. He will be returning to his former home, GSFC, early next year to head up its climate programme - thus utilising his PhD in Climate Simulation.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 12/10/2010 06:46 pm
RELEASE: 10-331

ASTRONAUT ALAN POINDEXTER LEAVES NASA

HOUSTON -- Veteran NASA astronaut Alan Poindexter has left the agency
to return to the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif.
Poindexter, a U.S. Navy captain, earned a Master of Science degree in
aeronautical engineering from the school in 1995. He will return to
serve as the dean of students and executive director of programs.

"Dex was a well-respected leader within our office," said Peggy
Whitson, chief of the Astronaut Office at NASA's Johnson Space Center
in Houston. "We will miss him being part of our team and wish him the
best in his new role as he continues his service to the Navy and the
country."

A veteran of two spaceflights, Poindexter logged more than 669 hours
in space. In 2008, he was the pilot on the STS-122 space shuttle
mission to deliver and install the European Space Agency's Columbus
laboratory to the International Space Station. In 2010, he was the
commander for STS-131, a resupply mission to the station that
delivered more than 13,000 pounds of hardware and equipment.

He was selected as an astronaut candidate in June 1998 and served in
the Astronaut Office Shuttle Operations Branch as the lead support
astronaut at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. He also served
as a spacecraft communicator, or capcom, for several missions.

For Poindexter's biographical information, visit:

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/poindexter.html 

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: joseamatos on 12/11/2010 12:40 pm
It's sad that Poindexter is leaving NASA... I would have thought he would stay in the business...:(
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 12/20/2010 05:57 am
According to NASA´s Astronaut Biographies page Ken Ham has left the Astronaut Office and is now working in the FCOD.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 01/03/2011 08:57 pm
Looking at the FCOD list on jsc.nasa.gov/Bios, quite a few astronauts have moved from CB over to FCOD. The newer ones include Lee Archambault, John Phillips, Jim Kelly, Pat Forrester and Stan Love. Does anyone know the reason for the sudden exodus? Is it just the end of the Shuttle or is NASA beefing up Aircraft Ops?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 01/03/2011 09:06 pm
Looking at the FCOD list on jsc.nasa.gov/Bios, quite a few astronauts have moved from CB over to FCOD. The newer ones include Lee Archambault, John Phillips, Jim Kelly, Pat Forrester and Stan Love. Does anyone know the reason for the sudden exodus? Is it just the end of the Shuttle or is NASA beefing up Aircraft Ops?

Also: Michael Good & Kay Hire.

I'd say it's all the people who aren't interested in flying long-duration, "jumping before they're pushed" from the Astronaut Office.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 01/03/2011 09:11 pm
Looking at the FCOD list on jsc.nasa.gov/Bios, quite a few astronauts have moved from CB over to FCOD. The newer ones include Lee Archambault, John Phillips, Jim Kelly, Pat Forrester and Stan Love. Does anyone know the reason for the sudden exodus? Is it just the end of the Shuttle or is NASA beefing up Aircraft Ops?

Read it again.  They aren't all going to FCOD; many on that list work elsewhere at JSC.

As for the "exodus," this is the expected draw-down of the office as the Shuttle program ends.  Lindsey said two years ago that when the Shuttle ended, he expected the number of active astronauts to be closer to what it was in Apollo....60 ish.

Michael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 01/04/2011 04:47 pm
Jose Hernandez will make a decision on whether to pursue a long-duration flight this month. It sounds to me like he's more in favour of not doing it. :(

Quote
For Stockton astronaut Jose Hernandez, 2009 was the year of space travel, 2010 the year of working with Congress, and 2011 has the makings of a year of big decisions.

In 2010, he served as a liaison between the White House and Congress, presenting the Obama administration's vision of commercial space travel and missions to Mars and hoping to find support.

Now that his desk assignment is complete, Hernandez is faced with choosing whether to make another space trip: a six-month mission to the International Space Station.

It would require him first to train at a foreign space agency for 21/2 years.

"It's a pretty demanding job," Hernandez said, and one that would require greater sacrifices from his wife, Adela, and their five children. It would mean he would be away from them for three years.

"I think they prefer I don't make that commitment," he said. Hernandez said he plans to make a decision this month.

"I'm still on the fence. ... At this point, you have to say maybe it's enough. Maybe I've done what I want to do."

Full article. (http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110104/A_NEWS/101040316)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 01/04/2011 08:07 pm
RELEASE: 11-002

ASTRONAUT MARSHA IVINS LEAVES NASA

HOUSTON -- NASA astronaut Marsha Ivins, a veteran of five
spaceflights, has retired from the agency.

"Marsha's incredible depth of mission experience and technical
expertise has been a tremendous asset to this office," said Peggy
Whitson, chief of the Astronaut Office at NASA's Johnson Space Center
in Houston. "We have relied on her expertise for years in many
diverse areas, including but not limited to crew provisions, optimal
hardware packing, human ratings development, vehicle habitability and
orbiter preflight vehicle checks. Her expertise and dedication to
NASA's mission will be sorely missed."

Ivins joined NASA in 1974 as an engineer. She worked on space shuttle
displays, controls, man-machine engineering and the development of
the orbiter's head-up display. She served in Johnson's aircraft
operations as a flight engineer for the Shuttle Training Aircraft and
copilot of the Gulfstream I.

Ivins was selected as an astronaut in 1984. She spent more than 1,300
hours in space during five shuttle flights: STS-32 in 1990, STS-46 in
1992, STS-62 in 1994, STS-81 in 1997 and STS-98 in 2001.

Ivins most recently worked within the Astronaut Office supporting the
Space Shuttle, International Space Station and Constellation
Programs.

For Ivins' complete astronaut biographical information, visit:



http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/ivins.html

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 01/09/2011 06:30 pm
In light of the tragic events surrounding Gabrielle Giffords, I've just read an interesting article on space.com, regarding the future of Mark Kelly's role as STS-134 CDR. Is it within his power to step down from the command with just a couple of months to go, and if he did so, what options does NASA have? Would the agency reassign a recently flown CDR in his place? If so, that will be somewhat difficult, as both Poindexter and Ham are now gone.

Off the top of my head, I recall that PLTs have been replaced at short notice in the past (Rominger/Ashby on STS-85 and Lockhart/Loria on STS-113), but never a CDR at short notice, although Creighton's STS-36 launch was postponed due to a cold.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 01/09/2011 07:18 pm
I was wondering more about whether they'd promote Johnson to CDR and assign someone new to the PLT's seat? Dutton, perhaps?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 01/09/2011 07:41 pm
His wife was shot a day ago and I don't want this site lowered to the standards of other sites who are SPECULATING over the future of his role with STS-134.

It's pointless at this stage, and I'm sure Commander Kelly is thinking more about his wife than his bloody job.

Don't like it because Space.com brought it up and it's fair game? Well they have a messageboard....
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Targeteer on 01/09/2011 08:51 pm
His wife was shot a day ago and I don't want this site lowered to the standards of other sites who are SPECULATING over the future of his role with STS-134.

It's pointless at this stage, and I'm sure Commander Kelly is thinking more about his wife than his bloody job.

Don't like it because Space.com brought it up and it's fair game? Well they have a messageboard....

I whole-heartedly agree.  I would also say however, that a discussion of the NASA processes and flight rules in a situation such as this, might be appropriate.  Although a deeply personal issue, this event, like any technical issue, may have an effect on a key component of a shuttle mission. NASA leadership mechanisms are going to have to assess possible impacts and make informed, logically sound decisions based on those impacts using established criteria which this site excels at detailing, explaining, and discussing--albeit often with unwelcome and inappropriate speculation. 
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 01/09/2011 09:03 pm
Sure. Process will be interesting, but we should follow NASA's lead and wait for them to start such a process, if that is required (people acting like he won't now fly, when no such decision has been taken). A period of respect is required, and if something official changes with the assignment, then it's totally open for discussion.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Targeteer on 01/09/2011 09:21 pm
Agreed.  I wish Mrs Giffords and all the other victims a full recovery, safe return of Scott and his crew, and hopefully, a safe flight and return of Mark with his crew. 
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 01/09/2011 09:21 pm
I agree with Chris on this one. Let's wait until we're sure there is something to discuss, before starting the speculation.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: psloss on 01/09/2011 09:29 pm
A period of respect is required, and if something official changes with the assignment, then it's totally open for discussion.
As an example and as has been widely reported, the House of Representatives will meet but the leadership postponed their planned legislative agenda for at least a week.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ras391 on 01/09/2011 09:44 pm
To get back on point......Does anyone have an easy to read copy of all the active astronauts and cosmonauts, with assignments, all in one place?

Thanks.

PS Keep Giffords and Kelly, as well as all the others, in our prayers.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: NavySpaceFan on 01/13/2011 05:40 pm
RELEASE: 11-015

NASA ANNOUNCES BACKUP COMMANDER FOR STS-134 MISSION

WASHINGTON -- NASA announced Thursday that astronaut Rick Sturckow
will serve as a backup commander for the STS-134 space shuttle
mission to facilitate continued training for the crew and support
teams during STS-134 Commander Mark Kelly's absence. Kelly's wife,
Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, was critically wounded in a
shooting on Jan. 8 in Tucson, Ariz.

Kelly remains commander of the mission, which is targeted for launch
on April 19 from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 01/14/2011 07:37 pm
RELEASE: 11-018

ASTRONAUT JOSE HERNANDEZ LEAVES NASA

HOUSTON -- After a decade working in various roles, astronaut Jose
Hernandez has left NASA for a position in the aerospace industry.

"Jose's talent and dedication have contributed greatly to the agency,
and he is an inspiration to many," said Peggy Whitson, chief of the
Astronaut Office at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. "We wish
him all the best with this new phase of his career."

The son of Mexican migrant farm workers, he joined NASA in 2001 as a
materials research engineer at Johnson. He was promoted to the
Materials and Processes Branch chief in 2002 and served there until
he was selected as a NASA astronaut in 2004.

During the STS-128 shuttle mission in 2009, he managed the transfer of
more than 18,000 pounds of supplies and equipment between the shuttle
and International Space Station and assisted with robotics
operations. He also served as a flight engineer in the shuttle's
cockpit during launch and landing.

For Hernandez' complete astronaut biographical information, visit:



http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/hernandez-jm.html

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 01/14/2011 08:14 pm
Jose Hernandez will make a decision on whether to pursue a long-duration flight this month. It sounds to me like he's more in favour of not doing it. :(

Quote
For Stockton astronaut Jose Hernandez, 2009 was the year of space travel, 2010 the year of working with Congress, and 2011 has the makings of a year of big decisions.

In 2010, he served as a liaison between the White House and Congress, presenting the Obama administration's vision of commercial space travel and missions to Mars and hoping to find support.

Now that his desk assignment is complete, Hernandez is faced with choosing whether to make another space trip: a six-month mission to the International Space Station.

It would require him first to train at a foreign space agency for 21/2 years.

"It's a pretty demanding job," Hernandez said, and one that would require greater sacrifices from his wife, Adela, and their five children. It would mean he would be away from them for three years.

"I think they prefer I don't make that commitment," he said. Hernandez said he plans to make a decision this month.

"I'm still on the fence. ... At this point, you have to say maybe it's enough. Maybe I've done what I want to do."

Full article. (http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110104/A_NEWS/101040316)

I guess he decided against a station flight. :(
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SpaceUSMC on 01/15/2011 01:14 am
I can understand that. Spending that much time away from family is tough. Not to stir the pot but I wonder if it is a bit easier for the military astronauts simply due to the fact that being away from family for an extended period is just part of their careers, even before becoming astronauts.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 01/15/2011 11:38 am
More on Hernandez's retirement. It seems that his family was his primary motivation - which, as said previously, is understandable.

Quote
After 10 years with NASA, Hernandez decided to exchange his space suit for a Brooks Brothers suit in the private aerospace industry.

"It certainly was a very tough decision to make," Hernandez said. "I really had to weigh my options but when all was said and done, doing what's best for my family outweighed the other benefits.

"I didn't want to have my family when they're all grown up and out of the house. I really want to enjoy them and be around them on a daily basis."

Hernandez has been hired as executive director of strategic operations at MEI Technologies, a Latino-owned, Houston-based company that specializes in applied engineering, cyber security, and international research and development in aerospace, defense, optics and biotechnology.

Hernandez will be responsible for developing new business opportunities internationally in public and private industries.

"We have some pretty aggressive plans," he said. He starts Feb. 1.

Hernandez said his new job will allow him more flexibility to spend time in Stockton, and will allow him to be more involved in the community and with the Jose Hernandez Reaching for the Stars Foundation.

He is still considering seeking political office in the Stockton area in the future.

Source. (http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110115/A_NEWS/101150322)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Paul Howard on 01/15/2011 08:25 pm
Most of the astronauts will be ok I reckon as every company wants and astronaut on their books. I bet most of them could sit back in their Houston houses on a nice retainer to be the face of some multi-national.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Fuji on 02/16/2011 09:27 pm
Japanese medeia report that Koichi Wakata will assign the ISS commander of the Expedition 39. He will assigned the Expedition 38/39 crew.

Today, JAXA will set the press conference with Wakata at Houston.



Edit: JAXA Press release is here.
Astronaut Koichi Wakata Selected as Member of ISS Expedition Crew
http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2011/02/20110217_wakata_e.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 02/16/2011 11:13 pm
So, Japan is getting an ISS CDR.

With Hadfield and Wakata, every IP will have had a CDR crewmember by 2014! Obviously we need Tim Peake as well - Rule Britannia and all that! ;D
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 02/17/2011 08:17 pm
Interesting that will leave a 'gap' of at least 5 expeditions between having a US commander. It seems that after Hadfield, there will be 3 back-to-back Russian commanders, then Wakata. I can't imagine NASA is happy with having none of its astronauts in command for a span of two years or more? After all, they are the station's biggest partner.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ChrisGebhardt on 02/17/2011 08:32 pm
Interesting that will leave a 'gap' of at least 5 expeditions between having a US commander. It seems that after Hadfield, there will be 3 back-to-back Russian commanders, then Wakata. I can't imagine NASA is happy with having none of its astronauts in command for a span of two years or more? After all, they are the station's biggest partner.

Did I miss the part where it was mandatory to have a US commander every x-number of months/years?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 02/17/2011 08:48 pm
Don't know...but it seems mandatory to have a fair few Russian ones!


Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ChrisGebhardt on 02/17/2011 08:55 pm
Don't know...but it seems mandatory to have a fair few Russian ones!




If I recall correctly, ESA, CSA, and JAXA ISS commanders technically are taken from the US command time slots (aka: times when an NASA astronaut would be in "command" of the ISS). This was a deal worked out with Russia from the beginning of ISS program.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: arkaska on 02/18/2011 06:36 am
That make sense, just like ESA/JAXA/CSA astronauts "take" US slots as crew-members; USOS vs. RS
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 02/18/2011 03:37 pm
RELEASE: 11-044

NASA AND PARTNERS NAME UPCOMING SPACE STATION CREW MEMBERS

HOUSTON -- NASA and its International Space Station partners named
crew members for missions aboard the complex that begin in 2013.

The crews include NASA astronauts Tom Marshburn of Statesville, N.C.,
who previously was announced as part of Expedition 34; Chris Cassidy,
who was born in Salem, Mass., and considers York, Maine his hometown;
Karen Nyberg, a native of Vining, Minn.; Michael Hopkins, who was
born in Lebanon, Mo., and grew up in Richland, Mo.; and Rick
Mastracchio of Waterbury, Conn.

The 35th crew to live and work aboard the station, Expedition 35, will
begin with the undocking of Soyuz 32 in March 2013. Soyuz 34 is
scheduled to launch later that month with the three crew members
identified below who will join the three station residents already
onboard.

-- Canadian Space Agency astronaut Chris Hadfield, station commander
(Soyuz 33)
-- NASA astronaut Tom Marshburn, flight engineer (Soyuz 33)
-- Russian cosmonaut Roman Romanenko, flight engineer (Soyuz 33)
-- NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy, flight engineer (Soyuz 34)
-- Russian cosmonaut Pavel Vinogradov, flight engineer (Soyuz 34)
-- Russian cosmonaut Alexander Misurkin, flight engineer (Soyuz 34)

Expedition 36 will begin with the undocking of Soyuz 33 in May 2013.
Soyuz 35 is scheduled to launch that month with the three crew
members identified below who will join the three station residents
already onboard.

-- Russian cosmonaut Pavel Vinogradov, station commander (Soyuz 34)
-- Russian cosmonaut Alexander Misurkin, flight engineer (Soyuz 34)
-- NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy, flight engineer (Soyuz 34)
-- NASA astronaut Karen Nyberg, flight engineer (Soyuz 35)
-- Russian cosmonaut Maxim Suraev, flight engineer (Soyuz 35)
-- European Space Agency astronaut Luca Parmitano, flight engineer
(Soyuz 35)

Expedition 37 will begin with the undocking of Soyuz 34 in September
2013. Soyuz 36 is scheduled to launch that month with NASA astronaut
Michael Hopkins who will join the three station residents already
onboard.

-- Russian cosmonaut Maxim Suraev, station commander (Soyuz 35)
-- NASA astronaut Karen Nyberg, flight engineer (Soyuz 35)
-- European Space Agency astronaut Luca Parmitano, flight engineer
(Soyuz 35)
-- NASA astronaut Michael Hopkins, flight engineer (Soyuz 36)

Expedition 38 will begin with the undocking of Soyuz 35 in November
2013. Soyuz 37 is scheduled to launch that month with the crew
members identified below who will join the three station residents
already onboard.

-- NASA astronaut Michael Hopkins, flight engineer (Soyuz 36)
-- NASA astronaut Richard Mastracchio, flight engineer (Soyuz 37)
-- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Koichi Wakata, flight
engineer (Soyuz 37)

Expedition 39 will begin with the undocking of Soyuz 36 in March 2014.
At that time, Wakata will serve as station commander, and Mastracchio
will be a flight engineer. The remainder of the Expedition 39 crew
has yet to be assigned.

Additional Expeditions 37 and 38 crew members will be selected from
the Russian cosmonaut corps and will be assigned at a later date.

For complete NASA astronaut biographical information, visit:



http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios


For more information about future space station crews, visit:



http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/crews_future_exp.html


For more information about the International Space Station, visit:



http://www.nasa.gov/station


For a schedule of upcoming flights to the station, visit:



http://www.nasa.gov/stationflights

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 02/18/2011 03:40 pm
Press Release
N°08-2011

Paris, 18 February

ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano assigned to 2013 Space Station mission

ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano has been assigned to fly on the International Space Station from May to November 2013, serving as a flight engineer for Expeditions 36 and 37.

Recently qualified as a European astronaut, Luca will head into orbit aboard a Soyuz TMA spacecraft and will work on the Station for over six months. This will be his first spaceflight and the fifth long-duration mission for an ESA astronaut.

NASA has announced the crewmembers to fly to the International Space Station (ISS) for Expeditions 36 and 39. Now part of a six-astronaut international ISS crew, Luca was selected as an ESA astronaut in 2009 and was proposed by the Italian space agency, ASI, for this mission. The flight opportunity has been provided by ASI in agreement with NASA.

Aged 34 and a Captain in the Italian Air Force, Luca Parmitano has logged more than 2000 hours of flying time, is qualified on more than 20 types of military aircraft and has flown over 40 aircraft types. He will be the fourth Italian citizen to fly to the Space Station.

From May to September 2013, Luca will be accompanied on the ISS by the cosmonauts Pavel Vinogradov, Maxim Suraev and Aleksander Misurkin, as well as by the NASA astronauts Karen Nyberg and Christopher Cassidy.

From September to November 2013, cosmonauts Oleg Kotov and Sergey Ryazansky, together with NASA astronaut Michael Hopkins, will also join him on the Station.

A new class of European astronauts

ESA Director of Human Spaceflight, Simonetta Di Pippo, stressed her satisfaction at seeing the first astronaut of the 2009 group assigned to a mission.

"Luca is a member of the new class of ESA astronauts, and he will be a perfect space ambassador to promote the benefits of human spaceflight on Earth," said Mrs Di Pippo.

"His assignment brings the certainty that Europeans will be part of a new era of the utilisation of the International Space Station, an era with broader exploration ambitions.

"We are now in the process to extend the ISS operations until 2020, and we have also to think about additional flight opportunities for our astronauts, who perform our research in orbit.

"We need to trigger a collective effort among the international partners, the European industry and ESA teams on the ground.

"Having followed closely the selection process among thousands of European candidates, I'm proud to say today that Luca is the story of a success. He brilliantly passed the first ESA basic training showing a huge team spirit and a strong leadership, all indispensable values for the success of the human spaceflight endeavour."

As a member of the European Astronaut Corps, Luca will be extensively trained for this mission at the various ISS facilities in the USA, Russia, Japan and Canada.

The Corps is heavily involved in ISS operations. While Paolo Nespoli is currently flying a long-duration mission on the Station, Roberto Vittori is assigned to an ASI flight opportunity on the Space Shuttle, to be launched in April. André Kuipers will serve as a flight engineer for Expeditions 31 and 32 at the end of this year.

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SpaceUSMC on 02/20/2011 01:16 am
an ASCAN already assignment? I guess it is a few years away yet.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Tourmaline on 02/22/2011 12:50 pm
an ASCAN already assignment? I guess it is a few years away yet.

The ESA Astronaut class of 2009 graduated at the end of 2010: http://www.esa.int/esaHS/SEMRFLIRPGG_index_0.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 03/04/2011 02:55 pm
RELEASE : 11-062

NASA Astronaut Garrett Reisman Leaves Agency


HOUSTON -- NASA astronaut Garrett Reisman has left the agency to return to private industry. Reisman is a veteran of two spaceflight missions, including a long-duration mission on the International Space Station.

"I had the pleasure of working with Garrett in space during Expedition 16," said Peggy Whitson, chief of the Astronaut Office at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. "He is an incredibly accomplished professional and well-known for his great sense of humor. We wish him the best in this new phase of his career, but we will miss him greatly."

Reisman, who holds a doctorate in mechanical engineering, joined NASA in 1998. Before flying in space, he served in multiple technical roles including work supporting robotics and the advanced vehicles branch of the Astronaut Office.

Reisman's first spaceflight mission was as flight engineer during Expeditions 16 and 17 on the station in 2008. During his three months aboard, he performed a seven-hour spacewalk, conducted numerous robotics activities and participated in the installation of the Japanese Kibo laboratory and its logistics module.

Reisman visited the station again during his second spaceflight, STS-132 in May 2010. He conducted two additional spacewalks during the mission, logging 14 more hours outside.

For Reisman's biography, visit:
http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/reisman.html


http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2011/mar/HQ_11-062_Reisman_Departs.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 03/04/2011 02:57 pm
Looks like Garrett has gone to SpaceX!

Elon Musk:
"Garrett's experience ... invaluable as we prepare the spacecraft that will carry the next generation of explorers".
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Aobrien on 03/04/2011 03:04 pm
Looks like Garrett has gone to SpaceX!

Elon Musk:
"Garrett's experience ... invaluable as we prepare the spacecraft that will carry the next generation of explorers".
He has to go where he can get a flight I suppose. It is appearing more and more evident NASA won't be having anything to do with spaceflight for a while to come. But that is another thread.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ChrisGebhardt on 03/04/2011 03:56 pm
Looks like Garrett has gone to SpaceX!

Elon Musk:
"Garrett's experience ... invaluable as we prepare the spacecraft that will carry the next generation of explorers".
He has to go where he can get a flight I suppose. It is appearing more and more evident NASA won't be having anything to do with spaceflight for a while to come. But that is another thread.

Never has a more untrue statement been written.

Last I checked, NASA will still operate over 50% of the International Space Station, will still have rovers on Mars, will still have satellites orbiting Earth (not to mention Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn), will still have New Horizons zooming along to Pluto and the Kiper Belt, will still have a satellite in the asteroid belt, will still have satellites cruising through the inner solar system for asteroid rendezvous... the list goes on.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 03/04/2011 07:44 pm
Astronaut Garrett Reisman Joins SpaceX.

Joining Astronaut Safety and Mission Assurance Team as SpaceX Prepares to Carry Astronauts

Hawthorne, CA– Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) is proud to announce that NASA astronaut Garrett Reisman is joining the company as a senior engineer working on astronaut safety and mission assurance.

“We’re excited about the great team that we are building. Our talent is the key to our success. Garrett’s experience designing and using spaceflight hardware will be invaluable as we prepare the spacecraft that will carry the next generation of explorers,” said Elon Musk, SpaceX CEO and Chief Technology Officer.

Dr. Reisman will join former NASA astronaut Ken Bowersox’s team in preparing SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft to carry astronauts. In December, Dragon became the first commercial spacecraft to successfully return from orbit. In the coming years, NASA will use Dragon for at least 12 cargo missions to the International Space Station, creating strong flight experience before the first manned mission.

“I am excited to help SpaceX because I care deeply about the future of human spaceflight,” said Dr. Reisman. “I see commercial spaceflight as our country’s best option for a robust and sustainable human spaceflight future.”

Beyond safety, Dr. Reisman’s experience as an operator of both American and Russian spaceflight hardware will help SpaceX in the development of human interfaces including controls, displays, seats, suits and environmental control systems.

“After the Space Shuttle’s last flight later this year, America will be dependent on our Russian partners for getting NASA astronauts to space. NASA’s commercial crew development program is our only hope for a quick, safe and affordable alternative, and SpaceX is well-positioned to lead this effort given the strength of their performance during the NASA COTS program,“ said Reisman.

Both the Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft have been designed from the start to one day carry astronauts.

Dr. Reisman comes to SpaceX from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration where he has served since 1998. He has flown on two Space Shuttle missions, which include launching with STS-123 and returning with the STS-124 crew, as well as flying on STS-132. During these two missions, he logged over 3 months in space including over 21 hours of extravehicular activity (EVA) in 3 spacewalks. Dr. Reisman served with both the Expedition-16 and the Expedition-17 crews as a Flight Engineer aboard the International Space Station. Early in his time at NASA he was assigned to the Astronaut Office Robotics Branch, worked in the Astronaut Office Advanced Vehicles Branch, and was a crewmember on NEEMO V in 2003, living on the bottom of the sea in the Aquarius habitat for two weeks.

Dr. Reisman holds a B.S. in Economics and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics from the University of Pennsylvania, a M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the California Institute of Technology, and a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the California Institute of Technology. He is an FAA Certified Flight Instructor. Dr. Reisman is from Parsippany, New Jersey.


About SpaceX

SpaceX is developing a family of launch vehicles and spacecraft that is increasing the reliability and performance of space transportation, while ultimately reducing costs by a factor of ten. With the Falcon rockets, SpaceX has a diverse manifest of launches to deliver commercial and government satellites to orbit. After the Space Shuttle retires, the Falcon 9 and SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft will start carrying cargo, including live plants and animals, to and from the International Space Station for NASA. Falcon 9 and Dragon were developed to one day carry astronauts.

Founded in 2002, SpaceX is a private company owned by management and employees, with minority investments from Founders Fund, Draper Fisher Jurvetson, and Valor Equity Partners. The company has over 1,250 employees in California, Texas and Florida. For more information, and to watch the video of the Falcon 9 and Dragon launches, visit the SpaceX website at SpaceX.com.


http://www.spacex.com/press.php?page=20110304
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 04/09/2011 09:03 pm
According to this (http://www.9news.com/news/article/192246/188/Colorado-astronaut-shares-his-space-stories) article, Steve Swanson will conduct a six month ISS mission in 2014.

Quote
In three years, Swanson will head up to the ISS for six months. He begins his training program this summer.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aurora899 on 04/12/2011 06:12 pm
I hadn't realised that Janet Kavandi was now the Director of Flight Crew Operations. I guess that Brent Jett must have recently left/moved on?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 04/12/2011 07:35 pm
I hadn't realised that Janet Kavandi was now the Director of Flight Crew Operations. I guess that Brent Jett must have recently left/moved on?

Jett is working full-time on commercial crew issues and had been, part-time, for several months prior to turning the FCOD job over to his deputy, Kavandi, in February.

Michael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 04/13/2011 06:38 pm
President of CNES Yannick d'Escatha has told today to Russian Interfax news agency that the next spaceflight of French astronaut is planned in 2016.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 04/13/2011 10:09 pm
President of CNES Yannick d'Escatha has told today to Russian Interfax news agency that the next spaceflight of French astronaut is planned in 2016.

This gives us more clues into ESA's future astronaut assignments.

We know that ESA has three ISS crewmember slots prior to 2015, and two slots between 2015 and 2020. They're looking to buy a third slot in this timeframe (2015 - 2020) too.

So, that's six slots before 2020 - and they have six 2009 ASCANS, all of which ESA want to fly before 2020.

We know that one slot in 2013 will go to ASI, one in 2014 to ESA (unknown nationality), another slot in 2015 to ASI, and now one in 2016 to France.

We already know that Luca Parmitano has the 2013 ASI slot, which means Samantha Cristoforetti has the 2015 ASI slot. The 2016 French slot will likely go to Thomas Pesquet.

That leaves Alexander Gerst (Germany), Andreas Mogensen (Denmark), and Tim Peake (UK) for the 2014 and two post-2015 slots.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 04/13/2011 10:27 pm
Presumably we're discounting the possibility of Schlegel, Eyharts, Nespoli or Vittori getting an expedition?

I know they'll be heading into their late 50s/early 60s by that time, but, hey, Vinogradov's due to fly in 2013 at age 60!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 04/13/2011 10:32 pm
Presumably we're discounting the possibility of Schlegel, Eyharts, Nespoli or Vittori getting an expedition?

I know they'll be heading into their late 50s/early 60s by that time, but, hey, Vinogradov's due to fly in 2013 at age 60!

Yes, ESA have said that their priority is to fly their new people and build up their long-duration experience for the future.

Even if the older guys are "young enough" to get a long-duration flight, they will probably all leave ESA sometime this decade - taking their experience with them and leaving ESA as an agency of rookies.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: WBeck on 04/14/2011 01:38 pm
I guess Gerst is the first pick for the 2014-slot.

http://www.esa.int/esaCP/Pr_17_2009_p_EN.html
- second paragraph -
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 04/14/2011 01:44 pm
I guess Gerst is the first pick for the 2014-slot.

http://www.esa.int/esaCP/Pr_17_2009_p_EN.html
- second paragraph -

Maybe my sense of humor radar has broken down, but if you mean Bill Gerstenmaier - he's American. Just as my name is Scandinavian, but I don't drive a Volvo.....heh, humor's working again! ;)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 04/14/2011 01:50 pm
I guess Gerst is the first pick for the 2014-slot.

http://www.esa.int/esaCP/Pr_17_2009_p_EN.html
- second paragraph -

Maybe my sense of humor radar has broken down, but if you mean Bill Gerstenmaier - he's American. Just as my name is Scandinavian, but I don't drive a Volvo.....heh, humor's working again! ;)

Heh, he means Alexander Gerst, of Germany. He's an ESA astronaut. ;D
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: WBeck on 04/14/2011 01:52 pm
Never mentioned this: Gerst/Gerstenmaier :D

But i mean this guy:

http://www.esa.int/esaHS/SEMZ8K0OWUF_astronauts_0.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 04/14/2011 01:56 pm
Ah ha!!

Right, I'll go stand in the corner of the room, remember to concentrate on vehicles, and start again :D
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 04/14/2011 01:57 pm
I guess Gerst is the first pick for the 2014-slot.

http://www.esa.int/esaCP/Pr_17_2009_p_EN.html
- second paragraph -

That is old.... Don't think the German will fly first, I put my money on the Brit and the Astro from Denmark to fly before the German :)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 04/14/2011 01:59 pm
So, per this new info (if it is still correct), this is how ESA's 2009 ASCAN flight assignments are lining up:

• 2013 - Luca Parmitano (Italy).
• 2014 - Alexander Gerst (Germany).
• 2015 - Samantha Cristoforetti (Italy).
• 2016 - Thomas Pesquet (France).

Two more slots post-2016 will go to Andreas Mogensen (Denmark), and Tim Peake (UK).

I bet Peake is last to fly. :(
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 04/14/2011 02:08 pm
So, per this new info (if it is still correct), this is how ESA's 2009 ASCAN flight assignments are lining up:

• 2013 - Luca Parmitano (Italy).
• 2014 - Alexander Gerst (Germany).
• 2015 - Samantha Cristoforetti (Italy).
• 2016 - Thomas Pesquet (France).

Two more slots post-2016 will go to Andreas Mogensen (Denmark), and Tim Peake (UK).

I bet Peake is last to fly. :(

More like this:

• 2013 - Luca Parmitano (Italy).
• 2014 - Andreas Mogensen (Denmark) or Tim Peake (UK).
• 2015 - ???
• 2016 - Thomas Pesquet (France).
• 2017 - Alexander Gerst (Germany).
• 2018 - Tim Peake (UK) or Andreas Mogensen (Denmark)
• 2019 - ???
• 2020 - Samantha Cristoforetti (Italy) (if she will fly at all).....

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 04/14/2011 02:16 pm
More like this:

• 2013 - Luca Parmitano (Italy).
• 2014 - Andreas Mogensen (Denmark) or Tim Peake (UK).
• 2015 - ???
• 2016 - Thomas Pesquet (France).
• 2017 - Alexander Gerst (Germany).
• 2018 - Tim Peake (UK) or Andreas Mogensen (Denmark)
• 2019 - ???
• 2020 - Samantha Cristoforetti (Italy) (if she will fly at all).....

Wow - one slot a year from 2012 onwards? Well, I don't doubt that strings were pulled and palms greased in order to get unilateral agreement on the 2020 extension. ;)

I suspect we'll know who gets the 2014 slot in the next few months. I hope it's Peake!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 04/14/2011 02:19 pm
Would be great to see Major Peake fly. Hugely impressive person.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: arkaska on 04/14/2011 06:30 pm
That is old.... Don't think the German will fly first, I put my money on the Brit and the Astro from Denmark to fly before the German :)


What makes you say that? Germany hasn't have one up there since 2006 and they are one of the BIG contributors to ESA.

What makes you doubt that Cristoforetti will fly at all?

And from history we can see that Scandinavians aren't highly prioritized so I would bet the Dane is flying last.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 05/03/2011 10:06 pm
RELEASE : J11-016

NASA Astronaut Piers Sellers Returns to Goddard


HOUSTON -- NASA astronaut Piers Sellers is moving from the Johnson Space Center in Houston to the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md.

Beginning June 6, he will serve as the deputy director of Goddard’s Sciences and Exploration Directorate.

"Piers will be greatly missed in our office," said Peggy Whitson, chief of the Astronaut Office. "He is a great team player, ready to help in any capacity needed. His diverse skills in robotics, spacewalking and his vast knowledge of science, astronomy and engineering were instrumental in helping us building the International Space Station."

Sellers previously worked at Goddard as a researcher from 1982 to 1996. He was selected as an astronaut in 1996. He flew to the International Space Station on STS-112 in 2002, STS-121 in 2006 and STS-132 in 2010. He has logged nearly 35 days in space, including almost 41 hours spacewalking during six excursions.

At Goddard, Sellers studied interactions between the biosphere and the atmosphere, and helped construct computer models of the global climate system. He also interpreted satellite data and conducted large-scale field experiments in the U.S., Canada, Africa and Brazil. He served as the first project scientist for the Terra mission from 1991 to 1996.

For Seller’s complete astronaut biographical information, visit:
http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/sellers.html

For information about NASA and agency programs, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov


http://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/news/releases/2011/J11-016.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: tonyq on 05/03/2011 10:28 pm


• 2020 - Samantha Cristoforetti (Italy) (if she will fly at all).....



What is the issue you appear to be aware of with Cristoforetti???
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: asdert on 06/09/2011 07:50 pm
Some thoughts on backup assignments:

Hadfield (CSA) is nominated for Expeditions 34/35 (November 2012 to May 2013). His backup is Parmitano (ESA). Hadfield will be ISS Commander of Expedition 35.
Parmitano (ESA) is nominated for Expeditions 36/37 (May to November 2013). His backup is Wakata (JAXA).
Wakata is nominated for Expeditions 38/39 (November 2013 to May 2014). Wakata will be ISS Commander of Expedition 39. His backup is not yet nominated.
We might assume that the ESA astronaut assigned to Expeditions 40/41 (May to November 2014) will also be Wakata's backup.

So will two new ESA astronauts be backup ISS commanders?
When is the next regular slot for an ESA ISS commander?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: arkaska on 06/10/2011 11:18 am
Some thoughts on backup assignments:

Hadfield (CSA) is nominated for Expeditions 34/35 (November 2012 to May 2013). His backup is Parmitano (ESA). Hadfield will be ISS Commander of Expedition 35.
Parmitano (ESA) is nominated for Expeditions 36/37 (May to November 2013). His backup is Wakata (JAXA).
Wakata is nominated for Expeditions 38/39 (November 2013 to May 2014). Wakata will be ISS Commander of Expedition 39. His backup is not yet nominated.
We might assume that the ESA astronaut assigned to Expeditions 40/41 (May to November 2014) will also be Wakata's backup.

So will two new ESA astronauts be backup ISS commanders?
When is the next regular slot for an ESA ISS commander?

Just because he is the Parmitano is back-up for Hadfield doesn't mean he is the back-up commander. It will probably be Nyberg or Surayev who will take command in that case.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: JohnF on 06/10/2011 11:32 am
I'd be more interested on which astros will be assigned to Orion crews
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skyrocket on 06/10/2011 11:34 am
I'd be more interested on which astros will be assigned to Orion crews

Orion assignments won't happen soon (if ever)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 06/10/2011 10:08 pm
Sergei Volkov, must really have the "right stuff".
Has any other cosmonaut flown as commander of Soyuz, and ISS on their first spaceflight?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: asdert on 06/11/2011 09:14 am
Volkov was the first in 2008 (commander of Soyuz TMA-12 and Expedition 17)
Then we had
Aleksandr Skvortsov in 2010 (commander of Soyuz TMA-18 and Expedition 24) and
Dmitri Kondratyev in 2010/2011 (commander of Soyuz TMA-20 and Expedition 27)

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 06/12/2011 09:03 am
Difference with Skvortsov and Kondratyev, though, is that both did a lengthy stint as a flight engineer, before taking over command later in the expedition. Volkov took command within days of his arrival on the ISS and led the entire six-month expedition. Pretty impressive for a rookie.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 06/17/2011 01:45 pm
More like this:

• 2013 - Luca Parmitano (Italy).
• 2014 - Andreas Mogensen (Denmark) or Tim Peake (UK).
• 2015 - ???
• 2016 - Thomas Pesquet (France).
• 2017 - Alexander Gerst (Germany).
• 2018 - Tim Peake (UK) or Andreas Mogensen (Denmark)
• 2019 - ???
• 2020 - Samantha Cristoforetti (Italy) (if she will fly at all).....

Sorry -- maybe I missed something, but I was thinking Cristoforetti was slated for the second slot dedicated to the Italian space agency (the one in 2015). And according to the September 2010 DLR newsletter (a printed magazine), the DLR programme director's intent is to have Gerst fly on the 2014 mission.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 06/25/2011 11:10 am
Noticed that Anderson, Creamer and Wolf have now joined the 'ineligible' management astronauts section. Looking at most of the bios, though, it doesn't make any reference to their transfer from active status...in fact, some of their bios have stayed the same for more than two years.

Does anyone know what their roles and responsibilities are in this new 'management' area? I'd guess that pilots like Johnson, Ham, Zamka etc are most likely working Aircraft Ops, but what of the rest?

Also, with only half of Group 20 (Aunon, Lindgren, Hopkins and Wiseman) now listed as 'active', how long will it be before Vande-Hei, Rubins etc end their candidacy programme and join the active list?

Thanks
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 06/25/2011 01:36 pm
Noticed that Anderson, Creamer and Wolf have now joined the 'ineligible' management astronauts section. Looking at most of the bios, though, it doesn't make any reference to their transfer from active status...in fact, some of their bios have stayed the same for more than two years.

Does anyone know what their roles and responsibilities are in this new 'management' area? I'd guess that pilots like Johnson, Ham, Zamka etc are most likely working Aircraft Ops, but what of the rest?

Also, with only half of Group 20 (Aunon, Lindgren, Hopkins and Wiseman) now listed as 'active', how long will it be before Vande-Hei, Rubins etc end their candidacy programme and join the active list?

Thanks

Clay Anderson took his final T-38 flight a few weeks ago, and has previously announced via Twitter that he won't be flying in space again.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Melroy Fan on 06/25/2011 02:59 pm
Noticed that Anderson, Creamer and Wolf have now joined the 'ineligible' management astronauts section. Looking at most of the bios, though, it doesn't make any reference to their transfer from active status...in fact, some of their bios have stayed the same for more than two years.

Does anyone know what their roles and responsibilities are in this new 'management' area? I'd guess that pilots like Johnson, Ham, Zamka etc are most likely working Aircraft Ops, but what of the rest?

Also, with only half of Group 20 (Aunon, Lindgren, Hopkins and Wiseman) now listed as 'active', how long will it be before Vande-Hei, Rubins etc end their candidacy programme and join the active list?

Thanks

Ben,

Ken Ham told me at the 2010 Fiesta Bowl Aerospace Challenge that he was moving to Aircraft Ops to fly the WB-57. I think he also said something about being deployed overseas in Kandahar with the WB-57. I forgot to ask him anything else about Kandahar. Can't help you with the rest (Johnson, Zamka) as we only talked about the 132 crew. 
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 06/25/2011 06:37 pm
Ham is assigned to aircraft ops until his JSC detail ends, summer 2012.  The other new transfers to management status will continue to work in astronaut office jobs as instructors or branch members for the time being.  (Some may be leaving NASA altogether; I don't have information on any pending departures, however.)

"Management" status simply means that astronauts are no longer eligible for flight assignment, and do not fly T-38s (with the exception of Archambault through STS-135, or possibly Ham in his new capacity) or use training facilities, and do not count as members of the "astronaut corps," which is that flight-eligible group, currently around 63.

Michael Cassutt

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: smith5se on 06/26/2011 06:31 pm
Noticed that Anderson, Creamer and Wolf have now joined the 'ineligible' management astronauts section. Looking at most of the bios, though, it doesn't make any reference to their transfer from active status...in fact, some of their bios have stayed the same for more than two years.

Does anyone know what their roles and responsibilities are in this new 'management' area? I'd guess that pilots like Johnson, Ham, Zamka etc are most likely working Aircraft Ops, but what of the rest?

Also, with only half of Group 20 (Aunon, Lindgren, Hopkins and Wiseman) now listed as 'active', how long will it be before Vande-Hei, Rubins etc end their candidacy programme and join the active list?

Thanks

Clay Anderson took his final T-38 flight a few weeks ago, and has previously announced via Twitter that he won't be flying in space again.

He also can be quoted from an appearance on the Pat & JT radio show (98.5 KQKQ, Omaha) that he is a "management astronaut" now; if you listen to the sound clip, it sounds he isn't too happy about it as it wasn't on his terms. (will try and go dig up that clip later tonight)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 06/26/2011 08:27 pm
Many thanks for your responses. That was going to be my next question: whether or not some of these 'management' transfers were 'enforced' by senior management or 'requested' by the astronauts themselves.

I just find it interesting that there are almost as many astronauts in management status as on active status. To my uninformed eye, it just seems such an enormous waste of talent...but then I don't know what any of these 'management' duties actually entail.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 06/26/2011 10:43 pm
Many thanks for your responses. That was going to be my next question: whether or not some of these 'management' transfers were 'enforced' by senior management or 'requested' by the astronauts themselves.

I just find it interesting that there are almost as many astronauts in management status as on active status. To my uninformed eye, it just seems such an enormous waste of talent...but then I don't know what any of these 'management' duties actually entail.

Yes, some were transferred against their wishes.  Some were reluctant to commit to the long ISS training cycle.  Others simply couldn't qualify for long-duration flight.

The message to the corps was delivered last fall: you're here to fly ISS missions.  If you can't or don't want to do that, we'll keep you busy... but you won't be flying T-38s, won't be using training facilities (robotics, NBL) except as instructors, etc.  That's what this management status is for: retaining crew support and corporate memory while cutting back on the expense of training.

And lest we descend to silliness in equating all "management" astronauts with active ones, be assured that the number of management types working with the astronaut office is on the order of 20.

One gray area at the moment is future NASA astronaut involvement in CCDEV -- no one is quite sure how many will be required, and to what degree, or when.  (The only certainty is that NASA astronauts will be involved with commercial developments).  At the moment, some of those on management status would be good candidates to serve as interim reps to, say, Orbital or SpaceX.

Michael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jim on 06/27/2011 12:51 am
To my uninformed eye, it just seems such an enormous waste of talent...but then I don't know what any of these 'management' duties actually entail.

What talent?  Shuttle piloting is not needed.  Some of the system instructors on ISS are more "experienced" than the astronauts on those systems.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 07/06/2011 06:22 am
Any news about the 2014/15 ISS expeditions?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 07/09/2011 02:16 pm
Astronaut Mike Massimino indicated to Greg Dobbs on HD-NET yesterday that he is currently taking lesssons in the Russian language.
He also said that at 6 foot 3 inches, he is not too tall to fly in Soyuz.
Stay tuned...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 07/09/2011 02:34 pm
Acording to Thomas Reiter, who I talked to yesterday in Noordwijk, Alex Gerst is probably going to fly as an ESA astronaut in 2014....

 
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Riley1066 on 07/10/2011 04:10 am
I'd love to see Stephanie Wilson get a long duration ISS tour.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 07/10/2011 08:27 am
Whatever happened to Shane Kimbrough? He had a backup assignment for a while, was replaced and has since vanished from the list.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 07/10/2011 01:02 pm
Acording to Thomas Reiter, who I talked to yesterday in Noordwijk, Alex Gerst is probably going to fly as an ESA astronaut in 2014....

That would confirm earlier information. A most welcome update. Thanks! So what about the Italian lady and her 2015 ASI slot? Any news about that?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Hog on 07/10/2011 02:29 pm
Astronaut Mike Massimino indicated to Greg Dobbs on HD-NET yesterday that he is currently taking lesssons in the Russian language.
He also said that at 6 foot 3 inches, he is not too tall to fly in Soyuz.
Stay tuned...
At 6 foot 3 inches he right at the Astronaut height restriction of 75 inches.  This the height max. of Canadian Astronauts and I would assume US Astronauts as well.  The CSA tells us that the 75" max is the max. height the Soyuz seats will handle.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 07/12/2011 01:52 pm
Whatever happened to Shane Kimbrough? He had a backup assignment for a while, was replaced and has since vanished from the list.

I believe Kimbrough was actually assigned as a flight crew member of EXP-34/35 with Romanenko and Hadfield.
He has since been replaced by Thomas Marshburn.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 07/12/2011 04:35 pm
With the exception of cosmonaut Mikhail Korniyenko, have any other crew members been assigned yet to Expedition 39?
Thanks.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: kevind on 07/12/2011 06:48 pm
I hope Mike Massimino does eventually get an ISS flight.  It would be great to see some of his video work from the ISS.  I remember seeing Shane Kimbrough on the future ISS crew lists at one time before being replaced by Tom Marshburn.  He has been one of the Astronaut Support Persons at the Cape for the STS-134 and STS-135 flights.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 07/12/2011 07:15 pm
Does anyone know why Kimbrough was removed from expedition training?

Spacefacts reports Expedition 39 crew as:

Koichi Wakata (Commander)
Mikhail Tyurin (Flight Engineer)
Rick Mastracchio (Flight Engineer)
Mikhail Kornienko (Flight Engineer)

There was a reference somewhere to Sergei Zhukov as a Flight Engineer, but he is now listed as retired since April 2011. I also remember Steve Swanson's name being mentioned as well.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aldelphi on 07/12/2011 07:33 pm

  Maybe this has already been answered here, but it is strange that the U.S. seems to have paid for the bulk of the ISS yet the Russians will always have 3 astronauts on board while the U.S. will usually only have 2.  How exactly did this happen?  Did Russia demand this during negotiations and the U.S. really wanted Russia to be involved or does Russia actually deserve this?

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 07/12/2011 08:18 pm

  Maybe this has already been answered here, but it is strange that the U.S. seems to have paid for the bulk of the ISS yet the Russians will always have 3 astronauts on board while the U.S. will usually only have 2.  How exactly did this happen?  Did Russia demand this during negotiations and the U.S. really wanted Russia to be involved or does Russia actually deserve this?

Originally, the ISS was supposed to be 7 crewmembers (3 Russians, 3 Americans, 1 International Partner). But, since the Shuttle is retiring forcing a reliance on the Soyuz, and since 2 Soyuzes only offer 6 seats in total, one crewmember had to go.

Obviously, it wasn't going to be the Russians, since it was their spacecraft, and bumping an IP wasn't going to be popular, so it was an American who got the bump.

Once the US commercial crew vehicles start flying in 20xx, a 7th seat will become available, meaning that three Americans will be able to live on ISS as originally intended.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 07/14/2011 07:16 pm
July 14, 2011

RELEASE: 11-230

NASA ASTRONAUT STEVE LINDSEY LEAVES THE AGENCY

HOUSTON -- NASA astronaut Steve Lindsey announced he will leave the
agency to pursue a career within the aerospace industry. His last day
with NASA will be Friday, July 15.

Lindsey, a retired colonel in the U.S. Air Force, is a veteran of five
space shuttle missions. He also served as chief of the NASA Astronaut
Office from September 2006 to October 2009.

"Steve's a consummate leader and has been a great role model within
the corps," said Peggy Whitson, chief of the Astronaut Office. "His
calm demeanor and steady presence has been invaluable to not only his
shuttle mission crews but also our office as a whole. I know he will
be a great asset to the next team privileged to work with him."

As chief of the Astronaut Office, Lindsey was responsible for
spacecraft development; crew selection and training; flight test and
crew operations in support of the Space Shuttle and the International
Space Station Programs.

Lindsey commanded the STS-133 flight in February 2011, STS-121 in 2006
and STS-104 in 2001. He served as the pilot on STS-95 in 1998 and
STS-87 in 1997. He joined NASA as an astronaut candidate in 1994.
Lindsey logged more than 1500 hours in space.

For Lindsey's complete biography, visit:


http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/lindsey.html   

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 07/22/2011 09:29 pm
Any news about the 2014/15 ISS expeditions?
The first crew of 2014 you can find on L2.
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=26135.0
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 07/25/2011 10:11 am
Any news about the 2014/15 ISS expeditions?
The first crew of 2014 you can find on L2.
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=26135.0

Yes,  thanks -- found it ..! But I was actually kind of hoping it would confirm the rumored assignments of the 2014 ESA slot ...

;)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 07/26/2011 12:20 pm
June 26, 2011 (JST)

Certification for ISS onboard astronaut

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency has been providing basic training to be
certified as an astronaut for the International Space Station (ISS) to astronaut
candidates Kimiya Yui, and Takuya Ohnishi since April 2009, and also to
astronaut candidate Norishige Kanai since September 2009. The three candidates
have completed all their basic training requirements, thus they were certified
as ISS astronauts on July 25, 2011.
The three will further participate in training to improve their knowledge and
techniques as astronauts mainly at the NASA Johnson Space Center as well as in
Japan and other countries.

(Reference)
- Basic training aims at acquiring basic knowledge and techniques necessary for
  ISS onboard astronauts. The training shall be provided by the country that
  selected the astronaut candidates, and it is based on the training program
  agreed among the space agencies of ISS participating countries (Japan, the
  U.S., Canada, European countries and Russia.)
- Training subjects are: 1) training to acquire knowledge on spacecraft systems,
  the ISS system, basic engineering, and basic science; 2) training to acquire
  techniques to operate the ISS system, to conduct extravehicular activities,
  and to maneuver a robotic arm; 3) training to acquire basic skills and
  behavior as an astronaut including piloting an aircraft and survival training;
  4) improving English and Russian language skills.

1. Certified astronauts
   - Kimiya Yui
   - Takuya Ohnishi
   - Norishige Kanai

2. Brief history of the three astronauts
   Please refer to Attachment 1.
   http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2011/07/20110726_astronauts_e.html#at1

3. Messages from other astronauts for certification
   Please refer to Attachment 2.
   http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2011/07/20110726_astronauts_e.html#at2


URL:
http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2011/07/20110726_astronauts_e.html


Waiting for the NASA and CSA press releases.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 07/27/2011 05:23 am
Bryan O´Connor will retire from NASA on Aug, 31.
http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2011/jul/HQ_11-250_O%27Connor_Retires.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 08/03/2011 07:06 pm
RELEASE : J11-018
 
Three Astronauts Depart NASA Management

 
HOUSTON – Astronauts Steven Nagel, John Phillips and Carlos Noriega are leaving the agency. Following many years of leadership in NASA’s aircraft operations, Nagel is taking a position in academia. Phillips is retiring after returning from assignment to the Naval Postgraduate School. Noriega has most recently served in management roles for future human spaceflight exploration and is moving to industry.

“These three gentlemen epitomize service and excellence,” said Janet Kavandi, director, Flight Crew Operations. “Steve has served the agency for more than 30 years. He’s an incredible professional and leader, sharing his expertise and experience with everyone who has had the pleasure to work with him.”

“Likewise, John brought a wealth of experience and represented the office admirably during his long duration flight on the International Space Station,” added Kavandi. “With two missions to space stations and his dedication to future exploration and safety, Carlos has contributed greatly to the expansion of human spaceflight. They will all be greatly missed and we wish them the best.”

Nagel, a retired U.S. Air Force colonel, began his career as a NASA astronaut in 1979. He flew four space shuttle flights including as a mission specialist on STS-51G in 1985 and as pilot on STS-61A in 1985. He commanded STS-37 in 1991 and STS-55 in 1993.

Nagel left the astronaut office in 1995 to serve as deputy director for the Operations Development, Safety, Reliability and Quality Assurance Office and later transferred to the Aircraft Operations Division where he performed duties as a research pilot, senior pilot, and deputy division chief.

Phillips, a retired officer from the U.S. Navy, joined NASA as an astronaut in 1996. He is a veteran of three spaceflights including a long duration mission on the International Space Station. He flew as a flight engineer and science officer on Expedition 11 in 2005, logging more than 179 days in space, and conducting a spacewalk. His shuttle missions included STS-100 in 2001 and STS-119 in 2009. Phillips is retiring from a two-year NASA rotational position at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif.

Noriega, a retired U.S. Marines lieutenant colonel, joined NASA as an astronaut in 1994. During two spaceflight missions he logged over 481 hours in space, including over 19 hours on three spacewalks. He flew on STS-84 in 1997 and STS-97 in 2000. Noriega then served as chief of the Exploration Systems Engineering Division in Johnson Space Center’s Engineering Directorate and later as the director of the Constellation Program’s Safety, Reliability and Quality Assurance Office.

For Nagel’s biography, visit:
http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/nagel.html

For Phillips’ biography, visit:
http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/phillips.html

For Noriega’s biography, visit:
http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/noriega.html


http://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/news/releases/2011/J11-018.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 08/16/2011 08:32 pm
RELEASE: 11-261

NASA NAMES TERRY WILCUTT AGENCY SAFETY CHIEF

WASHINGTON -- Terrence W. Wilcutt has been appointed NASA's chief of
safety and mission assurance, effective Sept. 1.

Wilcutt is a retired Marine colonel and veteran astronaut who is
serving as director of safety and mission assurance at NASA's Johnson
Space Center in Houston. He will assume the post from Bryan O'Connor,
who will retire from the agency on Aug. 31.

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden announced the appointment Tuesday.

"As NASA looks beyond the space shuttle to new programs of human
exploration, technology development and scientific research, we
remain committed to the highest standards for mission success and the
well-being of our work force," Bolden said. "Terry Wilcutt has more
than 20 years of experience in human spaceflight and safety, as well
as the integrity and courage necessary to lead what arguably is
NASA's most important support organization, the Office of Safety and
Mission Assurance, and serve as my conscience on issues of safety as
did Bryan O'Connor during our time together. I am delighted Terry
stepped forward to guide us safely into the future."

In his new role, Wilcutt will be responsible for the development,
implementation and oversight of safety and mission assurance policies
and procedures for all NASA programs.

"I look forward to continuing Bryan's work and to meeting the
challenges of the next chapter in human space exploration as well as
the rest of NASA's diverse portfolio," Wilcutt said.

Wilcutt joined NASA as an astronaut in 1990. He was the pilot on two
space shuttle missions, STS-68 in 1994 and STS-79 in 1996. He
commanded two others, STS-89 in 1998 and STS-106 in 2000. He served
as manager of safety and mission assurance for the Space Shuttle
Program, and as Johnson's deputy director of safety and mission
assurance before becoming director in 2008.

Wilcutt will maintain offices in Houston and Washington. For his
complete biography, visit:



http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/wilcutt.html

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 08/23/2011 05:50 pm
Any news about the 2014/15 ISS expeditions?
The first crew of 2014 you can find on L2.
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=26135.0

Yes,  thanks -- found it ..! But I was actually kind of hoping it would confirm the rumored assignments of the 2014 ESA slot ...

;)
The next crew is now on L2.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 08/23/2011 06:15 pm
Any news about the 2014/15 ISS expeditions?
The first crew of 2014 you can find on L2.
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=26135.0

Yes,  thanks -- found it ..! But I was actually kind of hoping it would confirm the rumored assignments of the 2014 ESA slot ...

;)
The next crew is now on L2.

Well no surprise there...good for ESA !!

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 08/24/2011 08:35 am
Yes, I've seen the document. And I am happy -- surprise or not. Of course, we cannot discuss this outside of L2 for the time being, right?

;)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 08/24/2011 08:10 pm
Don't know whether its relevant, but spotted Jeff Williams sitting in on a training session with the Expedition 30 crew in July.

http://www.spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/station/crew-31/html/jsc2011e073781.html

At the risk of irritating Jim even further, could this be an indicator that Williams may be up for future assignment?

Sorry Jim ;)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TALsite on 08/25/2011 02:43 pm
Don't know whether its relevant, but spotted Jeff Williams sitting in on a training session with the Expedition 30 crew in July.

http://www.spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/station/crew-31/html/jsc2011e073781.html

At the risk of irritating Jim even further, could this be an indicator that Williams may be up for future assignment?

Sorry Jim ;)


And also Mike Massimino with Akihiko Hoshide, Expedition 32/33 flight engineer.

http://www.spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/station/crew-32/html/jsc2010e066418.html (http://www.spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/station/crew-32/html/jsc2010e066418.html)

Astronaut Mike Massimino indicated to Greg Dobbs on HD-NET yesterday that he is currently taking lesssons in the Russian language.
He also said that at 6 foot 3 inches, he is not too tall to fly in Soyuz.
Stay tuned...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 08/30/2011 09:00 pm
From Naoko Yamazaki (@Astro_Naoko) via Twitter:

"Thank you for all of your support for space programs. I resigned JAXA, however, will continue space exploration. Best wishes!"
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 08/30/2011 10:36 pm
From Naoko Yamazaki (@Astro_Naoko) via Twitter:

"Thank you for all of your support for space programs. I resigned JAXA, however, will continue space exploration. Best wishes!"

Sad news.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 08/31/2011 12:05 am
Don't know whether its relevant, but spotted Jeff Williams sitting in on a training session with the Expedition 30 crew in July.

http://www.spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/station/crew-31/html/jsc2011e073781.html

At the risk of irritating Jim even further, could this be an indicator that Williams may be up for future assignment?

Sorry Jim ;)

At the risk of irritating you, no.  You're reading tea leaves again.  I spoke to Williams a few months ago, and while he hasn't ruled out a third ISS mission, it isn't in the cards any time soon.  He is serving as a crew instructor.

MIchael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 08/31/2011 12:07 pm
From Naoko Yamazaki (@Astro_Naoko) via Twitter:

"Thank you for all of your support for space programs. I resigned JAXA, however, will continue space exploration. Best wishes!"

Huh? Now what is that supposed to mean? She's out of JAXA---that's what she says. But what about "continue space exploration" . . ? As a private sector astronaut, or what? Or does she intend to assume a management role?

I don't quite understand the contents of the message . . .
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aquarius on 08/31/2011 09:23 pm
From Naoko Yamazaki (@Astro_Naoko) via Twitter:

"Thank you for all of your support for space programs. I resigned JAXA, however, will continue space exploration. Best wishes!"

Huh? Now what is that supposed to mean? She's out of JAXA---that's what she says. But what about "continue space exploration" . . ? As a private sector astronaut, or what? Or does she intend to assume a management role?

I don't quite understand the contents of the message . . .

Maybe, the comma is at the wrong place and it should be "I resigned, JAXA however, will continue space exploration."
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 08/31/2011 09:25 pm
From Naoko Yamazaki (@Astro_Naoko) via Twitter:

"Thank you for all of your support for space programs. I resigned JAXA, however, will continue space exploration. Best wishes!"

Huh? Now what is that supposed to mean? She's out of JAXA---that's what she says. But what about "continue space exploration" . . ? As a private sector astronaut, or what? Or does she intend to assume a management role?

I don't quite understand the contents of the message . . .

Maybe this is helpful.
http://www.collectspace.com/ubb/Forum38/HTML/001398.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 09/08/2011 08:07 pm
Two New Canadian Astronauts Certified

Longueuil, Quebec, September 8, 2011 – The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) is pleased to announce that its two new astronauts, Jeremy Hansen and David Saint-Jacques, have successfully completed their two-year basic training at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.

“Through diligence and hard work, Jeremy Hansen and David Saint-Jacques have earned the respect of their astronaut colleagues,” said the President of the CSA, Steve MacLean. “Our newest astronauts have come through with flying colours and are proud members of Canada’s Astronaut Corps.”

Now that basic training is complete, Hansen and Saint-Jacques have been assigned duties that will continue to broaden and perfect their skills, preparing them for future challenges. Both will work at the Johnson Space Centre. Jeremy Hansen will be assigned to the International Space Station Operations Branch and will assume the role of Crew Support Astronaut for Expedition 33/34, which includes Chris Hadfield’s mission. David Saint-Jacques has been assigned for duties within the Robotics Branch, which will include training and operations related to the European Robotic Arm. Both men are now eligible for selection for long-duration mission on the International Space Station.

Recruited by the Canadian Space Agency in May of 2009 through a national astronaut recruitment campaign, Jeremy Hansen and David Saint-Jacques have undertaken an intensive and rigorous training program which included:

• Attaining a thorough understanding of spacecraft and ISS systems, engineering, and science;

• acquiring techniques necessary to master operation of the ISS systems, including spacewalks (extravehicular activities), and manoeuvring the robotic arm;

• obtaining and enhancing skills and behaviors required of astronauts, including piloting an aircraft and taking part in survival training;

• improving their proficiency in the Russian language.


http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/media/news_releases/2011/0908.asp
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 09/08/2011 08:38 pm
Congratulations to Hansen and Saint-Jacques.

When is Canada's next scheduled expedition after Hadfield?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 09/08/2011 11:50 pm
I believe the next Canadian ISS slot after Hadfield is scheduled for 2015.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 09/10/2011 09:00 am
Many thanks delta7.

Also, is Mike Foale still eligible for assignment? He's been working Exploration and Constellation for some time, but doesn't seem to have moved over to Management.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 09/10/2011 04:18 pm
Many thanks delta7.

Also, is Mike Foale still eligible for assignment? He's been working Exploration and Constellation for some time, but doesn't seem to have moved over to Management.

I heard Foale say in an interview a year or so ago that he's holding out for an ISS flight, but that his best chance to get back into space might be in the commercial sector.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 09/14/2011 03:02 pm
Robert Satcher is leaving NASA.
http://www.collectspace.com/ubb/Forum38/HTML/001405.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 09/18/2011 03:21 pm
ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst to fly to Space Station in 2014
 
18 September 2011
ESA PR 23 2011 - ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst has been assigned to fly to the International Space Station on a 6-month mission in 2014, serving as a flight engineer for Expeditions 40 and 41.
 
Alexander is the second of the new group of European astronauts, which graduated last November, to be assigned to a mission.

He will be launched aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan in May 2014, returning to Earth in November 2014.

Today is an ideal day for the announcement: the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne has been buzzing with activity as around 100 000 visitors mingle on German Aerospace Day.

After conquering remote mountains and working in Antarctica, the 35year-old geophysicist and volcanologist will become the third German to visit the Station. 

He will be accompanied by Russian Fyodor Yurchikhin, as Soyuz commander, and NASA astronaut G. Reid Wiseman.

Cosmonauts Alexander Skvortsov and Oleg Artemyev and NASA astronaut Steven Swanson will also share part of the mission with Alexander as members of Expeditions 39 and 40.

Alexander’s flight will be the sixth long-duration mission for an ESA astronaut.

“ESA Member States have decided to extend their support to the exploitation of the International Space Station up to 2020,” said Thomas Reiter, ESA’s Director for Human Spaceflight and Operations.

“The appointment of the new group of European astronauts to long-duration missions reflects the commitment of Member States.

“Alexander Gerst will pursue the European goals in a long fruitful German tradition.

“He will now get ready for the challenges ahead in 2014 ... and beyond.”

Alexander says, “It is a great honour for me to get the chance to contribute to the long tradition of European and German space flight.

“This mission will be a positive challenge not only for me but for all the dedicated people working at ESA and the national space agencies, who make spaceflight possible through their passion and fascination.

“I am looking forward to flying to space on the shoulders of this gigantic team, to the boundaries of our capabilities and knowledge in order to venture out a little further and to shine some more light into the darkness.

“And just as much I am looking forward to returning to Earth six months later with a wide variety of important scientific knowledge and a new perspective on our planet, which I will then gladly share with you.”

Busy time ahead
 
Alexander has completed pre-assignment training in Russia, the US and Canada.

Based at the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany, he will spend much of his time training at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, and at Star City, Moscow.

The next European to venture into space will be André Kuipers, who will be launched to the Station aboard a Soyuz spacecraft not later than 26 December, according to the latest tentative manifest.

Next up will be Luca Parmitano, the first to be assigned from the new group of ESA astronauts. His mission, a flight opportunity provided by the Italian space agency, is planned to begin in May 2013.

All three ESA astronauts will stay aboard the Space Station for almost six months and work as flight engineers. Their responsibilities will include Station maintenance and scientific research, and possibly robotics and spacewalking activities.


http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMSE23UNSG_index_0.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 09/18/2011 03:57 pm
May be another interesting topic.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/article2333631.ece
Quote
Pakistan is keen to send an astronaut on board a Chinese spacecraft, a top diplomat has said as the two countries are set to launch a Pakistani satellite soon.

“It is our natural aspiration that a Pakistani astronaut aboard a Chinese spacecraft flies to the space,” Pakistan’s Ambassador to China, Masood Khan said ahead of the launch of Paksat-1R.

“This is possible because Pakistan and China enjoy relations of trust and confidence,” he said.

The Pakistan Communication Satellite, Paksat-1R is due to be launched from Chinese satellite launching site located at Xichang city in the second week of August, depending on weather conditions.

Paksat-1R will replace Paksat-1 which is going to complete its useful life in 2011.

“Launching of a communication satellite is going to be a new symbolic development in Pakistan-China relations, as this will broaden the horizons of our cooperation,” Mr. Khan was quoted as saying by the official APP news agency.

He said, during Premier Wen Jiabao’s visit to Pakistan in December last year, the two governments had decided to deepen cooperation in space, science and technology.

“Paksat-1R, as the satellite is called, is a big step in that direction. It will revolutionise the use of broadband Internet, digital television broadcasting and mobile telephony; spur our economy; and strengthen the education and health sectors,” he said.

“Such cooperation with China also helps us move towards self-reliance,” he said adding that Pakistan was looking at cooperation with China in remote sensing satellites as well.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 09/24/2011 10:22 pm
Scott Kelly to be investigated by NASA OIG for his alleged use of T-38s for personal use.

Full story: http://www.click2houston.com/news/29272857/detail.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 09/27/2011 07:57 am
Report #J11-023

 ASTRONAUTS ROBERT SATCHER AND CHARLES HOBAUGH LEAVE NASA

HOUSTON - NASA astronauts Robert Satcher and Charles Hobaugh have left the agency to pursue outside careers. Satcher's last day with NASA was Sept. 9 and Hobaugh's Sept. 23.

"Bobby is an exceptionally talented individual," said Peggy Whitson, chief of the Astronaut Office. "His medical skills coupled with his engineering expertise were a valuable contribution to our team."

Satcher holds a doctorate in chemical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, as well as a doctorate of medicine from Harvard Medical School. He served as a mission specialist on STS-129 in 2009 and completed two spacewalks during the flight.

"Charlie is one of a kind. Not only an immensely skilled aviator, he continuously strived for and pushed for the best from our office and our larger mission support team," said Whitson. "We wish both of them the best in this new phase of their careers."

Hobaugh, a retired colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps, is a veteran of three space shuttle missions. He flew as a pilot on STS-104 in 2001 and STS-118 in 2007. He went on to command STS-129 in 2009, ending his NASA career with more than 875 hours of spaceflight experience.

For Satcher's complete biography, visit:

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/satcher-rl.html

For Hobaugh's complete biography, visit:

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/hobaugh.html

-end-

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 09/28/2011 07:17 am
It appears, that according to the individual biographies, all candidates of the NASA Group 20 now have finished their training. Still waiting for a press release.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 09/30/2011 09:37 pm
It´s now confirmed by NASA.
http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/ascanbio.html
Quote
All of the 2009 Astronaut Candidates have completed their initial training and are eligible for mission assignments.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 10/02/2011 12:26 pm
According to http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2011/jun/HQ_11-198_Kelly_Retires.html Mark Kelly has left NASA yesterday.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 10/02/2011 12:42 pm
It´s now confirmed by NASA.
http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/ascanbio.html
Quote
All of the 2009 Astronaut Candidates have completed their initial training and are eligible for mission assignments.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but weren't two members of this group already assigned to flights?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 10/02/2011 01:05 pm
Correct me if I'm wrong, but weren't two members of this group already assigned to flights?

Yes - Michael Hopkins and Gregory Reid Wiseman.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space101 on 10/03/2011 01:57 pm
I'm looking forward to assignments for this!

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2011/09/sls-mission-improving-crewed-moon-mission-2019/

Still years away, I know.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 10/03/2011 08:45 pm
Good timing ;D

NASA TO SEEK APPLICANTS FOR NEXT ASTRONAUT CANDIDATE CLASS

HOUSTON -- In early November, NASA will seek applicants for its next
class of astronaut candidates who will support long-duration missions
to the International Space Station and future deep space exploration
activities.

"For scientists, engineers and other professionals who have always
dreamed of experiencing spaceflight, this is an exciting time to join
the astronaut corps," said Janet Kavandi, director of flight crew
operations at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. "This next class
will support missions to the station and will arrive via
transportation systems now in development. They also will have the
opportunity to participate in NASA's continuing exploration programs
that will include missions beyond low Earth orbit."

For more information, visit:


http://astronauts.nasa.gov/


A bachelor's degree in engineering, science or math and three years of
relevant professional experience are required in order to be
considered. Typically, successful applicants have significant
qualifications in engineering or science, or extensive experience
flying high-performance jet-aircraft.

After applicant interviews and evaluations, NASA expects to announce
the final selections in 2013, and training to begin that August.

Additional information about the Astronaut Candidate Program is
available by calling the Astronaut Selection Office at 281-483-5907.


-end-
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 10/03/2011 09:10 pm
NASA TO SEEK APPLICANTS FOR NEXT ASTRONAUT CANDIDATE CLASS

Good luck to anyone from this forum who are thinking of applying. Someone from this class may be the first human being to touch an asteroid or set foot on Mars. :)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TFGQ on 10/04/2011 04:25 pm
just wanted to let everyone know Scorch left NASA  a few days ago
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: stargazerken73 on 10/04/2011 11:16 pm
Good timing ;D

NASA TO SEEK APPLICANTS FOR NEXT ASTRONAUT CANDIDATE CLASS


"For scientists, engineers and other professionals who have always
dreamed of experiencing spaceflight, this is an exciting time to join
the astronaut corps," said Janet Kavandi, director of flight crew
operations at the Johnson Space Center in Houston.
A bachelor's degree in engineering, science or math and three years of
relevant professional experience are required in order to be
considered. Typically, successful applicants have significant
qualifications in engineering or science, or extensive experience
flying high-performance jet-aircraft.


I am going to make the assumption that NASA will no longer be selecting educators to become astronauts. IIRC the last educators to be selected were picked back in 2004, correct?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Rocket Science on 10/05/2011 12:09 am
Good timing ;D

NASA TO SEEK APPLICANTS FOR NEXT ASTRONAUT CANDIDATE CLASS


"For scientists, engineers and other professionals who have always
dreamed of experiencing spaceflight, this is an exciting time to join
the astronaut corps," said Janet Kavandi, director of flight crew
operations at the Johnson Space Center in Houston.
A bachelor's degree in engineering, science or math and three years of
relevant professional experience are required in order to be
considered. Typically, successful applicants have significant
qualifications in engineering or science, or extensive experience
flying high-performance jet-aircraft.


I am going to make the assumption that NASA will no longer be selecting educators to become astronauts. IIRC the last educators to be selected were picked back in 2004, correct?
I applied to the last round of Educator Astronauts invitations in 2002. Looking at the application process now, it is either a Pilot or Non-Pilot application. It does not mean as an educator you can not apply as long as you meet the other requirements.
Regards
Robert
http://astronauts.nasa.gov/content/broch00.htm

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: stargazerken73 on 10/05/2011 03:25 pm
Thank you RS! A buddy of mine is looking into applying. For myself, I will look into the medical side now to see what NASA requires to satisfy my curiosity about the NASA class II physical.

So it does not derail the thread, maybe a seperate thread on astronaut selection processes?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: texas_space on 10/11/2011 12:33 am
Just curious, anyone else planning to apply for the 2013 selection?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 10/11/2011 11:53 am
Just curious, anyone else planning to apply for the 2013 selection?

Well, well---I'd love to, but there a three reasons forbidding me to do so: 1.) I'm not an American, 2) I'm about two meters tall and will not fit into any available spacecraft, and 3.) there is this one occurence of cancer in my medical history. I am fine with it, but I do not think that NASA doctors would like that . . !

;)

I have an advanced scientific degree, however. But 1.), 2.) and 3.) are show-stoppers . . !
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 10/12/2011 10:27 pm
RELEASE : 11-067
 
NASA Astronaut Greg Johnson to Head Glenn's External Programs Division

 
CLEVELAND -- NASA astronaut Gregory H. Johnson has been named chief of the External Programs Division at NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland. In May 2011, Johnson piloted Endeavour's final flight, STS-134.

Beginning Oct. 13, he will assume the duties of the office for one year, while retaining his position in the astronaut corps. He succeeds astronaut Mike Foreman, who held the position from June 2010 to May 2011.

"We are incredibly fortunate to have Greg join the NASA Glenn team," said Glenn Director Ray Lugo. "With his diverse background, vast accomplishments and knowledge of NASA's many programs, he will be an invaluable asset as we continue to be an integral part of the Ohio community, as well as encourage students to 'dream big.'"

In this position, Johnson will oversee both Community and Media Relations and Educational Programs offices. He is responsible for the development and implementation of educational, information and outreach programs that contribute to scientific literacy and communicate NASA Glenn's mission and vision to the public - locally, nationally and internationally.

"I look forward to Greg's contribution to our External Programs Division," said Robyn Gordon, director of Center Operations. "Mike Foreman established a successful foundation for reaching out to the community - inspiring students to be the next generation of space explorers and building good relationships. I'm confident Greg will use these successes - and his own accomplished record as a leader - to lead the center toward even greater achievements."

A graduate from Park Hills High School in Fairborn, Ohio, Johnson was selected to join the astronaut corps in 1998. He has flown two shuttle missions, serving as the pilot of Endeavour on STS-123 in March 2008 and pilot of Endeavour's final flight, STS-134 in May 2011.

Johnson graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1984 with a Bachelor of Science in aeronautical engineering. He earned a master's degree in flight structures engineering from Columbia University and his Master of Business Administration from the University of Texas. He is a distinguished graduate of the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School and has logged over 5,000 flight hours in more than 50 different aircraft. He retired from the Air Force in February 2009.

For a photo and biographical information on Johnson, visit:
http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/johnson-gh.html


http://www.nasa.gov/centers/glenn/news/pressrel/2011/11-067_johnson.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TALsite on 10/13/2011 08:19 am
RELEASE : 11-067
 
NASA Astronaut Greg Johnson to Head Glenn's External Programs Division

 
CLEVELAND -- NASA astronaut Gregory H. Johnson has been named chief of the External Programs Division at NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland. In May 2011, Johnson piloted Endeavour's final flight, STS-134.

Beginning Oct. 13, he will assume the duties of the office for one year, while retaining his position in the astronaut corps.

G.H. Johnson  was TALcom here in my town on the STS-135 launch.  We in Zaragoza were prime TALsite for this mission.

A very kind person, I had the honour to meet him on a public relations act that I had the chance to be invited. I have a small blog about manned spaceflight, and I told the story:
The last astronaut who came to Zaragoza” http://laesteladegagarin.blogspot.com/2011/07/el-ultimo-astronauta-que-vino-zaragoza.html
(In Spanish, but I have a blog translator on the top of the right column)

I had the opportunity for asking him two questions, one about the role of Zaragoza as a TALsite place on a Dream Chaser launch.  The other was about a possible flight to the ISS in a Soyuz as member of a future Expeditión to the ISS: His answer was: “…uncertain…

Good luck on his new job.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 10/27/2011 12:26 am
Appointment of Julie Payette as Scientific Authority for Quebec in Washington

Longueuil, Quebec, October 24, 2011 – The Canadian Space Agency is pleased about the appointment of Julie Payette as Scientific Authority for Quebec in Washington, announced today by Quebec's Minister of Economic Development, Innovation and Export Trade, Sam Hamad.

"It is with great enthusiasm that I accept the challenge of representing Quebec knowledge in the United States. I hope to use the experience that I acquired working with our Southern neighbors over the last 15 years to advance scientific issues that are of interest to Quebec. I will work hard to develop strategic partnerships and collaborations with key American players in innovation on Quebec's priority issues", said Ms. Payette.

For more information: www.mdeie.gouv.qc.ca (french only) 
http://communiques.gouv.qc.ca/gouvqc/communiques/GPQF/Octobre2011/24/c6733.html (french only)


http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/media/news_releases/2011/1024.asp
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: arkaska on 10/27/2011 02:07 pm
To bad I hoped to see her manifested for a long duration mission soon
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 10/27/2011 09:42 pm
Virgin Galactic Selects First Commercial Astronaut Pilot From Competition
http://www.virgingalactic.com/news/item/virgin-galactic-selects-first-commercial-astronaut-pilot-from-competition/
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 11/07/2011 09:55 pm
Short article on astros:

KSC encourage employees to apply for the latest astronaut class:

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2011/11/ksc-encourage-apply-latest-astronaut-class/
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 11/14/2011 03:53 am
Worth posting here:

During today's Soyuz TMA-22 launch coverage, PAO Rob Navias revealed that NASA astronaut Mike Barratt is now deputy chief of the astronaut office.

A sign of the future - both the chief (Peggy Whitson) and deputy chief are now long-duration crewmembers.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ronsmytheiii on 11/14/2011 06:04 am
Worth posting here:

During today's Soyuz TMA-22 launch coverage, PAO Rob Navias revealed that NASA astronaut Mike Barratt is now deputy chief of the astronaut office.

A sign of the future - both the chief (Peggy Whitson) and deputy chief are now long-duration crewmembers.

well Peggy whitson only became chief after former Chief Steve Lindsey decided to assign himself to the then last shuttle mission. I guess though that this will start a trend, the chief astronaut will assign themselves to one last mission, then retire. Cant say that Peggy could go much longer under US radiation exposure rules, she already has two long duration missions under her belt.

I guess that after Barrett gets a last mission, someone who is still in the corp but unlikely t fly again should take over as Chief, any suggestions?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 11/14/2011 02:22 pm
Worth posting here:

During today's Soyuz TMA-22 launch coverage, PAO Rob Navias revealed that NASA astronaut Mike Barratt is now deputy chief of the astronaut office.

A sign of the future - both the chief (Peggy Whitson) and deputy chief are now long-duration crewmembers.

With the end of Shuttle in July, the office was re-organized for ISS and follow-on programs.  There are now two deputies, Barratt and Eric Boe.  Barratt's reporting branches include capcoms, EVA, robotics and Station while Boe's include Exploration (which means commercial vehicles).

Michael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 11/14/2011 06:05 pm
if ESA provides the Service Module of Orion for the Lunar Flight can we expect an ESA astronaut (Gerst ?) on board the first crewed flight of Orion ?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 11/18/2011 12:29 pm
if ESA provides the Service Module of Orion for the Lunar Flight can we expect an ESA astronaut (Gerst ?) on board the first crewed flight of Orion ?

That is highly likely, I'd say. And if not on the first one, then on the second one for sure. If it is Gerst? Not sure -- I'd love to see that, of course!

The first German to leave LEO -- the first German to circle the moon. I will freak out -- seriously, I gonna freak out! You Americans had so many travelers following Apollo 8's path -- time to catch up!

Somewhat, it would be like 1983 again (yes, I am a West-German and I am ignoring the other first German in space here -- sorry!) . . .
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 12/05/2011 02:29 pm
RELEASE: 11-404

VETERAN SPACE SHUTTLE COMMANDER CHRIS FERGUSON TO LEAVE AGENCY

HOUSTON -- Astronaut Chris Ferguson, the last commander of a space
shuttle mission, has announced his plans to retire from NASA on Dec.
9. He will leave for a new job in the private sector.

"Chris has been a true leader at NASA," NASA Administrator Charles
Bolden said, "not just as a commander of the space shuttle, but also
as an exemplary civil servant, a distinguished Navy officer and a
good friend. I am confident he will succeed in his next career as he
brings his skill and talents to new endeavors."

Ferguson, a retired U.S. Navy captain, served as the commander for
STS-135, the final flight of space shuttle Atlantis and the 135th and
final mission of America's 30-year Space Shuttle Program.

Atlantis' flight was Ferguson's third trip to space. During the 13-day
mission, he and his crew delivered approximately 10,000 pounds of
supplies and spare parts to the International Space Station. Before
his assignment to STS-135, Ferguson served as deputy chief of the
Astronaut Office at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

"Chris has been a great friend, a tremendous professional and an
invaluable asset to the NASA team and the astronaut office," said
Peggy Whitson, chief of the Astronaut Office. "His exceptional
leadership helped ensure a perfect final flight of the space shuttle,
a fitting tribute to the thousands who made the program possible."

Ferguson first flew in space as the pilot of Atlantis on STS-115 in
2006, during which the P3/P4 truss segments were delivered to the
station. He next flew as commander of Endeavour on STS-126 in 2008.
During the mission, Ferguson and his crew delivered water recycling
and habitation hardware to the station and exchanged station crew
members. In total, Ferguson logged more than 40 days in space.

Ferguson joined the astronaut corps in 1998. After completing his
initial training, he performed technical duties related to the
shuttle's main engines, external tank, solid rocket boosters and
flight software. He also served as a spacecraft communicator in
mission control for four shuttle missions.

For Ferguson's complete biography, visit:

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/ferguson.html

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 12/05/2011 02:55 pm
Dang - that makes every person to have commanded a Shuttle this year now retired. :(
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: dks13827 on 12/05/2011 02:58 pm
Who's gonna fly the new stuff ?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Rocket Science on 12/05/2011 03:20 pm
Good luck Skipper and thanks for the “final ride”…
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: rdale on 12/05/2011 08:44 pm
Who's gonna fly the new stuff ?

He would be way too old to do any NASA flying when that time comes...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: psloss on 12/06/2011 02:07 pm
RELEASE: 11-404

VETERAN SPACE SHUTTLE COMMANDER CHRIS FERGUSON TO LEAVE AGENCY
Quote
A tough decision to leave folks, but good things await...and I get to stay in the business. Thanks for your support!
pic.twitter.com/WSZDAgW0 (http://t.co/WSZDAgW0)
http://mobile.twitter.com/astro_ferg/status/143795353790070784
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 12/07/2011 02:09 am
Who's gonna fly the new stuff ?

He would be way too old to do any NASA flying when that time comes...

And there are a few dozen folks aimed at the new programs (as well as ISS).  Watch for Antonelli, Dutton, Boe and company on these new spacecraft.

Michael Cassutt

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: erioladastra on 12/07/2011 05:09 pm
Who's gonna fly the new stuff ?

Fergie.  :)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: tonyq on 12/07/2011 07:57 pm
Several reports on Russian news sites tonight that Elena Serova will shortly be assigned to an ISS expedition crew, and will fly in 2013.

http://www.vesti.ru/doc.html?id=653936

That said, according to the published crew assignments, all prime seats until mid-2014 are filled.

 
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 12/08/2011 06:40 am
Several reports on Russian news sites tonight that Elena Serova will shortly be assigned to an ISS expedition crew, and will fly in 2013.

http://www.vesti.ru/doc.html?id=653936

That said, according to the published crew assignments, all prime seats until mid-2014 are filled

No problems. Someone will be replaced by Serova. For example, Tarelkin, Misurkin and Ryazanskiy.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 12/08/2011 09:16 pm
Why does someone 'have' to be replaced in order for Serova to fly? Why can't she be assigned to a flight further downstream?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 12/08/2011 09:30 pm
Why does someone 'have' to be replaced in order for Serova to fly? Why can't she be assigned to a flight further downstream?

I think this is Roscosmos head Vladimir Popovkin trying to push Serova through quickly - he has publicly stated that it is his personal goal to get her flown.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 12/09/2011 12:47 am
Why does someone 'have' to be replaced in order for Serova to fly? Why can't she be assigned to a flight further downstream?

I think this is Roscosmos head Vladimir Popovkin trying to push Serova through quickly - he has publicly stated that it is his personal goal to get her flown.

Very possibly -- but don't assume someone is being pushed aside.  Russian, NASA and other ISS international partner crew members have frequently been replaced some months or years ahead of launch.  Note the recent Revin-Valkov move.  It could just as easily mean that Serova is being slipped into a spot that is open for medical or other reasons.

Michael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 12/12/2011 03:32 pm
Boeing Welcomes Astronaut Chris Ferguson to Space Exploration Team

HOUSTON, Dec. 12, 2011 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] today announced that Christopher J. Ferguson, a retired U.S. Navy captain and former NASA astronaut, has been named director of Commercial Crew Interface in the company's Space Exploration division, effective Dec. 16. Ferguson, a veteran of three space shuttle missions, will report to John Mulholland, Space Exploration vice president and program manager, Commercial Programs.

"Chris' extraordinary managerial and spaceflight experience will be a significant asset to our team as we advance our development of the Commercial Crew Transportation System," said Mulholland. "He will help us address all aspects of human spaceflight requirements, not only for trained NASA astronauts but also for a broad spectrum of people interested in accessing low Earth orbit."

Ferguson will have comprehensive oversight for crew integration and operations in the design of Boeing's Commercial Crew Transportation System. In this capacity, he will work with NASA's Human Exploration and Operations Directorate; Johnson Space Center's Engineering, Flight Crew, and Mission Operations organizations; and Kennedy Space Center's Commercial Crew Program to ensure the design supports NASA Human Rating Requirements. Ferguson also will have a leadership role in the development and testing of system concepts and key technologies for Boeing's Crew Space Transportation (CST-100) spacecraft, as well as integrated launch and ground systems.

The CST-100 spacecraft -- comprised of a crew module and a service module -- relies on materials and subsystem technologies that are proven and affordable. The CST-100 is designed to carry up to seven people, or a combination of people and cargo, and is compatible with a variety of expendable launch vehicles. By enabling development of a safe, reliable and cost-effective solution for crew transportation to and from the International Space Station, CST-100 ensures that the on-orbit research facility will continue to fulfill its promise as a world-class laboratory.

Ferguson comes to Boeing with space shuttle experience as pilot of STS-115 (Atlantis) and commander of STS-126 (Endeavour) and the final shuttle mission, STS-135 (Atlantis). He has logged more than 40 days in space. He also served as deputy chief of the Astronaut Office and was spacecraft communicator (CAPCOM) for missions STS-118, -120, -128 and -129. His experience in crew communications, both on orbit and in the CAPCOM role, is essential to his new role at Boeing.

Ferguson has a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from Drexel University in Philadelphia and a Master of Science degree in aeronautical engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif. He has been recognized with numerous service awards and citations, including the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Strike/Flight Air Medal, NASA Spaceflight Medal (three), Navy Commendation Medal (three) and the Navy Achievement Medal.

A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is one of the world's largest defense, space and security businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world’s largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is a $32 billion business with 63,000 employees worldwide. Follow us on Twitter: @BoeingDefense.

http://boeing.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=2067
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 12/12/2011 04:17 pm
Which astronauts have technical assignments on Orion/MPCV right now ?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 12/12/2011 04:30 pm
Which astronauts have technical assignments on Orion/MPCV right now ?

Some names I'm aware of:

Terry Virts, Jim Dutton, Nick Patrick, Mike Barratt.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 12/16/2011 05:40 am
Elena Serova will fly with Dmitriy Kondratyev in September 2014 (Expedition 41/42), Maksim Surayev will be replaced by Fyodor Yurchkhin in Expedition 36/37.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: arkaska on 12/16/2011 09:30 am
Elena Serova will fly with Dmitriy Kondratyev in September 2014 (Expedition 41/42), Maksim Surayev will be replaced by Fyodor Yurchkhin in Expedition 36/37.

Will Surayev get a later flight opportunity?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TALsite on 12/16/2011 07:16 pm
Elena Serova will fly with Dmitriy Kondratyev in September 2014 (Expedition 41/42), Maksim Surayev will be replaced by Fyodor Yurchkhin in Expedition 36/37.

Is Surayev grounded, or are Yurchikhin (Soyuz TMA13M) and Surayev (Soyuz TMA09M) swapping seats?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 12/17/2011 02:17 am
I read somewhere that Suraev will become a member of the Duma.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 12/18/2011 10:43 pm
Updated list of future expedition crews:

Expedition 31
March 16 - May 16, 2012
CDR - Oleg Kononenko
FE - Gennadiy Padalka
FE - Sergei Revin
FE - Joseph Acaba
FE - André Kuipers
FE - Donald Pettit

Expedition 32
May 16 - September 16, 2012
CDR - Gennadiy Padalka
FE - Sergei Revin
FE - Joseph Acaba
FE - Yuriy Malenchenko
FE - Sunita Williams
FE - Akihiko Hoshide

Expedition 33
September 16 - November 6, 2012
CDR - Sunita Williams
FE - Oleg Novitskiy
FE - Kevin Ford
FE - Evgeny Tarelkin
FE - Yuriy Malenchenko
FE - Akihiko Hoshide

Expedition 34
November 6, 2012 – March, 2013
CDR - Kevin Ford
FE - Chris Hadfield
FE - Roman Romanenko
FE - Tom Marshburn
FE - Oleg Novitskiy
FE - Evgeny Tarelkin

Expedition 35
March – May, 2013
CDR - Chris Hadfield
FE - Pavel Vinogradov
FE - Aleksander Misurkin
FE - Chris Cassidy
FE - Roman Romanenko
FE - Tom Marshburn

Expedition 36
May – September, 2013
CDR - Pavel Vinogradov
FE - Fyodor Yurchikhin
FE - Luca Parmitano
FE - Karen Nyberg
FE - Aleksander Misurkin
FE - Chris Cassidy

Expedition 37
September – November, 2013
CDR - Fyodor Yurchikhin
FE - Oleg Kotov
FE - Sergey Ryanzansky
FE - Michael Hopkins
FE - Luca Parmitano
FE - Karen Nyberg

Expedition 38
November, 2013 – March, 2014
CDR - Oleg Kotov
FE - Mikhail Tyurin
FE - Rick Mastracchio
FE - Koichi Wakata
FE - Sergey Ryanzansky
FE - Michael Hopkins

Expedition 39
March – May, 2014
CDR - Koichi Wakata
FE - Alexander Skvortsov
FE - Oleg Artemyev
FE - Steve Swanson
FE - Rick Mastracchio
FE - Mikhail Tyurin

Expedition 40
May – September, 2014
CDR - Steve Swanson
FE - TBD (Roscosmos)
FE - Gregory Reid Wiseman
FE - Alexander Gerst
FE - Alexander Skvortsov
FE - Oleg Artemyev

Expedition 41
September – November, 2014
CDR - TBD (Roscosmos)
FE - Dmitriy Kondratyev
FE - Yelena Serova
FE - TBD (NASA)
FE - Gregory Reid Wiseman
FE - Alexander Gerst

Expedition 42
November, 2014 – March, 2015
CDR - Dmitriy Kondratyev
FE - TBD (Roscosmos)
FE - TBD (NASA)
FE - TBD (ESA/JAXA/CSA)
FE - Yelena Serova
FE - TBD (Roscosmos)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: dickgold on 12/18/2011 11:43 pm
It is wonderful that a russian woman will finally for the first time be launched to the iss in 2014.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Frandolf on 12/19/2011 08:58 am
The german journal Spiegel noticed in a report about Gerst's Training in Cologne (http://www.spiegel.de/wissenschaft/weltall/0,1518,804136,00.html) that he will fly with Fjodor Jurtschichin and Reid Wiseman.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 12/19/2011 09:22 am
Any chance Surayev will now fly on Exp. 40-41 ?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 12/19/2011 12:24 pm
The german journal Spiegel noticed in a report about Gerst's Training in Cologne (http://www.spiegel.de/wissenschaft/weltall/0,1518,804136,00.html) that he will fly with Fjodor Jurtschichin and Reid Wiseman.

Yes, that was the previous plan, but Yurchikhin has now moved to Expedition 36/37.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 12/19/2011 12:46 pm
The question now is who will replace Yurchikin on Exp. 40/41? Being that the position will include CDR of Expedition 41, it will likely be a veteran cosmonaut. Kornienko and Shripochka come to mind, as one would assume they are next in line for assignment. Kaleri, Borisenko and Samokutyaev are also possibilities.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 12/24/2011 08:46 am
Will Surayev get a later flight opportunity?

No.

I read somewhere that Suraev will become a member of the Duma

No.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TALsite on 12/24/2011 05:03 pm
Will Surayev get a later flight opportunity?

No.

I read somewhere that previously, his assignment was delayed for a undisclosed health question. Is this the reason?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 12/24/2011 05:48 pm
I read somewhere that previously, his assignment was delayed for a undisclosed health question. Is this the reason?

No.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 12/24/2011 08:38 pm
Is the reason bigger than a bread box?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TALsite on 12/26/2011 06:14 pm
Canadian astronauts could be grounded for years after next mission

"According to our agreement on the International Space Station we don't have a flight -- beyond Chris Hadfield -- before the end of the decade," Gilles Leclerc, the Canadian Space Agency's director-general of space exploration, said in an interview.

"We've used up all our credits for transport of Canadian astronauts to the International Space Station," Leclerc said. "We're trying to negotiate a flight before 2019, obviously."


More info http://bit.ly/u1O0gQ (http://bit.ly/u1O0gQ)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: scott6428 on 12/28/2011 06:51 pm
Looks like Canadian Astronauts are done on the ISS after Hadfields flight in 2012 / 13



http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2011/12/26/canada-space-program-chris-hadfield_n_1169839.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 12/29/2011 01:39 pm
Well that really kind of stinks, Eh?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TALsite on 01/12/2012 07:57 pm
Last news:
Surayev was grounded for an undisclosed reason.  Yurchikhin is his replacement.
It seems that after Hadfield’s flight, there’s no more flights for CSA till…

Following Soyuz TMA-14M, it’s my speculation.

And a question: What gender of US astronaut do you think will fly in Soyuz TMA-14M? 
I bet for a male US astronaut.  I don’t think Russians like the idea of flying two women in their spacecraft (I remember some comments following Soyuz TMA-11 return) .


Planned crews:

Soyuz TMA-04M (launch - March 30, 2012) // Expedition 31 / 32
CDR - Gennadiy Padalka (Oleg Novitskiy)
FE1 – Sergei Revin (Evgeniy Tarelkin)
FE2 - Joseph Acaba (Kevin Ford)

Soyuz TMA-05M (launch - May 30, 2012) // Expedition 32 / 33
CDR - Yuriy Malenchenko (Roman Romanenko)
FE1 - Sunita Williams (Chris Hadfield)
FE2 - Akihiko Hoshide (Thomas Marshburn)

Soyuz TMA-06M (launch – September 26, 2012) // Expedition 33 / 34
CDR - Oleg Novitskiy (Pavel Vinogradov)
FE1 - Evgeniy Tarelkin (Aleksandr Misurkin)
FE2 - Kevin Ford (Chris Cassidy)

Soyuz TMA-07M (launch - November 26, 2012) // Expedition 34 / 35
CDR - Roman Romanenko (Maksim Suraev Fyodor Yurchikhin)
FE1 - Chris Hadfield (Luca Parmitano)
FE2 - Thomas Marshburn (Karen Nyberg)

Soyuz TMA-08M (launch – April 2, 2013) // Expedition 35 / 36
CDR - Pavel Vinogradov (Oleg Kotov)
FE1 - Aleksandr Misurkin (Sergey Ryazanskiy)
FE2 - Chris Cassidy (Michael Hopkins)

Soyuz TMA-09M (launch – May 29, 2013) // Expedition 36 / 37

CDR - Maksim Suraev Fyodor Yurchikhin (Mikhail Tyurin)
FE1 - Luca Parmitano  (Richard Mastracchio)
FE2 - Karen Nyberg (Koichi Wakata)

Soyuz TMA-10M (launch – September 30, 2013) // Expedition 37 / 38
CDR - Oleg Kotov (Aleksandr Skvortsov)
FE1 - Sergey Ryazanskiy (Oleg Artemyev)
FE2 - Michael Hopkins (Steven Swanson)

Soyuz TMA-11M (launch – November 29, 2013) // Expedition 38 / 39
CDR - Mikhail Tyurin (Fyodor Yurchikhin TBD Russia)
FE1 - Richard Mastracchio (Gregory Wiseman)
FE2- Koichi Wakata (Aleksandr Gerst)

Soyuz TMA-12M (launch – March, 2014) // Expedition 39 / 40
CDR – Aleksandr Skvortsov (Dmitri Kondratyev)
FE1 – Oleg Artemyev (Yelena Serova)
FE2 – Steven Swanson (TBD USA)

Soyuz TMA-13M (launch - May 2014) // Expedition 40 / 41
CDR –Fyodor Yurchikhin TBD Russia (TBD Russia)
FE1 – Aleksandr Gerst (TBD JAXA?)
FE2 – Gregory Wiseman (TBD USA)

Soyuz TMA-14M (launch - September 2014) // Expedition 41 / 42

CDR - Dmitri Kondratyev (TBD Russia)
FE1 - Yelena Serova (TBD Russia)
FE2 - TBD USA (TBD USA)

Soyuz TMA-15M (launch - November 2014) // Expedition 42 / 43
CDR – TBD Russia (TBD Russia)
FE1 – TBD JAXA? (TBD ESA?)
FE2 – TBD USA (TBD USA)


Soyuz TMA-16M (launch – March, 2015) // Expedition 43 / 44
CDR – TBD Russia (TBD Russia)
FE1 – TBD Russia (TBD Russia)
FE2 – TBD USA (TBD USA)

Soyuz TMA-17M (launch - May 2015) // Expedition 44 / 45
CDR – TBD Russia (TBD Russia)
FE1 –Samantha Cristoforetti? (TBD JAXA?)
FE2 – TBD USA (TBD USA)

Soyuz TMA-18M (launch - September 2015) // Expedition 45 / 46

CDR - TBD Russia (TBD Russia)
FE1 - TBD Russia (TBD Russia)
FE2 - TBD USA (TBD USA)

Soyuz TMA-19M (launch - November 2015) // Expedition 46 / 47
CDR - TBD Russia (TBD Russia)
FE1 – TBD JAXA? (TBD ESA?)
FE2 - TBD USA (TBD USA)


Soyuz TMA-20M (launch – March, 2016) // Expedition 47 / 48
CDR – TBD Russia (TBD Russia)
FE1 – TBD Russia (TBD Russia)
FE2 – TBD USA (TBD USA)

Soyuz TMA-21M (launch - May 2016) // Expedition 48 / 49
CDR – TBD Russia (TBD Russia)
FE1 – Thomas Pesquet? (TBD JAXA?)
FE2 – TBD USA (TBD USA)

Edit:
Added changes suggested by Olaf in the next post

@Olaf : I always thought a US astronaut was the backup of other US astronaut.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 01/13/2012 12:03 am
Some small corrections.
According to the training schedule from the TsPK http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=155 in the main crew of Soyuz TMA-05M FE1 is Sunita Williams and FE2 A. Hoshide.
In the back-up crew of Soyuz TMA-09M and in the main crew of Soyuz TMA-11M FE1 is R. Mastracchio and FE2 K. Wakata.

@TALsite  FE1 in the back-up crew of Soyuz TMA-05M remain Chris Hadfield and FE2 Th. Marshburn, also FE1 in the maincrew of Soyuz TMA-09M remain Luca Parmitano and FE2 Karen Nyberg.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 01/13/2012 10:31 am


And a question: What gender of US astronaut do you think will fly in Soyuz TMA-14M? 
I bet for a male US astronaut.  I don’t think Russians like the idea of flying two women in their spacecraft (I remember some comments following Soyuz TMA-11 return) .

Yes. An official in Russia attempted to blame the fact that the vehicle went to a ballistic re-entry on the fact that the two women were on board had something to do with it. The comment was something like "unofficial hassling" can go on when too many women are about.

It was of course utter garbage.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 01/16/2012 06:18 am
TsPK reports about a winter survival training in the next days.
http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=1225
The third crew included an Italian, U. Villadi (maybe the translation is not correct). Does anyone know who it is?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: tonyq on 01/16/2012 12:57 pm
TsPK reports about a winter survival training in the next days.
http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=1225
The third crew included an Italian, U. Villadi (maybe the translation is not correct). Does anyone know who it is?

This person also took part in water survival training last year:-

http://www.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/content/numbers/345/02.shtml

It appears they are a private individual who is doing the 'cosmonaut experience' under a personal commercial arrangement.

Maybe Liss or Anik will know more?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 01/16/2012 01:13 pm
ISS Expedition 42 commander will be Barry Wilmor.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 01/16/2012 02:05 pm
ISS Expedition 42 commander will be Barry Wilmor.

Thanks, Anik.
So Wilmore will fly on Soyuz TMA-14M with Kondratiyev and Serova?
   
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 01/16/2012 02:15 pm
So Wilmore will fly on Soyuz TMA-14M with Kondratiyev and Serova?

Yes.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 01/16/2012 04:24 pm
Any word on who may command TMA-13M?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 01/16/2012 04:45 pm
My understaning is that this guy is a non-ESA Italian candidate astronaut, but somewhat supported by the Italian government. Maybe they want to go back to have a national astronaut like in the nineties ?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Nicolas PILLET on 01/16/2012 04:47 pm
I read somewhere that previously, his assignment was delayed for a undisclosed health question. Is this the reason?

No.

I've met with Suraev several months ago. He told me that his switch from MKS-33 to MKS-36 was due to health problems.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Nicolas PILLET on 01/16/2012 04:48 pm
My understaning is that this guy is a non-ESA Italian astronaut, but supported by the Italian government. Maybe they want to go back to have a national astronaut like in the nineties.

No no, it's a guy that paid Roscosmos to have a cosmonaut training course (just for fun !).
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 01/21/2012 08:19 am
Report #J12-002

VETERAN ASTRONAUT ELLEN BAKER RETIRES

HOUSTON – After more than 30 years with NASA, astronaut Ellen Baker has retired from the agency.

Baker, who holds a degree in medicine, first joined NASA as a medical officer in 1981 and was selected as an astronaut in 1984. A veteran of three spaceflights, Baker has logged more than 686 hours in space. She was a mission specialist on STS-34 in 1989, STS-50 in 1992 and STS-71 in 1995.

“Ellen’s career has contributed significantly in many areas of NASA’s medical, science and countermeasure development,” said Peggy Whitson, chief of the Astronaut Office. “Her creative ideas and dedication to NASA will be sorely missed.”

Baker first flew in space as a mission specialist on Atlantis on STS-34 in 1989. The crew successfully deployed the Galileo probe to explore Jupiter, mapped atmospheric ozone on Earth and conducted medical and scientific experiments.

She next flew as a mission specialist on Columbia on STS-50 in 1992. The mission was the first flight of the United States Microgravity Laboratory and the first Extended Duration Orbiter flight. For more than two weeks, the crew conducted scientific experiments involving crystal growth, fluid physics, fluid dynamics, biological science and combustion science.

Baker’s third mission was as a mission specialist on Atlantis on STS-71 in 1995. This was the first space shuttle mission to dock with the Russian Space Station Mir, and involved an exchange of the station crew. The shuttle crew also performed various life sciences experiments and data collections.

For Baker's complete biography, visit:

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/baker-e.html     

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 01/21/2012 12:56 pm
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/crown-point/retiring-astronaut-jerry-ross-remembers-region-roots/article_35502b1e-db46-5ba6-a35a-dad1bca996f1.html

Jerry Ross has also retired from NASA this week.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: texas_space on 01/22/2012 04:16 pm
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/crown-point/retiring-astronaut-jerry-ross-remembers-region-roots/article_35502b1e-db46-5ba6-a35a-dad1bca996f1.html

Jerry Ross has also retired from NASA this week.

Seems like we need that 2013 selection more and more these days with all the retirements.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 01/22/2012 04:56 pm
Does anyone know the status of Mike Foale? Is he active or management?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 01/22/2012 05:08 pm
Does anyone know the status of Mike Foale? Is he active or management?

Unless there's been a change in the past month, active, heading the (relatively-new) Soyuz branch of the astronaut office. 

As for the recent retirements and their effect on astronaut office staffing -- keep in mind that both Ross and Baker were management, and long out of the pool of flight-eligible astronauts. 

Michael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: billshap on 01/22/2012 10:39 pm
When did the Astronaut Office start a Soyuz branch?  Who is in it?  Where can we find a breakdown of the AO—who is assigned where, etc.?  Thanks, Michael, and anyone else who can help?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 01/23/2012 04:22 am
When did the Astronaut Office start a Soyuz branch?  Who is in it?  Where can we find a breakdown of the AO—who is assigned where, etc.?  Thanks, Michael, and anyone else who can help?

The branch was created around December 2010 -- it's small, with Foale as chief, Shannon Walker as deputy and no more than a couple of astros assigned there -- none full-time.  Wiseman was one, but he's in ISS training now.

There are internal org charts for the astronaut office, but for some reason NASA doesn't make them available -- though I believe PAO will answer questions if asked.

Michael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 01/23/2012 04:39 pm
RELEASE: 12-024

ASTRONAUT APPLICATION DEADLINE APPROACHING

HOUSTON -- Individuals interested in becoming America's future space
explorers have until Friday to submit their applications. The
deadline to apply for NASA's next astronaut class is Jan. 27.

The agency typically receives as many as 3,500 applicants for each
astronaut class. Thus far, NASA has received more than 3,000
applications since November for this class.

"We are excited about the response we have received, and we want to
encourage anyone contemplating this dynamic and exciting career to
apply," said Peggy Whitson, chief of the Astronaut Office. "We are
entering a new phase in human spaceflight with amazing opportunities
to live and work in space. We want the best, the brightest and the
most talented mix of professionals to join our team."

Those interested in applying for the astronaut corps can submit their
applications through the federal government's USAJobs.gov website.
Qualifications include a bachelor's degree in engineering, science or
math and three years of relevant professional experience. Educators
teaching kindergarten through 12th grade also are encouraged to
apply.

NASA expects to announce the final selections in 2013 with initial
training to begin that summer.

For more information about the astronaut application and selection
process and to follow the latest news via NASA accounts on Twitter,
Facebook and YouTube, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/flynasa

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: billshap on 01/24/2012 03:40 am
Michael,

What branches are there in the Astronaut Office?  We've read a couple of times Jim Kelly is the head of the Capcom Branch...now Mike Foale leads the Soyuz branch.  In addition to the Station branch--who's the head of that now?--what else is there?  Any info and details will be greatly appreciated.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 01/24/2012 04:17 pm
Michael,

What branches are there in the Astronaut Office?  We've read a couple of times Jim Kelly is the head of the Capcom Branch...now Mike Foale leads the Soyuz branch.  In addition to the Station branch--who's the head of that now?--what else is there?  Any info and details will be greatly appreciated.

I can think of the Safety, Robotics, Exploration and EVA branches off the top of my head. I believe Pat Forrester is head of Safety, Steve Frick heads Exploration, and Shane Kimbrough heads Robotics.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 01/24/2012 04:33 pm
I can think of the Safety, Robotics, Exploration and EVA branches off the top of my head. I believe Pat Forrester is head of Safety, Steve Frick heads Exploration, and Shane Kimbrough heads Robotics.

I believe Steve Bowen heads EVA?

Mike Massimino heads Appearances.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 01/24/2012 06:13 pm
Not sure if it's a branch, but Janice Voss heads ISS payloads.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 01/25/2012 04:15 am
Not sure if it's a branch, but Janice Voss heads ISS payloads.

Not a branch.

As of August 2011, with the end of the Shuttle, the astronaut office was organized like this:

chief, Whitson

deputy chief (one of two), Barrett
Station Ops, Behnken
Station, Wilson
Capcoms, Kelly
EVA, Bowen
Robotics, Kimbrough
Soyuz, Foale
Education/Medical, was Ellen Baker

deputy chief, (the other) Boe
Safety, Forrester
Exploration (includes comm'l vehicles), Dutton *
Appearances, Massimino
DOR, Polansky

director, flight crew ops, Kavandi
deputy director, Brian Kelly
assistant for ISS, Lopez-Alegria

* Frick is on a two-year rotation to USN Postgrad School

Michael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 01/25/2012 06:08 pm
Who is Brian Kelly? I know Brian Duffy and the three Kellys (Mark, Scott, James) . . .
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 01/25/2012 06:41 pm
Brian K. Kelly is deputy director of FCOD. I don't think the position has to be taken by an astronaut.

What is Sturckow's status, now that he is no longer deputy chief?

And what of the other astronauts, eg Arnold, Virts, Bresnik, Metcalf-Lindenburger, Antonelli etc?

Has Kopra recovered from his injury? Is he back on flight status?

Many thanks.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 01/25/2012 07:05 pm
Brian K. Kelly is deputy director of FCOD. I don't think the position has to be taken by an astronaut.

What is Sturckow's status, now that he is no longer deputy chief?

And what of the other astronauts, eg Arnold, Virts, Bresnik, Metcalf-Lindenburger, Antonelli etc?

Has Kopra recovered from his injury? Is he back on flight status?

Many thanks.

Kelly is not an astronaut, but one of the AOD pilots.  (Historically, either the director FCOD or deputy has been a pilot.  Kavandi isn't, so.....)

Sturckow is actively training for an ISS slot -- qualifying as an EVA crew member, studying Russian.

As for the other astronauts -- including Kopra -- as far as I know, they're all still active.  The JSC Astro Bio page sometimes lags by a month, but is otherwise pretty accurate.

Michael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 01/25/2012 07:11 pm
And what of the other astronauts, eg Arnold, Virts, Bresnik, Metcalf-Lindenburger, Antonelli etc?

Has Kopra recovered from his injury? Is he back on flight status?

Antonelli is serving as a liason between NASA and SpaceX for CCDev, and Kopra is serving in the same role for Blue Origin. Virts is working on MPCV and is looking to get in on one of the early flights.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 01/25/2012 11:41 pm



  The JSC Astro Bio page sometimes lags by a month, but is otherwise pretty accurate.

Michael Cassutt

Actually some of the bios are a couple of years old, if not more. Kopra's still says he's training for STS-133.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 01/26/2012 04:31 am



  The JSC Astro Bio page sometimes lags by a month, but is otherwise pretty accurate.

Michael Cassutt

Actually some of the bios are a couple of years old, if not more. Kopra's still says he's training for STS-133.

The _texts_ are often ludicrously out of day -- check Steve Swanson's.  I meant that they are accurate regarding who is active and who has moved to management or elsewhere.

MC

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 01/26/2012 05:44 am
Looking at the list of Management Astronauts, are these 'permanently' off flight status or can they be transferred back to active? The description implies "no longer eligible" for flight assignment, but doesn't elaborate on whether or not that is a long-term or temporary measure.

I was surprised to read Col Shane Kimbrough's words to Army applicants that NASA "desperately" needs 20-25 astronauts to fill its shrinking corps...when there will only be 4 per year aboard the ISS for most of the next decade.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 01/26/2012 02:17 pm
Looking at the list of Management Astronauts, are these 'permanently' off flight status or can they be transferred back to active? The description implies "no longer eligible" for flight assignment, but doesn't elaborate on whether or not that is a long-term or temporary measure.

I was surprised to read Col Shane Kimbrough's words to Army applicants that NASA "desperately" needs 20-25 astronauts to fill its shrinking corps...when there will only be 4 per year aboard the ISS for most of the next decade.

Management astronauts are permanently off flight status -- the shift is a one-way move.

Kimbrough's rhetoric was a tad over-heated, but he's essentially correct.  Flying 4/year isn't the number to look at.  With ISS assignments requiring 2.5-3 years of training, there are usually a dozen astronauts in active training at any given time (and likely one or two others in preliminary training for a spot, working on Russian and other necessary skills).  In order to support, say, 15 flight crew members you need something like three times as many astronauts in the office.  With expected attrition, NASA will be at 50 fairly soon, and under that before any new selectees can come on line.

NASA asked the National Academy of Sciences to study the matter -- a certain well-known NSF poster was involved, and so was I.  Look at it here (and this isn't a commercial):

 http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13227  (http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13227)

Michael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 01/26/2012 03:10 pm

No.  For one thing, astronauts can be moved from "management" to "active" status with a phone call.  Michael Cassutt

From today
Quote
Management astronauts are permanently off flight status -- the shift is a one-way move.

Does that mean, that times have changed?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 01/26/2012 09:27 pm

No.  For one thing, astronauts can be moved from "management" to "active" status with a phone call.  Michael Cassutt

From today
Quote
Management astronauts are permanently off flight status -- the shift is a one-way move.

Does that mean, that times have changed?

They have indeed.  The astronaut office has had a new sheriff (okay, chief) since fall 2009 -- and every chief astronaut does things a little differently.  The end of the Shuttle program also meant the disappearance of a substantial number of flight opportunities for astronauts who can't meet Soyuz-ISS requirements (or don't want to).  With Shuttle, it was relatively easy to return a "management" astronaut to flight status for a year.  With long-term ISS training, more restrictive physical standards, language challenges, and fewer resources (T-38s, for one), it's not easy and not likely.

MC
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: MATTBLAK on 01/27/2012 09:33 am
The 'Management Astronaut' concept was probably, er, pioneered by John Young after his 'Challenger' memos - unless I'm reading into the situation wrong.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 01/27/2012 01:26 pm
RELEASE: 12-033

ASTRONAUT JERRY ROSS, FIRST SEVEN-TIME FLIER, RETIRES

HOUSTON -- Jerry Ross, the first person to launch into space seven
times, has retired from NASA. In a career that spanned more than
three decades, Ross spent almost 1,400 hours in space and conducted
nine spacewalks to rank third on the list of most extravehicular
activity time in space.

"Jerry has been instrumental in the success of many of NASA's human
spaceflight missions and numerous spacewalks," said Peggy Whitson,
chief of the Astronaut Office. "Not only were his skills and
operational excellence key in major spaceflight activities but his
expertise and vigilance also helped all those who followed in his
footsteps. We are the better for his years of dedication to the corps
and NASA."

Ross joined NASA in 1979 as a payload officer and flight controller.
In 1980, he was selected as an astronaut. He and Franklin Chang-Diaz
are the only two astronauts to have flown into space seven times. In
addition to Ross' spaceflight mission accomplishments, he went on to
serve NASA in the critical role of managing the Vehicle Integration
Test Office.

"Jerry was equally invaluable leading this critical team, especially
through space station assembly, the transition to the space shuttle
retirement, and during the initial phases of our future programs,"
said Janet Kavandi, director of Flight Crew Operations. "He was
considered a mentor to many he worked with there. We wish him the
best in his well-deserved retirement."

Of his seven flights into orbit, Ross flew on space shuttles Endeavour
and Columbia once each and a record-setting five times on shuttle
Atlantis, including his first and last missions. His first flight was
on the STS-61B mission in 1985. His final flight into space was on
the STS-110 mission in 2002.

During his seven missions, he assisted in deploying a number of
satellites and other payloads. He performed experiments in life,
material and Earth sciences, and physics, robotics and astronomy.
Ross was a member of the STS-74 mission's crew, the second mission to
dock to the Russian space station Mir. He also traveled to the
then-fledgling International Space Station, where he helped connect
the U.S.-built Unity node to the Russian Zarya module. On the STS-110
mission, Ross' final trip to space, he was instrumental in delivering
and installing the S0 (S-Zero) truss. Ross accumulated more than
1,393 hours in space, including 58 hours and 18 minutes on nine
spacewalks.

For Ross' complete biography, visit:

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/ross.html


Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 01/27/2012 04:26 pm
I can still remember seeing TV pictures of Ross during 61-B -- building those truss structures of the EASE/ACCESS experiments. That was kind of cool. To me, he was the first space construction worker . . !

;)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: MATTBLAK on 01/27/2012 10:08 pm
Jerry Ross is one of a kind. Sad to see him go, but also sadly inevitable too.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 01/28/2012 04:52 am
Ross' departure really is the end of an era. There have been only a handful of 'career' astronauts and it's always sad when one of them departs. Young, Musgrave and now Ross. I wish him all the best.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 01/28/2012 12:54 pm

They have indeed.  The astronaut office has had a new sheriff (okay, chief) since fall 2009 -- and every chief astronaut does things a little differently.  The end of the Shuttle program also meant the disappearance of a substantial number of flight opportunities for astronauts who can't meet Soyuz-ISS requirements (or don't want to).  With Shuttle, it was relatively easy to return a "management" astronaut to flight status for a year.  With long-term ISS training, more restrictive physical standards, language challenges, and fewer resources (T-38s, for one), it's not easy and not likely.

MC

According to the list of astronauts from yesterday http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/astrobio.html Gregory H. Johnson is back on active status.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 01/28/2012 01:43 pm
Another question.
According to this release http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2011/dec/HQ_11-396_Grunsfeld.html John Grunsfeld is back in NASA.
In this case should he be counted as Management astronaut?
Sorry for bad English.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 01/28/2012 02:35 pm
Another question.
According to this release http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2011/dec/HQ_11-396_Grunsfeld.html John Grunsfeld is back in NASA.
In this case should he be counted as Management astronaut?

Grunsfeld is back in NASA, however he is no longer an astronaut. He left NASA and the astronaut office, and then a while later was hired back into NASA, but this time in a non-astronaut position (SMD AA).

According to the list of astronauts from yesterday http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/astrobio.html Gregory H. Johnson is back on active status.

Johnson works at NASA Glenn now, in some kind of education/public outreach position.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 01/28/2012 03:09 pm
Quote
Grunsfeld is back in NASA, however he is no longer an astronaut. He left NASA and the astronaut office, and then a while later was hired back into NASA, but this time in a non-astronaut position (SMD AA).

That´s correct, but what´s about Mr. Bolden and Mr. Coats ?

Quote
Johnson works at NASA Glenn now, in some kind of education/public outreach position
That´s also correct. But he works there since last year and in December he was listed as Management astronaut and now he is changed to the astronaut list.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 01/28/2012 04:16 pm

They have indeed.  The astronaut office has had a new sheriff (okay, chief) since fall 2009 -- and every chief astronaut does things a little differently.  The end of the Shuttle program also meant the disappearance of a substantial number of flight opportunities for astronauts who can't meet Soyuz-ISS requirements (or don't want to).  With Shuttle, it was relatively easy to return a "management" astronaut to flight status for a year.  With long-term ISS training, more restrictive physical standards, language challenges, and fewer resources (T-38s, for one), it's not easy and not likely.

MC

According to the list of astronauts from yesterday http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/astrobio.html Gregory H. Johnson is back on active status.

So it would seem.  Oddly enough, I hadn't heard that Johnson was classed as management until a couple of weeks ago -- I knew he was on a detail to NASA Glenn that was supposed to last a year, but fully expected him to rotate back to JSC at the end.  This early return (if he _has_ returned) suggests a change of plans somewhere.  I wouldn't take it as a change of policy, however.

Michael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 01/31/2012 07:45 pm
RELEASE: 12-038

LEGENDARY ASTRONAUT SHANNON LUCID RETIRES FROM NASA

HOUSTON -- Shannon Lucid, a member of NASA's first astronaut class to
include women, has retired after more than three decades of service
to the agency.

A veteran of five spaceflights, Lucid logged more than 223 days in
space, and from August 1991 to June 2007, held the record for the
most days in orbit by any woman in the world. Lucid is the only
American woman to serve aboard the Russian Mir space station. She
lived and worked there for more than 188 days, the longest stay of
any American on that vehicle. Her time on Mir also set the single
flight endurance record by a woman until Suni Williams broke it in
2006.

"Shannon is an extraordinary woman and scientist. She paved the way
for so many of us," said Peggy Whitson, chief of NASA's Astronaut
Office at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. "She was a model
astronaut for long-duration missions, and whether she was flying
hundreds of miles up in space or serving as Capcom [capsule
communicator] during the overnight hours for our space shuttle and
space station crews, she always brought a smile to our faces. Like so
many others, I always will look up to her."

Lucid, who holds a doctorate in biochemistry, was selected by NASA in
1978. She joined five other women as the agency's first female
astronauts. Her first three shuttle missions deployed satellites.
STS-51G in 1985 deployed and retrieved the SPARTAN satellite; STS-34
in 1989 deployed the Galileo spacecraft to explore Jupiter; and
STS-43 in 1991 deployed the fifth Tracking and Data Relay Satellite
(TDRS-E). Her fourth shuttle mission, STS-58 in 1993, focused on
medical experiments and engineering tests.

Lucid traveled aboard Atlantis on STS-76 in March 1996 to the Russian
Mir space station. She performed numerous life science and physical
science experiments during the course of her stay. She returned from
the station aboard Atlantis on STS-79 in September 1996.
In 2002, Lucid served as NASA's chief scientist at the agency's
headquarters in Washington. She returned to Johnson in the fall of
2003 and resumed technical assignments in the Astronaut Office. She
served as a Capcom in the Mission Control Center for numerous space
shuttle and space station crews, representing the flight crew office
and providing a friendly voice for dozens of friends and colleagues
in space.

For Lucid's complete biography, visit:

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/lucid.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 01/31/2012 08:14 pm
At this rate, there won't be any old vets left in the astronaut office... :(
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 01/31/2012 08:29 pm
That's a big one. Legend!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: larmeyers on 02/02/2012 01:37 am
Shannon Lucid was the iconic capcom after a magnificent flight history.  Of course she was there to do the wake-up call on STS-135 landing day. I think I saw her on NASA TV working on an ISS shift in January.  I'd love to know if there is any audio or video of her final sign-off to the next orbit team.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 02/03/2012 04:10 pm
RELEASE: 12-041

NASA RECEIVES SECOND HIGHEST NUMBER OF ASTRONAUT APPLICATIONS

HOUSTON -- More than 6,300 individuals applied to become a NASA
astronaut between Nov. 15, 2011 and Jan. 27, the second highest
number of applications ever received by the agency. After a thorough
selection process, which includes interviews and medical
examinations, nine to 15 people will be selected to become part of
the 21st astronaut class.

"This is a great time to join the NASA family," NASA Administrator
Charles Bolden said. "Our newest astronauts could launch aboard the
first commercial rockets to the space station the next generation of
scientists and engineers who will help us reach higher and create an
American economy that is built to last."


The Astronaut Selection Office staff will review the applications to
identify those meeting the minimum requirements. Next, an expanded
team, comprised mostly of active astronauts, will review those
applications to determine which ones are highly qualified. Those
individuals will be invited to Johnson Space Center for in-person
interviews and medical evaluations.

"We will be looking for people who really stand out," said Peggy
Whitson, chief of the Astronaut Office at NASA's Johnson Space Center
and chair of the Astronaut Selection Board. "Our team not only will
be looking at their academic background and professional
accomplishments but also at other elements of their personality and
character traits -- what types of hobbies they have or unique life
experiences. We want and need a mix of individuals and skills for
this next phase of human exploration."

NASA expects to announce a final selection of astronaut candidates in
the spring of 2013.

The selected astronaut candidates will have two years of initial
training. Subjects will include space station systems, Russian
language and spacewalking skills training. Those who complete the
training will be assigned technical duties within the Astronaut
Office at Johnson and, ultimately, missions.

Typically, the agency receives between 2,500 and 3,500 applicants for
astronaut vacancy announcements. The highest response occurred in
1978 with 8,000 applicants.

For more information about NASA astronauts, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/flynasa.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 02/03/2012 05:14 pm
"This is a great time to join the NASA family," NASA Administrator
Charles Bolden said. "Our newest astronauts could launch aboard the
first commercial rockets to the space station the next generation of
scientists and engineers who will help us reach higher and create an
American economy that is built to last."

WTF? (Win The Future).

Someone show him the door, for pity's sake!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SpaceInformer on 02/03/2012 07:12 pm
WTF? Want to Fly??  ;D ;D ;D no vehicle available
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 02/03/2012 08:14 pm
Excessively cynical, methinks.

After all, only 9-15 astronauts are being selected. In 1978 and 1980, two far larger groups of astronauts (almost 60 in total) were selected for a new programme. Their 'vehicle' - the Shuttle - was going to be unavailable for 2 more years. Similarly, Apollo-era astronauts waited more than a decade apiece to fly. The job of an astronaut entails far more than simply waiting for the next available rocket. Ask Story Musgrave.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: arkaska on 02/03/2012 08:40 pm
"This is a great time to join the NASA family," NASA Administrator
Charles Bolden said. "Our newest astronauts could launch aboard the
first commercial rockets to the space station the next generation of
scientists and engineers who will help us reach higher and create an
American economy that is built to last."

WTF? (Win The Future).

Someone show him the door, for pity's sake!

Not if the plans they currently have are followed. The candidates won't be finished with basic training until 2015 and add 2-3 years for specific mission training leaves an earliest launch of 2017-2018. Commercial should be up and running then (with 4 USOS spots on ISS) and SLS would be around the corner.

I know that it is far from certain that Commercial and SLS will be available on the current timeline but they can't shoot themselves in the foot and say otherwise before actual delays happens.

So in all if they are ready for a mission in 2017 I would say that is a great time since their flight opportunities are 5-6 years in the future. It is a completely different thing for the astronauts currently serving, they have to wait a number of years for a domestic launch.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 02/07/2012 05:45 pm
Worth mentioning here: Astronaut Janice Voss passed away today.

Please post your condolences in the dedicated thread:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=27975
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jason Sole on 02/10/2012 10:48 pm
That is very sad news.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: npuentes on 02/12/2012 12:00 am
Any word on who may command TMA-13M?

According to the Novosti Kosmonavtiki forum, it will be Sergei Zalyotin. He left the cosmonaut core in 2004 and then returned last year. He is distinguished by commanding the last Mir expedition and Soyuz TMA-1 to ISS.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: soyuzfan on 02/12/2012 10:12 am
According to the Novosti Kosmonavtiki forum, it will be Sergei Zalyotin.

Important addition: According to an anonymous post on that forum by a non registered member.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 02/16/2012 07:41 am
Sergey Shamsutdinov from Novosti kosmonavtiki magazine has told that GCTC has offered to include Maksim Surayev in ISS-40/41 crew and Yuriy Lonchakov - in ISS-42/43 crew.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TALsite on 02/16/2012 12:46 pm
Will Surayev get a later flight opportunity?

No.

I read somewhere that Suraev will become a member of the Duma

No.

Any light about this change of mind with Surayev's assignment?  Thanks
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 02/17/2012 06:44 pm
Any light about this change of mind with Surayev's assignment?

Sure. Maksim Surayev has wanted to be a member of the Duma. When the time was too close to elections Sergey Krikalyov has told to Surayev that he should choose - ISS crew or the Duma. Surayev has told that he wants to try to become a member of the Duma, but he wants to be in the crew just in case. Krikalyov has said "no", and Surayev was replaced by Fyodor Yurchikhin. When Surayev has not become a member of the Duma, GCTC has tried to include his to another crew, but the head of Roskosmos Vladimir Popovkin has said "no". It is the second try to include Surayev into the crew, but Roskosmos has the last word.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 02/17/2012 09:30 pm
Any light about this change of mind with Surayev's assignment?

Sure. Maksim Surayev has wanted to be a member of the Duma. When the time was too close to elections Sergey Krikalyov has told to Surayev that he should choose - ISS crew or the Duma. Surayev has told that he wants to try to become a member of the Duma, but he wants to be in the crew just in case. Krikalyov has said "no", and Surayev was replaced by Fyodor Yurchikhin. When Surayev has not become a member of the Duma, GCTC has tried to include his to another crew, but the head of Roskosmos Vladimir Popovkin has said "no". It is the second try to include Surayev into the crew, but Roskosmos has the last word.
Andrey, many thanks for this insider information.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 02/17/2012 09:33 pm
Another question.
According to this release http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2011/dec/HQ_11-396_Grunsfeld.html John Grunsfeld is back in NASA.
In this case should he be counted as Management astronaut?

Grunsfeld is back in NASA, however he is no longer an astronaut. He left NASA and the astronaut office, and then a while later was hired back into NASA, but this time in a non-astronaut position (SMD AA).
Now Mr. Grunsfeld is listed as a management astronaut.
http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/astrobio_mgmt.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 02/20/2012 10:08 pm
I'm searching for NASA press releases for the ISS Expedition crew assignments and wondered if anyone can help?

I'm aware that the Expedition 1 crew was named sometime in early 1996, but can't pinpoint the exact date or find the press release. And what of the expeditions since then?

Any pointers would be greatly appreciated.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: psloss on 02/20/2012 11:18 pm
I'm searching for NASA press releases for the ISS Expedition crew assignments and wondered if anyone can help?

I'm aware that the Expedition 1 crew was named sometime in early 1996, but can't pinpoint the exact date or find the press release. And what of the expeditions since then?

Any pointers would be greatly appreciated.
Here's one:
http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/1996/96-18.txt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: AnalogMan on 02/20/2012 11:23 pm
I'm searching for NASA press releases for the ISS Expedition crew assignments and wondered if anyone can help?

I'm aware that the Expedition 1 crew was named sometime in early 1996, but can't pinpoint the exact date or find the press release. And what of the expeditions since then?

Any pointers would be greatly appreciated.

I did a quick search of JSC press releases.

Early press releases mentioning first crew (not necessarily first naming of full crew though):

Release: 97-98  May 15, 1997
Space Station Control Board Approves New Assembly Schedule
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/news/releases/1996_1998/97-98.html

Press Conference With International Space Station Crew Set
Release: N97-35 May 19, 1997
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/news/releases/1996_1998/n97-35.html

First four crews named:

Release: H97-269  November 17, 1997
U.S., Russia Name International Space Station Crews
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/news/releases/1996_1998/h97-269.html

JSC press release archive is here:
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/news/releases/archives.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 02/21/2012 10:58 am
Many thanks, both, for your help!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: AnalogMan on 02/21/2012 12:29 pm
Forgot to mention that I also found this snippet yesterday when I was having a look around for Expedition 1 crew.

Up until early March 1996 it appears Yuri Gidzenko was still not named as the third and final member of Expedition 1 crew.  An article in NASA's Space News Roundup dated March 8, 1996 noted the following:

Article: Phasing Future Foundations - Phase 1-a building block for space station technology
(Page 3, penultimate paragraph)

"Launch of the first component of the International Space Station is 20 months away.  Astronaut Bill Shepherd and Krikalev will make up two thirds of the first team to occupy the International Space Station six months later. They will be launched aboard a Soyuz rocket from the Baikonur launch site in Kazakhstan."

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/history/roundups/issues/96-03-08.pdf (http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/history/roundups/issues/96-03-08.pdf)

Note: At the time of this article Space News Roundup was published weekly
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 02/21/2012 01:51 pm
Forgot to mention that I also found this snippet yesterday when I was having a look around for Expedition 1 crew.

Up until early March 1996 it appears Yuri Gidzenko was still not named as the third and final member of Expedition 1 crew. 

Yes, and its a potential indicator of how Anatoli Solovyev, was first assigned to the Expedition 1 crew, but pulled out when he realized he wasn't going to be Commander. Maybe once the public announcement was set to be made, that Bill Shepherd would be CDR, he realized there was no chance of taking that position and turned down the assignment - leaving the PR people to announce only two crew members.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: DanielHall on 03/06/2012 09:53 am
Brian K. Kelly is deputy director of FCOD. I don't think the position has to be taken by an astronaut.

What is Sturckow's status, now that he is no longer deputy chief?

And what of the other astronauts, eg Arnold, Virts, Bresnik, Metcalf-Lindenburger, Antonelli etc?

Has Kopra recovered from his injury? Is he back on flight status?

Many thanks.

Kopra has totally recovered from his injury and can join a week later his doctor said.


St Petersburg Lawyers (http://dolmanlaw.com/)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 03/07/2012 07:18 pm
Many thanks for the update on Kopra. Do you know if he is in line for a future expedition?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 03/10/2012 06:37 am
According to the new ESA Bulletin, there will be ESA astronaut in ISS Expedition 44/45 (May - November 2015).
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: vp. on 03/10/2012 11:23 am
According to the new ESA Bulletin, there will be ESA astronaut in ISS Expedition 44/45 (May - November 2015).
Probably Samantha Cristoforetti
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 03/10/2012 05:54 pm
According to the new ESA Bulletin, there will be ESA astronaut in ISS Expedition 44/45 (May - November 2015).
Probably Samantha Cristoforetti

I can confirm this.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TALsite on 03/11/2012 12:05 am
Following Soyuz TMA-14M, it’s my speculation.

Planned crews:
.
.
.

Soyuz TMA-17M (launch - May 2015) // Expedition 44 / 45
CDR – TBD Russia (TBD Russia)
FE1 –Samantha Cristoforetti? (TBD JAXA?)
FE2 – TBD USA (TBD USA)

>

Bingo!!  ;D
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 03/12/2012 03:16 pm
RELEASE: 12-077

RECORD-SETTING ASTRONAUT LOPEZ-ALEGRIA DEPARTS NASA

HOUSTON -- Michael Lopez-Alegria, NASA's most experienced spacewalker
and the American holding the record for the single longest
spaceflight mission, has left the agency.

Lopez-Alegria flew on four missions and performed 10 spacewalks during
his career. He most recently served in the Flight Crew Operations
Directorate at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston as assistant
director for the International Space Station (ISS).

"Mike has faithfully served the Flight Crew Operations Directorate for
many years," said Janet Kavandi, director of Flight Crew Operations
at Johnson. "His unique background and diplomatic skills have made
him an outstanding FCOD assistant director for space station and lead
for the Multilateral Crew Operations Panel. Mike's tireless
dedication to the safety and well-being of space station crews is
well known. We will miss him and wish him well in his future
endeavors."

During his career, Lopez-Alegria logged more than 257 days in space,
including 215 days as commander of the Expedition 14 mission to the
ISS, which stands as the single longest spaceflight by an American.
Lopez-Alegria also logged more than 67 hours during his 10
spacewalks, more than any other American, and second only in the
record books to Russian cosmonaut Anatoly Solovyev.


"Mike has been a huge asset to the astronaut office during the course
of his career," said Peggy Whitson, chief of the Astronaut Office at
Johnson. "His contributions in spacewalking, shuttle, space station
and Soyuz operations are notable and very distinguished. Personally,
we will miss his humor and insights and wish him all the best."


Lopez-Alegria flew on three space shuttle missions. The first, STS-73
in 1995, focused on science experiments. He then served as NASA's
director of operations at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center
in Star City, Russia, where he was in charge of American astronauts
training for flights to the Russian space station Mir and the ISS.
Lopez-Alegria later flew on STS-92 in 2000 and STS-113 in 2002,
delivering critical truss elements to the station.

Expedition 14 Commander Lopez-Alegria and his crew launched to the ISS
on a Soyuz spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on
Sept. 18, 2006. This fourth and final mission earned Lopez-Alegria
the spaceflight record. The crew conducted a seven-month mission to
operate, maintain, build and use the station and its science
facilities. During the expedition, two uncrewed Russian Progress
cargo vehicles arrived and departed the station and a space shuttle
assembly mission reconfigured the station's power supply.
Lopez-Alegria's mission ended with a Soyuz landing on the Kazakh
steppe on April 21, 2007.


For Lopez-Alegria's complete biography, visit:




http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/lopez-al.html

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 03/12/2012 04:44 pm
Astronaut Michael Lopez-Alegria Named President of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation


Washington, D.C., Monday, March 12, 2012 – The Commercial Spaceflight Federation is pleased to announce that former NASA astronaut, International Space Station (ISS) commander, Naval Aviator, and test pilot Michael E. Lopez-Alegria (Capt., U.S. Navy, Ret.) has been named as President, effective March 19, 2012.

Lopez-Alegria was selected for the position following a vote of the Board of Directors of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation (CSF).

As President, Lopez-Alegria will lead the Federation staff, and work with the 40+ members of the Federation, which include providers of commercial orbital and suborbital spaceflight, spaceports and launch facilities, suppliers, and educational and research institutions. Lopez-Alegria succeeds Rear Admiral Craig Steidle.

Lopez-Alegria has over three decades of experience with the U.S. Navy and NASA in a variety of roles including Naval Aviator, Navy engineering test pilot and program manager, NASA astronaut, ISS commander, and assistant director of flight crew operations. He is a four-time astronaut, flying on Space Shuttle missions STS-73, STS-92, and STS-113, and serving as Commander of ISS Expedition 14 (flying to and from the ISS aboard Soyuz TMA-9). He most recently served as the Assistant for ISS to the Director of Flight Crew Operations at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Lopez-Alegria is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy with a bachelor’s degree in systems engineering and earned his master’s degree in aeronautical engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School. Lopez-Alegria is also a graduate of Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government Program for Senior Executives in National and International Security.  He speaks Spanish, French, and Russian.

Lopez-Alegria holds three NASA records: longest spaceflight (215 days); most number of Extravehicular Activities (EVA) (10) and cumulative EVA time (67 hours 40 minutes).

Eric Anderson, Chairman of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation and Chairman of Space Adventures, Ltd., stated, “We are incredibly excited to have someone as capable as Michael Lopez-Alegria leading the Commercial Spaceflight Federation. Michael is a leader and a true pioneer whose first-hand experience with spaceflight and the International Space Station will be invaluable to our members and to the Federation.”

Lopez-Alegria stated, “I am honored to accept the position of President of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation. I have been impressed with the all that the commercial spaceflight industry has accomplished and I look forward to joining the team as it continues to take important strides that are fundamental in maintaining our nation’s preeminence in space.”
 
About the Commercial Spaceflight Federation
The mission of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation (CSF) is to promote the development of commercial human spaceflight, pursue ever-higher levels of safety, and share best practices and expertise throughout the industry. The Commercial Spaceflight Federation’s member companies, which include commercial spaceflight developers, operators, spaceports, suppliers, and service providers, are creating thousands of high-tech jobs nationwide, working to preserve American leadership in aerospace through technology innovation, and inspiring young people to pursue careers in science and engineering. For more information please visit www.commercialspaceflight.org or contact Executive Director Alex Saltman at [email protected] or at 202.349.1121.

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 03/16/2012 03:09 pm
I was told Maksim Suraev was assigned to ISS-40/41 crew yesterday in Roskosmos.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 03/17/2012 05:36 pm

I can confirm this.

The only thing you can confirm is an ASI spot....NOT the name of the astronaut.....
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 03/17/2012 06:31 pm
The only thing you can confirm is an ASI spot....NOT the name of the astronaut.....

True - but by process of elimination, you can speculate that it is highly likely to be Cristoforetti, since Paramitano is already assigned, and both Nespoli and Vittori have recently returned from flights.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 03/19/2012 01:30 pm
The only thing you can confirm is an ASI spot....NOT the name of the astronaut.....

True - but by process of elimination, you can speculate that it is highly likely to be Cristoforetti, since Paramitano is already assigned, and both Nespoli and Vittori have recently returned from flights.

I wouldn't rule Vittori out. Although he flew recently he hasn't flown an ISS expedition, and I think he'd be a good candidate for ISS CDR.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Velomir on 05/17/2012 05:48 pm
Any recent updates? Some time has passed without any news
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 06/12/2012 09:13 am
If I understood correctly information from Novosti kosmonavtiki forum, Expedition 45/46 crew consists of Sergey Zalyotin, Samantha Cristoforetti and Terry Virts; Expedition 46/47 crew consists of Yuriy Lonchakov, Aleksey Ovchinin and NASA astronaut.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 06/12/2012 07:47 pm
Thanks for the update. The last assignment I heard was Kondratyev, Serova and Wilmore to ISS-41/42. If these new assignments are for ISS 45-47, have the names of the crews for 43 and 44 been named yet?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 06/12/2012 07:58 pm
Thanks for the update. The last assignment I heard was Kondratyev, Serova and Wilmore to ISS-41/42. If these new assignments are for ISS 45-47, have the names of the crews for 43 and 44 been named yet?

Actually, it's my understanding that Zaletin-Cristoforetti-Virts ARE the 43/44 crew, or whatever followed K-S-W.

Michael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 06/12/2012 08:46 pm
Actually, it's my understanding that Zaletin-Cristoforetti-Virts ARE the 43/44 crew, or whatever followed K-S-W

No, it is ISS-45/46 crew, because Samantha Cristoforetti should be in this crew, according to ESA plans.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 06/12/2012 09:18 pm
Thanks Michael and Anik.

So is the 43/44 crew still unannounced?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 06/12/2012 10:47 pm
Actually, it's my understanding that Zaletin-Cristoforetti-Virts ARE the 43/44 crew, or whatever followed K-S-W

No, it is ISS-45/46 crew, because Samantha Cristoforetti should be in this crew, according to ESA plans.

That was indeed the _plan._  The 43/44 slot was supposed to be JAXA's.  But I have heard that there was a swap -- my Houston sources says, "It's the Italian factor".

MC
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 06/13/2012 08:52 am
That was indeed the _plan._  The 43/44 slot was supposed to be JAXA's.  But I have heard that there was a swap -- my Houston sources says, "It's the Italian factor"

Thank you for information about changes.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 06/13/2012 01:57 pm
That was indeed the _plan._  The 43/44 slot was supposed to be JAXA's.  But I have heard that there was a swap -- my Houston sources says, "It's the Italian factor"

Thank you for information about changes.

The swap actually affected the NASA assignment, too: Lindgren was the original FE for 43/44.  I would expect to see him in the next crew, with Lonchakov-Ovchinin, if that is the team.

Michael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 06/13/2012 09:37 pm
"The next Italian astronaut who will go to the International Space Station will be Luca Parmitano. The launch is expected in 2013..." announced Fulvio Drigani, general director of the Italian space agency. "Samantha Cristoforetti will be next...we will continue to send her on missions in 2015."

http://www.agi.it/english-version/italy/elenco-notizie/201206121610-cro-ren1058-italian_space_agency_announces_names_of_two_new_astronauts
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 06/14/2012 08:30 am
I was told that crews Zalyotin/Cristoforetti and Lonchakov/Ovchinin are offered to MCOP, but they are not approved for now due to talking about possible flight of fifth Soyuz in 2015.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 06/16/2012 02:27 pm
NASA Astronauts Kenneth Ham and Nicholas Patrick Leave Agency

HOUSTON, June 15, 2012 -- NASA astronauts Kenneth Ham and Nicholas Patrick have left the space agency. Their last day was May 31. Ham is a veteran of two spaceflights, where he served as the pilot of STS-124 in 2008 and commander of STS-132 in 2010. Patrick served as a mission specialist on STS-116 in 2006 and STS-130 in 2010.

"It has been a pleasure to work with Ken during his tenure here at JSC," said Peggy Whitson, chief of the Astronaut Office at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. "He is an incredibly accomplished aviator and with a great sense of humor. We wish him the best in this new phase of his career."

Ham, a Navy captain, holds a Master of Science in Aeronautical Engineering from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School. He joined NASA in 1998. Before flying in space, he served in multiple technical roles including work as a space shuttle capsule communicator (CAPCOM). Ham's most recent NASA assignment included duties as an instructor pilot in the T-38N and WB-57F research pilot.

Ham is a pilot with more than 6,000 flight hours and experience in more than 40 different aircraft. A 1987 graduate of the United States Naval Academy, Ham will return to the institution as an instructor.

Patrick is a veteran of three spacewalks. He played a vital role in installation of the Tranquility module and Cupola of the International Space Station. He ends his NASA career with more than 26 days of spaceflight experience.

"Nick is an extremely talented individual," said Whitson, "his engineering skills and expertise were a valuable contribution to our team, not only during his flights but in his work with future exploration programs as well. I am sure that his future contributions will be just as valuable."

Patrick holds a Doctorate in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, as well as undergraduate and graduate degrees in Engineering from Cambridge University. Prior to his spaceflights, he led the team that designed the Orion spacecraft cockpit.

For Ham's complete biography, visit:
http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/ham.html

For Patrick's complete biography, visit:
http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/patrick.html


http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nasa-astronauts-kenneth-ham-and-nicholas-patrick-leave-agency-159246475.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 06/17/2012 11:09 pm
With Zalyotin's crew now scheduled to fly no earlier than 2015, that will leave a 13 year gap since his last flight, a "taxi" mission to the ISS in 2002.
Was he off flight status during that period?
Thank you.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 06/18/2012 09:04 pm
With Zalyotin's crew now scheduled to fly no earlier than 2015, that will leave a 13 year gap since his last flight, a "taxi" mission to the ISS in 2002.
Was he off flight status during that period?
Thank you.

Not only was Zaletin off flight status, he was out of the cosmonaut team entirely from September/October 2004, working in politics and as head of a laboratory.  He returned to the Gagarin Center in January 2011.

Michael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 06/19/2012 05:51 pm
I was told that crews Zalyotin/Cristoforetti and Lonchakov/Ovchinin are offered to MCOP, but they are not approved for now due to talking about possible flight of fifth Soyuz in 2015.

Oh, that fifth Soyuz might finally materialize? That is good news, is it not?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 06/21/2012 08:22 pm
Astronaut Robert Thirsk Announces Plans to Leave the Canadian Space Agency

 

Longueuil, Quebec, June 21, 2012 – Canadian Space Agency (CSA) Astronaut Dr. Robert Thirsk has announced his plans to leave the Agency in August 2012. He is a veteran of two spaceflights including Canada’s first long-duration mission aboard the International Space Station. “We salute Dr. Thirsk and his contributions to the Canadian space program as an accomplished and dedicated member of the astronaut corps,” said CSA President Steve MacLean. “Over a span of three decades, Robert has contributed to bringing science to the forefront of our space exploration initiatives. We wish him the very best in his new endeavour.”

 

Dr. Thirsk has been appointed to the position of Vice-President - Public, Government and Institute Affairs of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, effective August 2012, where he will direct all matters related to strategic relations, public and private sector partnerships, communication and public outreach.

 

One of the original-six Canadian astronauts, Robert Thirsk joined the Canadian Astronaut Program in 1983. Robert first flew in 1996 aboard Space Shuttle Columbia on the 17-day Life and Microgravity Spacelab Mission. In 2009, he launched aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft and became the first Canadian astronaut to complete a long-duration expedition. As a member of the ISS Expedition 20/21 crew, he and his international crewmates performed multidisciplinary research, robotic operations, maintenance and repair work of Station systems and payloads.

 

For Dr. Thirsk’s complete biography, visit: http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/astronauts/biothirsk.asp

 

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Paolo on 06/29/2012 11:01 am
Next Tuesday July 3rd in the Italian Space Agency press conference to announce the Samantha Cristoforetti mission's.

Paolo
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: bolun on 07/03/2012 10:44 am
ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti set for Space Station in 2014
 
3 July 2012

ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti has been assigned to be launched on a Soyuz spacecraft from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan in 2014 for a long-duration mission aboard the International Space Station.

http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMK9Y1VW3H_index_0.html

Samantha Cristoforetti

http://www.esa.int/esaHS/SEMHZJ0OWUF_astronauts_0.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 07/03/2012 06:09 pm
RELEASE: 12-227

NASA ASTRONAUT STEPHEN K. ROBINSON LEAVES AGENCY

HOUSTON -- NASA astronaut Stephen Robinson has left the space agency.
Robinson ends his 36-year NASA career as a veteran of three
spacewalks with more than 48 days of spaceflight experience. Robinson
will become a professor at the University of California at Davis in
the fall of 2012. His last day at NASA was June 30.

Robinson began work with NASA as a cooperative education student in
1975 at the agency's Ames Research Center at Moffett Field, Calif. He
was selected for the astronaut corps in 1995. Robinson served as a
mission specialist on four spaceflights, including space shuttle
missions STS-85 in 1997, STS-95 in 1998, STS-114 in 2005 and STS-130
in 2010. On his second spaceflight, Robinson was one of Sen. John
Glenn's crewmates during Glenn's historic return to space after 36
years.

His third flight was NASA's 2005 return to flight mission after the
loss of shuttle Columbia in February 2003. During STS-114, Robinson
performed the only in-flight spacewalk to repair of a shuttle's
heat-shield. During his final spaceflight, Robinson orchestrated the
spacewalks and the complex robotic installation of the Tranquility
node and cupola onto the International Space Station.

"Steve will be sorely missed by the Astronaut Office," said Janet
Kavandi, director of Flight Crew Operations. "He was a fellow
classmate, and I will personally miss his ever-positive attitude and
smiling face. We wish him the best in his future endeavors, and we
are confident that he will be a positive influence and wonderful
mentor to inquisitive minds at the University of California at
Davis."

Robinson holds a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering and
aeronautical engineering from the University of California at Davis
and a master of science and doctorate in mechanical engineering from
Stanford University.

For Robinson's complete biography, visit:

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/robinson.html

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Lewis007 on 07/04/2012 07:19 am
ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti set for Space Station in 2014
 
3 July 2012

ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti has been assigned to be launched on a Soyuz spacecraft from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan in 2014 for a long-duration mission aboard the International Space Station.


Some pics of the press conference can be found here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/esa_events/sets/72157630400570336/

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 07/11/2012 09:05 pm
July 11, 2012

Joshua Buck
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1100
[email protected]

Jay Bolden
Johnson Space Center
281-483-5111
[email protected]

RELEASE: 12-232

NASA ASTRONAUT MARK POLANSKY LEAVES AGENCY

HOUSTON -- NASA astronaut Mark Polansky has left the agency. His last
day with NASA was June 30.

Polansky is a veteran of three space shuttle missions. He flew as a
pilot on the STS-98 mission in 2001 and served as commander for
STS-116 in 2006 and STS-127 in 2009. Polansky ends his NASA career
with more than 41 days in space.

"Mark is a remarkably talented individual," said Peggy Whitson, chief
of the Astronaut Office. "His skills as an aviator coupled with his
engineering expertise were a valuable contribution to our team. We
wish him well in his future endeavors."

A former U.S. Air Force officer, Polansky joined NASA as a research
pilot in 1992 and was selected for the astronaut corps in 1996.
Before flying in space, Polansky served in multiple technical roles
including space shuttle capsule communicator and chief instructor
astronaut. His most recent NASA assignment included duties as
director of operations at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in
Star City, Russia.

Polansky earned a Bachelor of Science in aeronautical and
astronautical engineering and a Master of Science in aeronautics and
astronautics from Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind.

For Polansky's complete biography, visit:

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/polansky.html


-end-

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 07/12/2012 12:14 am
With Polansky's retirement, anyone know who will be named Director of Operations at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia?
Thanks.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 07/12/2012 06:39 am
Was Polansky still DOR at the time of his retirement?

I know he'd been in the role since 2010, but it seems a long assignment.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 07/12/2012 07:10 am
Was Polansky still DOR at the time of his retirement?

I know he'd been in the role since 2010, but it seems a long assignment.

At least on May 25th he was on duty, according to these TSPK report.
http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=1457
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 07/12/2012 04:07 pm
Was Polansky still DOR at the time of his retirement?

I know he'd been in the role since 2010, but it seems a long assignment.

At least on May 25th he was on duty, according to these TSPK report.
http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=1457

Yes, Polansky spent over 18 months as DOR.  I asked Peggy Whitson about it last fall, assuming there was going to be a change, and she said, no, Polansky was planning to stick with the job "through next May".

Michael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 07/12/2012 04:08 pm
Just thinking how many Shuttle Commanders have been retiring/moving into management of late. Here's a quick list of Commanders since RTF:

STS-114 (Collins) - Retired
STS-121 (Lindsey) - Retired
STS-115 (Jett) - Inactive (Management)
STS-116 (Polansky) - Retired
STS-117 (Sturckow) - Active
STS-118 (S. Kelly) - Active
STS-120 (Melroy) - Retired
STS-122 (Frick) - Inactive (Management)
STS-123 (Gorie) - Retired
STS-124 (M. Kelly) - Retired
STS-126 (Ferguson) - Retired
STS-119 (Archambault) - Inactive (Management)
STS-125 (Altman) - Retired
STS-127 (Polansky) - Retired
STS-128 (Sturckow) - Active
STS-129 (Hobaugh) - Retired
STS-130 (Zamka) - Inactive (Management)
STS-131 (Poindexter) - Deceased
STS-132 (Ham) - Retired
STS-133 (Lindsey) - Retired
STS-134 (M. Kelly) - Retired
STS-135 (Ferguson) - Retired

That leaves only two Shuttle Commanders since RTF (Sturckow and S. Kelly) currently on active duty. Lots of experience gone. :(
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Rocket Science on 07/12/2012 04:14 pm
Just thinking how many Shuttle Commanders have been retiring/moving into management of late. Here's a quick list of Commanders since RTF:

STS-114 (Collins) - Retired
STS-121 (Lindsey) - Retired
STS-115 (Jett) - Inactive (Management)
STS-116 (Polansky) - Retired
STS-117 (Sturckow) - Active
STS-118 (S. Kelly) - Active
STS-120 (Melroy) - Retired
STS-122 (Frick) - Inactive (Management)
STS-123 (Gorie) - Retired
STS-124 (M. Kelly) - Retired
STS-126 (Ferguson) - Retired
STS-119 (Archambault) - Inactive (Management)
STS-125 (Altman) - Retired
STS-127 (Polansky) - Retired
STS-128 (Sturckow) - Active
STS-129 (Hobaugh) - Retired
STS-130 (Zamka) - Inactive (Management)
STS-131 (Poindexter) - Deceased
STS-132 (Ham) - Retired
STS-133 (Lindsey) - Retired
STS-134 (M. Kelly) - Retired
STS-135 (Ferguson) - Retired

That leaves only two Shuttle Commanders since RTF (Sturckow and S. Kelly) currently on active duty. Lots of experience gone. :(
So you think they might know something Pete?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 07/12/2012 04:57 pm
Just thinking how many Shuttle Commanders have been retiring/moving into management of late. Here's a quick list of Commanders since RTF:

STS-114 (Collins) - Retired
STS-121 (Lindsey) - Retired
STS-115 (Jett) - Inactive (Management)
STS-116 (Polansky) - Retired
STS-117 (Sturckow) - Active
STS-118 (S. Kelly) - Active
STS-120 (Melroy) - Retired
STS-122 (Frick) - Inactive (Management)
STS-123 (Gorie) - Retired
STS-124 (M. Kelly) - Retired
STS-126 (Ferguson) - Retired
STS-119 (Archambault) - Inactive (Management)
STS-125 (Altman) - Retired
STS-127 (Polansky) - Retired
STS-128 (Sturckow) - Active
STS-129 (Hobaugh) - Retired
STS-130 (Zamka) - Inactive (Management)
STS-131 (Poindexter) - Deceased
STS-132 (Ham) - Retired
STS-133 (Lindsey) - Retired
STS-134 (M. Kelly) - Retired
STS-135 (Ferguson) - Retired

That leaves only two Shuttle Commanders since RTF (Sturckow and S. Kelly) currently on active duty. Lots of experience gone. :(
So you think they might know something Pete?

Not to answer for Pete, but addressing the pair of messages, yes: they must have realized that the end of Shuttle missions meant the end of Shuttle commands.  During the Shuttle era, there were always two general types of pilots in the astronaut office . . . those that were there to fly higher, faster, further in the most advanced aerospace vehicle going, and those that were interested in the larger goals of space exploration and exploitation.

Not to characterize any of the commanders listed, but surely that was a factor in some departures -- and I know that at least a couple of these folks simply didn't want to commit to long-duration ISS assignments.  Age is also a factor: many of these commanders would be in their fifties or even late fifties by the time any commercial or Orion missions flew.  There are physical issues, too:  Altman was too tall for an ISS mission. 

And at least 3-4 of the departed are working on commercial post-Shutle programs, either the company side (Ferguson, Lindsey) or NASA (Jett, Archambault).

Michael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Rocket Science on 07/12/2012 05:06 pm
Just thinking how many Shuttle Commanders have been retiring/moving into management of late. Here's a quick list of Commanders since RTF:

STS-114 (Collins) - Retired
STS-121 (Lindsey) - Retired
STS-115 (Jett) - Inactive (Management)
STS-116 (Polansky) - Retired
STS-117 (Sturckow) - Active
STS-118 (S. Kelly) - Active
STS-120 (Melroy) - Retired
STS-122 (Frick) - Inactive (Management)
STS-123 (Gorie) - Retired
STS-124 (M. Kelly) - Retired
STS-126 (Ferguson) - Retired
STS-119 (Archambault) - Inactive (Management)
STS-125 (Altman) - Retired
STS-127 (Polansky) - Retired
STS-128 (Sturckow) - Active
STS-129 (Hobaugh) - Retired
STS-130 (Zamka) - Inactive (Management)
STS-131 (Poindexter) - Deceased
STS-132 (Ham) - Retired
STS-133 (Lindsey) - Retired
STS-134 (M. Kelly) - Retired
STS-135 (Ferguson) - Retired

That leaves only two Shuttle Commanders since RTF (Sturckow and S. Kelly) currently on active duty. Lots of experience gone. :(
So you think they might know something Pete?

Not to answer for Pete, but addressing the pair of messages, yes: they must have realized that the end of Shuttle missions meant the end of Shuttle commands.  During the Shuttle era, there were always two general types of pilots in the astronaut office . . . those that were there to fly higher, faster, further in the most advanced aerospace vehicle going, and those that were interested in the larger goals of space exploration and exploitation.

Not to characterize any of the commanders listed, but surely that was a factor in some departures -- and I know that at least a couple of these folks simply didn't want to commit to long-duration ISS assignments.  Age is also a factor: many of these commanders would be in their fifties or even late fifties by the time any commercial or Orion missions flew.  There are physical issues, too:  Altman was too tall for an ISS mission. 

And at least 3-4 of the departed are working on commercial post-Shutle programs, either the company side (Ferguson, Lindsey) or NASA (Jett, Archambault).

Michael Cassutt

You made all good points Michael.  My comment to Pete was a bit of a rhetorical one. ;)

~Robert
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: orbiter62995 on 07/14/2012 02:19 am
Note the recent Revin-Valkov move.

Michael Cassutt

Is there any known reason for the Valkov-Revin switchoff?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 07/14/2012 06:07 am
Is there any known reason for the Valkov-Revin switchoff?

Health problems.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 07/15/2012 11:27 am
With Polansky's retirement, anyone know who will be named Director of Operations at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia?

Peggy Whitson has told that it will be Mark Vande Hei.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 07/15/2012 08:13 pm
To be fair about the retired shuttle CDR list, compare it to say, the number of Apollo CDR's remaining a year after Skylab 4, when just ASTP was left to fly - February 1975. The time frame of 1968 - 1975 is also comparable to the RTF period - 2005 - 2012.

Apollo 7 - Schirra - retired, 1969
Apollo 8 - Borman - retired, 1970
Apollo 9 - McDivitt - retired, 1972
Apollo 10 - Stafford - active
Apollo 11 - Armstrong - retired, 1971
Apollo 12 - Conrad - retired, 1974 (he'd have literally just retired if this were Feb '74).
Apollo 13 - Lovell - retired, 1973
Apollo 14 - Shepard - management
Apollo 15 - Scott - management (note, he would have been willing to fly on the shuttle had he not been shunted to management)
Apollo 16 - Young - active
Apollo 17 - Cernan - management
Skylab 2 - Conrad - retired, 1974 (repeat)
Skylab 3 - Bean - active
Skylab 4 - Carr - active (though unlikely to fly again)

So, 2012 - Two Shuttle CDR's remained on the active list, and four were in management (to be fair, I could see Frick or Zamka returning to active depending how NASA's plans go - they are young enough).

In 1974 four Apollo/Skylab CDR's remained active, and two were prime and backup CDR's for the remaining spaceflight - Stafford and Bean on ASTP. Leaving Young and Carr. Three others were in management positions, and one was certain to not fly again (Scott).

So, 2012 - You have six total still at NASA.

1974 - Seven total, still at NASA.

Now, had Apollo, Skylab or something continued how many of these guys honestly would have remained? I'm not sure. I don't think too many more. Its a job that wears down on you physically and emotionally. They also walked on the Moon - what do you do after that? I think the greater loss would be if shuttle PLT's and MS's leave, as did the Apollo CMP's and LMP's. The under-studies as it were. They are younger, meaning more likely to want to fly again and with spaceflight experience to carry over to new programs. A number of Apollo CMP's stuck around (not so much the LMP's, as they walked on the Moon - clearly achieving their professional goals), at least for a few years after ASTP. But gradually, from '75 to '81 you see them slip away until 1981 when only Mattingly, Lousma, Weitz and Brand remained. I hope we don't see the same in shuttle PLT's and MS's. For now at least it seems the 2000 shuttle PLT's are hanging around with a few (Ford, Virts and Wilmore) getting ISS flights. 
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 07/16/2012 02:09 pm
With Polansky's retirement, anyone know who will be named Director of Operations at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia?

Peggy Whitson has told that it will be Mark Vande Hei.

Thanks, Anik...here is a photo of the TMA-06M crew and the new Director of the Cosmonaut Training Center...

http://www.spacefacts.de/mission/alternate/photo/soyuz-tma-04m_backup_1.jpg

(Photo Courtesy of spacefacts.de)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 07/16/2012 05:58 pm
With Polansky's retirement, anyone know who will be named Director of Operations at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia?

Peggy Whitson has told that it will be Mark Vande Hei.

Thanks, Anik...here is a photo of the TMA-06M crew and the new Director of the Cosmonaut Training Center...

http://www.spacefacts.de/mission/alternate/photo/soyuz-tma-04m_backup_1.jpg

(Photo Courtesy of spacefacts.de)

Good find. Didn´t realize that. But Mr. Vande Hai is only the NASA Director of Operations at the GCTC, not the Director of the center.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 07/27/2012 01:28 pm
Today there was a welcome ceremony in Star City for the Soyuz TMA-03M crew. In the report about this, Frank DeWinne was mentioned as Director of the European Astronaut Centre. Can anyone confirm this?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 07/27/2012 02:31 pm
Today there was a welcome ceremony in Star City for the Soyuz TMA-03M crew. In the report about this, Frank DeWinne was mentioned as Director of the European Astronaut Centre. Can anyone confirm this?

De Winne has been acting head since Tognini's retirement earlier in the year... I don't know if his appointment has been made permanent.

Michael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 07/27/2012 04:14 pm
Today there was a welcome ceremony in Star City for the Soyuz TMA-03M crew. In the report about this, Frank DeWinne was mentioned as Director of the European Astronaut Centre. Can anyone confirm this?

Yes this is true !

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 07/27/2012 05:09 pm
Today there was a welcome ceremony in Star City for the Soyuz TMA-03M crew. In the report about this, Frank DeWinne was mentioned as Director of the European Astronaut Centre. Can anyone confirm this?
Yes this is true !
Thank you.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 07/30/2012 05:47 pm
According to information from the NK forum, K. Valkov has left the Cosmonaut group of the TsPK.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 08/07/2012 01:38 am
Wasn't sure if this deserved its own thread, but it impact crew assignments:

http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Russian_cosmonaut_squad_adds_up_seven_new_members_999.html

It's not so much the fact that seven new Cosmonauts were selected, but what is this part:

Quote
"Up to date, twelve cosmonauts have been transferred to the reserve. In August, five more people will be relieved from their military duties. After that, there will be no more people in military ranks but only civilians," the center said.

....

 Roscosmos then announced that only civilian candidates could apply for the cosmonaut positions.

Meanwhile, all cosmonauts were offered to either retire from the Armed Forces or to quit the cosmonaut team. The decision has affected in total about 200 people, including both cosmonauts and workers.

Is this accurate? This seems a little odd, for the Cosmonaut Corps to be totally demilitarized. Also it makes joining the Cosmonaut Corps a more risky proposition, given the attrition rate of Cosmonaut candidates.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: DeanG1967 on 08/07/2012 01:42 am
To be fair about the retired shuttle CDR list, compare it to say, the number of Apollo CDR's remaining a year after Skylab 4, when just ASTP was left to fly - February 1975. The time frame of 1968 - 1975 is also comparable to the RTF period - 2005 - 2012.

Can we do the same comparison of pilots that never made it to the left seat and see how many of them are still active (e.g. Dutton, etc)?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 08/07/2012 04:31 am
Wasn't sure if this deserved its own thread, but it impact crew assignments:

http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Russian_cosmonaut_squad_adds_up_seven_new_members_999.html

It's not so much the fact that seven new Cosmonauts were selected, but what is this part:

Quote
"Up to date, twelve cosmonauts have been transferred to the reserve. In August, five more people will be relieved from their military duties. After that, there will be no more people in military ranks but only civilians," the center said.

....

 Roscosmos then announced that only civilian candidates could apply for the cosmonaut positions.

Meanwhile, all cosmonauts were offered to either retire from the Armed Forces or to quit the cosmonaut team. The decision has affected in total about 200 people, including both cosmonauts and workers.

Is this accurate? This seems a little odd, for the Cosmonaut Corps to be totally demilitarized. Also it makes joining the Cosmonaut Corps a more risky proposition, given the attrition rate of Cosmonaut candidates.

Some of this report is inaccurate.  The seven 2010 candidates underwent their final exams July 31-August 1, but only four passed.  Two are being held over for some additional training, and one has to be completely re-examined in October.  (Courtesy of Novosti Kosmonavtiki's site.)

The complete transition of the Gagarin Center to civilian Roskosmos control has been going on for three years -- the cosmonaut teams (Gagarin military and Energiya civilian) were consolidated in early 2011, though Kaleri and Vinogradov remain cosmonauts assigned to Energiya.

Although apparently all of the active duty military officers in the cosmonaut unit will be offered the chance to retire or resign or otherwise transition to civilian status, it is entirely possible, one says, that some may not be hired by Roskosmos.

I don't see how this makes joining the cosmonaut team "risky" -- both military and civilian candidates have failed in the past, and while I haven't sat down to do the figures, my sense is that, historically, the success rate is higher for the civilians.

Michael Cassutt

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 08/07/2012 12:27 pm

I don't see how this makes joining the cosmonaut team "risky" -- both military and civilian candidates have failed in the past, and while I haven't sat down to do the figures, my sense is that, historically, the success rate is higher for the civilians.



Risky in the sense that the military candidates at least aren't giving up their career to become Cosmonauts. If they fail, they still retain their military rank.

However, as you stated, the "100% civilian" approach is not totally accurate.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 08/07/2012 06:58 pm
According to this:

http://www.collectspace.com/ubb/Forum38/HTML/001543.html

Dan Tani's departure from CB is imminent.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 08/11/2012 07:05 am
CollectSpace is reporting the appointment of Bob Behnken to replace Peggy Whitson as Chief of the Astronaut Office.

http://www.collectspace.com/ubb/Forum38/HTML/001549.html

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 08/13/2012 03:10 pm
I was told that ISS-42/43 crew (launch in November 2014) will be Zalyotin/Cristoforetti/Virts and ISS-43/44 crew (launch in March 2015) will be Lonchakov/Ovchinin/NASA astronaut. Does someone have exact information that NASA astronaut in ISS-43/44 crew will be Lindgren?

Update from someone: It will be Lindgren indeed.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: collectSPACE on 08/13/2012 05:24 pm
CollectSpace is reporting the appointment of Bob Behnken to replace Peggy Whitson as Chief of the Astronaut Office.

Now with NASA's confirmation...

NASA names new Chief Astronaut: Shuttle veteran succeeds station record setter
http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-081312a.html

NASA's astronauts have a new chief.

Peggy Whitson, who three years ago was named the 13th Chief of the Astronaut Office, making her the first woman to lead the U.S. Astronaut Corps, stepped down in July, a spokesman at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston confirmed for collectSPACE.com.

Space shuttle veteran Robert Behnken, who most recently served as one of Whitson's deputies, has been named the new Chief Astronaut.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 08/13/2012 05:49 pm
ORBITAL NAMES DANIEL TANI VICE PRESIDENT OF MISSION AND CARGO OPERATIONS

-- Former NASA Astronaut Rejoins Orbital at Company’s Dulles, Virginia
Headquarters --

(Dulles, VA 13 August 2012) – Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE: ORB)
announced today that Mr. Daniel Tani has rejoined the company as Vice
President of Mission and Cargo Operations in the Advanced Programs Group,
based in Dulles, Virginia.  Mr. Tani will support cargo and mission
operations activities for Orbital’s Commercial Orbital Transportation
Services (COTS) shared research and development program demonstration
mission with NASA, as well as the Commercial Resupply Services (CRS)
program missions that will provide a U.S.-developed capability to supply
the International Space Station (ISS) with vital consumables, scientific
instruments and other life-sustaining supplies.  He will also support
independent reviews of selected high-value Orbital programs.

“Orbital was very proud of Dan when he was selected as an astronaut 16
years ago,” said Mr. Frank Culbertson, Senior Vice President and Deputy
General Manager of Orbital’s Advanced Programs Group. “We are equally proud
of his return to the company after such a distinguished NASA career. Dan’s
leadership and engineering capabilities will be a tremendous addition to
our team, and his personal experience in human spaceflight will be
invaluable in helping us be successful in delivering cargo to the ISS.”

Prior to rejoining Orbital, Mr. Tani had a distinguished career as a NASA
astronaut. Tani was selected as a NASA astronaut candidate in 1996 and for
the next 16 years gained extensive spaceflight experience.  He flew as a
crew member aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavor, and also served as an ISS
crew member in a separate mission, enabling him to log a total of 131 days
in space.  He served as the flight engineer on STS-108 in 2001, supporting
an ISS crew exchange and the delivery of a Multipurpose Logistics Module,
which carried over three tons of supplies, logistics and science
experiments.  Tani also completed a spacewalk on that flight to support
maintenance of the ISS electrical power system.  On his second spaceflight,
Tani served as Expedition-16 Flight Engineer and spent 120 days living and
working aboard the ISS.  During his tour of duty aboard the station, he
performed numerous robotic operations in support of the installation and
checkout of the newly delivered Node-2.  During his two flights, Tani
logged a total of 34 hours and 59 minutes in five spacewalks.

Commenting on his new position, Mr. Tani stated, “I’m thrilled to be
returning to Orbital.  When I first joined the company in 1988, it was the
most innovative aerospace company in the industry.  In the time I have been
with NASA, Orbital has not only further established itself as an industry
leader with a vast product line and excellent performance record but has
retained its innovative and entrepreneurial cultures.  I look forward to
bringing my experience as a NASA astronaut back to Orbital as we prepare
for the first launch and berthing of the Cygnus cargo vehicle to the ISS.”

Prior to joining the NASA astronaut office, Mr. Tami was an engineer at
Orbital, serving initially as a senior structures engineer, and then as the
mission operations manager for the Transfer Orbit Stage (TOS) in-orbit
propulsion system.  In that role, he served as the TOS flight operations
lead, working with NASA-Johnson Space Center mission control in support of
the deployment of the Advanced Communication Technology Satellite
(ACTS)/TOS payload during the STS-51 mission in September 1993.  He then
moved to Orbital’s Pegasus rocket program as the launch operations manager.
In that capacity, he served as lead for development of procedures and
constraints for the unmanned, air-launched Pegasus rocket.

Mr. Tani received Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in mechanical
engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1984 and 1988,
respectively.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: international on 08/19/2012 01:27 am
I'm gonna make a perdiction for the crew for the SOYUZ TMA-17M
SOYUZ CDR. Mikhail Korniyenko (RSA)
SOYUZ flight/board engineer Roberto Vittori (ESA)
SOYUZ flight engineer Tony Antonelli (NASA)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 08/19/2012 02:24 am
I'm gonna make a perdiction for the crew for the SOYUZ TMA-17M
SOYUZ CDR. Mikhail Korniyenko (RSA)
SOYUZ flight/board engineer Roberto Vittori (ESA)
SOYUZ flight engineer Tony Antonelli (NASA)

May 2015 is not European seat, but Japanese seat. Also it is not decided yet when year flight will begin. Possibly in May 2015, so there can be Russian cosmonaut and Peggy Whitson.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 08/19/2012 08:47 am
Anik, is the year-long flight definitely going ahead? I did hear that it 'may' have been one of the reasons why Whitson stood down as chief.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 08/19/2012 09:01 am
is the year-long flight definitely going ahead?

Let's wait for NASA press-release, I hope, in September.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 08/19/2012 02:00 pm
Speaking of 2015 crews: any decision yet on the fifth Soyuz and the related ESA crew slot? How may the year-long flight fit in that discussion?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 08/19/2012 10:27 pm
I'm gonna make a perdiction for the crew for the SOYUZ TMA-17M
SOYUZ CDR. Mikhail Korniyenko (RSA)
SOYUZ flight/board engineer Roberto Vittori (ESA)
SOYUZ flight engineer Tony Antonelli (NASA)

My prediction:

Soyuz CDR Mikhail Kornienko (RSA)
FE: Frederick Sturckow (NASA)
FE: Takuya Onishi (JAXA).
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: expedition on 08/20/2012 09:36 pm
I wonder who the crew for the SOYUZ TMA-18M will be!!!
Does anyone wanna take a guess??
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 08/21/2012 12:37 am
I wonder who the crew for the SOYUZ TMA-18M will be!!!
Does anyone wanna take a guess??

I'll bite.

Soyuz CDR: Sergei Ryzhikov
FE: Oleg Shripochka
FE: Peggy Whitson.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 08/21/2012 02:31 am
With 3 long duration expeditions to Mir and 2 additional expeditions to ISS totaling 769 days in orbit, anyone know why Aleksandr Kaleri has yet to command an expedition crew?

Is he still eligible to fly?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: expedition on 08/21/2012 08:41 pm
I know expedition 50 is a long way off but i wonder who the crew will be and what the mission patch will look like!!!

Does anyone know how I can submit a mission patch??
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 08/22/2012 08:29 am
According to http://www.interfax.ru/society/news.asp?id=261630, the next ISS spaceflight participant will be possibly Sarah Brightman in 2015.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Brightman
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 08/22/2012 09:14 am
I assume this is the scenario of an extra Soyuz for tourist travel purpose ?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Fuji on 08/23/2012 12:36 am
May be this solves the mystery.

Russia, US to free spacecraft seats for tourists in 2015
http://english.ruvr.ru/2012_08_22/Russia-US-to-free-spacecraft-seats-for-tourists-in-2015/
Quote
A source with the Russian space agency told Interfax that the long expedition would make it possible to have vacant seats in the Soyuz spacecraft, which would continue to fly regularly to the ISS four times a year.
The free seats would be sold to space tourists, the source said.

NASA has already chosen Peggy Whitson, who completed two space missions and made six spacewalks, as the astronaut for the 12-month mission in 2015.

The Russian space agency has not chosen the cosmonaut for this mission yet.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 08/23/2012 06:57 am
So that makes two tourists seats
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 08/23/2012 07:00 am
http://news.yahoo.com/singer-sarah-brightman-may-russias-next-space-tourist-135239467.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: A_M_Swallow on 08/23/2012 11:58 pm
http://news.yahoo.com/singer-sarah-brightman-may-russias-next-space-tourist-135239467.html

How can she afford that trip?  Sarah Brightman's fortune is only estimated to be £30 million.  The Russians charge $20 to $60 million.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Brightman (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Brightman)

She sang I Lost My Heart to a Starship Trouper (http://www.sfport.net/video/637924:Video:13542)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 08/24/2012 05:48 am
The current procedure for crew exchange would have to be altered. If a space tourist were to fly to the ISS under the present system, the next return trip wouldn't be for 2 1/2 months. How would they return to earth and with whom? Presumably the tourist would ride up with 2 new crewmembers before the ones they were replacing had flown home. That would increase the crew size to 9 for a while if my math is correct. Unless I'm missing something.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: tonyq on 08/24/2012 08:59 am
The current procedure for crew exchange would have to be altered. If a space tourist were to fly to the ISS under the present system, the next return trip wouldn't be for 2 1/2 months. How would they return to earth and with whom? Presumably the tourist would ride up with 2 new crewmembers before the ones they were replacing had flown home. That would increase the crew size to 9 for a while if my math is correct. Unless I'm missing something.

There is very detailed and well informed analysis of all the options on L2.

It is very much more complex than your hypothesis!!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 08/24/2012 01:38 pm
The current procedure for crew exchange would have to be altered. If a space tourist were to fly to the ISS under the present system, the next return trip wouldn't be for 2 1/2 months. How would they return to earth and with whom? Presumably the tourist would ride up with 2 new crewmembers before the ones they were replacing had flown home. That would increase the crew size to 9 for a while if my math is correct. Unless I'm missing something.

There is very detailed and well informed analysis of all the options on L2.

It is very much more complex than your hypothesis!!

I cannot access L2.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aquarius on 08/24/2012 04:21 pm
http://news.yahoo.com/singer-sarah-brightman-may-russias-next-space-tourist-135239467.html

How can she afford that trip?  Sarah Brightman's fortune is only estimated to be £30 million.  The Russians charge $20 to $60 million.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Brightman (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Brightman)

She sang I Lost My Heart to a Starship Trouper (http://www.sfport.net/video/637924:Video:13542)

Are you sure it's 60 million? Because the last tourist Laliberte paid 35 million.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: DavisSTS on 08/24/2012 05:32 pm
The current procedure for crew exchange would have to be altered. If a space tourist were to fly to the ISS under the present system, the next return trip wouldn't be for 2 1/2 months. How would they return to earth and with whom? Presumably the tourist would ride up with 2 new crewmembers before the ones they were replacing had flown home. That would increase the crew size to 9 for a while if my math is correct. Unless I'm missing something.

There is very detailed and well informed analysis of all the options on L2.

It is very much more complex than your hypothesis!!

I cannot access L2.

Sign up. It'll be the best decision you've ever made on the interweb! :)

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/l2/

L2 also had the Brightman info before the Russian media :o
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: A_M_Swallow on 08/25/2012 12:03 am
http://news.yahoo.com/singer-sarah-brightman-may-russias-next-space-tourist-135239467.html

How can she afford that trip?  Sarah Brightman's fortune is only estimated to be £30 million.  The Russians charge $20 to $60 million.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Brightman (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Brightman)

She sang I Lost My Heart to a Starship Trouper (http://www.sfport.net/video/637924:Video:13542)

Are you sure it's 60 million? Because the last tourist Laliberte paid 35 million.

The $60 million was based on what NASA is paying the Russians.  (This MSNBC news report makes it $63 million.)  I suppose the pretty girl may have negotiated a discount.
Quote
Until they are ready, NASA is paying Russia about $63 million per astronaut to do the job.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/48487730/ns/technology_and_science-science/t/nasa-picks-private-firms-develop-space-taxis/#.UDgU4KCEaSE (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/48487730/ns/technology_and_science-science/t/nasa-picks-private-firms-develop-space-taxis/#.UDgU4KCEaSE)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: expedition on 08/25/2012 06:28 pm
Does anyone know how I can submit a patch design??
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: expedition on 08/26/2012 06:41 pm
the 1st half of expedition 44 (Lochakov, Ovchinin and Lindgren) has been asigned, does anyone know if the remainder of the expedition 44 has been asigned?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: wjbarnett on 08/28/2012 12:19 pm
Detailed and interesting article by JimO: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/48807002/ns/technology_and_science-space/#.UDyzlaPl8_c

Anyone able to speculate/confirm who was thrown off a station expedition due to excess radiation risk?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 08/28/2012 02:18 pm
Detailed and interesting article by JimO: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/48807002/ns/technology_and_science-space/#.UDyzlaPl8_c

Anyone able to speculate/confirm who was thrown off a station expedition due to excess radiation risk?

There have been several -- Don Thomas and Carlos Noriega are two that come to mind.

Michael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 08/30/2012 04:43 pm
Detailed and interesting article by JimO: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/48807002/ns/technology_and_science-space/#.UDyzlaPl8_c

Anyone able to speculate/confirm who was thrown off a station expedition due to excess radiation risk?

There have been several -- Don Thomas and Carlos Noriega are two that come to mind.

Michael Cassutt

Noriega? Oh. I knew about Thomas, but it escaped my attention that Noriega was even considered for an Expedition. Interesting information.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 08/30/2012 05:13 pm
Detailed and interesting article by JimO: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/48807002/ns/technology_and_science-space/#.UDyzlaPl8_c

Anyone able to speculate/confirm who was thrown off a station expedition due to excess radiation risk?

There have been several -- Don Thomas and Carlos Noriega are two that come to mind.

Michael Cassutt

Noriega? Oh. I knew about Thomas, but it escaped my attention that Noriega was even considered for an Expedition. Interesting information.

Noriega at one point was on the Expedition 6 backup crew with Don Pettit (who eventually replaced Don Thomas on the prime crew). I think Cosmonaut Salizhan Sharipov was the third member of that crew.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 08/30/2012 06:25 pm
John Herrington was also in training for an ISS expedition at one point. Not sure if he wound up not flying for the same reason.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 08/30/2012 09:09 pm

Noriega at one point was on the Expedition 6 backup crew with Don Pettit (who eventually replaced Don Thomas on the prime crew). I think Cosmonaut Salizhan Sharipov was the third member of that crew.

Just see at: http://lk.astronautilus.pl/loty/isscrew.htm#06
Above info is correct!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 08/30/2012 10:23 pm
John Herrington was also in training for an ISS expedition at one point. Not sure if he wound up not flying for the same reason.

Herrington was aimed at ISS-13, but had to withdraw for medical reasons other than cumulative radiation exposure, but with bone density.  (He has talked about it.)

Michael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 09/05/2012 03:43 pm
Dmitriy Kondratyev has left the Roskosmos cosmonaut group on July 25th. It was his own wish. So he will not fly to ISS with Elena Serova in September 2014.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: expedition on 09/05/2012 09:30 pm
so who will replace Kondrotyiev?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 09/05/2012 10:04 pm
Dmitriy Kondratyev has left the Roskosmos cosmonaut group on July 25th. It was his own wish. So he will not fly to ISS with Elena Serova in September 2014.

With the flight still 2 years away, is it possible the back-up CDR (Lonchakov) will replace him on the flight crew?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 09/06/2012 08:54 pm
Is Aleksandr Samokutyayev the replacement for Dmitriy Kondratyev CDR seat in Soyuz TMA-12 back-up crew & Soyuz TMA-14 prime crew?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Spiff on 09/13/2012 12:49 pm
According to spacefacts.de he is. But I don't know where they got this info.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 09/13/2012 01:40 pm
But I don't know where they got this info

From here (http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=740.msg951050#msg951050).
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 09/13/2012 02:14 pm
According to spacefacts.de he is. But I don't know where they got this info.
Maybe from http://anik1982space.narod.ru/plan.pdf ?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: expedition on 09/18/2012 04:19 am
does anyone know when the next 3 crew members will be asigned?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 09/20/2012 06:54 am
Sandra Magnus will leave NASA.
https://www.aiaa.org/SecondaryTwoColumn.aspx?id=13857
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: MATTBLAK on 09/20/2012 07:38 am
Sad to hear she's leaving NASA. But with a good spaceflight career behind her and a long wait for another flight, this is not unexpected. I'm glad I got to meet her in 2007 and then see her and her Atlantis crewmates do their final walkout and launch in 2011!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 09/26/2012 05:34 pm
*** MEDIA ADVISORY ***

EXCLUSIVE INTERNATIONAL PRESS CONFERENCE WITH GLOBAL RECORDING ARTIST SARAH BRIGHTMAN TO TAKE PLACE ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2012

Press Conference To Be Hosted By Mikhail Gendelev

WHAT:
Sarah Brightman will be in Moscow to make a 'groundbreaking' announcement.

WHEN:
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Media Check-in - 3:00 p.m. (MSK - Moscow time)
Press Conference Begins - 4:00 p.m. (MSK - Moscow time) / 8:00 a.m. (EDT)

WHO:
Sarah Brightman – world’s biggest selling Soprano; UNESCO Artist for Peace
Mikhail Gendelev –  The MC "Morning in the big country" on the Petersburg channel 5.  TV Presenter of the program «All inclusive» on channel Russia2.
Eric Anderson – Chairman, Space Adventures, Ltd.

WHERE:
Swissotel Krasnye Holmy Moscow
Kosmodamianskaya nab., 52 bld. 6 ▪ 115054 Moscow ▪ Russia

The press conference will be Streamed LIVE. Please RSVP for further information.

RSVP FOR MOSCOW EVENT:         
SPN Ogilvy & Mather
Anastasiya Gordeeva
[email protected]
+7 (812) 380 00 07

RSVP FOR LIVE STREAM:     
Space Adventures
Stacey Tearne
[email protected]
www.spaceadventures.com
+1 (202) 256 7917

*ALL RSVP REQUESTS MUST BE CONFIRMED PRIOR TO EVENT*

Note for Moscow event: For TV and Radio Crews: Audio mult-box will be available.

About Sarah Brightman:

International singing superstar Sarah Brightman is the world's biggest selling Soprano. She pioneered the classical crossover music movement and is famed for possessing a vocal range of over 3 octaves. Sarah is the only artist to have simultaneously topped the Billboard dance and classical music charts.

Sarah’s work transcends any specific musical genre, synthesizing many influences and inspirations into a unique sound and vision. She remains among the world’s most prominent performers, with global sales of 30 million units having received more than 180 gold and platinum awards in over 40 countries.

Brightman was also the first artist to have been invited to perform at the Olympic Games on two occasions. The first was at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games and then 16 years later in Beijing.

Brightman recently accepted the UNESCO nomination to be an “Artist For Peace” Ambassador in 2012 for her “commitment to humanitarian and charitable causes". She has appeared in several films, including Repo! The Genetic Opera (2008), directed by Darren Lynn Bousman, and Stephen Evans' First Night (2011). She is currently working on her highly anticipated new album to be released late 2012, with a world tour soon to be announced.

# # #
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 09/27/2012 12:38 am
Might be worth a live thread for that event, seen as it'll be streamed.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 10/01/2012 02:54 pm
NASA astronauts Barry Wilmore and Terry Verts start preparation for flight in CTC Russia.
 http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=1656
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 10/01/2012 11:06 pm
In addition to Wilmore and Virts, who are the others in this photo?
Thanks.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aquarius on 10/02/2012 03:49 pm
In addition to Wilmore and Virts, who are the others in this photo?
Thanks.

The woman is probably an interpreter.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Fuji on 10/04/2012 09:27 pm
Today, JAXA officially announced Kimiya Yui is assigned as Expedition 44/45 crew.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 10/05/2012 05:20 am
October 05, 2012 (JST)

Astronaut Kimiya Yui Selected as Member of ISS Expedition Crew

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) would like to announce that Astronaut Kimiya Yui has been selected as a crewmember for the 44th/45th Expedition Mission to the International Space Station (ISS).

Astronaut Yui was selected as an astronaut candidate in February 2009, and then, certified as an ISS astronaut in July 2011 after completion of all basic training requirements.Since then, he has continued to maintain and improve his qualities as an ISS astronaut through various training such as the 16th NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations (NEEMO 16) conducted at the underwater laboratory in the United States.

For Astronaut Yui, this long duration stay aboard the ISS will be his first space flight.

Period of stay at the ISS:
About 6 months from around June in 2015

Transportation and from to the ISS:
Launch and return by Soyuz spacecraft

Major tasks at the ISS:
During the 44th/45th Expedition Mission, he will be in charge of ISS operations as a flight engineer, and science experiments using the space environment.

Astronaut Yui's schedule in tha near future:
He will begin training necessary for the Soyuz trip and ISS expedition missions in October 2012.

Attached reference:
Brief Personal History of Astronaut Yui
http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2012/10/20121005_yui_e.html#ref1
JAXA's Astronauts onboard the ISS
http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2012/10/20121005_yui_e.html#ref2
JAXA President's Statement
http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2012/10/20121005_yui_e.html#ref3
Determination to Become Expedition Crew by Kimiya Yui
http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2012/10/20121005_yui_e.html#ref4

Reference Link:
International Space Station / Kibo website
http://iss.jaxa.jp/en/

URL:
http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2012/10/20121005_yui_e.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 10/08/2012 04:36 pm
Watch live as Sarah Brightman makes a groundbreaking announcement.

Sarah Brightman
International singing superstar Sarah Brightman will be hosting a press conference on Wednesday October 10, to make a ground breaking announcement.  Sarah will be joined by Eric Anderson, Chairman and CEO of Space Adventures.


You can watch the event live on her YouTube channel (www.YouTube.com/SarahBrightman), beginning at 4:00 p.m. MSK/8:00 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, October 10.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 10/10/2012 09:39 am
According to NK forum, Oleg Skripochka will perform year-long flight on ISS, Peggy Whitson will not fly.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 10/10/2012 11:41 am
According to NK forum, Oleg Skripochka will perform year-long flight on ISS, Peggy Whitson will not fly.

Not? NOT?

 ???

I hope they will state on that press conference how long Madame Castafiore will stay on the ISS -- that will give rise to selecting a probable crew roation scheme, I guess . . .
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: collectSPACE on 10/10/2012 01:57 pm
I hope they will state on that press conference how long Madame Castafiore will stay on the ISS --

From the press release:

During her estimated 10-day tenure on board the space station...

Brightman went on to say during the press conference, "the final scheduling and details of my trip by Soyuz rocket to the International Space Station will be determined very shortly by Roscosmos and the ISS partners."
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 10/10/2012 02:08 pm
I hope they will state on that press conference how long Madame Castafiore will stay on the ISS --

From the press release:

During her estimated 10-day tenure on board the space station...

Brightman went on to say during the press conference, "the final scheduling and details of my trip by Soyuz rocket to the International Space Station will be determined very shortly by Roscosmos and the ISS partners."

Damn . . .

;)

There was an extremely interesting crew rotation scheme discussion taking place on L2 recently with input from well informed sources -- but the scenarios developed there were all based on a two-month-trip for the tourists. It seems we can forget about that now . . .
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 10/10/2012 02:52 pm
Aleksey Krasnov from Roskosmos has told that year-long flight will begin in March 2015; Sarah Brightman will fly to ISS by ten days in October 2015; ISS Expedition crews for 2015 will be announced till December 2012; US astronaut for year-long flight was replaced due to some kind of problems (Whitson, obviously); candidate for the third seat in October 2015 will be decided (tourist or astronaut).
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 10/10/2012 05:04 pm
Photos from today's event: http://photo.qip.ru/users/anik1982/4138968/
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 10/10/2012 08:48 pm
Thank you for the photos Anik !!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 10/21/2012 11:12 am
Robert Navias has told me today at Baikonur cosmodrome that the crew for year-long spaceflight to ISS will be announced in three weeks.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 10/21/2012 02:50 pm
Robert Navias has told me today at Baikonur cosmodrome that the crew for year-long spaceflight to ISS will be announced in three weeks.

Was Oleg Skripochka "unofficially" assigned to this crew?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 10/25/2012 06:40 pm
Aleksey Krasnov from Roskosmos has told today that the crew for year-long spaceflight to ISS will be announced in the middle of November.

Was Oleg Skripochka "unofficially" assigned to this crew?

He is one of candidates.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 11/26/2012 11:10 am
According to http://www.federalspace.ru/main.php?id=2&nid=19715, Mikhail Kornienko and Scott Kelly have been chosen as candidates for year-long spaceflight on board ISS from spring of 2015 till spring of 2016. Their preparation to flight will begin next year.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 11/26/2012 11:14 am
And the NASA release:

Nov. 26, 2012


RELEASE: 12-406

NASA, ROSCOSMOS ASSIGN VETERAN CREW TO YEAR-LONG SPACE STATION MISSION

WASHINGTON -- NASA, the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos), and
their international partners have selected two veteran spacefarers
for a one-year mission aboard the International Space Station in
2015. This mission will include collecting scientific data important
to future human exploration of our solar system. NASA has selected
Scott Kelly and Roscosmos has chosen Mikhail Kornienko.

Kelly and Kornienko will launch aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft from
the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan in spring 2015 and will land in
Kazakhstan in spring 2016. Kelly and Kornienko already have a
connection; Kelly was a backup crew member for the station's
Expedition 23/24 crews, where Kornienko served as a flight engineer.

The goal of their yearlong expedition aboard the orbiting laboratory
is to understand better how the human body reacts and adapts to the
harsh environment of space. Data from the 12-month expedition will
help inform current assessments of crew performance and health and
will determine better and validate countermeasures to reduce the
risks associated with future exploration as NASA plans for missions
around the moon, an asteroid and ultimately Mars.

"Congratulations to Scott and Mikhail on their selection for this
important mission," said William Gerstenmaier, associate
administrator for Human Exploration and Operations at NASA
Headquarters in Washington. "Their skills and previous experience
aboard the space station align with the mission's requirements. The
one-year increment will expand the bounds of how we live and work in
space and will increase our knowledge regarding the effects of
microgravity on humans as we prepare for future missions beyond
low-Earth orbit."

"Selection of the candidate for the one year mission was thorough and
difficult due to the number of suitable candidates from the Cosmonaut
corps," said head of Russian Federal Space Agency, Vladimir Popovkin.
"We have chosen the most responsible, skilled and enthusiastic crew
members to expand space exploration, and we have full confidence in
them."

Kelly, a captain in the U.S. Navy, is from Orange, N.J. He has degrees
from the State University of New York Maritime College and the
University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He served as a pilot on space
shuttle mission STS-103 in 1999, commander on STS-118 in 2007, flight
engineer on the International Space Station Expedition 25 in 2010 and
commander of Expedition 26 in 2011. Kelly has logged more than 180
days in space.

Kornienko is from the Syzran, Kuibyshev region of Russia. He is a
former paratrooper officer and graduated from the Moscow Aviation
Institute as a specialist in airborne systems. He has worked in the
space industry since 1986 when he worked at Rocket and Space
Corporation-Energia as a spacewalk handbook specialist. He was
selected as an Energia test cosmonaut candidate in 1998 and trained
as an International Space Station Expedition 8 backup crew member.
Kornienko served as a flight engineer on the station's Expedition
23/24 crews in 2010 and has logged more than 176 days in space.

During the 12 years of permanent human presence aboard the
International Space Station, scientists and researchers have gained
valuable, and often surprising, data on the effects of microgravity
on bone density, muscle mass, strength, vision and other aspects of
human physiology. This yearlong stay will allow for greater analysis
of these effects and trends.

Kelly and Kornienko will begin a two-year training program in the
United States, Russia and other partner nations starting early next
year.

For Kelly's biographical information, visit:

http://go.nasa.gov/SKelly

For Kornienko's biographical information, visit:

http://go.nasa.gov/MKornienko

For more information about the Russian Federal Space Agency, visit:

http://www.roscosmos.ru/

For more information about the International Space Station, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/station

Join the conversation on Twitter by following the hashtag #ISS. To
learn more about all the ways to Connect and Collaborate with NASA,
visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/connect


-end-

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: zt on 11/26/2012 01:53 pm
So both candidates have half a year in space. There is a bunch of active astronauts and cosmonauts with more time in space. I suppose that's the next experiment.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 11/26/2012 04:59 pm
Congrats Kelly and Kornienko on pulling this assignment! In addition to spending a year on the ISS, both should get to fly with Sarah Brightman (assuming she flies at all).

I wouldn't have predicted either Kelly or Kornienko for a year long mission - I'd have predicted someone like Kaleri or Padalka for the Russian candidate, and Barratt or Fincke for the US candidate.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 11/27/2012 03:39 am
The above news with a NEA angle:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/11/long-duration-iss-crew-foundations-beo-missions/
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 11/27/2012 07:28 am
Congrats Kelly and Kornienko on pulling this assignment! In addition to spending a year on the ISS, both should get to fly with Sarah Brightman (assuming she flies at all).

Oh, dear -- You consider that to be some kind of an asset? Well, I imagine Biance Castafiore riding along with Captain Haddock in that red and white chequered rocket -- never happened in "Explorers on the moon", but reality can be stranger than . . . comics?

;)

OK, being mean here -- sorry!

Seriously, the assignment is exciting news, but I am even more curious on how the international partners will sort out flight crew assignments and traffic plans for the ISS during the timeframe in question . . ! That is gonna be a hard nut to crack.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 11/27/2012 02:52 pm
Oh, dear -- You consider that to be some kind of an asset?

Heh, I don't remember saying that. ;)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: A_M_Swallow on 11/28/2012 02:35 am
Oh, dear -- You consider that to be some kind of an asset?

Heh, I don't remember saying that. ;)

It could be far worse - she is a pretty girl.  For instance Elton John may want to sing 'Rocket Man' in orbit.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: billshap on 11/29/2012 10:49 pm
Wasn't Peggy Whitson considered a strong candidate for the long-duration assignment?  If so, what happened?  Who else was given serious consideration?  Who else wanted it?  What got Scott Kelly the nod?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 11/30/2012 02:58 pm
Wasn't Peggy Whitson considered a strong candidate for the long-duration assignment?  If so, what happened?  Who else was given serious consideration?  Who else wanted it?  What got Scott Kelly the nod?

My 2-cent guess is that Whitson wanted the assignment but didn't want to appoint herself (which she probably could have). She stepped down as office chief in order to make herself available with no preconditions with her chosen successor (Behnken). For whatever reason(s) he chose Kelly. I think there's a good chance she will fly another expedition at some point.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: geminy007 on 11/30/2012 03:15 pm
Wasn't Peggy Whitson considered a strong candidate for the long-duration assignment?  If so, what happened?  Who else was given serious consideration?  Who else wanted it?  What got Scott Kelly the nod?

My 2-cent guess is that Whitson wanted the assignment but didn't want to appoint herself (which she probably could have). She stepped down as office chief in order to make herself available with no preconditions with her chosen successor (Behnken). For whatever reason(s) he chose Kelly. I think there's a good chance she will fly another expedition at some point.

Maybe she will join them as expedtion cdr on one of the crews...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 11/30/2012 08:09 pm
Kelly was until recently Chief of the ISS Operations Branch. Plus he is relatively current in expedition training.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 11/30/2012 08:54 pm
Peggy Whiston may fly on Soyuz TMA-17M with Japanese rookie Kimiya Yui with Russian CDR...no info about this crew yet except Yui assignment!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 12/19/2012 09:12 pm
NASA Astronaut David Wolf Leaves Agency
PR Newswire

HOUSTON, Dec. 19, 2012

HOUSTON, Dec. 19, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- NASA astronaut David Wolf has left the agency to return to private industry. Wolf is a veteran of five space shuttle flights and a long-duration mission on the Russian Space Station Mir.

"I had the pleasure of working with Dave for years," said Bob Behnken, chief of the Astronaut Office at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. "His leadership and expertise within our spacewalking community was critical to the success of many shuttle and station missions. We wish him the best in this new phase of his career, and we will miss him greatly."

Wolf earned a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from Purdue University and a doctor of medicine from Indiana University. He joined NASA in 1983, and was selected to the astronaut corps in 1990. Before flying in space, he served in multiple technical roles supporting Johnson Space Center's Medical Services Division.

In 2011, Wolf was inducted into the Space Foundation's Space Technology Hall of Fame for his work in developing the bioreactor, a device that enables the growth of tissue, cancer tumors and virus cultures outside the body in space and on Earth.

Wolf flew on five separate shuttle flights and spent 128 days aboard Mir during NASA-MIR 6 in 1996. During NASA-MIR 6, he conducted one spacewalk during the mission, using the Russian Orlan spacesuit.

He ends his NASA career after completing seven spacewalks, using both the American and Russian spacesuits, and having logged 47 hours, 5 minutes of extravehicular activity.

For Wolf's complete biography, visit: http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/wolf.html

NASA Johnson Space Center news releases and other information are available automatically by sending an Internet electronic mail message to [email protected].  In the body of the message (not the subject line) users should type "subscribe hsfnews" (no quotes). This will add the email address that sent the subscribe message to the news release distribution list. The system will reply with a confirmation via E-mail of each subscription.  Once you have subscribed you will receive future news releases via e-mail.


SOURCE NASA

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Galactic Penguin SST on 12/19/2012 10:07 pm
And Sandy Magnus is leaving NASA too.....

NASA Astronaut Sandra Magnus Leaves Agency

HOUSTON -- NASA astronaut Sandra Magnus has left the agency, ending a career that included more than 157 days in space, including 12 days in orbit on STS-135, the capstone mission of the Space Shuttle Program.

A veteran of four space shuttle flights, Magnus also was a flight engineer during Expedition 18, spending four and a half months on the International Space Station, where she completed experiments and other work vital to the health of the orbiting laboratory complex.

"Sandy's leadership within the astronaut office will be deeply missed. She's been an outspoken advocate for the International Space Station and for our office," said Bob Behnken, chief of the Astronaut Office at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. "Her technical knowledge and critical thinking will be very hard to replace."

Magnus earned both bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Missouri - Rolla. Magnus also earned a doctorate from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Magnus filled many roles during her NASA career including working at NASA Headquarters in the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate and finally as the deputy chief of the Astronaut Office. Magnus, last day was Oct. 19.

For Magnus' complete biography, visit: http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/magnus.html

Source NASA JSC
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 12/21/2012 08:59 pm
Canadian astronauts could be grounded for years after next mission

"According to our agreement on the International Space Station we don't have a flight -- beyond Chris Hadfield -- before the end of the decade," Gilles Leclerc, the Canadian Space Agency's director-general of space exploration, said in an interview.

"We've used up all our credits for transport of Canadian astronauts to the International Space Station," Leclerc said. "We're trying to negotiate a flight before 2019, obviously."


More info http://bit.ly/u1O0gQ

"According to the present manifest, Hadfield’s voyage is the last ISS mission for Canada, which has used all of its assigned crew positions under original intergovernmental agreements. Its astronauts have directly participated in six Shuttle assembly missions—including Hadfield’s pair of EVAs to install the Canadarm2 robotic manipulator on STS-100 in April 2001—and with today’s launch have now supported two long-duration expeditions. However, with the unannounced, but expected, extension of station operations beyond the nominal 2020 end-of-life, it would appear that a further Canadian long-duration crew position has been added to Expedition 62/63 in December 2019–June 2020. Although crew assignments for this mission are a long way off, it seems likely that the prime contenders are Canada’s newest astronauts, Jeremy Hansen and David Saint-Jacques."

source (http://www.americaspace.org/?p=28729)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 12/21/2012 09:05 pm
source (http://www.americaspace.org/?p=28729)

And that AmericaSpace article appears to have just copied from my NSF article - without accrediting. :(

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/12/soyuz-tma-07m-three-new-crewmembers-iss/

Quote
Officially, Hadfield’s flight is the last planned flight of a Canadian astronaut for the ISS program, as the CSA have now used up all of their allotted crew slots that were awarded to them under a past agreement on multi-national crew positions prior to the ISS’ previously planned end of life in 2016.

However, with ISS operations now officially extended to 2020, as agreed by all partner nations, including Canada, a new Canadian slot has been pencilled-in to the ISS crew assignments manifest for the 61S flight in December 2019, for a six-month stay on the ISS as part of the Expedition 62 and 63 crews, prior to an Earth return in June 2020, marking one of the last crews to depart the ISS before its planned end of life at the end of 2020 – as much as that date is likely to be extended.

While the above flight plan is very tentative, and does not take into account the commercial crew vehicles which would increase the ISS crew to seven crewmembers and could provide Canada with additional crew slots, it shows that the ISS program is planning to reward Canada with another crew slot for their extended participation in the ISS.

Such a future Canadian crew slot would likely be awarded to one of their two newest astronauts, Jeremy Hansen or David Saint-Jacques
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 01/03/2013 10:29 am
Ron Garan has changed to management status
http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/astrobio_mgmt.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Frandolf on 01/14/2013 05:55 am
via Twitter:

Quote
Kjell Lindgren ‏@astro_kjell

Well, it's about as official as it is going to get. Assigned to Exp 44/45! Will fly with @Astro_Kimiya to ISS - launching May 2015!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 01/14/2013 08:16 pm
RELEASE: 13-017

CORRECTION: NASA, SPACE STATION PARTNERS ANNOUNCE FUTURE CREW MEMBERS

Corrected to update crew mission dates

HOUSTON -- NASA and its international partners have named several
future International Space Station expedition crews. They include
NASA astronauts Steve Swanson, Reid Wiseman, Barry Wilmore and Terry
Virts.

Swanson was born in Syracuse, N.Y., but considers Steamboat Springs,
Colo., his hometown. Wiseman is from Baltimore and is a commander in
the U.S. Navy. Wilmore, a captain in the U.S. Navy, is from Mount
Juliet, Tenn. Virts, a colonel in the U.S. Air Force, was born in
Baltimore, but considers Columbia, Md., his hometown.

Swanson and his two Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) crewmates
will join Expedition 39 in progress. That expedition will begin in
mid-March 2014. Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut
Koichi Wakata, the expedition's commander; NASA's Richard
Mastracchio; and Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Tyurin already will be
aboard.

Swanson and his crewmates are scheduled to launch in late-March 2014.
Expedition 39 will consist of the following crew members:

-- Wakata, station commander
-- Mastracchio, flight engineer
-- Tyurin, flight engineer
-- Swanson, flight engineer
-- Alexander Skvortsov of Roscomos, flight engineer
-- Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos, flight engineer

Expedition 40 will begin in mid-May 2014. The second half of the crew
is scheduled to launch in late-May 2014. Expedition 40 will consist
of the following crew members:

-- Swanson, station commander
-- Skvortsov, flight engineer
-- Artemyev, flight engineer
-- Wiseman, flight engineer
-- Maxim Suraev of Roscosmos, flight engineer
-- Alexander Gerst of the European Space Agency (ESA), flight engineer


Expedition 41 will begin in September 2014. The remainder of the crew
is scheduled to launch in October 2014. Expedition 41 will consist of
the following crew members:

-- Suraev, station commander
-- Wiseman, flight engineer
-- Gerst, flight engineer
-- Wilmore, flight engineer
-- Yelena Serova of Roscosmos, flight engineer
-- Alexander Samoukutyaev of Roscosmos, flight engineer

Expedition 42 will begin in mid-November 2014. The other half of the
team is scheduled to launch in late-November 2014. Once on the
station, Expedition 42 will include the following crew members:

-- Wilmore, station commander
-- Serova, flight engineer
-- Samoukutyaev, flight engineer
-- Virts, flight engineer
-- Samantha Cristoforetti of ESA, flight engineer

For complete astronaut biographical information, visit:

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/index.html

For more information about the International Space Station, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/station

To join the online conversation about the International Space Station
and the men and women aboard, follow @NASA_Astronauts and the hashtag
#ISS. To learn more about all the ways to connect and collaborate
with NASA, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/connect
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 01/16/2013 08:07 am
Steve MacLean Announces Plans to Leave the Canadian Space Agency

Longueuil, Quebec, January 15, 2013 – The President of the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) Dr. Steve MacLean has announced his plans to leave the Agency on February 1 to assume a position in a new venture to be created by Mike Lazaridis.  Dr. MacLean has been serving as President of the CSA since 2008.

 During his tenure as President, he was devoted as an accomplished physicist, astronaut and administrator to advancing the Canadian Space Program.

In his new position with Mr Lazaridis, Dr. MacLean will be leading a team pursuing breakthrough scientific Research and Development in the highly specialized field of Quantum Physics.

One of the original-six Canadian astronauts, Dr. MacLean joined the Canadian Astronaut Program in 1983. He has completed two highly successful missions in space, before assuming responsibility as President of the Canadian Space Agency.

 

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Frandolf on 01/16/2013 08:13 am
via twitter:

Quote
Clayton C. Anderson ‏@Astro_Clay

NASA NBL folks provided a cake and celebration of my final "spacewalk" yesterday. pic.twitter.com/liBI1GnF

I wonder what this could mean. Would be bad to lose him and his humor...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: smith5se on 01/17/2013 06:42 pm
via twitter:

Quote
Clayton C. Anderson ‏@Astro_Clay

NASA NBL folks provided a cake and celebration of my final "spacewalk" yesterday. pic.twitter.com/liBI1GnF

I wonder what this could mean. Would be bad to lose him and his humor...

After 30 years at NASA he is retiring.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 01/20/2013 08:53 pm
Hello,

Can someone give me corrcet name of NASA astronaut from this twitter Space X photo (http://pic.twitter.com/p6zjBHYK)?

Hopkins, Cassidy & Wilmore are in front line, who is in the second row: Tingle, Wiseman, Kimbrough, Bowen & Virts, Jr.?

Is it correct: STS-9 as STS-41A like at this link (http://www.nasa.gov/externalflash/shuttlefolio/shuttle_portfolio.html))?

Thanks for your assistance.
Best,
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TALsite on 01/20/2013 10:28 pm
Hello,

Can someone give me corrcet name of NASA astronaut from this twitter Space X photo (http://pic.twitter.com/p6zjBHYK)?

Hopkins, Cassidy & Wilmore are in front line, who is in the second row: Tingle, Wiseman, Kimbrough, Bowen & Virts, Jr.?

Yes, you're right.

Quote

Is it correct: STS-9 as STS-41A like at this link (http://www.nasa.gov/externalflash/shuttlefolio/shuttle_portfolio.html))?

Thanks for your assistance.
Best,
On the book "Space Shuttle" by Dennis Jenkins, he also names STS-9 as 41A.

The subsequent flights were:

STS11-41B
STS13-41C
STS16-41D
STS17-41G
STS19-51A
STS20-51C
STS23-51D
STS24-51B
STS25-51G
STS26-51F
STS27-51I
STS28-51J
STS30-61A
STS31-61B
STS32-61C
STS33-51L
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 01/21/2013 03:10 pm
Hello,

Can someone give me corrcet name of NASA astronaut from this twitter Space X photo (http://pic.twitter.com/p6zjBHYK)?

Hopkins, Cassidy & Wilmore are in front line, who is in the second row: Tingle, Wiseman, Kimbrough, Bowen & Virts, Jr.?

Yes, you're right.

Thanks for confirmation ;)

Maybe it is too far-reaching conclusion, but ...
all the astronauts in the picture have the official nominations for future ISS crews:
Hopkins (ISS 37/38), Cassidy (ISS 35/36), Wilmore (ISS 41/42), Wiseman (ISS 40/41) and Virts, Jr. (ISS 42/43) except Tingle, Kimbrough and Bowen.
So maybe one of them or even all are planned for future ISS crews?
Maybe Bowen will be a back-up for Scott Kelly?

What do you think about?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 01/21/2013 05:44 pm
Hello,

Can someone give me corrcet name of NASA astronaut from this twitter Space X photo (http://pic.twitter.com/p6zjBHYK)?

Hopkins, Cassidy & Wilmore are in front line, who is in the second row: Tingle, Wiseman, Kimbrough, Bowen & Virts, Jr.?

Yes, you're right.

Thanks for confirmation ;)

Maybe it is too far-reaching conclusion, but ...
all the astronauts in the picture have the official nominations for future ISS crews:
Hopkins (ISS 37/38), Cassidy (ISS 35/36), Wilmore (ISS 41/42), Wiseman (ISS 40/41) and Virts, Jr. (ISS 42/43) except Tingle, Kimbrough and Bowen.
So maybe one of them or even all are planned for future ISS crews?
Maybe Bowen will be a back-up for Scott Kelly?

What do you think about?

It is too far-reaching -- Bowen is head of the EVA branch, Kimbrough head of robotics.  Tingle has been an ISS crew support astro for at least one of the SpaceX capture missions, or will be.  If this picture showed future ISS crew members, Lindgren would have been included (he's been tentatively assigned to a mission since spring 2012).

(Which isn't to say that Kimbrough -- who actually had an ISS assignment for a while -- or Bowen won't fly eventually.)

And I would forget that STS-9 is really 41-A business, too.  Yes, the new scheme NASA adopted in summer 1983 should have resulted in such a designation, but I recall zero mention of it at the time and have never seen any NASA paperwork suggesting it.  It's one of those alternate retro games that make some people happy -- you might as well call it Apollo 24.

Michael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 01/22/2013 03:09 pm
Some relevant excerpts from Clayton Anderson via Twitter:

"I have decided to retire after 30 years w/ NASA."

"Last day is January 31, 2013."

"Will be speaking & finishing my book!"


Definitely need to get Clay's book! :)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TALsite on 01/22/2013 03:17 pm

2015

September 30 - Soyuz TMA-18M launch [Volkov, Ovchinin, TBD]
October 2 - Soyuz TMA-18M docking (to Zvezda)
October 9 - Soyuz TMA-16M undocking (from UM nadir) and landing [Lonchakov, Ovchinin, TBD]


Changes on January 17th
Changes on January 21st

TBD would be SFP Sarah Brigthman.

And Ovchinin is getting a short ISS stay: only 10 days
It's strange for me that Roskosmos don't sell this ticket to another SFP, or to any country that wants to have their own (or first) cosmonaut flying.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 01/22/2013 08:10 pm
Is it correct: STS-9 as STS-41A like at this link (http://www.nasa.gov/externalflash/shuttlefolio/shuttle_portfolio.html))?

On NTRS, there is the March 1985 baseline of the shuttle payload flight assignments. The list of completed operational flights has STS-9 listed as 41-A — but also STS-5, -6, -7, and -8 as 31-A, 31-B, 31-C, and 31-D, respectively.

Obviously, the re-assignment of those earlier flight numbers up to 31-D occured well after the missions were flown, so that is all a little confusing. I was under the impresion that the cancelled STS-10 with its DoD payload was 41-A, but it seems the new numbering scheme was indeed introduced after the cancellation of STS-10. In that case, STS-9 might actually have been 41-A with STS-11 becoming 41-B . . .

 ???

Whatever: this should link to the afore mentioned manifest with 31-A etc.:

http://hdl.handle.net/2060/19850021677
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 01/23/2013 12:19 pm
So, for a few days in early October 2015, the ISS crew will consist of five Russians (Lonchakov, Kornienko, Kononenko, Volkov and Ovchinin) and only two Americans (Kelly and Lindgren), plus a Japanese and Brightman?

I understand that crewing numbers are based on intergovernmental agreements and so forth, but surely five to operate the ROS and three (including Yui) for the USOS is hardly ideal? Is there a reason why Ovchinin is flying, instead of another SFP or a USOS crew member?

Does this also mean that the ISS will go to a crew of five after the TMA-16M undocking (Kornienko, Kelly, Yui, Lindgren and Kononenko) and then down to just two (the year-long members, Kornienko and Kelly) for two weeks from mid-late November, before TMA-19M arrives?

Or am I missing something obvious?

Thanks.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 01/23/2013 12:24 pm
I too have been looking at that, Ben - a very strange arrangement for sure. ???
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 01/23/2013 12:40 pm
Does this also mean that the ISS will go to a crew of five after the TMA-16M undocking (Kornienko, Kelly, Yui, Lindgren and Kononenko) and then down to just two (the year-long members, Kornienko and Kelly) for two weeks from mid-late November, before TMA-19M arrives?

Before Soyuz TMA-18M launch: Lonchakov, Kornienko, Kelly, Kononenko, Yui, Lindgren
After Soyuz TMA-18M docking: Lonchakov, Kornienko, Kelly, Kononenko, Yui, Lindgren, Volkov, Ovchinin, TBD
After Soyuz TMA-16M undocking: Volkov, Kornienko, Kelly, Kononenko, Yui, Lindgren
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 01/23/2013 12:53 pm
So, the crew of Soyuz TMA-18M (launch on 30 Sep 2015) will be "Volkov, Ovchinin, TBD".

However, the crew of "Lonchakov, Ovchinin, TBD" will return to Earth on Soyuz TMA-16M on 9 October 2015 - meaning Ovchinin and TBD will have a flight of only 9 days?

Interesting.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Galactic Penguin SST on 01/23/2013 12:59 pm
So, the crew of Soyuz TMA-18M (launch on 30 Sep 2015) will be "Volkov, Ovchinin, TBD".

However, the crew of "Lonchakov, Ovchinin, TBD" will return to Earth on Soyuz TMA-16M on 9 October 2015 - meaning Ovchinin and TBD will have a flight of only 9 days?

Interesting.

Well before Columbia happened there were such "Soyuz Taxi" crews that do just that, many of which are professional cosmonauts.....
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 01/23/2013 01:28 pm
meaning Ovchinin and TBD will have a flight of only 9 days?

Interesting.
For Mrs. Brightman, if she get the ticket, this is planned and for Ovchinin it is better than no flight.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 01/23/2013 02:15 pm
Thanks Anik...I had missed Volkov off my list.

So the ISS will remain at three-person permanent occupancy, with indirect handovers to continue six-person crew? Are there any plans to move back to 'direct handovers' of six crew (as was done with the arrival of Williams/Suraev in Oct 2009, before the departure of Padalka/Barratt), or is this 'indirect' system here to stay?

Thanks.

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 02/04/2013 07:47 pm
NASA Astronaut Brent Jett Leaves Agency
PR Newswire

HOUSTON, Feb. 4, 2013

HOUSTON, Feb. 4, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Astronaut Brent Jett has left the agency following a NASA career including four space shuttle flights, heading the agency's Flight Crew Operations Directorate and most recently serving as deputy manager of NASA's Commercial Crew Program.

"Brent has been a remarkable asset to NASA and our human spaceflight programs," said William Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for Human Exploration and Operations (HEO) at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "He was a successful pilot and an accomplished commander. His work in Russia and in Houston has really helped position the agency for our future endeavors with space station and commercial crew operations. On behalf of the entire HEO team, I wish Brent the best of luck in his new phase of life."

After being selected to be an astronaut with the Class of 1992, Jett flew four space shuttle missions – two as pilot and two as commander. His first mission aboard Endeavour on STS-72 in January 1996 included the retrieval of a Japanese free-flying science satellite. He next flew a year later in January 1997 aboard Atlantis on STS-97 to the Russian Mir space station, delivering supplies and experiments and swapping one NASA astronaut for another as part of the Phase I Shuttle-Mir Program.

Soon after his second flight, Jett served as one of the early directors of NASA's operations in Star City, Russia, at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, helping establish the training protocols for astronauts traveling to Mir and eventually to the International Space Station.

His two commands on missions to the station were aboard Endeavour on STS-97 in November/December 2000, delivering early power systems and the first pair of 240-foot-long solar arrays, and aboard Atlantis on STS-115 in September 2006, signaling the resumption of station assembly following the Columbia accident. That mission included the delivery of another power module and deployment of two additional pair of solar arrays, which doubled the station's electrical power generating capability.

His accomplishments on Earth helped position the agency for the future as director of Flight Crew Operations from 2007 to 2011 and as deputy manager of the Commercial Crew Program laying the groundwork for the development of spacecraft that will restore U.S. human spaceflight transportation to and from the station.

"Brent was an incredible leader for the Commercial Crew Program, the agency and the nation," said Ed Mango, Commercial Crew Program manager. "His efforts helped our country put together a strong foundation in order to build a home-grown capability for human access to low Earth orbit."

Jett retired from the U.S. Navy as a captain in 2007 after more than 26 years of service. He had logged more than 5,000 flight hours in more than 30 different aircraft and performed more than 450 aircraft carrier landings. His experience on four shuttle missions totaled 42 days in space while traveling 17 million miles and orbiting the Earth 659 times.

For Jett's complete biography, visit: http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/jett.html

SOURCE NASA

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: erioladastra on 02/05/2013 12:12 am
Thanks Anik...I had missed Volkov off my list.

So the ISS will remain at three-person permanent occupancy, with indirect handovers to continue six-person crew? Are there any plans to move back to 'direct handovers' of six crew (as was done with the arrival of Williams/Suraev in Oct 2009, before the departure of Padalka/Barratt), or is this 'indirect' system here to stay?

Thanks.



Hopefully direct will return when we have a new american provider.    it would make it easier too since the americn crews will cycle on that vehicle but you can't leave the ISS without an american. 
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 02/05/2013 07:46 am
Report #J13-004

NASA ASTRONAUT CLAYTON C. ANDERSON LEAVES AGENCY

HOUSTON -- NASA astronaut Clayton Anderson has retired from the space agency. Anderson flew in space twice, first in 2007 as a flight engineer for Expeditions 15 and 16 aboard the International Space Station, and finally as a mission specialist on STS-131 in 2010.

Anderson began his 30-year NASA career in 1983 as an engineer in the Mission Planning and Analysis Division at Johnson Space Center. He was selected as an astronaut in 1998. He trained as a backup crew member for Expeditions 12, 13 and 14. He most recently served in management and as space station Capsule Communicator (CAPCOM). Anderson conducted six spacewalks and has more than 167 days of spaceflight experience.

“Clay will certainly be missed in the Astronaut Office, especially for his technical expertise. His combination of shuttle, station long duration, and spacewalk experience was extremely valuable to us,” said Bob Behnken, chief of the Astronaut Office. “We wish him continued success in future endeavors, and know he will continue to captivate whenever and wherever he shares his spaceflight experiences.”

Anderson holds a Master of Science in aerospace engineering from Iowa State University, as well as a Bachelor of Science in physics from Hastings College.

For Anderson's complete biography, visit:

http://go.nasa.gov/mPXyBj

For information about NASA and agency programs, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 03/01/2013 11:37 pm
Ron Garan is going "on loan" to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), where his job will be to "help apply space technology to the challenges facing the developing world".

Read his blog post here:
http://www.fragileoasis.org/blog/2013/2/to-be-continued/

And watch this awesome video of his final (for now) T-38 flight:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=lctWvzep9DM
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: STS-85 on 03/04/2013 11:52 pm
I know there aren't any female shuttle pilots anymore, but are there any women in the astronaut corps qualified in the T-38?
I was flying in the Houston area recently and heard one on the radio.. wasn't sure if she was the pilot or riding backseat and doing the the comms... couldn't really recognize the voice although I had a hunch of who it *might* be...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 03/05/2013 12:36 am
I know there aren't any female shuttle pilots anymore, but are there any women in the astronaut corps qualified in the T-38?
I was flying in the Houston area recently and heard one on the radio.. wasn't sure if she was the pilot or riding backseat and doing the the comms... couldn't really recognize the voice although I had a hunch of who it *might* be...


All active astronauts, men and women, are required to log a set number of hours per quarter in the T-38, but only those who entered the program as Shuttle pilots or, like several members of the 2009 class, were already qualified on the T-38 (or qualifiable, which is to say, operational pilots) fly the front seat.  So, long way of saying... no.

Michael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: STS-85 on 03/05/2013 07:17 pm
ok thanks. Must've been just working the radios then while the pilot flew - it was NASA966.. sounded kinda like Tracy C-Dyson but... couldn't be sure.
A few years ago, heard Mike Foale on the radio.. very distinct voice lol.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 03/06/2013 12:29 am
ok thanks. Must've been just working the radios then while the pilot flew - it was NASA966.. sounded kinda like Tracy C-Dyson but... couldn't be sure.
A few years ago, heard Mike Foale on the radio.. very distinct voice lol.


The T-38 backseaters are _supposed_ to work the radios, do navigation, and now and then fly approaches . . . but only with an instructor pilot or a fellow pilot-astronaut. 

MC
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: STS-85 on 03/07/2013 12:45 am


The T-38 backseaters are _supposed_ to work the radios, do navigation, and now and then fly approaches . . . but only with an instructor pilot or a fellow pilot-astronaut. 

MC

Cool.. thanks for the info.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 03/13/2013 05:26 pm
Report #J13-006

NASA ASTRONAUT GEORGE ZAMKA LEAVES AGENCY

HOUSTON -- NASA astronaut George Zamka has left the agency and accepted a position with the Federal Aviation Administration supporting Commercial Space Transportation. A veteran of two spaceflights, Zamka served first as pilot on STS-120 in 2007 and three years later as commander on STS-130 in 2010.

Before joining NASA, Zamka served in the U.S. Marine Corps as pilot and flew combat missions during Operation Desert Storm in the Middle East. He was selected to join the astronaut corps in 1998. Before flying in space, he served in multiple technical and leadership roles supporting Johnson Space Center’s Astronaut Office. He served as lead for the shuttle training and procedures division and as supervisor for the astronaut candidate class of 2004. In his current role as a research pilot, and instructor pilot, Zamka provides training for astronauts in NASA aircraft.

"George will be greatly missed by both the Astronaut Office and the Aircraft Operations Division," said Dick Clark, chief of Aircraft Operations at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. "His outstanding leadership was critical to the success of the shuttle and station missions. His skill and flight expertise as an aviator and educator kept our astronauts prepared to fly in space. We wish him the best in this new phase of his career.”

Zamka holds a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics from the United States Naval Academy and a Master of Science degree in engineering management from the Florida Institute of Technology.

Zamka retired from the Marine Corps as a colonel in 2010 after more than 26 years of service. He has logged more than 5,000 flight hours in more than 30 different aircraft. He ends his NASA career having logged more than 692 hours in space on two shuttle missions while traveling 12 million miles.

For Zamka’s complete biography, visit:

go.nasa.gov/XFQVM4
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 03/13/2013 05:26 pm
Report #J13-007

NASA ASTRONAUT LEE ARCHAMBAULT LEAVING AGENCY

HOUSTON – NASA astronaut Lee Archambault is leaving the agency, ending a 15-year career that included more than 27 days in space, including a flight as commander of space shuttle Discovery.

Archambault will join Sierra Nevada Corp. as a systems engineerr and test pilot. He will work on the company’s Dream Chaser Space System, being developed in conjunction with NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.

Archambault was the pilot of space shuttle Atlantis on STS-117 in 2007, a mission vital to the construction of the International Space Station. Two years later he commanded the space shuttle Discovery on STS-119.

“Lee’s leadership and experience have been assets to our office,” said Bob Behnken, chief of the Astronaut Office. “In his role as chief of our Exploration Branch, he’s pushed for excellence in the design of our next crew vehicles as we progress during this critical development phase. His combination of technical knowledge, operational experience and critical thinking will be very hard to replace.”

Archambault earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in aeronautical and astronautical engineering from the University of Illinois-Urbana. He then served in the U.S. Air Force as a pilot. He flew combat missions in the Middle East during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

Archambault joined NASA as an Air Force astronaut in 1998. He filled many technical roles during his NASA career including working as a support astronaut at Kennedy Space Center, a capsule communicator (CAPCOM) for STS-121 and finally serving within the Astronaut Office as the chief of the Exploration Branch.

Archambault retired from the U.S. Air Force as a colonel in 2012 after more than 27 years of service. He has logged more than 5,000 flight hours in more than 30 types of aircraft.

For Archambault's complete biography, visit:

http://go.nasa.gov/VznHe6
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 03/18/2013 11:34 am
Archambault will join Sierra Nevada Corp. as a systems engineer and test pilot. He will work on the company’s Dream Chaser Space System, being developed in conjunction with NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.

Interesting! So the first crew will be Lindsey/Archambault, right?

;)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 03/18/2013 06:30 pm
I was wondering the same about Archambault.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Martin FL on 03/29/2013 08:36 pm
When do we expect the EM-2 crew to be selected? I know it's years away, but 2017, 2018, later?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 03/31/2013 11:32 pm
Earlier this week I saw Anna Fisher on console as CAPCOM.
Even though it's been almost 30 years since her one and only spaceflight, any chance that she could be assigned to an ISS expedition crew?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 04/01/2013 04:01 am
Earlier this week I saw Anna Fisher on console as CAPCOM.
Even though it's been almost 30 years since her one and only spaceflight, any chance that she could be assigned to an ISS expedition crew?

Highly unlikely, or, if you like, zero.  She was reclassified as a management astronaut at least two years ago, and under current policy, that's a one-way trip... you don't return to "active".  (Greg H Johnson apparently did, but that turned out to be an error -- when first assigned to a rotation at NASA Glenn he was classed as management on the bio page, but remained active; the error was corrected fairly quickly.)

Michael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 04/01/2013 01:22 pm
So what exactly is setting some of the "management" astronauts apart from the active ones? Management previously didn't equate to automatically becoming "inactive" (just as being classed as a management-Astronaut, didn't mean you were still "active" in the sense of logging simulator time, and flying T-38's anymore). 

Since the retirement of the Shuttle that number has risen, and a few don't seem to have any specific duties listed (to pick some examples - Jim Dutton, Kay Hire and Michael Good), while others do. Many seem to still be doing work for the Astronaut Office, as opposed to those working in other departments at JSC. Is it just a matter of bios that are not updated?

While a couple in the active list seem to be doing tasks that are more management related (Cady Coleman is listed as robotics lead for the Astronaut office, which equates to some of the duties listed for the management astronauts, from my outsider perspective) and Mike Foale who has not flown for some time.

Is it fair to just say, the "management" crew have removed themselves from any consideration for ISS flights, but could have a chance later with commercial vehicles or Orion?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 04/01/2013 03:34 pm
So what exactly is setting some of the "management" astronauts apart from the active ones? Management previously didn't equate to automatically becoming "inactive" (just as being classed as a management-Astronaut, didn't mean you were still "active" in the sense of logging simulator time, and flying T-38's anymore). 

Since the retirement of the Shuttle that number has risen, and a few don't seem to have any specific duties listed (to pick some examples - Jim Dutton, Kay Hire and Michael Good), while others do. Many seem to still be doing work for the Astronaut Office, as opposed to those working in other departments at JSC. Is it just a matter of bios that are not updated?

While a couple in the active list seem to be doing tasks that are more management related (Cady Coleman is listed as robotics lead for the Astronaut office, which equates to some of the duties listed for the management astronauts, from my outsider perspective) and Mike Foale who has not flown for some time.

Is it fair to just say, the "management" crew have removed themselves from any consideration for ISS flights, but could have a chance later with commercial vehicles or Orion?

As of 2011, when I heard Peggy Whitson talk about this on several occasions, it was this: moving to management status meant you were not eligible for ISS flight assignment, either for medical or other (as in, don't want to spend 2.5 years training for .5 years in flight).  So, no T-38 flights*, no sims, no training.

However, management astronauts can and do still fill roles in the astronaut office, even serving as branch chiefs.  But they are not considered candidates for any flight assignment.

Obviously policies can change, so one never knows. 

Michael Cassutt

*  In 2011 there were a few management astronauts that had waivers allowing them to fly T-38s, including Jett and Kavandi (director and deputy FCOD) and Archambault, who was flying STAs as well for the last Shuttle missions.  The restriction doesn't apply to management astronauts like Ham and later Zamka, who actually went to work in aircraft ops.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 04/01/2013 05:23 pm
So, to break it down a little bit, those working in FCOD, just outside the Astronaut Office - Kavandi, Cockrell and Ray-J Johnson, are still on T-38 flight status for obvious reasons.

Those working in the Exploration/Commercial Branch, in the management list - Foreman, Fisher, Frick, Morin, Thomas - they still work for the Astronaut Office but are off flight status (no T-38's?) - And likewise for those working everything from public outreach/detachements (Garan, Massimino and Good) to safety or EVA issues (Pat Forrester and Mike Gernhardt)?

I guess that leaves my only question marks as Jim Dutton and Kay Hire.

It sounds like the Astronaut Office is trying to keep its training resources available to strictly Astronauts who are candidates for flights - not those who might be, at some later point (if office policy changes)

I am obviously leaving out a number that clearly are effectively former Astronauts (none of their duties are under FCOD's direct umbrella, and they have not flown in years) - Baker, Casper, Leestma - to name a few.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 04/02/2013 03:23 pm
So, to break it down a little bit, those working in FCOD, just outside the Astronaut Office - Kavandi, Cockrell and Ray-J Johnson, are still on T-38 flight status for obvious reasons.

Those working in the Exploration/Commercial Branch, in the management list - Foreman, Fisher, Frick, Morin, Thomas - they still work for the Astronaut Office but are off flight status (no T-38's?) - And likewise for those working everything from public outreach/detachements (Garan, Massimino and Good) to safety or EVA issues (Pat Forrester and Mike Gernhardt)?

I guess that leaves my only question marks as Jim Dutton and Kay Hire.

It sounds like the Astronaut Office is trying to keep its training resources available to strictly Astronauts who are candidates for flights - not those who might be, at some later point (if office policy changes)

I am obviously leaving out a number that clearly are effectively former Astronauts (none of their duties are under FCOD's direct umbrella, and they have not flown in years) - Baker, Casper, Leestma - to name a few.

The answers are yes and yes -- management astronauts in AOD (aircraft ops) are still flying, because that's their day job.  Everyone else is off the T-38s, though my information precedes Dutton's transfer -- if he is still active duty USAF and plans to return to the service, NASA is probably allowing him access to aircraft.  But even then his hours would be reduced.

Yes, the idea is to restrict use of training facilities (and training personnel) to astronauts who will be using the training.

MC
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 04/10/2013 10:54 pm
According to http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/astrobio_mgmt.html D. Metcalf-Lindenburger now is counting as a management astronaut.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 04/11/2013 08:53 pm
According to http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/astrobio_mgmt.html D. Metcalf-Lindenburger now is counting as a management astronaut.

I wonder how much of this designation is from voluntary decision vs. being told "You're not being considered for a future flight assignment so we're moving you over to the Management side". I've read of at least one astronaut who said the decision wasn't his ....
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jamie Young on 04/12/2013 04:55 pm
How many astros are left in the NASA astro office?

I assume there's going to be a lot who will never get to fly?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 04/12/2013 05:36 pm
How many astros are left in the NASA astro office?

I assume there's going to be a lot who will never get to fly?

At the moment, 50 active -- and all have flown except for the 2009 class, though three of them are currently assigned to missions and all ought to visit ISS between late 2013 and 2017.

Michael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: AnalogMan on 04/12/2013 07:29 pm
NASA have re-issued one of their documents titled Astronaut Fact Book within the last few days (creation date April 8, 2013) which I thought might be of interest to readers of this thread.

From the preface:

"There are currently 50 active astronauts and 35 management astronauts in the program; 196 astronauts have retired or resigned; and 49 are deceased.

Though most of the information in this document pertains only to U.S. Astronauts, several sections are included to provide information about the international astronauts and Cosmonauts who are currently partners with the U.S. Space Program participating in the International Space Station endeavor.

The space flights and statistics listed in this publication resulted from the vertical takeoff of an American space vehicle or Soyuz taxi flight to the International Space Station. Astronauts listed (unless otherwise noted) are individuals who participated in the United States astronaut program."


Can be found here:
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/about/resources/jscfacts/index.html (http://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/about/resources/jscfacts/index.html)
http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/740566main_current.pdf (http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/740566main_current.pdf)

Copy also attached.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 04/12/2013 09:01 pm
Here is the last page from it ;)

Some omissions have been made inside it :(
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: wjbarnett on 04/13/2013 01:50 am
NASA have re-issued one of their documents titled Astronaut Fact Book within the last few days (creation date April 8, 2013) which I thought might be of interest to readers of this thread.

Copy also attached.
On the EVA listing, any idea what the parenthetical A, D, F or M indicates?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: kch on 04/13/2013 02:59 am
NASA have re-issued one of their documents titled Astronaut Fact Book within the last few days (creation date April 8, 2013) which I thought might be of interest to readers of this thread.

Copy also attached.
On the EVA listing, any idea what the parenthetical A, D, F or M indicates?

Based on the names they're attached to -- and the above discussion -- my WAG would be:

A = active
D = deceased
F = former
M = management

:)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: wjbarnett on 04/13/2013 01:38 pm
Makes good sense. Thanks!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 04/14/2013 04:22 pm

I assume there's going to be a lot who will never get to fly?

If the past is any clue, there are currently 9 former astronauts (not including Group 9, or deceased astronauts) that have never flown in space.
Of those 9, six of them were scientist astronauts from Group 4 (2) and 6 (4).
The other 3 are from Group 16 (2) and 17 (1).
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 04/14/2013 05:31 pm
NASA have re-issued one of their documents titled Astronaut Fact Book within the last few days (creation date April 8, 2013) which I thought might be of interest to readers of this thread.

Oh, great find! The previous edition was from 2005, was it not? An update at last . . !

If the past is any clue, there are currently 9 former astronauts (not including Group 9, or deceased astronauts) that have never flown in space.
Of those 9, six of them were scientist astronauts from Group 4 (2) and 6 (4).
The other 3 are from Group 16 (2) and 17 (1).

I assume You refer to Cagle and Loria from Group 16 and to Woodward from Group 17, right? To be fair, we should note that Cagle is a management astronaut, not a former -- or did I miss something? Sorry -- there have been so many retirement notes recently . . .

Might I ask why You did not include Group 9?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 04/14/2013 05:34 pm
NASA have re-issued one of their documents titled Astronaut Fact Book within the last few days (creation date April 8, 2013) which I thought might be of interest to readers of this thread.

Oh, great find! The previous edition was from 2005, was it not? An update at last . . !

If the past is any clue, there are currently 9 former astronauts (not including Group 9, or deceased astronauts) that have never flown in space.
Of those 9, six of them were scientist astronauts from Group 4 (2) and 6 (4).
The other 3 are from Group 16 (2) and 17 (1).

I assume You refer to Cagle and Loria from Group 16 and to Woodward from Group 17, right? To be fair, we should note that Cagle is a management astronaut, not a former -- or did I miss something? Sorry -- there have been so many retirement notes recently . . .

Might I ask why You did not include Group 9?

You are correct...Cagle is considered "management".
I didn't include Group 9 since they are all still eligible to get a flight assignment.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 04/14/2013 06:12 pm
Wow...sorry for the confusion...I meant to say the group selected in '09.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 04/14/2013 07:04 pm
I originally posted the following on the L2 flight crew assignments thread, but since the info in question is now public via Anik's ISS schedule thread (namely the assignmet of Andreas Mogensen to the ten-day slot in 2015), I'll now post it here too.

--------------------

I decided to make a table of all the ESA class of 2009 astronauts currently assigned to ISS flights, which I have attached below.

Firstly, a note about the bottom row (highlighted in yellow): Assuming the first five rows are correct, the only ESA 2009 astronaut now left unassigned is the UK's Tim Peake. However, one can make a prediction about when he may fly, based on the fact that IP flight assignments normally occur in the order of ESA-JAXA-ESA-JAXA, etc. (with the exceptions being Canadian and ASI assignments).

Thus, if you look at the latest FPIP chart (on L2), you can see that Pesquet will use up the 45S "bar" from Nov 2015-May 2016. Ignoring the Soyuz "bars" on the below line, which per the normal rotation scheme will not feature any IP astronauts, the next "bar" along after 45S (which is 47S) will thus likely be a JAXA slot, meaning the next "bar" after that (49S) will be an ESA slot, which I expect will go to Peake. This would make sense from a political standpoint too, as that would place the majority of Peake's flight in 2017, which is when the UK's contribution to the ISS will officially begin.

Please be aware however that Peake's assignment is my prediction only, and is not based on any facts whatsoever.

Secondly, an interesting observation is that 2015 will certainly be the "year for ESA astronauts", as three different European astros will all fly aboard the ISS in that year
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 04/15/2013 06:54 am
Since Zalyotin hasn't flown for more than a decade, and Pesquet is a rookie, is it fair to assume that the U.S. crewmember on Soyuz TMA-19M will be flight-experienced?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: npuentes on 04/15/2013 12:20 pm
Since Zalyotin hasn't flown for more than a decade, and Pesquet is a rookie, is it fair to assume that the U.S. crewmember on Soyuz TMA-19M will be flight-experienced?

I don't think one can say one way or the other. The training program is very rigorous and there have been all rookie Soyuz crews in the recent past that performed admirably (e.g., Soyuz TMA-12).
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 04/17/2013 08:40 am
I've noticed that all non-US and non-Russian ISS-CDRs seem to have a shorter period in command of the station and wondered if there is a reason for this?

De Winne was in command for only the last 1/3 of his increment, Hadfield was in command for the last 1/3 of his increment and Wakata will be in command for the last 1/3 of his increment. None of them seem to fly the majority of their expedition as ISS-CDR, as Ford and Burbank and Whitson did. I know that many US and Russian CDRs have done the same (Fossum and Wheelock come to mind), and I'm probably over-generalising, but I wondered if this is a deliberate decision/policy or is purely coincidental?

Just curious.

Many thanks.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 04/17/2013 12:52 pm
Since Zalyotin hasn't flown for more than a decade, and Pesquet is a rookie, is it fair to assume that the U.S. crewmember on Soyuz TMA-19M will be flight-experienced?

My guess is that it will be someone who will eventually take over from Scott Kelly as ISS CDR and as such will be a veteran. Whitson, Wheelock and Jeff Williams come to mind.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 04/17/2013 02:00 pm
Is Scott Kelly confirmed as ISS-CDR for the expedition? I wasn't aware of that.

If so, does that mean the Kononenko-Yui-Lindgren crew will remain 'flight engineers', with none of them rotating to ISS-CDR, throughout their six-month increment in May-Nov 2015?

Thanks.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 04/17/2013 07:24 pm
Expedition 43 commander (March - May 2015): Terry Virts
Expedition 44 commander (May - October 2015): Yuriy Lonchakov
Expedition 45 commander (October - November 2015): Scott Kelly
Expedition 46 commander (November 2015 - March 2016): Scott Kelly

Corrected.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 04/17/2013 09:28 pm
Thanks Anik.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 04/17/2013 09:30 pm
Actually, Virts as ISS-CDR is new to me.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 04/18/2013 07:06 pm
RELEASE: 13-017

NASA, SPACE STATION PARTNERS ANNOUNCE FUTURE CREW MEMBERS

{cut}

Expedition 42 will begin in mid-November 2014. The other half of the
team is scheduled to launch in late-November 2014. Once on the
station, Expedition 42 will include the following crew members:

-- Wilmore, station commander
-- Serova, flight engineer
-- Samoukutyaev, flight engineer
-- Virts, flight engineer
-- Samantha Cristoforetti of ESA, flight engineer

So Virts as Expedition 42 CDR is a new to me either ;)
Thanks anik for this news ;)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: space123456 on 04/27/2013 04:18 am
The ISS-CDR's are as followed
Expedition 36 (XXXVI) Pavel Vinogradov (RSA)
Expedition 37 (XXXVII) Fyodor Yurchikhin (RSA)
Expedition 38 (XXXVIII) Oleg Kotov (RSA)
Expedition 39 (XXXVIV) Koichi Wakata (JAXA)
Expedition 40 (XL) Steve Swanson (NASA)
Expedition 41 (XLI) Maksim Surayev (RSA)
Expedition 42 (XLII) Barry Wilmore (NASA)
Expedition 43 (XLIII) Anton Shkaplerov (RSA)
Expedition 44 (XLIV) Yuri Lonchakov (RSA)
Expedition 45 (XLV) Scott Kelly (NASA)
Expedition 46 (XLVI) Scott Kelly (NASA)
Expedition 47 (XLVII) TBD, it is known it will be ethier an american or russian so it will be either Andrei Borisanko, Oleg Skripochkia, Sergei Revin, Jeff Williams, Doug Wheelock or Peggy Whitson, my prediction is if it's a russian ISS-CDR, it will be Sergei Revin, if it's a NASA ISS-CDR, it will be Jeff Williams
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 04/27/2013 02:06 pm
Expedition 47 (XLVII) TBD, it is known it will be ethier an american or russian so it will be either Andrei Borisanko, Oleg Skripochkia, Sergei Revin, Jeff Williams, Doug Wheelock or Peggy Whitson, my prediction is if it's a russian ISS-CDR, it will be Sergei Revin, if it's a NASA ISS-CDR, it will be Jeff Williams

What? Whitson? Williams? Where does this assignment come form? We did not know about Expedition 47, did we? Or did I miss that? Interesting . . !
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: space123456 on 04/27/2013 03:54 pm
No, that's just my perdiction for the ISS-CDR for expedition 47
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 04/27/2013 04:10 pm
Expedition 43 (XLIII) Anton Shkaplerov (RSA)
According to aniks information above (which is correct according to documents on L2) T. Virts is the EC43 CDR.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 04/27/2013 04:30 pm
No, that's just my perdiction for the ISS-CDR for expedition 47

So those six names do not represent a flight assignment? I was under the impression, Your CDR prediction was based on an assigned crew . . .
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: space123456 on 04/27/2013 05:13 pm
Correct but then again my preditions are right 9 times out of 10, who do you think will be the expedition 47 ISS-CDR?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 04/27/2013 05:40 pm
Correct but then again my preditions are right 9 times out of 10, who do you think will be the expedition 47 ISS-CDR?

Sorry, I do not have my crystal ball with me . . .

;)

Seriously, I'd rather prefer to learn what crew members will be on 47 in the first place. However, that one is still quite a bit down the road, wouldn't You agree?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: space123456 on 04/28/2013 09:03 pm
I can't wait 2 see who the crew for expeditions 47, 48, 49 and 50 are, also 1 of the crew members for expedition 62/63 has been assigned
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: space123456 on 04/29/2013 01:49 am
it is offical, 2 members of the expedition 46/47 crew have been assigned, Sergei Zalyotin of Roscosmos will command the Soyuz TMA-19M spacecraft and europen space agency (but born in france) Tomas Pesquet will serve as 1 of the 2 flight engineers along with an american who has yet to be named
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 04/29/2013 05:17 am
Has there been any explanation as to why Virts has been assigned as ISS-CDR on Expedition 43?

I was under the impression that Shkaplerov was the original ISS-CDR.

Thanks.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 04/29/2013 10:39 am
Has there been any explanation as to why Virts has been assigned as ISS-CDR on Expedition 43?

At NASA request.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: space123456 on 04/29/2013 03:12 pm
Virts will be a flight enguneer for expedition 43
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 04/30/2013 05:46 pm
Why is Mogensen flying a short-duration participant mission, and yet all other members of his group (apart from Peake) are assigned to long-duration missions?

Thanks.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 04/30/2013 05:53 pm
Why is Mogensen flying a short-duration participant mission, and yet all other members of his group (apart from Peake) are assigned to long-duration missions?

Thanks.

Apparently it is to do with the fact that Denmark put the least amount of money into HSF out of Germany/Italy/France/UK.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 04/30/2013 11:25 pm
F. Sturckow has left NASA.
http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/sturckow.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 05/01/2013 08:12 am
Sturckow's departure comes as a surprise. I thought he was in the running for an ISS-CDR slot. Shame.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 05/05/2013 01:44 pm
Flight crew assignments always seem to amaze me.

Just looking at the astronauts chosen for the next few ISS missions:

R. Mastracchio, who has flown on three previous shuttle flights will fly as F.E. on ISS next year.

T. Virts and B. Wilmore, each flew one shuttle flight and will both command upcoming ISS increments.

Is it all based on timing (ie: alternating between Rusian, Canadien, Japanese, and U.S. commanders)?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 05/05/2013 04:38 pm
Flight crew assignments always seem to amaze me.

Just looking at the astronauts chosen for the next few ISS missions:

R. Mastracchio, who has flown on three previous shuttle flights will fly as F.E. on ISS next year.

T. Virts and B. Wilmore, each flew one shuttle flight and will both command upcoming ISS increments.

Is it all based on timing (ie: alternating between Rusian, Canadien, Japanese, and U.S. commanders)?

Although individual experience and even temperament come into it, the ISS command is primarily a rotation: US, then Russian, then US again. JAXA and Canada commands required separate negotiations between the partners. 

Other variations occur, of course: in early 2011 Peggy Whitson said she was "trading" one US command to Russia at that time in order to allow for a three-straight chain of US commanders down the line.

Michael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Targeteer on 05/05/2013 05:11 pm
CDR of ISS is more of a ceremonial than functional title.  Decisions are made on the ground and few disagreements or refusals have made the light of day.  On one occasion I heard a US CDR (Kevin Ford I think) forcibly object to a schedule that had both the Russian and US toilets down at the same time for servicing.  His quote was "unsat" and Houston quickly admitted and corrected the error.  Having a designated head honcho is vital--in emergency situations--but I honestly believe only a USOS CDR would assert control over the ground. Russians crews are still asked everyday to verify they completed their scheduled work and exercise.  Such a question for western crews would be an insult and not tolerated.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 05/05/2013 07:10 pm
Michael,

Is there a plan for another European ISS-CDR?

When you say that Japanese and Canadian commands must be negotiated, is the specific timing of these commands tied to specific objectives during the expedition? For example, Hadfield's command doesn't appear to have anything overtly 'Canadian' (e.g. major Dextre operations) which required a Canadian CDR. Was the decision to have a Canadian command on Expedition 35 purely coincidental and based on rotation?

Thanks.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 05/06/2013 03:53 pm
Michael,

Is there a plan for another European ISS-CDR?

When you say that Japanese and Canadian commands must be negotiated, is the specific timing of these commands tied to specific objectives during the expedition? For example, Hadfield's command doesn't appear to have anything overtly 'Canadian' (e.g. major Dextre operations) which required a Canadian CDR. Was the decision to have a Canadian command on Expedition 35 purely coincidental and based on rotation?

Thanks.

I have no concrete information, though I would _expect_ another ESA commander at some point.  As for why Hadfield, I can only speculate -- and anyone can do that  :)
MC
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 05/07/2013 07:33 pm
F. Sturckow has left NASA.
http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/sturckow.html

And joined Virgin Galactic!

Quote from: VG via Facebook
We're happy to welcome two new pilots into the Virgin Galactic family! CJ and Sooch will fly SpaceShipTwo (and WhiteKnightTwo), carrying our customers smoothly and safely into outer space. CJ is a veteran of four NASA Space Shuttle missions and Sooch is a former U-2 pilot and branch chief at the US Air Force Test Pilot school. We're thrilled to have them both on board--and Sooch just celebrated by flying WhiteKnightTwo for the first time this morning!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Orbiter on 05/07/2013 07:50 pm
Looks like CJ will get quite a few more flights in space by the looks of it!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 05/08/2013 05:42 pm
Canadian Astronaut Julie Payette Assuming New Challenges


Longueuil, Quebec, May 8, 2013 – The Canadian Space Agency offers its congratulations to Astronaut Julie Payette as she assumes the challenging role of Chief Operating Officer of the Montreal Science Centre as well as Vice President of the Canada Lands Company as of mid-July.

“Over the past twenty years, through two space missions, Julie Payette has led a distinguished career in service to Canada and all Canadians”, said the Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for the Canadian Space Agency.  “Since her selection in 1992 from among a field of 5330 candidates, as a member of Canada’s Astronaut Corps, Julie Payette has showcased Canadian expertise, Canadian Science and Canadian Technology to the world, while at the same time, inspiring our youth to pursue advanced studies and careers in the sciences and engineering”.   

During her impressive career Canadian Space Agency Astronaut Julie Payette flew two missions aboard the U.S. Space Shuttle to the International Space Station.

As a mission specialist, Julie Payette flew on the Space Shuttle Discovery from May 27 to June 6, 1999 on STS-96. During the mission, the crew performed the first manual docking of the Shuttle and delivered four tons of supplies to the International Space Station. Ms. Payette was responsible for the Station systems, supervised the space walk and operated the Canadarm robotic arm. Julie Payette was the first Canadian to participate in an ISS assembly mission and to board the International Space Station.

From July 15 to 31, 2009, Julie Payette served as flight engineer on the crew of STS-127 aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour on the 29th Shuttle mission to the International Space Station. During this mission the crew completed the construction of the Japanese Kibo Experiment Module, installed scientific experiments on its external science platform and delivered critical spare parts and replacement batteries to the orbital complex. Robotics technology was used extensively on this assembly mission and Ms. Payette operated all three robotic arms – the Space Shuttle’s Canadarm, the Station's Canadarm2, and a special-purpose Japanese arm on Kibo. While docked to the ISS, this mission featured a record 13 astronauts from 5 different nationalities working together on board a single spacecraft. This mission also established a Canadian Space milestone, the first time two Canadians Astronauts: Julie Payette and Bob Thirsk were in space at the same time.

In all Julie Payette has flown more than 16.5 million kilometres and spent 25 days, 11 hours, 58 minutes and 57 seconds orbiting the Earth over 402 times.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TerryNC on 05/10/2013 03:18 am
Looks like CJ will get quite a few more flights in space by the looks of it!

There was an article about this on the site. Not sure why it wasn't linked here.
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/05/from-shuttle-ss2-sturckow-joins-virgin-galactic/
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 05/10/2013 09:50 am
Report #J13- 010

NASA ASTRONAUT RICK “CJ” STURCKOW LEAVES AGENCY

HOUSTON -- NASA astronaut Rick “CJ” Sturckow has left the agency and accepted a position with Virgin Galactic as pilot on their Commercial Flight Team. A veteran of four space shuttle flights, Sturckow served first as pilot on STS-88 in 1998 and STS-105 in 2001 and later as commander on STS-117 in 2007 and STS-128 in 2009.

Before joining NASA, Sturckow served in the U.S. Marine Corps as a pilot and flew combat missions during Operation Desert Storm. He joined the astronaut corps in 1995. During his 18-year tenure at NASA, Sturckow served in multiple technical and leadership roles supporting Johnson Space Center’s Astronaut Office including chief of the Capsule Communicator (CAPCOM) Branch and chief of the International Space Station Branch.

“CJ will certainly be missed by the Astronaut Office," said Bob Behnken, chief of the Astronaut Office at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. "He was a role model for leadership, and his expertise as an aviator and shuttle commander led to the success of the shuttle and station missions.  His experience in spaceflight and ground operations will be difficult to replace within our organization.  We look forward to his continued contributions to the future of spaceflight as he moves on to the next phase of his career.”

Sturckow holds a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from California Polytechnic State University and a Master of Science in mechanical engineering.
Sturckow retired from the Marine Corps as a colonel, in September, 2009, after 25 years of active duty service. He has logged more than 6,500 flight hours in more than 60 different aircraft. He ends his NASA career having logged more than 1,200 hours in space.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: spaceboy89 on 05/14/2013 04:17 pm
Seems to be good news for Tim Peake :)
Quote
Jonathan Amos ‏@BBCAmos 3m
Good news on @astro_timpeake. ESA boss Jean-Jacques Dordain tells me the date of his ISS assignment will be made very soon.

Quote
Jonathan Amos ‏@BBCAmos 3m
"It is not for me to choose a date," he told me. "I make a recontamination to the multilateral board and it will meet within days."

Quote
Jonathan Amos ‏@BBCAmos 1m
Amos: "So, you think an assignment date will come very soon."  Dordain: "The answer is 'yes'". #britsinspace @astro_timpeake
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: DwightM on 05/14/2013 08:55 pm
Seems to be good news for Time Peake :)


Jonathan Amos ‏@BBCAmos 3m
"It is not for me to choose a date," he told me. "I make a recontamination to the multilateral board and it will meet within days."

That is good news, but I really hope he means 'recommendation'.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 05/18/2013 01:47 pm
Following Chris Hadfield's flight, there seems to be a lot of pessimism in Canada as to whether another CSA astronaut will ever fly on the ISS again.

CBC News: How soon before another Canadian follows Hadfield into space?
http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/story/2013/05/15/f-next-canadians-in-space.html

This quote from CSA astronaut Jeremy Hansen was especially interesting:
"But Hansen says the CSA has also told him and fellow rookie astronaut David Saint-Jacques that the goal is to fly them both in the current decade."

As such, I believe such pessimism is unfounded. Attached is a screenshot from an ISS crew assignments to 2020 document from two years ago. As is visible, way back then the CSA already had a slot tentatively penciled in for Expeditions 62/63 from Dec. 2019 - May 2020. And that document didn't even take into account the fourth USOS crewmember afforded by commercial crew.

So, I believe that it is not only possible, but is in fact probable that both Jeremy Hansen and David Saint-Jacques will fly on the ISS before 2020.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 05/20/2013 11:31 am
Article and discussion thread for Tim Peake's ISS assignment:

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=31972.0

Led by Pete's feature article:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/05/uks-major-peake-delighted-by-historic-iss-assignment/
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: space123456 on 05/31/2013 03:22 pm
Why are all my post being deleted?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 05/31/2013 05:34 pm
Why are all my post being deleted?

A wild guess... redundant (yesterday's post about upcoming ISS events.... there is a whole detailed thread for that) or too speculative.

MC
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: tonyq on 05/31/2013 10:31 pm
Why are all my post being deleted?

I asked for them to be deleted, as they were at best, speculative and at worst, complete fantasy. Regular visitors to this thread are hoping to find facts, well informed speculation or questions, about Flight Crew Assignments.

As Michael has said, there are other places for the type of postings you made, especially if you wish to re-write history or indulge in flights of fantasy. Sorry if you are offended.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Hog on 05/31/2013 11:00 pm
Why are all my post being deleted?
Because these are very heavily moderate forums, you are new here as well, so that isnt helping your cause either.  Hang around though, you do get good info here although if you speculate even the slightest you may get jumped on by people who take things a tad to seriously sometimes.  You'll get the hang of things.

Now so THIS post wont get deleted, I am happy to see another Canuck up on the ISS roster.  I thought that the Canadian debt was already paid with Hadfield's rotation.  Can we build some more robotics?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ZachS09 on 06/01/2013 12:26 am
Are there any future assignments related to Christoper "Gus" Loria?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skyrocket on 06/01/2013 10:49 am
Are there any assignments related to Christoper "Gus" Loria? I'm talkin' rumors.

No:

"Assigned as pilot on STS-113, Loria sustained back injuries off duty that medically grounded him and required his replacement on the crew.
...
In the fall of 2005 a NASA medical evaluation determined that his previous injuries disqualified him from further space flight assignments. Colonel Loria requested a transfer back to the US Marine Corps and left NASA in February 2005."


http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/loria.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 06/02/2013 06:31 am
That must have been a devastating blow for Loria, having trained for so long and just months before the launch of STS-113.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 06/02/2013 04:23 pm
Are there any assignments related to Christoper "Gus" Loria? I'm talkin' rumors.

No:

"Assigned as pilot on STS-113, Loria sustained back injuries off duty that medically grounded him and required his replacement on the crew.
...
In the fall of 2005 a NASA medical evaluation determined that his previous injuries disqualified him from further space flight assignments. Colonel Loria requested a transfer back to the US Marine Corps and left NASA in February 2005."


http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/loria.html

Just to be picky -- or rather accurate -- the "fall of 2005" is incorrect (and doesn't make sense if Loria left in February 2005).  It was "fall of 2004". 

Michael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: dcfowler1 on 06/03/2013 03:29 am
That's not even the full story on Loria's departurre, but that won't be discussed here.

Dave
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 06/03/2013 12:34 pm
If it won't be discussed here, there seems little point mentioning it. ;)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 06/16/2013 08:09 am
http://esamultimedia.esa.int/HSO/Publications/Volare-EN/

"In exchange for producing US-owned modules for the Station, ASI received six flight opportunities for its national astronauts. Volare will be the first European longduration mission to the Station under agreement with ASI"

My questions: When were they or will they those ASI flight opportunities? How much did ASI use already?

Guidoni (2001) - first?
Vittori (2002) - agreement between Roskosmos and ASI
Vittori (2005) - agreement between Roskosmos and ASI
Nespoli (2007) - second?
Nespoli (2010-2011) - agreement between NASA and ESA
Vittori (2011) - third?
Parmitano (2013) - fourth?
Cristoforetti (2014-2015) - fifth?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Stan Black on 06/16/2013 09:43 am
http://esamultimedia.esa.int/HSO/Publications/Volare-EN/

"In exchange for producing US-owned modules for the Station, ASI received six flight opportunities for its national astronauts. Volare will be the first European longduration mission to the Station under agreement with ASI"

My questions: When were they or will they those ASI flight opportunities? How much did ASI use already?

Guidoni (2001) - first?
Vittori (2002) - agreement between Roskosmos and ASI
Vittori (2005) - agreement between Roskosmos and ASI
Nespoli (2007) - second?
Nespoli (2010-2011) - agreement between NASA and ESA
Vittori (2011) - third?
Parmitano (2013) - fourth?
Cristoforetti (2014-2015) - fifth?

Quote
the right to three Space Shuttle flight opportunity during the life of
the program and one ASI-provided ISS crew member for one on-orbit
increment every five years from NASA's crew allocation, with an
assured minimum of three such opportunities during the life of the
program.

http://www.circe-space.eu/Portals/0/WS1_Presentations/1.3_ASI_Bertolotto.pdf
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 06/16/2013 10:23 am
Thanks.

So:
Guidoni (2001) on Space Shuttle - agreement between NASA and ESA
Vittori (2002) on Soyuz - agreement between Roskosmos, ESA, ASI and RSC Energia on 31.01.2002
Vittori (2005) on Soyuz - agreement between Roskosmos, ESA and RSC Energia on 28.01.2005
Nespoli (2007) - first flight on Space Shuttle (first opportunity)
Nespoli (2010-2011) on Soyuz - agreement between NASA and ESA
Vittori (2011) - second flight on Space Shuttle (second opportunity)
Unused third flight on Space Shuttle (third opportunity)
Parmitano (2013) on Soyuz - first long-duration flight (fourth opportunity)
Cristoforetti (2014-2015) on Soyuz - second long-duration flight (fifth opportunity)
TBD - third long-duration flight (sixth opportunity)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 06/17/2013 02:32 pm

NASA announced its 2013 class of astronaut candidates this morning:

http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2013/jun/HQ_13-177_2013_Astronaut_Class.html (http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2013/jun/HQ_13-177_2013_Astronaut_Class.html)


Michael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: mikegi on 06/17/2013 04:54 pm
NASA announced its 2013 class of astronaut candidates this morning:

http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2013/jun/HQ_13-177_2013_Astronaut_Class.html (http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2013/jun/HQ_13-177_2013_Astronaut_Class.html)

Michael Cassutt
Best comment about this that I've seen on the internet so far:

Do any of them have hitchhiking skills?

LOL
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: catdlr on 06/17/2013 05:45 pm
Astronaut Class of 2013

Published on Jun 17, 2013
After an extensive year-and-a-half search, NASA has a new group of potential astronauts who will help the agency push the boundaries of exploration and travel to new destinations in the solar system, including an asteroid and Mars. Eight candidates have been selected to be NASA's newest astronaut trainees, hoping to be among those who are the first to launch from U.S. soil on commercial American spacecraft since the retirement of the space shuttle.

The 2013 astronaut candidate class comes from the second largest number of applications NASA has received -- more than 6,000. Half of the selectees are women, making this the highest percentage of female astronaut candidates ever selected for a class. The group will receive a wide array of technical training at space centers and remote locations around the globe to prepare for missions to low-Earth orbit, an asteroid and Mars.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxXi1xfdhr4
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: NavySpaceFan on 06/17/2013 06:12 pm
Happy to see one former and two current naval aviators on the list!  And I believe MAJ Mann is the first female USMC astronaut.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: AJA on 06/18/2013 01:20 am
 The NASA article mentions that this class is "ready to help lead the first human mission to an asteroid and Mars".

Is it still too early to start changing astronaut training routines to gear up for BEO operations? I know NEEMO's doing simulated asteroid operations, and there's always the Mars Analogs (I mention it from the field-geology training standpoint, especially given none of them have that background), but I don't think participation in those programs is formally integrated as a requirement for astronaut flight-qualification, or even maintaining currency of flight-status... yet. A military aviation background with 3 test pilot school grads also suggests they're on the lookout for crew to staff new vehicles.

IMHO, given that the constituents of this class are all in their mid-30s, they've got enough age on their side to train for, and then fly a couple of ISS increments and still be prime for EFT-2 (or its successor).

Maybe this'll probably get some airtime at the Asteroid initiative event later today.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jcm on 06/18/2013 03:30 am

NASA announced its 2013 class of astronaut candidates this morning:

http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2013/jun/HQ_13-177_2013_Astronaut_Class.html (http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2013/jun/HQ_13-177_2013_Astronaut_Class.html)


Michael Cassutt

So have they stopped distinguishing between pilot-astronauts and mission specialists, or just didn't make the distinction in the press release?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jcm on 06/18/2013 03:50 am
And a note for Chris that among the info on candidate Anne McClain at http://www.patriotleague.org/genrel/100510aaf.html is that she had a Marshall scholarship which she used to do two Master's degrees, at Bath and Bristol (in aerospace engineering and in international security)

Christina Hammock used to work here at the Harvard-Smithsonian on the south pole telescope, and wintered over in antarctica - http://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/2006/04.13/01-winterover.html    I believe she is at least the third NASA astro with a Center for Astrophysics connection, following Karl Henize and Jeff Hoffman
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: dcfowler1 on 06/18/2013 05:12 am
Happy to see one former and two current naval aviators on the list!  And I believe MAJ Mann is the first female USMC astronaut.

Interestingly the USMC did not nominate anyone this year, so Mann applied on her own.

Dave

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 06/18/2013 05:48 am
So have they stopped distinguishing between pilot-astronauts and mission specialists, or just didn't make the distinction in the press release?
Already in the 2009 astronaut class were no distinction between pilots and MS.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 06/18/2013 02:11 pm
So have they stopped distinguishing between pilot-astronauts and mission specialists, or just didn't make the distinction in the press release?
Already in the 2009 astronaut class were no distinction between pilots and MS.

Olaf is correct.  The official distinction disappeared within the astronaut office itself in 2011 . . .nevertheless, ASCANS and astronauts who are military pilots (and qualified for front seat in the T-38) are required to log more flying time than the others, on the order of 200 hours/year to 50/year.  In the new class, that would seem to apply to only Glover and Mann.

Michael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 06/18/2013 03:30 pm
Parmitano (2013) on Soyuz - first long-duration flight (fourth opportunity)
Cristoforetti (2014-2015) on Soyuz - second long-duration flight (fifth opportunity)

I might be wrong, but I was under the impression that Parmitiano is flying as an Italian and Cristoforetti as a European . . .

;)

In other words: I thought the 2013 slot was ASI-based and the 2014/15 ESA-based.

Edit: Quickly checked the FPIP. It seems I was right: Cristoforetti is not using an ASI Slot. Parmitiano is.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: collectSPACE on 06/18/2013 03:49 pm
Reactions from the 2013 class on their selection...

Astronaut 'I scream': New NASA astronaut candidates excited to be chosen
http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-061813a.html

NASA's 2013 class of astronaut candidates, or "ascans" for short, were all very excited to be selected from the more than 6,000 applications received to be the space agency's 21st group of astronaut trainees. At least one of the eight new ascans admitted to letting out a scream at the news, as did her mom. Beyond their being chosen though, the candidates said they were excited by the opportunity to contribute to exploration.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jcm on 06/18/2013 08:28 pm
So have they stopped distinguishing between pilot-astronauts and mission specialists, or just didn't make the distinction in the press release?
Already in the 2009 astronaut class were no distinction between pilots and MS.

Olaf is correct.  The official distinction disappeared within the astronaut office itself in 2011 . . .nevertheless, ASCANS and astronauts who are military pilots (and qualified for front seat in the T-38) are required to log more flying time than the others, on the order of 200 hours/year to 50/year.  In the new class, that would seem to apply to only Glover and Mann.

Michael Cassutt

Thanks Mike and Olaf, very interesting!
So the 'second class citizen' status of the 'scientist astronaut' that we've had since 1965 is gone?
Do you think this is a permanent change, or will some formal distinction reappear once Orion is flying?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 06/18/2013 09:30 pm
I might be wrong, but I was under the impression that Parmitiano is flying as an Italian and Cristoforetti as a European . . .

In other words: I thought the 2013 slot was ASI-based and the 2014/15 ESA-based.

Edit: Quickly checked the FPIP. It seems I was right: Cristoforetti is not using an ASI Slot. Parmitiano is.

This was my impression too.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 06/19/2013 09:40 am
Quickly checked the FPIP. It seems I was right: Cristoforetti is not using an ASI Slot. Parmitiano is

See document, posted by Stan Black on previous page (http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=740.msg1064195#msg1064195) (page 8):
"First ASI ISS long duration flight opportunity: Luca Parmitano in ISS 36/37
Second ASI ISS long duration flight opportunity: Samantha Cristoforetti in ISS 42/43
Third ASI ISS long duration flight opportunity to be assigned"
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: nethegauner on 06/19/2013 10:52 am
See document, posted by Stan Black on previous page (http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?

topic=740.msg1064195#msg1064195) (page 8):
"First ASI ISS long duration flight opportunity: Luca Parmitano in ISS 36/37
Second ASI ISS long duration flight opportunity: Samantha Cristoforetti in ISS 42/43
Third ASI ISS long duration flight opportunity to be assigned"

How strange. So there is a contradiction to the FPIP, indeed. In this case, I tend to have more confidence in the FPIP. It is an operational document -- the presentation is not. Also, the content of that presentation seems a bit mistakable to me -- in places, at least. For example, there is talk of "three MPLM and the PMM" . . .

;)

Well -- we know that the Leonardo module has a split personality, right?

Seriously, maybe this is just a misapprehension. We do have ESA insiders here, don't we? Does any of You guys know if Cristoforetti will have a European or an Italian seat on the Soyuz?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 06/19/2013 03:01 pm
So have they stopped distinguishing between pilot-astronauts and mission specialists, or just didn't make the distinction in the press release?
Already in the 2009 astronaut class were no distinction between pilots and MS.

Olaf is correct.  The official distinction disappeared within the astronaut office itself in 2011 . . .nevertheless, ASCANS and astronauts who are military pilots (and qualified for front seat in the T-38) are required to log more flying time than the others, on the order of 200 hours/year to 50/year.  In the new class, that would seem to apply to only Glover and Mann.

Michael Cassutt

Thanks Mike and Olaf, very interesting!
So the 'second class citizen' status of the 'scientist astronaut' that we've had since 1965 is gone?
Do you think this is a permanent change, or will some formal distinction reappear once Orion is flying?

Thought I had answered this.... must have pressed the wrong button.

Anyway, first, I would object to the idea that mission specialist or non-military test pilots within the astronaut office are second-class citizens.  While this was undeniably true from 1965 to the mid 1970s, and while, yes, pilots had the privilege of command, mission specialists really got most of the fun and and equal amount of acclaim.  And the last two chiefs of the astronaut office have been career MS.

As for titles, you're not going to see pilot/mission specialist categories with Orion or commercial . . . while there will undoubtedly be one astronaut in every crew who has a flying background and experience, NASA is likely to use a term like "operator", with an Operator-1 having one set of responsibilities, Operator-2 another, and so on, depending on the mission and the individuals.  (Even now, on ISS, you have some FEs with EVA experience and qualification, and some who don't.)

Michael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jcm on 06/20/2013 02:12 am
So have they stopped distinguishing between pilot-astronauts and mission specialists, or just didn't make the distinction in the press release?
Already in the 2009 astronaut class were no distinction between pilots and MS.

Olaf is correct.  The official distinction disappeared within the astronaut office itself in 2011 . . .nevertheless, ASCANS and astronauts who are military pilots (and qualified for front seat in the T-38) are required to log more flying time than the others, on the order of 200 hours/year to 50/year.  In the new class, that would seem to apply to only Glover and Mann.

Michael Cassutt

Thanks Mike and Olaf, very interesting!
So the 'second class citizen' status of the 'scientist astronaut' that we've had since 1965 is gone?
Do you think this is a permanent change, or will some formal distinction reappear once Orion is flying?

Thought I had answered this.... must have pressed the wrong button.

Anyway, first, I would object to the idea that mission specialist or non-military test pilots within the astronaut office are second-class citizens.  While this was undeniably true from 1965 to the mid 1970s, and while, yes, pilots had the privilege of command, mission specialists really got most of the fun and and equal amount of acclaim.  And the last two chiefs of the astronaut office have been career MS.

As for titles, you're not going to see pilot/mission specialist categories with Orion or commercial . . . while there will undoubtedly be one astronaut in every crew who has a flying background and experience, NASA is likely to use a term like "operator", with an Operator-1 having one set of responsibilities, Operator-2 another, and so on, depending on the mission and the individuals.  (Even now, on ISS, you have some FEs with EVA experience and qualification, and some who don't.)

Michael Cassutt


Michael - thanks for your answer! (and hope you're well btw, long time no see..)
I was of course being a bit deliberately provocative..
although my impression had been that it was only in the late 90s that the MS's got to have the same status level as the pilots,  I of course defer to your much more direct insight into the corps - very interesting.

Trust NASA to come up with a way to reduce the romance of 'astronaut' to the bureaucratic blandness of 'operator'...

regards, Jonathan
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 06/20/2013 03:12 pm
So have they stopped distinguishing between pilot-astronauts and mission specialists, or just didn't make the distinction in the press release?
Already in the 2009 astronaut class were no distinction between pilots and MS.

Olaf is correct.  The official distinction disappeared within the astronaut office itself in 2011 . . .nevertheless, ASCANS and astronauts who are military pilots (and qualified for front seat in the T-38) are required to log more flying time than the others, on the order of 200 hours/year to 50/year.  In the new class, that would seem to apply to only Glover and Mann.

Michael Cassutt

Thanks Mike and Olaf, very interesting!
So the 'second class citizen' status of the 'scientist astronaut' that we've had since 1965 is gone?
Do you think this is a permanent change, or will some formal distinction reappear once Orion is flying?

Thought I had answered this.... must have pressed the wrong button.

Anyway, first, I would object to the idea that mission specialist or non-military test pilots within the astronaut office are second-class citizens.  While this was undeniably true from 1965 to the mid 1970s, and while, yes, pilots had the privilege of command, mission specialists really got most of the fun and and equal amount of acclaim.  And the last two chiefs of the astronaut office have been career MS.

As for titles, you're not going to see pilot/mission specialist categories with Orion or commercial . . . while there will undoubtedly be one astronaut in every crew who has a flying background and experience, NASA is likely to use a term like "operator", with an Operator-1 having one set of responsibilities, Operator-2 another, and so on, depending on the mission and the individuals.  (Even now, on ISS, you have some FEs with EVA experience and qualification, and some who don't.)

Michael Cassutt


Michael - thanks for your answer! (and hope you're well btw, long time no see..)
I was of course being a bit deliberately provocative..
although my impression had been that it was only in the late 90s that the MS's got to have the same status level as the pilots,  I of course defer to your much more direct insight into the corps - very interesting.

Trust NASA to come up with a way to reduce the romance of 'astronaut' to the bureaucratic blandness of 'operator'...

regards, Jonathan

Jonathan,

NASA's unparalleled ability to reduce the romance -- or stomp it flat -- goes back to its founding, doesn't it?  Wouldn't "spaceman" have been a more exciting word than "astronaut"?  ;)

Regarding the relative status of PLTs vs MS, I suspect that it lingered into the 1980s, but you can mark a turning point with the selection of MS Steve Hawley as deputy chief astronaut in the spring of 1987.  From that time on, MS were always included in astronaut office leadership.

And yes, it's been too long!
MC
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 06/20/2013 08:06 pm
Wouldn't "spaceman" have been a more exciting word than "astronaut"?  ;)

Not if you're a spacewoman! ;)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jcm on 06/24/2013 12:58 am
Wouldn't "spaceman" have been a more exciting word than "astronaut"?  ;)

Not if you're a spacewoman! ;)

Yes. And as someone with a classical education I actually find 'astronaut' to be a suitably romantic word, spaceman is a bit bland.  'cosmonaut' isn't bad too  (although I use them interchangeably, I think making a separate word for the same profession in different countries is insane - we don't have a separate English word for a Russian pilot or a Russian taxi driver...)
And Michael, I agree the Hawley appointment was a key step.
So too I think was the move to have mission specialists as ISS commanders.

I wonder if the assignment of Rukavishnikov as the first engineer to be a commander (Soyuz-33, 1979) reflected a similar evolution on the Russian side, although the balance of prestige/power inside Star City seems to have been rather different because of the engineers' direct working relationship with Korolev.  But the common thread is a move away from the idea that 'space vehicle commander' is a job that needs to be done by a former test pilot.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 06/25/2013 05:01 am
Reminds me of a quote from Gus Grissom, who hated the term "astronaut".

Paraphrased, he once said: "I'm not 'ass' anything. I'm a pilot. Isn't that enough?"

Good ol' Gus!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 07/02/2013 06:16 am
http://astronautcandidates.com  ;D
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Satori on 07/04/2013 11:39 am
Interesting note on Marcos Pontes blogue (the Brazilian astronaut at http://www.marcospontes.net/destaques/20130702_noticia_Acidente.htm, in Portuguese) about the latest Proton accident, saying... "Last night, a Russian Proton rocket lost control during lift-off and exploded on impact at the Baikonur Cosmodrome (the same from where I was launched in 2006 and possibly from I will be launched on my next mission)."

This is the first time I read something about a possible second mission for Marcos Pontes on a Russian space mission.

Does any of you knows anything more about this mission?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 07/07/2013 08:43 pm
I have read at:
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20130624/ARTICLES/130629724/1350?p=3&tc=pg such statistical data about NASA ascans till now
"As an astronaut candidate — an “ascan” in NASA lingo — Mann is part of a pretty exclusive club. Including the first astronaut class selected in 1959, 50,758 people have applied for the position and only 338, fewer than 1 percent, have been accepted.

More than 6,300 people applied for this year's class, and eight made the grade."

Can someone have more precise data about applicants numbers for each NASA ascan classes with group 1 to 21?

Any help appreciated.





Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: enkarha on 07/08/2013 01:10 am
Can someone have more precise data about applicants numbers for each NASA ascan classes with group 1 to 21?

Any help appreciated.

I don't know about precise numbers, but I have something kinda close. The infographic on this page: (http://www.livescience.com/20600-record-number-astronaut-applicants-infographic.html (http://www.livescience.com/20600-record-number-astronaut-applicants-infographic.html)) has the selections with number of applicants and astronauts for each selection cycle, and while it's not in a neat table form and it's not exact, it seems to be fairly accurate (the applicants sum to 50,450 and the astronauts to 335). 1985 looks troubling, though.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 07/10/2013 06:19 pm
RELEASE 13-208

NASA, Space Station Partners Announce Future Crew Members

HOUSTON -- NASA and its international partners have appointed three International Space Station crew members to round out future expeditions to the orbiting laboratory.

NASA astronaut Kjell Lindgren, Japanese Exploration Aerospace Agency (JAXA) astronaut Kimiya Yui and Russian Federal Space Agency cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko are scheduled to launch in June 2015. They will join three Expedition 44 crew members in orbit and will remain aboard as part of Expedition 45.

The Expedition 45 crew will be:
 
NASA astronaut Scott Kelly, station commander
Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko, flight engineer
Russian cosmonaut Yury Lonchakov, flight engineer
NASA astronaut Kjell Lindgren, flight engineer
Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui, flight engineer
Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko, flight engineer

Lindgren, a board-certified emergency and aerospace medicine physician, joined the astronaut corps in 2009 and worked as a NASA flight surgeon before his selection. He was born in Taiwan and spent some time in the Midwestern United States, but spent most of his youth in England. He holds a bachelor's degree in biology, a master's degree in cardiovascular physiology and a doctorate in medicine. At the U.S. Air Force Academy, he was an instructor, jumpmaster and member of the "Wings of Blue" parachute team. He also conducted cardiovascular countermeasure research at NASA's Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif.

Yui was born in Nagano, Japan. He received degrees from the Graduate School of Science and Engineering, National Defense Academy of Japan, in March 1992. He served in the Japan Air Self Defense Force until his selection as an astronaut candidate by JAXA in February 2009. He has participated in two years of astronaut candidate training at NASA, which included scientific and technical briefings, intensive instruction on the space station's systems, spacewalking, robotics, physiological training, flight training using a T-38 jet trainer and water and wilderness survival training. Yui also participated in the 16th NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations off the coast of Key Largo in Florida in June 2012.

Oleg Kononenko was selected to join the cosmonaut corps in 1996, and he completed his initial training in 1998. His first spaceflight was as a flight engineer for Expedition 17 in 2008. Kononenko launched to the International Space Station for his second mission in December 2011 and returned to Earth in July 2012. He spent a total of 193 days in space, 191 of which were aboard the station as a part of Expeditions 30 and 31. During Expedition 31, Kononenko served as both the station commander and Soyuz commander. During the course of his two missions, Kononenko has spent 393 days in space.

For complete astronaut biographical information, visit:

 http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/bios

For more information about the International Space Station, visit:

 http://www.nasa.gov/station

To see training and mission posts from Lindgren on Twitter, visit:

http://www.twitter.com/astro_kjell

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 07/10/2013 07:31 pm

I don't know about precise numbers, but I have something kinda close. The infographic on this page: (http://www.livescience.com/20600-record-number-astronaut-applicants-infographic.html (http://www.livescience.com/20600-record-number-astronaut-applicants-infographic.html)) has the selections with number of applicants and astronauts for each selection cycle, and while it's not in a neat table form and it's not exact, it seems to be fairly accurate (the applicants sum to 50,450 and the astronauts to 335). 1985 looks troubling, though.

Thanks for this infographic. It is interesting, but you confused TWO different numbers from it and from my upper question:

355 individual astronauts and cosmonauts {from US and rest of the world} have flown on the space shuttle {during 2001-2011} WITH 338 astronaut candidates which have been choosen by American NASA during 1959-2013 and not all have flown into space.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: enkarha on 07/10/2013 11:25 pm

Thanks for this infographic. It is interesting, but you confused TWO different numbers from it and from my upper question:


Sorry, but no, I didn't. I added up all the little numbers in yellow, the accepted astronauts per cycle, by hand (7+9+14...), and if you do so, you get 335.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 07/11/2013 02:41 pm
Sorry, you didn't, but if you add like you write you get 338 accepted NASA astronauts or candidates for astronaut!

According to Astronaut Fact Book (http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/740566main_current.pdf): "As of the ASCAN Class of 2009, 44,658 people have applied to become astronauts
Only 330 have been accepted into the astronaut candidate program
(48 females & 282 men)"

So 44658 + 6100??? = 50,758

 
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: A_M_Swallow on 07/14/2013 04:43 pm
Is it true that British actor Brian Blessed is on the reserve list to go to the ISS?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHKcJE8fdDM (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHKcJE8fdDM)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 07/14/2013 08:12 pm
He should be a backup for Sarah Brightman's seat during 300th manned space flight. ;)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 07/18/2013 06:49 pm
Stephanie Wilson is listed as a Management Astronaut (http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/astrobio_mgmt.html) from July 3rd.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Velomir on 07/25/2013 09:35 am
Mike Foale is retiring

info by twiter

Mike Massimino ‏@Astro_Mike 23 Jul

Went to a going away party tonight for Chris Hadfield and Mike Foale, two good friends and great astronauts, they will be missed
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 07/29/2013 09:20 am
In the NK news it was mentioned, that Sunita Williams is the Director of Operation at TsPK.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 08/09/2013 07:40 pm
According to: http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/foale.html
Quote
In 2013, Foale retired from NASA to develop an electric aircraft, with a goal to reduce the cost of flying by 90 percent, as part of his passion for Green Aviation. He is currently an advisor for the Inspiration Mars Foundation.

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 08/09/2013 08:47 pm
Oh wow! Legend to us British....


Release:
RELEASE 13-248


Astronaut Michael Foale Leaves NASA After 26-Year Career


NASA astronaut Michael Foale has retired, ending a 26-year space agency career that included 375 days in space during six space shuttle missions and extended stays aboard two space stations.

Foale spent 145 days aboard the Russian space station Mir in 1997 and 194 days aboard the International Space Station as commander of Expedition 8 from October 2003 to April 2004. He also conducted four spacewalks over his NASA career totaling almost 23 hours.

"We salute Mike and his contributions to NASA as an accomplished member of the astronaut corps," said NASA Administrator Charles Bolden. "Starting with his first flight, shuttle mission STS-45, when we flew together in 1992, Mike has worked tirelessly to support NASA's quest to explore the unknown. I know Mike will go on to do more great things as he continues to support the aerospace industry in his new endeavor."

Foale held many positions during his NASA career, including chief of the Astronaut Office Expedition Corps, assistant director (technical) of the agency's Johnson Space Center in Houston, and deputy associate administrator for exploration operations at NASA Headquarters in Washington. He most recently worked in support of Soyuz and International Space Station operations, as well as space station spacewalk activity and spacesuit development.

Foale's future plans include advancing green aviation technology. For Foale's complete NASA biography, visit:

http://go.nasa.gov/14gPLKx

For more information about NASA programs, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov

-end-

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 08/09/2013 09:28 pm
So that's Mike Foale, Nick Patrick, and Piers Sellers all retired now.

It's all on Tim Peake for the future of Brits in space!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 08/12/2013 12:37 am
Well it took hours to go through all those L2 Historical images from his missions, but I've written up an article covering Michael Foale's missions, with help from Chris Gebhardt's orbiter mission history overviews:

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/08/the-amazing-space-adventures-of-michael-foale/
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 08/12/2013 08:34 am
Here is a draft version of future Expedition 38 crew portrait...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 08/13/2013 12:20 pm
According to editor of Russian Novosti kosmonavtiki magazine Sergey Shamsutdinov, ISS-46/47 prime crew consists of FE-4 Sergey Zalyotin, FE-5 Timothy Kopra and FE-6 Timothy Peake. Also, Jeffrey Williams will be a backup for Scott Kelly in year-long flight on ISS.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 08/26/2013 02:47 pm
RELEASE 13-264


Astronaut Gregory H. Johnson Leaves NASA


NASA astronaut Gregory H. Johnson has left the agency, after a 15-year career that included more than 31 days in space, for a position with the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space.

A veteran of two space shuttle flights, Johnson served in 2008 as the pilot of STS-123, a mission vital to the construction of the International Space Station. He followed that up two years later as the pilot of STS-134, the penultimate space shuttle mission.

"Greg contributed greatly to the construction of the International Space Station, and I very much enjoyed my time in orbit with him," said Bob Behnken, chief of the Astronaut Office at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. "We are grateful for his service to NASA and wish him well in his new career."

Johnson earned an undergraduate degree in aeronautical engineering from the U.S. Air Force Academy. He later earned graduate degrees from Columbia University and the University of Texas, and served in the U.S. Air Force as a pilot. Johnson flew combat missions during Operations Desert Storm and Southern Watch.

Johnson joined NASA as an astronaut in 1998, and filled many technical roles including capsule communicator for the STS-126, 119, 125 and 127 missions; deputy chief and then chief of the Astronaut Safety Branch; and associate director of external programs at NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland. Johnson recently led the Astronaut Office's Visiting Vehicle Working Group, which helped plan and execute missions with NASA's commercial partners.

Johnson retired from the Air Force as a colonel in 2009, after more than 25 years of service. He has logged more than 5,000 flight hours in more than 50 different aircraft.

For Johnson's complete biography, visit:

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/johnson-gh.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 08/26/2013 06:13 pm
Col. Gregory H. Johnson Named CASIS Executive Director
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL. (August 26, 2013)

Today, Gregory H. Johnson, Colonel (Ret), was named executive director for the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS) – the nonprofit entity selected by NASA to manage the utilization of the International Space Station (ISS) U.S. National Laboratory. Col. Johnson will assume his role effective September 1, 2013.

As executive director, Col. Johnson will lead the CASIS organization to identify novel applications and new partnership opportunities advancing use of our nation's orbiting laboratory.

“Col. Johnson’s combination of experience within our nation's space program, leadership skills and familiarity with the aerospace industry make him an ideal fit for CASIS,” said CASIS Board of Directors Chair Dr. France Cordova. “With Col. Johnson's appointment by the Board, a critical role within the organization has been filled. He will drive forward the mission of CASIS, which is to enable and maximize use of the ISS National Laboratory as a unique resource for scientific discovery, technology development and education."

The ISS U.S. National Laboratory is focused on accelerating basic discoveries and innovation in areas that require microgravity and other extreme conditions uniquely provided by space. The facility offers opportunities for basic and applied research in the biological sciences, biotechnology, human health, physical and materials science, Earth and space imaging, and engineering research and development that will both advance our efforts in space and contribute to improving life on our planet.

“It is an honor to accept the role of executive director with CASIS and promote the benefits of conducting research on the ISS,” said incoming CASIS Executive Director Col. Gregory H. Johnson. “To see the strides this organization has made in less than two years of existence is highly encouraging, and I look forward to working alongside the CASIS staff as we continue to enhance the scope of spaceflight research and enable groundbreaking innovations for the benefit of humankind.”

Col. Johnson was selected as a NASA Astronaut in 1998 and ultimately piloted two Space Shuttle missions (STS-123 and STS-134, both aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour) where he spent nearly 32 days in orbit and contributed to the assembly of the ISS. In October 2011, Col. Johnson began a rotational assignment as the associate director of external programs at NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, OH. In that role, Col. Johnson managed all public affairs, outreach and educational programs at the Center.

Before NASA, Col. Johnson was a decorated officer and pilot with the United States Air Force. Col. Johnson flew 34 combat missions in support of Operation Desert Storm and 27 missions during Operation Southern Watch. In 1994, he was assigned to the 445th Flight Test Squadron at Edwards Air Force Base, where he flew and tested the F-15C/E, NF-15B and other aircraft. During his nearly 25 years in the U.S. Air Force, Col. Johnson logged over 5,000 flight hours in more than 50 different aircraft.

Col. Johnson received his B.S. in aeronautical engineering from the U.S. Air Force Academy, his M.S. in flight structures engineering from Columbia University and his M.B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin.

# # #

About CASIS: The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS) was selected by NASA in July 2011 to maximize use of the International Space Station (ISS) U.S. National Laboratory through 2020. CASIS is dedicated to supporting and accelerating innovations and new discoveries that will enhance the health and wellbeing of humankind and our planet. The CASIS goal is to bring the magic of space down to earth. For more information, visit www.iss-casis.org.

About the ISS National Laboratory: In 2005, Congress designated the U.S. portion of the International Space Station as the nation's newest national laboratory to maximize its use for improving life on Earth, promoting collaboration among diverse users and advancing STEM education. This unique laboratory environment is available for use by other U.S. government agencies and by academic and private institutions, providing access to the permanent microgravity setting, vantage point in low earth orbit and varied environments of space. The ISS National Laboratory Office at NASA’s Johnson Space Center currently facilitates research initiatives on board the station’s National Lab, but management of America’s only in-orbit laboratory is transitioning to CASIS.

# # #

http://www.iss-casis.org/NewsEvents/PressReleases/tabid/111/ArticleID/78/ArtMID/586/Col-Gregory-H-Johnson-Named-CASIS-Executive-Director.aspx
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 08/28/2013 02:01 pm
We first reported this back in May, per anik's info on the ISS schedule thread, but now it's official. We were also told privately back in January that Tim Peake had been assigned to this flight, but it is understood that there were objections to him getting the short mission, which is why it went to Denmark (the lowest financial contributor to HSF out of Germany/France/Italy/UK). So, congrats Denmark on your first astronaut, but shame it will only be a short mission.


N° 29–2013: Andreas Mogensen set for Soyuz mission to Space Station in 2015

28 August 2013

ESA's Danish astronaut Andreas Mogensen has been assigned to be launched on a Soyuz spacecraft from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan in September 2015 for a mission to the International Space Station.

This 10-day mission will be Andreas's first flight into space and the first ever space mission by a Danish astronaut.

The flight is directly connected to the new era in ISS operations: two experienced spacefarers from the USA and Russia will work on the Station for one year from May 2015. During his stay onboard the ISS, he will conduct a series of experiments preparing future missions and testing new technologies.

"I'm happy to announce this mission as this is already the fifth flight assignment for the class recruited in 2009," said Thomas Reiter, ESA’s Director of Human Spaceflight and Operations.

"With first of the new class, Luca Parmitano, currently working on the Space Station, and three other astronauts already training for their imminent missions, ESA's new astronauts are very busy.

“Thanks to the decisions of the Member States at the Ministerial Council last November, we will be able to fulfil our commitment to fly all six newly selected astronauts before the end of 2017,” said Mr Reiter.

"This mission is the fulfilment of a life-long dream and the culmination of many years of hard work and training,” said Andreas Mogensen.

“I am excited to be able to participate in ESA’s outstanding programme of science and technology development on board the International Space Station and I am honoured to represent Denmark and Europe in space. The mission is a unique opportunity for Europe to develop and test the technologies necessary for the future of human space exploration."

New technology and science mission

The launch of the mission will take place on 30 September, 2015 with the launch of Soyuz TMA-18 (44S) and it will end on 10 October, when Andreas will land with Soyuz TMA-16 (42S).

During his flight, Andreas will test novel ways of interaction between the ground and space crews with a mobile device that allows astronauts to operate it hands-free and with several multi-user communication techniques. The system will have also advanced 3D visualisation and augmented reality –features that will be fully exploited with added wearable computers and cameras to allow the general public to follow activities on the ISS 'through the eyes of an ESA astronaut' potentially in real time.

Andreas's short mission is an excellent opportunity for several science studies, particularly in life science. By adding samples and measurements from a short-duration mission astronaut to material gathered and being collected during long-duration missions, the value of the biomedical statistics is increased. All the instrumentation needed for physiology, biology and material science experiments is already available in the Columbus laboratory and samples can be returned quickly back to Earth for further analysis.

A short-duration mission is also perfect for testing a new generation of health sensors, vital measurement devices and electro-muscle-mobility devices. These have direct benefit for future exploration missions and even sooner on Earth, for instance with operators of heavy machinery or with rehabilitation after sports injuries.

Andreas will be specially suited too: he will assess a new ‘skinsuit’ during normal daily activities. This is tight garment made from elastic material mimicking Earth gravity and thus passively mitigating deconditioning of an astronaut’s body during spaceflight.

Along with the Soyuz arrival, the ISS will host up to nine persons for a while – a record that has not been broken since retirement of the Space Shuttle in 2011.

Between Luca's ongoing mission and flight of Andreas in 2015, ESA astronauts Alexander Gerst and Samantha Cristoforetti, are scheduled for launch in 2014 for long-duration missions to the Station. After Andreas, the next European destined for space will be Tim Peake, who will start his long-duration mission on the ISS as a member of the Expedition 46/47 in December 2015.

High-flying engineer

This new technology packed mission will be a dream flight for an aerospace engineer like Andreas. Not only will the mission include many firsts and demonstrations, but also Andreas will fly as the flight engineer in the ‘left seat’ of Soyuz, making him second-in-command of their vehicle.

Andreas was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, on 2 November 1976, and he received a master’s degree in aeronautical engineering from Imperial College London, UK, in 1999, followed by a doctorate in aerospace engineering from the University of Texas, Austin, USA, in 2007.

He was selected as an ESA astronaut in May 2009 and completed the astronaut basic training programme in November 2010 with the five other astronauts of the 2009 class. Andreas is a qualified Eurocom at the Columbus Control Centre in Munich, where he has been communicating with the astronauts on the International Space Station.

In addition to his training and work activities, Andreas worked for ESA on the Lunar Lander programme at ESTEC, Noordwijk, the Netherlands, where he was involved in the design of the guidance, navigation and control system for a precision lunar landing.

From his homebase at the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany, Andreas will start his mission training with the partners of the International Space Station. This will take him to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, USA, and Star City, near Moscow, Russia, as well as Japan and Canada.

Andreas blogs about space exploration and his astronaut training activities in Danish at videnskab.dk/profil/andreas-mogensen.

About the European Space Agency

The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. It is an intergovernmental organisation, created in 1975, with the mission to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space delivers benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.

ESA has 20 Member States: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Den-mark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, of whom 18 are Member States of the EU.

ESA has Cooperation Agreements with eight other Member States of the EU. Canada takes part in some ESA programmes under a Cooperation Agreement.

ESA is also working actively with the EU on implementing the Galileo and Copernicus programmes.

By coordinating the financial and intellectual resources of its members, ESA can undertake programmes and activities far beyond the scope of any single European country.

ESA develops the launchers, spacecraft and ground facilities needed to keep Europe at the forefront of global space activities.

Today, it launches satellites for Earth observation, navigation, telecommunications and astronomy, sends probes to the far reaches of the Solar System and cooperates in the human exploration of space.

http://www.esa.int/For_Media/Press_Releases/Andreas_Mogensen_set_for_Soyuz_mission_to_Space_Station_in_2015
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 08/29/2013 02:47 pm
Gennadiy Padalka will possibly replace Yuriy Lonchakov in ISS Expedition 43/44 crew.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ras391 on 08/29/2013 02:57 pm
can you discuss the reason for the possible switch?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 08/29/2013 03:01 pm
can you discuss the reason for the possible switch?

No.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 08/29/2013 03:17 pm
Gennadiy Padalka will possibly replace Yuriy Lonchakov in ISS Expedition 43/44 crew.

Wow, Gennady flying again, for his fifth long duration mission! Every time I think that man has likely made his last flight, his name appears on yet another manifest. If Gennady were a NASA astronaut, he'd probably be grounded now due to hitting his lifetime orbital radiation absorption limit.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: arkaska on 08/29/2013 07:28 pm
Ohh, looking forward to a possible fifth flight by Padalka. It also means he will be the person with most time spent in space if he joins Expedition 43/44.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: npuentes on 08/30/2013 12:24 pm

Wow, Gennady flying again, for his fifth long duration mission! Every time I think that man has likely made his last flight, his name appears on yet another manifest. If Gennady were a NASA astronaut, he'd probably be grounded now due to hitting his lifetime orbital radiation absorption limit.

So, do the Russians have laxer radiation exposure criteria than other ISS partners? Or, is it just that, for whatever reason, Padalka has less risk? It seems that in the United States, some astronauts are grounded for exposure whereas others are not (e.g., D. Thomas on Exp. 6, being replaced by Pettit). Does family history and health come into play?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 09/01/2013 02:53 pm
Ohh, looking forward to a possible fifth flight by Padalka. It also means he will be the person with most time spent in space if he joins Expedition 43/44.
If his next flight goes 6 months (or so) as scheduled, that will leave him with the most time in space, exceeding the second most experienced (Krikalev) by approximately 100 days...amazing career!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Fuji on 09/06/2013 12:21 am
Russian Cosmonaut Bails Out of Upcoming Spaceflight
http://en.rian.ru/science/20130905/183192622/Russian-Cosmonaut-Bails-Out-of-Upcoming-Spaceflight.html
Quote
Yury Lonchakov will be formally discharged from his job on September 14, Irina Rogova of the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center told RIA Novosti.

Quote
Rogova’s boss, Sergei Krikalev, was cited by Russian media as saying that Lonchakov “found a more interesting job,” but did not elaborate. Rogova could not name Lonchakov’s new job.

Quote
The Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center has been rocked by reorganization problems since 2009, when it was transferred from the Defense Ministry to the civilian Federal Space Agency. An unnamed Russian cosmonaut told the Moskovsky Komsomolets newspaper last year that the prolonged reorganization had affected cosmonauts’ income and career prospects, breeding discontent in the ranks.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 09/10/2013 06:48 am
Gennadiy Padalka will possibly replace Yuriy Lonchakov in ISS Expedition 43/44 crew

Other candidates are Anatoliy Ivanishin, Andrey Borisenko, Sergey Revin and Yuriy Malenchenko.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 09/10/2013 01:39 pm
Gennadiy Padalka will possibly replace Yuriy Lonchakov in ISS Expedition 43/44 crew

Other candidates are Anatoliy Ivanishin, Andrey Borisenko, Sergey Revin and Yuriy Malenchenko.

Oleg Skripochka?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 09/11/2013 09:32 am
Gennadiy Padalka will possibly replace Yuriy Lonchakov in ISS Expedition 43/44 crew

Other candidates are Anatoliy Ivanishin, Andrey Borisenko, Sergey Revin and Yuriy Malenchenko

There are only two candidates now: Padalka and Ivanishin.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 09/11/2013 09:43 am
3....

Padalka,Malenchenko,Ivanishin are still
three candidates after yesterday meeting
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 09/11/2013 10:04 am
Malenchenko can not be at all, because he has not medical approval yet.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 09/20/2013 11:06 am
Any new information about CDR's assigment after Yuri Lonchakov?

Thanks,
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 09/21/2013 02:55 am
On the NK forum it was told, that Padalka will fly instead of Lonchakov.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 09/30/2013 05:48 pm
RELEASE 13-305


NASA, Space Station Partners Announce Future Crew Members


NASA and its international partners have appointed future crew members for the International Space Station.

NASA astronaut Tim Kopra and European Space Agency astronaut Tim Peake are scheduled to launch in December 2015 and return to Earth in spring 2016. They will join the Expedition 45 crew members in orbit and will remain aboard as part of Expedition 46 with yearlong expedition Commander Scott Kelly and Flight Engineer Mikhail Kornienko.

This will be the second long-duration spaceflight for Kopra, a former U.S. Army helicopter pilot and graduate of the U.S. Military Academy. Kopra was a flight engineer aboard the station during Expedition 20 in 2009. This will be the first spaceflight for Peake, a former British Army helicopter pilot and graduate of the Royal Military Academy.

The Expedition 45 crew will be:

-- NASA astronaut Scott Kelly, station commander
-- Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko, flight engineer
-- NASA astronaut Tim Kopra, flight engineer
-- ESA astronaut Tim Peake, flight engineer
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 09/30/2013 05:49 pm
Oh no, two Tim's on one flight!

We'll have to refer to them as British Tim and American Tim. ;)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 09/30/2013 07:26 pm
RELEASE 13-304


Astronauts Chamitoff and Garan Depart NASA


NASA astronauts Gregory Chamitoff and Ronald Garan are leaving the agency. Chamitoff is joining the faculty of Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, and the University of Sydney in Australia. Garan will work on a range of new entrepreneurial and humanitarian efforts.

"Greg and Ron will certainly be missed by the Astronaut Office," said Bob Behnken, NASA's chief astronaut. "Greg's passion for sharing the spaceflight experience will serve him well as he begins a new adventure in academia and continues to inspire the next generation of innovators and explorers. I'll miss Ron both as a contributor to our office and as a classmate. The entire office is grateful for their service to NASA."

Chamitoff began his 18-year NASA career in 1995 as a space shuttle guidance and control officer in mission control at the agency's Johnson Space Center in Houston. He was selected as an astronaut in 1998. He flew in space twice, in 2008 as a flight engineer and science officer for Expeditions 17 and 18 aboard the International Space Station, and as a mission specialist during STS-134 in 2011, the penultimate shuttle mission. During his most recent mission, Chamitoff participated in two spacewalks to complete assembly of the International Space Station, taking part in the installation of the Alphamagnetic Spectrometer. He has spent more than 198 days in space.

Garan, who joined the agency in 2000, is ending a 13-year NASA career that included more than 178 days in space and four spacewalks. Garan flew in space twice, first in 2008 as a space shuttle Discovery mission specialist on STS-124, and again in 2011 aboard the International Space Station as a flight engineer for Expeditions 27 and 28. Garan retired from the Air Force as a colonel in 2009 after 25 years of service. He has logged more than 5,000 flight hours in more than 30 aircraft types. He recently served within NASA’s Open Government Initiative.

For Chamitoff's biography, visit:

http://go.nasa.gov/gcruuu

For Garan's biography, visit:

http://go.nasa.gov/1998pSo
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Paolo on 09/30/2013 09:26 pm
Oh no, two Tim's on one flight!

We'll have to refer to them as British Tim and American Tim. ;)

and both helicopter pilot !
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 10/01/2013 12:01 am
Oh no, two Tim's on one flight!

We'll have to refer to them as British Tim and American Tim. ;)

Good for Kopra though. Shame he could not have been "fast tracked" a little since he lost out on STS-133, but glad he is getting another flight.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 10/01/2013 12:36 pm
Oh no, two Tim's on one flight!

We'll have to refer to them as British Tim and American Tim. ;)

Good for Kopra though. Shame he could not have been "fast tracked" a little since he lost out on STS-133, but glad he is getting another flight.

Maybe they wanted to make sure his hip injury had time to heal properly and that there were no long-term adverse effects.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: A_M_Swallow on 10/01/2013 11:21 pm
Oh no, two Tim's on one flight!

We'll have to refer to them as British Tim and American Tim. ;)

A B-Tim and an A-Tim.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: spectre9 on 10/02/2013 07:39 am
Chamitoff has retired?

I love that guy. His STS-134 youtube vids will live on.

It's sad that so many will not get the chance to fly again.

Ron Garan is pretty cool too.

This is very cool.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-s71i5X90ug

4:10 space station tour.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Fuji on 10/27/2013 11:57 pm
Russian Cosmonaut Bails Out of Upcoming Spaceflight

Russian cosmonaut due to command a flight to International Space Station quits to work for a gas company 'because his wife wants him to earn more money'
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2413998/Cosmonaut-Yury-Lonchakov-quits-work-gas-company-money.html#ixzz2iyQEAc5s
He has given up £18k salary as space commander to work for Gazprom

And now   :o
Yu.V.Lonchakov appointed Assistant Director of the Federal Space Agency
http://www.federalspace.ru/19932/
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 10/28/2013 05:17 am
The marriage life is not easy...singels or alone should try it... 
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Hog on 11/06/2013 06:27 pm
Chamitoff has retired?

I love that guy. His STS-134 youtube vids will live on.

It's sad that so many will not get the chance to fly again.

Ron Garan is pretty cool too.

This is very cool.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-s71i5X90ug

4:10 space station tour.
I remember when Dr. Chamitoff had some issues with dizziness after the STS-134 re-entry.  He was steadied by Mr Fincke during the post-landing interviews.  Dr. Chamitoff's pre-reentry hydration regimine was the largest of the the STS-134 crew.

The Astronaut Office must feel a lot different to many of these Shuttle era Astronauts.  Some are at an age where  they feel they wont fly aboard another NASA vehicle, so they are retiring from NASA.

With Chamitoff and Garan now gone, that brings the Corps down to 45 active Astronauts with 38 Management-non spaceflight certified Astros.. And that includes the 14 new Astros from Class 20 from Group 20 "The 8 Balls"that graduated in 2011 from teh 2009 selection including 2 Canadians and 3 Japanese.  I dont beleive this includes the 8 Astronaut Canditates that are now in Group 21 "The Chumps".
This contrats starkly when back in 2000 there were 149 ACtice flight certified Astronauts.   Only 1 Astronaut in the Corps is from prior to Group 16 of 1996 "The Sardines, the largest Group to date with 35 NASA and 9 International Candidates.  By this time the ISS was go, and the need was great.

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Fuji on 11/29/2013 12:19 am
Astronaut Takuya Onishi Selected as Member of ISS Expedition Crew
http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2013/11/20131129_onishi_e.html
Quote
Period of stay at the ISS:
    About 6 months from around June in 2016
Transportation and from to the ISS:
    Launch and return by Soyuz spacecraft
Major tasks at the ISS:
    During the 48th/49th Expedition Mission, he will be in charge of ISS operations as a flight engineer, and science experiments using the space environment.
Astronaut Onishi's schedule in the near future:
    He will begin training necessary for the Soyuz trip and ISS expedition missions in December 2013.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Targeteer on 12/11/2013 04:58 pm
From Facebook

2013 Astronaut Class
Biographies of NASA's eight astronaut candidates for 2013 have been posted online. Read more about America's future explorers training to prepare for missions to low-Earth orbit, an asteroid and Mars...

http://go.nasa.gov/1d8bpCv
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 12/12/2013 12:37 am
Astronaut Mark Kelly Joins Near-Space Tourism Company World View

http://www.forbes.com/sites/alexknapp/2013/12/08/astronaut-mark-kelly-joins-near-space-tourism-company-world-view/
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Targeteer on 01/09/2014 11:38 am
Do all USOS astronauts gets Orlan/russian airlock familiarity training and visa versa (cosmonauts with EMU/quest training)?  It would seem obvious but the chances of use of non-national suits and airlocks seems remote...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=PoDSTY9svPg
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 01/10/2014 09:06 pm
Message from the Administrator:

Leland Melvin to Leave NASA

I am sorry to inform the NASA family that my good friend and our Associate Administrator for Education, Leland Melvin, has decided to retire next month after more than 24 years of NASA service.

Since assuming the role of AA in 2010, Leland has streamlined NASA's education organization and portfolio to deliver science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) content more effectively to educators and students. Using NASA's unique missions, programs and other agency assets, he has helped cultivate the next generation of explorers, one that is truly inclusive and properly reflects the diverse make up and talent of this nation's youth and our agency's future.

His innate ability to bring people together has helped forge partnerships with both traditional and non-traditional organizations.  Building a network that broadly shares and leverages individual strengths and capabilities to deliver more robust STEM education content and eliminate duplication of effort has been instrumental in this era of fiscal challenges.

Leland was co-chair of the Office of Science and Technology Policy's Committee on STEM education, ensuring that NASA has had a prominent place at the table for national discussions and decisions about the role of the federal sector in providing STEM content and opportunities.  This will serve the NASA education program well for years to come.

Prior to coming to Headquarters, Leland was a mission specialist in the NASA astronaut corps at Johnson Space Center. He flew aboard the space shuttle Atlantis on two missions: STS-122 in 2008 and STS-129 in 2009.  He also held a variety of roles within the astronaut office and led the agency on the Educator Astronaut program.  He joined NASA in 1989 at the Langley Research Center as a research scientist working in the fiber optics lab.  He has received numerous NASA awards and honors during his quarter-century of service.


Leland received a bachelor's degree in chemistry from the University of Richmond and a master's in materials science engineering from the University of Virginia.  Before an injury sidelined his career, Leland was a wide receiver for the Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys in the National Football League.
 

I am proud of all of his achievements, and it is difficult to pick one highlight in such a rich and distinguished career.  But I would have to say my personal favorite is his passion for and tireless dedication to education.  It is something that he and I share - it comes naturally to each of us, since both of our parents were educators.  They made sure we knew that a solid education was key to success no matter the path one choses.  That is a message worth repeating.


I want to thank Leland for his friendship, his dedication and his exceptional service to this agency and to the nation.  Please join me in wishing him all the best as he begins the next chapter of his incredible life.


Charlie B.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 01/15/2014 07:49 pm
Astronaut.ru now shoes Thomas Pesquet as the back-up for Andreas Mogensen on Soyuz TMA-18M in October 2015.
http://astronaut.ru/register/shedule01.htm
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: erioladastra on 01/18/2014 12:34 am
Do all USOS astronauts gets Orlan/russian airlock familiarity training and visa versa (cosmonauts with EMU/quest training)?  It would seem obvious but the chances of use of non-national suits and airlocks seems remote...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=PoDSTY9svPg

No, not anymore.  Early increments got full training on both.  But there is too much training to do both and enough redudancy/capability to not require it - though it would be nice.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 01/18/2014 05:56 am
Possible Russian cosmonauts for Soyuz TMA-20M crew are Aleksey Ovchinin and Andrey Borisenko.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: npuentes on 01/19/2014 01:17 pm
Is that Soyuz TMA-20M that is scheduled to fly in May, 2016 (per your recent Russian space launches update), or actually Soyuz MS-1 that is now slotted for March, 2016?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 01/19/2014 02:03 pm
Is that Soyuz TMA-20M that is scheduled to fly in May, 2016 (per your recent Russian space launches update), or actually Soyuz MS-1 that is now slotted for March, 2016?

Yes, Soyuz MS. Thanks!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 01/21/2014 12:20 pm
As per http://www.federalspace.ru/20145/, possible Expedition 47/48 crew (launch in March 2016) consists of Aleksey Ovchinin, Oleg Skripochka and Jeffrey Williams.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Kasponaut on 01/24/2014 05:34 pm
Any idea of who will get to fly on the first manned DC flight?
Maybe Steve Lindsey as CDR? ;-)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Velomir on 01/24/2014 05:57 pm
I'd say Lindsey or Lee Archambault ;)
or even both ;)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Kasponaut on 01/24/2014 06:07 pm
I'd say Lindsey or Lee Archambault ;)
or even both ;)

;-) There will most likely be 2 crew onboard I think.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Hog on 01/27/2014 02:35 pm
I did a quick search, to no avail.

Is there are main list or chart available that indicates current assignments for flight?
I was wondering if CSA's most recent additions, David Saint-Jacques and Jeremy Hansen, have been scheduled for any Long Duration flights.

Realizing that the current 5 month flights are referred to as long duration, what are the upcomming 1 year flights referred to as?

While searching, I just realized that a Canadian has flown on each of the 5 Orbiters. Dr. Story Musgrave accomplished what our entire Space Program accomplished-taking a ride on all 5 of the spaceworthy Space Shuttle Orbiters
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 01/28/2014 12:52 am
I'd say Lindsey or Lee Archambault ;)
or even both ;)

Lindsey prime, and Archambault backup.

It's been awhile since this game was played. =)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Targeteer on 01/28/2014 04:33 am
From Scott Kelly's Facebook page

Walking to class today in Star City Russia

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=271603999663195
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TALsite on 01/28/2014 08:51 am

Is there are main list or chart available that indicates current assignments for flight?


A .pdf with the manned schedule from my DB.

After Soyuz MS-01, crews, dates and spacecrafts are speculation.

All mistakes are only mine.
Carlos.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Hog on 01/28/2014 04:26 pm

Is there are main list or chart available that indicates current assignments for flight?


A .pdf with the manned schedule from my DB.

After Soyuz MS-01, crews, dates and spacecrafts are speculation.

All mistakes are only mine.
Carlos.
Thank you for posting that. Hopefully many moons from now, these newer Astronauts get up to Station. Of course after Canadas future contributions to ISS are ironed out.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 02/11/2014 04:33 pm
http://www.nasa.gov/press/2014/february/nasa-international-space-station-partners-announce-future-crew-members/

February 11, 2014
RELEASE 14-048
NASA, International Space Station Partners Announce Future Crew Members

NASA and its international partners have appointed crew members for a 2016 mission to the International Space Station.

NASA astronaut Jeff Williams is scheduled to launch in spring 2016 and return to Earth in fall 2016. He will join space station Expedition 47 crew members in orbit and will remain aboard as part of Expedition 48 with cosmonauts Alexey Ovchinin and Oleg Skripochka of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos). Williams will assume command of the orbiting outpost upon the departure of Expedition 47's commander, Sergei Zaletin of Roscosmos.

This will be the fourth spaceflight and third long-duration mission for Williams, a former U.S. Army helicopter pilot and graduate of the U.S. Military Academy. Williams was a flight engineer aboard the station during Expedition 13 in 2006. He later served as a flight engineer during Expedition 21 and commander of Expedition 22 in 2010.

This will be the first flight for Ovchinin, a former Russian Air Force pilot and graduate of the Eisk Air Force Pilot School. Ovchinin has been a cosmonaut since 2009.

This will be the second long-duration flight for Skripochka, who served as a flight engineer during Expeditions 25 and 26 in 2010 and 2011. The former mechanical engineer has been a cosmonaut since 1999.

The crew for Expedition 47 will be:

-- Tim Kopra, NASA
-- Sergei Zaletin, Roscosmos
-- Tim Peake, European Space Agency

The crew of Expedition 48 will be:

-- Jeff Williams, NASA
-- Alexey Ovchinin, Roscosmos
-- Oleg Skripochka, Roscosmos
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 03/06/2014 11:36 pm
F. Sturckow has left NASA.
http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/sturckow.html

And joined Virgin Galactic!

Quote from: VG via Facebook
We're happy to welcome two new pilots into the Virgin Galactic family! CJ and Sooch will fly SpaceShipTwo (and WhiteKnightTwo), carrying our customers smoothly and safely into outer space. CJ is a veteran of four NASA Space Shuttle missions and Sooch is a former U-2 pilot and branch chief at the US Air Force Test Pilot school. We're thrilled to have them both on board--and Sooch just celebrated by flying WhiteKnightTwo for the first time this morning!

Here an interesting article about the current duty of Keith Colmer.
http://www.nationalguardmagazine.com/display_article.php?id=1392827
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 03/09/2014 02:28 pm
Russian cosmonaut Anatoliy Ivanishin will be probably in Expedition 48/49 crew.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 03/17/2014 10:38 am
Press Release   
N° 08-2014   
   
Paris, 17 March 2014   
   
   
ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet will fly to the International Space Station in 2016   
   
ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet has been assigned to a long-duration mission on the International Space Station, it was announced today.     
   
The assignment of the French-born astronaut was announced by ESA’s Director General Jean Jacques Dordain in the presence of the French Minister for Higher Education and Research, Geneviève Fioraso, and
the President of the French space agency, CNES, Jean-Yves Le Gall.     
   
The announcement was made in coordination with the international partners of the International Space Station.     
   
With Thomas Pesquet’s assignment, all six ESA astronauts from the class of 2009 will have flown to the Station on missions within seven years of graduation.     
   
The Director General noted: “Thomas’ mission assignment concludes the first phase for our newest members of the ESA astronaut corps which was to make each of them assigned to a spaceflight.     
   
“This is a clear demonstration of the reputation of ESA among the international partners of ISS as well as of ESA astronauts among the international community of astronauts. The flight experience gained
by this new class of ESA astronauts is providing a solid ground for ESA Member States to contribute to further international human exploration missions .”   
   
Born in Rouen, France, Thomas will be the 10th Frenchman to go to space, following  Léopold Eyharts who supported the commissioning and first utilisation of ESA’s Columbus microgravity laboratory on the
Space Station.     
   
As a partner in the Station, ESA is entitled to use its resources, which include supporting missions of European astronauts.     
   
During Thomas’ mission, an atomic clock will be installed on the Station to connect with other atomic clocks on Earth to test Einstein’s theory of relativity and allow even more accurate world timekeeping.
The results could double the accuracy of satellite navigation, allowing us to pinpoint our location on Earth with even higher precision.   
   
Thomas studied as an aerospace engineer before working as a commercial airline pilot.     
   
ESA’s Director of Human Spaceflight and Operations and former astronaut, Thomas Reiter, says: “I remember this exciting moment of mission assignment very well, and I’m very happy that Thomas Pesquet is
now in this situation.     
   
“There is an exciting road ahead for Thomas, learning all the systems of the International Space Station and the unique scientific experiments that he will conduct in space.”   
   
Thomas comments on his assignment: “I am happy to have been selected for a mission but this is just the start of a new phase for me – there is a lot of work to do and a lot to learn before my flight.   
 
   
“I will consider my dream complete when I am working on the International Space Station.”     
   
About the European Space Agency .   
   
The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. ESA is an intergovernmental organisation, created in 1975, with the mission to shape the development of Europe's space capability and ensure
that investment in space delivers benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.     
   
ESA has 20 Member States: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland and the United Kingdom, of whom 18 are Member States of the EU.     
   
ESA has Cooperation Agreements with eight other Member States of the EU. Canada takes part in some ESA programmes under a Cooperation Agreement.     
   
ESA is also working with the EU to implement the Galileo and Copernicus programmes.     
By coordinating the financial and intellectual resources of its members, ESA can undertake programmes and activities far beyond the scope of any single European country.     
   
ESA develops the launchers, spacecraft and ground facilities needed to keep Europe at the forefront of global space activities.     
   
Today, it launches satellites for Earth observation, navigation, telecommunications and astronomy, sends probes to the far reaches of the Solar System and cooperates in the human exploration of space. 
   
   
Learn more at www.esa.int     
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Aragatz on 03/17/2014 04:37 pm
YEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSS !!!!! Thomas Pesquet is my fellow !!!!! The 10th French spationaut !!!!!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 03/18/2014 05:08 pm


Press conference announcing Thomas Pesquet's assignment to a long-duration mission to the ISS

ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet has been assigned to a long-duration mission on the International Space Station. A press conference to announce the assignment was held on 17 March 2014, at the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research.

The assignment of the French-born astronaut was announced by ESA’s Director General Jean Jacques Dordain (right) in the presence of the French Minister for Higher Education and Research, Geneviève Fioraso, and the President of the French space agency, CNES, Jean-Yves Le Gall (left).
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Velomir on 03/19/2014 12:11 am
In the recent SpaceX CRS-3 presskit there is talk about a crewed mission attempt in 2015. Any updates when to expect the crew selection or announcement?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TALsite on 03/19/2014 02:45 pm

Press conference announcing Thomas Pesquet's assignment to a long-duration mission to the ISS


Not announced on the Press conference, but I suppose Pesquet will fly as FE of the ISS Exp. 50/51 on November '16.
He also must be Onishi's backup on ISS Exp. 48/49.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 04/28/2014 05:56 pm
There is an information in the NK forum, that Kathleen Rubins will be a member of the ISS 48/49 crew.
She will fly together with Anatoli Ivanishin and Takuya Onishi.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 06/15/2014 11:28 pm
I was just looking at upcoming flight crew assignments. It indicates that Sergei Volkov has been assigned as back-up FE-1 on Soyuz TMA-16M.

What is the reason for assigning a cosmonaut as Flight Engineer who has flown twice already as CDR alongside a "rookie" commander?

Thank you.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ras391 on 06/16/2014 12:14 am
Interesting post.

Can someone please post a complete list of assignments both prime and back ups.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 06/16/2014 01:48 am
TALsite has link on previous page.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 06/18/2014 09:14 am
There is an information in the NK forum, that Kathleen Rubins will be a member of the ISS 48/49 crew.
She will fly together with Anatoli Ivanishin and Takuya Onishi.
Kathleen Rubins has started her training in Star City.
http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=2551
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 06/18/2014 08:56 pm

June 18, 2014
NASA Astronauts David Leestma and Andrew Thomas Retire

    NASA Astronauts David Leestma and Andrew Thomas

NASA astronauts David Leestma and Andrew Thomas are retiring from the astronaut corps after a combined 66 years in federal service.

Image Credit: NASA
   

NASA has bid farewell to two veteran astronauts who have retired after a combined 66 years of federal service.

David Leestma has retired after more than 44 years of government service. A veteran of three spaceflights, Leestma served as a space shuttle mission specialist on STS-41G in 1984, STS-28 in 1989 and STS-45 in 1992.

Before joining NASA, Leestma served in the U.S. Navy as a pilot and flew missions in the Mediterranean/North Atlantic areas while assigned to the USS John F. Kennedy. He was selected to join the astronaut corps in 1980. After flying in space, Leestma held multiple technical and leadership assignments, including director of Flight Crew Operations. In his last role, Leestma led the Technical Transfer and Commercialization Efforts office at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

"From the day we came together as astronaut classmates, Dave stood out as a remarkable leader, friend, and loyal teammate," said NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, who flew with Leestma on shuttle Atlantis' STS-45 mission. "He possessed seemingly infinite wisdom of the space shuttle and all its systems and never ceased to amaze me with his performance. We wish him the best."

Leestma holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland, and a Master of Science degree from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California.

A retired Navy captain, Leestma has logged more than 3,500 flight hours. He ends his NASA career having logged more than 23 days in space on three shuttle missions.

Andrew Thomas also has retired from NASA after more than 22 years of service to the agency.

Thomas, who holds a doctorate in mechanical engineering, was selected to join NASA's astronaut corps in 1992. Before joining NASA, Thomas worked in private industry as a research scientist responsible for designing vehicle aerodynamics, flight controls and propulsion systems.

"Andy is an extraordinary researcher, engineer and astronaut who has done it all in his 22 years as a NASA astronaut," said Janet Kavandi, director of Flight Crew Operations at Johnson. "In his 177 days in space over four missions, Andy served as the payload commander for a dedicated research mission, lived aboard the Russian Mir space station, conducted a spacewalk during an International Space Station assembly mission and served a vital role as a crew member on our crucial Return to Flight mission, STS-114, following the tragic Columbia accident. Since his last flight, Andy has helped shape NASA's future through his tireless work supporting the development of future exploration technology. We will miss him deeply."

Thomas traveled to Mir in 1998 to assist in the transition to space station operations. He was the last American to live on Mir and performed numerous life and physical sciences experiments during the course of his stay. His research aboard Mir provided the framework for the multinational cooperation and collaborative research on today's International Space Station.

Thomas held multiple technical and leadership assignments during his NASA career, including deputy chief of the Astronaut Office.

For Leestma's complete biography, visit:

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/leestma.html

For Thomas' complete biography, visit:

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/thomas-a.html

-end-
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Steven Pietrobon on 06/22/2014 08:53 am
Andy Thomas is from my home town here in Adelaide, South Australia. Here's how his retirement was reported here.

"Adelaide astronaut Andy Thomas retires from NASA to live on Texas ranch"

http://m.adelaidenow.com.au/news/adelaide-astronaut-andy-thomas-retires-from-nasa-to-live-on-texas-ranch/story-fni6uok5-1226962259152

Some comments on the US space program.

"Dr Thomas said the space environment had changed significantly with NASA divesting itself of low-earth orbit projects, like the space shuttle, to concentrate on deep space missions to the moon, to asteroids or to Mars.

“They are potentially available and could be but NASA has been constrained by the politics for way too long and that’s held NASA back,” Dr Thomas said.

“Also I think perhaps there is not the strong national will to do these things that there once was, although I think in time that could change.”"
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: catdlr on 07/03/2014 06:50 pm
There is an information in the NK forum, that Kathleen Rubins will be a member of the ISS 48/49 crew.
She will fly together with Anatoli Ivanishin and Takuya Onishi.
Kathleen Rubins has started her training in Star City.
http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=2551
There is an information in the NK forum, that Kathleen Rubins will be a member of the ISS 48/49 crew.
She will fly together with Anatoli Ivanishin and Takuya Onishi.
Kathleen Rubins has started her training in Star City.
http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=2551


Saw this in the newspaper.  Credit: Associate Press as reported in the Los Angeles Times.

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 07/29/2014 07:28 pm
This is a big loss:


July 29, 2014
Astronaut Mike Massimino Departs NASA for University Position
   

After almost two decades with NASA, including two space shuttle missions, astronaut Mike Massimino left the space agency Monday for a full-time position with Columbia University in New York.

Massimino’s experience at NASA includes two shuttle missions to service the agency's Hubble Space Telescope. During the final servicing mission, STS-125 in 2009, Massimino became the first astronaut to tweet from space, which led to a significant social media following.

“Mike has played a significant role within the astronaut office in his time here,” said Bob Behnken, Chief of the Astronaut Office at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. “His technical expertise was extremely helpful in the many roles he fulfilled, not the least of which was his part in the successful Hubble servicing missions.”

“Mike embraced the opportunity to engage with the public in new ways and set the stage for more space explorers to be able to share their mission experience directly with people around the globe. We wish him well in his new role fostering the dreams and innovations of students just beginning their career paths,” Behnken said.

A native of New York, Massimino earned his undergraduate degree from Columbia University and went on to accrue four additional degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He holds two master's degrees, one in mechanical engineering and a second in technology and policy, and a doctorate in mechanical engineering.

Massimino joined NASA in 1996. Prior to his first spaceflight assignment, he served in the Astronaut Office Robotics Branch and in the Astronaut Office Extravehicular Activity (EVA, or spacewalk) Branch. Following his first spaceflight, he served in 2002 as a spacecraft communicator in mission control and as the Astronaut Office Technical Liaison to Johnson’s EVA Program Office.

He also logged more than 570 hours in space, including 30 hours of spacewalks. His first mission was STS-109 in 2002, during which the seven-person Columbia crew successfully upgraded Hubble with a new power unit, Advanced Camera for Surveys, and solar arrays. STS-109 set a mission record for spacewalk time with 35 hours and 55 minutes over five spacewalks. Massimino performed two spacewalks during STS-109 totaling 14 hours and 46 minutes.

During STS-125, Massimino spent six days servicing and upgrading Hubble with the assistance of crewmates aboard shuttle Atlantis. STS-125 overtook the record set on STS-109, with 36 hours and 56 minutes over five spacewalks. Massimino’s spacewalks on this mission totaled 15 hours and 58 minutes.

For Astronaut Mike Massimino’s complete NASA biography, visit:

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/massimin.html

-end-
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Hog on 07/29/2014 08:08 pm
There seems to be a lot of experienced Astronauts leaving NASA lately.  Even working at NASA becomes commonplace, esp. compared to spaceflight experiences. Esp. after working at the greatest altitudes that STS flew, and setting EVA records, and by "turning wrenches" on a telescope that has given humans priceless data for science and about worlds unknown.

Best wishes Mass.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 08/11/2014 08:21 pm
There is an information in the NK forum, that Kathleen Rubins will be a member of the ISS 48/49 crew.
She will fly together with Anatoli Ivanishin and Takuya Onishi.

According to the latest news: She will fly on Soyuz MS together with Fyodor Yurchikhin and Takuya Onishi.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 09/17/2014 10:55 am
Has there been any news on the crews of Soyuz MS-2 (Sep 2016) and MS-3 (Nov 2016)?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: erioladastra on 09/19/2014 01:02 am
There seems to be a lot of experienced Astronauts leaving NASA lately.  Even working at NASA becomes commonplace, esp. compared to spaceflight experiences. Esp. after working at the greatest altitudes that STS flew, and setting EVA records, and by "turning wrenches" on a telescope that has given humans priceless data for science and about worlds unknown.

Best wishes Mass.

More of a case of why stay?  I know many of them would love to fly again but it will be a loooooooong time for many.   You are at least 7 years away for Orion, and a couple ISS flights a year.  Kind of quiet.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Hog on 09/21/2014 01:45 pm
There seems to be a lot of experienced Astronauts leaving NASA lately.  Even working at NASA becomes commonplace, esp. compared to spaceflight experiences. Esp. after working at the greatest altitudes that STS flew, and setting EVA records, and by "turning wrenches" on a telescope that has given humans priceless data for science and about worlds unknown.

Best wishes Mass.

More of a case of why stay?  I know many of them would love to fly again but it will be a loooooooong time for many.   You are at least 7 years away for Orion, and a couple ISS flights a year.  Kind of quiet.
Thanks for agreeing with me.  I dont think that things are "quiet" at NASA right now.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: astropl on 10/17/2014 08:40 pm
According to Anik's information (http://novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/forum/messages/forum10/topic12565/message1299926/#message1299926) Soyuz MS crew is: Kaleri, Skripochka, Williams.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: erioladastra on 10/19/2014 05:27 pm
There seems to be a lot of experienced Astronauts leaving NASA lately.  Even working at NASA becomes commonplace, esp. compared to spaceflight experiences. Esp. after working at the greatest altitudes that STS flew, and setting EVA records, and by "turning wrenches" on a telescope that has given humans priceless data for science and about worlds unknown.

Best wishes Mass.

Actually, things are a bit quiet.  great things are happening but the activity level is significantly reduced.  Shuttle is gone, and so are a large number of people.  ISS is fully assembled and a lot of staffing has been appropriately reduced.  Sure there are spacewalks, and repairs, and exciting research, but that is done with a smaller team.  EFT-1 is about to fly - and then many folks will go into a treading water/lower paced mode while ramping up to the next MPCV flight in ~ 3-4 years.    yeah, it is quiet.

More of a case of why stay?  I know many of them would love to fly again but it will be a loooooooong time for many.   You are at least 7 years away for Orion, and a couple ISS flights a year.  Kind of quiet.
Thanks for agreeing with me.  I dont think that things are "quiet" at NASA right now.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Velomir on 10/19/2014 06:19 pm
What about NASA astronaut selections for the manned Dragon 2 tests?

Any idea how much time for training would be needed? 2-2,5 years before flight?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Hog on 10/19/2014 09:27 pm
There seems to be a lot of experienced Astronauts leaving NASA lately.  Even working at NASA becomes commonplace, esp. compared to spaceflight experiences. Esp. after working at the greatest altitudes that STS flew, and setting EVA records, and by "turning wrenches" on a telescope that has given humans priceless data for science and about worlds unknown.

Best wishes Mass.

Actually, things are a bit quiet.  great things are happening but the activity level is significantly reduced.  Shuttle is gone, and so are a large number of people.  ISS is fully assembled and a lot of staffing has been appropriately reduced.  Sure there are spacewalks, and repairs, and exciting research, but that is done with a smaller team.  EFT-1 is about to fly - and then many folks will go into a treading water/lower paced mode while ramping up to the next MPCV flight in ~ 3-4 years.    yeah, it is quiet.

More of a case of why stay?  I know many of them would love to fly again but it will be a loooooooong time for many.   You are at least 7 years away for Orion, and a couple ISS flights a year.  Kind of quiet.
Thanks for agreeing with me.  I dont think that things are "quiet" at NASA right now.
Crawler crews are busy
MLP mods are being made
VAB mods are underway
SLS and numerous  other enginers are busy.
RS25 (SSME) production is about to start up again
RS25's about to fire again at Stennis
Another SRB test around the corner

There are many people who are working hard at NASA and its contractors.  Quiet implies a lack of sounds/activity. The people who are there are busy.  Shuttle is gone, but other projects are keeping the workers busy.
Its insulting to say that the people/programs will go into a "slower pace/treading water mode".  Simply not true.  A launch is a culmination of years of people doing their best work.  The Shuttle budget is now being spent in other areas, those other areas are not treading water or preparing to do so. NASA is doing what it can with what it has.
If you think that things at NASA are quiet, it's because you are wearing earplugs. 
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 10/20/2014 05:01 pm
What about NASA astronaut selections for the manned Dragon 2 tests?

Any idea how much time for training would be needed? 2-2,5 years before flight?

There are two different potential crew assignments.

First would be the NASA astronaut in the Dragon/CST-100/DC demo crew... as I understand it (and this may be out of date), demo crews will consist of one commercial astronaut and one from NASA.  The astronaut office surely has those individuals identified, but won't announce until after the contract protest has been settled... and then probably not for several months.  (I would guess at least 18 months prior to any demo launch, so late 2015 at the earliest.)

The pool for the NASA demo astronaut should include Antonelli, Bresnik, Boe and Hurley, and possibly Wiseman, Fischer and Tingle -- professional pilots. 

For the actual USCV flights that will carry ISS Expedition crews, I wouldn't be surprised if the demo pilots rotate to those commands.  Those crews will almost certainly be in the ISS flow 2-2.5 years out.... and there's no reason to shorten that.  if you assume USCV-1 in December 2017, you're looking at mid-2015.

My hunch is that you'll hear these names a year from now at the earliest, though I wouldn't be shocked if not until spring 2016.

Michael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Zed_Noir on 10/20/2014 05:57 pm
@Michael Cassutt

Don't really think a pilot is required for commercial crew vehicles, unless you want do an optional manual docking. Flight engineer to monitor and diagnose flight systems readings seems more apparent. So IMO the pool of potential USCV demo crewman will be larger.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: the_other_Doug on 10/20/2014 06:21 pm
I have to agree with Michael.  This is NASA.  It is inconceivable to me that a first manned flight of a new manned spacecraft would be commanded by anything except a pilot, and I would further expect that the first flight's CDR will not only be a pilot, he/she will have test pilot experience.

NASA made its decision as to whether the astronauts at the controls should be pilots or just passengers a long time ago.  Shuttle always had pilots at the front of the flight deck, and the mission specialists on the flight deck were trained to the point where their skills were similar to the pilots (for example, Story Musgrave got to sit up on the flight deck for many of his flights, but he was such a good pilot that he was even given the job of checking out other astronauts in the T-38 -- but not even Story was ever allowed to sit in the CDR or PLT seats).  If you sat on the flight deck of the Shuttle, though, you knew your role in any abort situation better than you knew the back of your hand.

I would guess that, for continuing commercial crew operations, the NASA astronaut aboard will always be one of the pilots.  And I would be surprised if the SpaceX or Boeing astronaut on board would not be a former NASA pilot astronaut, especially on the first flights.

-Doug  (With my shield, not yet upon it)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Zed_Noir on 10/20/2014 08:55 pm
I have to agree with Michael.  This is NASA.  It is inconceivable to me that a first manned flight of a new manned spacecraft would be commanded by anything except a pilot, and I would further expect that the first flight's CDR will not only be a pilot, he/she will have test pilot experience.

NASA made its decision as to whether the astronauts at the controls should be pilots or just passengers a long time ago.  Shuttle always had pilots at the front of the flight deck, and the mission specialists on the flight deck were trained to the point where their skills were similar to the pilots (for example, Story Musgrave got to sit up on the flight deck for many of his flights, but he was such a good pilot that he was even given the job of checking out other astronauts in the T-38 -- but not even Story was ever allowed to sit in the CDR or PLT seats).  If you sat on the flight deck of the Shuttle, though, you knew your role in any abort situation better than you knew the back of your hand.

I would guess that, for continuing commercial crew operations, the NASA astronaut aboard will always be one of the pilots.  And I would be surprised if the SpaceX or Boeing astronaut on board would not be a former NASA pilot astronaut, especially on the first flights.

-Doug  (With my shield, not yet upon it)

While I think NASA agree with your view. The very idea that the USCV vehicle will be used as lifeboat meant that as long as the crew can get in and secures the hatch then the vehicle can autonomously get on the ground even with all trained pilots disabled.

A trained pilot is only useful if the vehicle is a spaceplane in the atmosphere. Don't see anyone piloting a ballistic reentry or manually landed a Dragon propulsively, IMO.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 10/20/2014 09:02 pm
There's no reason to argue this, certainly not based on any statement of mine, because I agree that non-professional pilots can and will command USCV flights.  As to when, there's the rub.  I do agree with Doug that it's _likely_ the first or second of each vehicle will have traditional test pilots in the left seat, but only because NASA has done so in the past.  Before long NASA will be using the Russian model, where non-professional pilots like Kaleri, Yurchikhin and others have been vehicle commanders.

MC
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: the_other_Doug on 10/21/2014 04:25 am
Michael, I don't disagree that it would make sense for NASA to eventually adopt the Russian model for crew assignments.  I just have something of a hard time believing that the culture has shifted enough to see it happening very soon after the test flights end.

There is an excellent work published by the M.I.T. Press, "Digital Apollo: Human and Machine in Spaceflight," by David Mindell.  It delves deeply into the philosophical difference between pilot and chauffeur in early aviation, and the difference between pilot-astronaut and astronaut-passenger in the early days of American manned spaceflight.  It documents the *tremendous* resistance to *any* computer or digital mediation between the pilot and his machine that NASA put up, even as clever engineers strove to design spacecraft that needed very little pilot involvement to perform their missions.

I do understand that it's been three or four generations since these early astronauts, all the cream of the test-pilot crop, came in and demanded fully manual controls on their spacecraft.  And even more generations since the early struggles to define the operator of an "aeroplane" as either the daring, intrepid aviator flinging back the great vaults of the heavens or the meek, tame chauffeur who simply delivers his passengers safely, quietly and without making much fuss about it.

Maybe we have come to the era when NASA will allow their astronauts, even their commanders, to be chauffeurs and not require them to be "the best pilots in the business" before they get to sit in the CDR or PLT seats.  But I think we're still closer to the NASA that told Story Musgrave he couldn't fly the T-38s any more (even when, as I said, he was the check pilot on the T-38 for new astros and for those who needed to get their tickets on it renewed) because, as a mission specialist, he had no need to maintain flight proficiency, than we are to a NASA that would easily fit itself into the Russian model.

I guess time will tell.  And you're right, Michael, it's certainly nothing to argue about.  Just something to watch with interest as it plays out.

-Doug  (With my shield, not yet upon it)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 10/21/2014 02:46 pm
Some of the astronauts with flight test engineering backgrounds might also be candidates for those slots. Like Mike Fincke, Rex Walheim, Mike Fossum and Mike Hopkins. Or even Bob Behnken.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Targeteer on 01/13/2015 02:31 am
This album shows the process of getting "fitted" for a Soyuz seat liner for Thomas Pesquet  https://www.facebook.com/ESAThomasPesquet/photos/297237987152348/?type=1&theater



Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Davejfb on 01/25/2015 07:32 am
I was searching for some ISS picture's yesterday. And i found the following pictures. But onfortunatly is was to quick with closing the page after the safe of the pictures. I couldn't find the site anymore.

The are some new insights of expedition 49/50.

Also found a pic of wintertraining with the three guys on it.


also found this link. But i can't read Russian: http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=2849
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 02/09/2015 05:15 pm
NASA, Space Station Partners Announce Future Mission Crew Members

NASA and its International Space Station partners have announced the crew members, including NASA astronauts Kate Rubins, Shane Kimbrough and Peggy Whitson, for three upcoming missions to the space station.

Rubins will be the first of the three with her mission beginning in May 2016, when she will join the station’s Expedition 48 crew already in orbit. Selected to become an astronaut in 2009, this will be her first trip into space. Rubins was born in Farmington, Connecticut, and grew up in Napa, California. She holds a doctorate in cancer biology from Stanford.

Kimbrough, born in Killeen, Texas, and raised in Atlanta, is a retired U.S. Army colonel. He previously flew aboard space shuttle Endeavour during its STS-126 mission in 2008. Kimbrough has spent almost 16 days in space and accumulated 12 hours and 52 minutes on spacewalks.

Whitson, an Iowa native born in Mt. Ayr and raised in Beaconsfield, holds a doctorate in biochemistry from Rice University. She completed two six-month tours of duty aboard the space station, the second as its first female commander. She has spent 377 days in space between the two missions. Whitson also has performed six spacewalks, totaling 39 hours and 46 minutes.


The crew comprising Expedition 48 will be:
•Jeff Williams, NASA
•Alexey Ovchinin, Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos)
•Oleg Skripochka, Roscosmos
•Kate Rubins, NASA
•Anatoly Ivanishin, Roscosmos
•Takuya Onishi, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)


The crew comprising Expedition 49 will be:
•Anatoly Ivanishin, Roscosmos
•Kate Rubins, NASA
•Takuya Onishi, JAXA
•Shane Kimbrough, NASA
•Andrey Borisenko, Roscosmos
•Sergey Ryzhikov, Roscosmos


The crew comprising Expedition 50 will be:
•Shane Kimbrough, NASA
•Andrey Borisenko, Roscosmos
•Sergey Ryzhikov, Roscosmos
•Peggy Whitson, NASA
•Oleg Novitskiy, Roscosmos
•Thomas Pesquet, European Space Agency


For complete astronaut biographical information, visit:


http://www.nasa.gov/astronauts


For more information about the International Space Station, visit:


http://www.nasa.gov/station
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 02/23/2015 01:58 am
620,000 reads for this thread. That's some thread. I dare not start a new one given it's got such a history, but I think we may have to do for Commercial Crew :)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 02/23/2015 12:31 pm
620,000 reads for this thread. That's some thread. I dare not start a new one given it's got such a history, but I think we may have to do for Commercial Crew :)

Commercial crew is almost 2 years away to launch (but I guess they will start assign astronauts to missions maybe as soon as this year ?) until then we can use this nice thread....
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: DwightM on 02/24/2015 08:22 pm
620,000 reads for this thread. That's some thread. I dare not start a new one given it's got such a history, but I think we may have to do for Commercial Crew :)

Commercial crew is almost 2 years away to launch (but I guess they will start assign astronauts to missions maybe as soon as this year ?) until then we can use this nice thread....

So at the LC-41 edit - commercial crew access tower groundbreaking ceremony Bob Cabana mentioned he debated whether or not to wear his NASA flight jacket thinking he might "wangle my way onto the test flight with Fergie (Chris Ferguson)" - who responded with "we could work that."  Certainly all tongue in cheek, but does that count as a Flight Crew Assignment? ;)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: the_other_Doug on 02/24/2015 10:46 pm
In all seriousness, isn't Mike Fincke one of the Astronaut Office's primary commercial crew liaisons?  I'd think that would give him a leg up on snagging one of the first crew command positions.

Also, anyone have any thoughts as to whether some astronauts will focus primarily on Dragon, and others on CST-100?  Or will the entire office (at least the pilots) need to be able to fly either capsule?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: STS-85 on 03/09/2015 07:38 pm
I noticed that Dottie Metcalf-Lingenburger retired from NASA last summer and moved to Seattle.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: the_other_Doug on 03/11/2015 01:59 pm
Sometime in the next 12 months, I would assume we will start hearing about preliminary crew assignments for the first commercial crew flights.

I know that Mike Fincke is one of the prime Astronaut Office representatives for the commercial crew program, so I would expect him to be making one of the earlier flights.  Is there any information, or even scuttlebutt, on who else in the Astronaut Office is assigned to commercial crew (as opposed to ISS crew) training?  In other words, do we have a clue as to the possible astronaut pool from which the first commercial crew flights will be selected?

Also, I know that a few ex-astronauts are now working for SpaceX and Boeing, respectively.  Are we looking at a paradigm of some "company pilots" and some NASA astronauts on each crew, or do we think (as I have speculated) that it will be solely NASA astronaut crews for the first few missions?

I don't think it's too early to begin thinking about the "crew" part of commercial crew...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ras391 on 03/11/2015 04:46 pm
Obviously, during the test missions it will be a mixed crew, commercial and NASA. After that, NASA and others will buy services from the commercial suppliers. IMO
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 03/12/2015 07:46 am
Jack Fischer started his training in Star City for Expedition 52/53.
http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=2939
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jarnis on 03/12/2015 08:34 am
Hmm, Expedition 52/53 is already mid-2017, right? So I would imagine we should start hearing about first US-launched vehicle crews soon?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 03/12/2015 01:37 pm
Sometime in the next 12 months, I would assume we will start hearing about preliminary crew assignments for the first commercial crew flights.

I know that Mike Fincke is one of the prime Astronaut Office representatives for the commercial crew program, so I would expect him to be making one of the earlier flights.  Is there any information, or even scuttlebutt, on who else in the Astronaut Office is assigned to commercial crew (as opposed to ISS crew) training?  In other words, do we have a clue as to the possible astronaut pool from which the first commercial crew flights will be selected?

Also, I know that a few ex-astronauts are now working for SpaceX and Boeing, respectively.  Are we looking at a paradigm of some "company pilots" and some NASA astronauts on each crew, or do we think (as I have speculated) that it will be solely NASA astronaut crews for the first few missions?

I don't think it's too early to begin thinking about the "crew" part of commercial crew...

It's NEVER too early to speculate....

Several astronauts have been involved in commercial crew development for quite some time, so I would be looking for pilots like Antonelli and Bresnik, and possibly Boe (his tour as deputy chief astro should be ending) and Hurley (has been commercial crew deputy for the flight ops directorate for some time).  [If NASA is really designating the CST-100 flights as "BoeOFT-1" and "BoeOFT-2" it might be tempting.....]

As for MS types, Walheim, Fincke, Stott, Suni Williams, Feustel -- maybe Behnken, if three years is the limit to his chief astro tour.   Some of them, of course, will be not just SpX or Boe crew members, but ISS expedition folks.

Michael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 03/14/2015 06:32 pm
Jack Fischer started his training in Star City for Expedition 52/53.
http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=2939

Any word on who the NASA crewmember is training for Expeditions 51/52?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 03/14/2015 08:25 pm
Negativ, or I missed it. I would think, it will be an astronaut, who already has flown on the Soyuz.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: erioladastra on 03/15/2015 02:42 pm
Sometime in the next 12 months, I would assume we will start hearing about preliminary crew assignments for the first commercial crew flights.

I know that Mike Fincke is one of the prime Astronaut Office representatives for the commercial crew program, so I would expect him to be making one of the earlier flights.  Is there any information, or even scuttlebutt, on who else in the Astronaut Office is assigned to commercial crew (as opposed to ISS crew) training?  In other words, do we have a clue as to the possible astronaut pool from which the first commercial crew flights will be selected?

Also, I know that a few ex-astronauts are now working for SpaceX and Boeing, respectively.  Are we looking at a paradigm of some "company pilots" and some NASA astronauts on each crew, or do we think (as I have speculated) that it will be solely NASA astronaut crews for the first few missions?

I don't think it's too early to begin thinking about the "crew" part of commercial crew...

The first crewed test flights for each company will be a mix of company and NASA astronauts.  Once certified it will likely only be NASA.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 03/20/2015 12:19 pm
Jack Fischer started his training in Star City for Expedition 52/53.
http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=2939

Any word on who the NASA crewmember is training for Expeditions 51/52?
Negativ, or I missed it. I would think, it will be an astronaut, who already has flown on the Soyuz.
Anik now reports on his website, that it will be Mark Vande Hei.
https://yadi.sk/d/QUQDw4FB3dPQq
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 04/07/2015 04:42 pm
As far as ISS expedition veterans are concerned, I think Doug Wheelock would be on the short list for upcoming Expedition assignment. Along with Tracy Caldwell-Dyson and Shannon Walker. Among other veterans it seems Randy Bresnik, Rick Arnold, and Megan McArthur are due (overdue) for assignment.

And then there are the rookies still awaiting their first flight assignment: Aunon, Epps and Tingle.

I presume that Jeanette Epps will eventually become the first African-American to fly a long-duration mission. I've been kind of surprised that no one on the list of Bob Curbeam, Joan Higgenbotham, Stephanie Wilson, Leland Melvin, Alvin Drew and Bobby Satcher wound up flying an ISS expedition.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Anu on 04/08/2015 12:29 pm
I read an interview with Bobby Satcher in which he said that his height (6ft 3in) precluded him from Soyuz flights. Joan Higginbotham resigned from NASA after being assigned to the crew of what would have been her second mission (STS-126). Not sure why.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 04/08/2015 01:49 pm
I read an interview with Bobby Satcher in which he said that his height (6ft 3in) precluded him from Soyuz flights. Joan Higginbotham resigned from NASA after being assigned to the crew of what would have been her second mission (STS-126). Not sure why.

I think Higgenbotham left because of an opportunity in the private sector she felt she couldn't refuse.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Galactic Penguin SST on 04/08/2015 02:00 pm
In other news, there are rumors (http://novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/forum/messages/forum10/topic9135/message1353059/#message1353059) that Yuri Malenchenko is (again?) backing off from an ISS expedition assignment that should start this November along with Tim Peake and Tim Kopra....and Anatoly Ivanishin was supposed to be his replacement.  ::)

Given that today's just 7 months from the start of this expedition, how late could this swap be decided before hand?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: dcfowler1 on 04/09/2015 03:04 am
Well, not exactly new news. That's been out there for awhile.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TALsite on 04/09/2015 06:08 pm
Hello.  Another .pdf with the manned schedule from my database.

After Soyuz MS-03, seats are filled based on info or speculations found here and there, mainly russian sources as NK Forum.

In other news, there are rumors (http://novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/forum/messages/forum10/topic9135/message1353059/#message1353059) that Yuri Malenchenko is (again?) backing off from an ISS expedition assignment that should start this November along with Tim Peake and Tim Kopra....and Anatoly Ivanishin was supposed to be his replacement.  ::)

Yes, Ivanishin sounds as Malenchenko replacement, and Yurchikhin as replacementent of Ivanishin on the backup crew.

Feel free to suggest new info or corrections and I'll post an updated .pdf

Carlos  :)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Endeavour_01 on 04/15/2015 08:50 pm
Looks like Boeing will announce the crew of the CST-100 test flight this summer. :)

http://spacenews.com/boeing-to-unveil-crew-spacesuits-for-cst-100-test-flight-this-summer/
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 04/16/2015 08:11 pm

Edit: I bet that the Boeing crewmember will be Chris Ferguson and that the NASA crewmember will be Mike Fincke.


I do not hope that everybody is going to post here who he thinks is going to be on the crew....

Please just wait until the names are known and then discuss it.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Endeavour_01 on 04/17/2015 05:07 pm

Edit: I bet that the Boeing crewmember will be Chris Ferguson and that the NASA crewmember will be Mike Fincke.
I do not hope that everybody is going to post here who he thinks is going to be on the crew....




Please just wait until the names are known and then discuss it.

My apologies. My post is now fixed.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 04/17/2015 05:44 pm
I do not hope that everybody is going to post here who he thinks is going to be on the crew....

Please just wait until the names are known and then discuss it.

Why?

I personally love playing "guess the crew", as do many others. I've missed it since Shuttle has been gone.

You may not enjoy it personally, but in that case no-one is forcing you to read this thread.

Just my opinion.


And with that:

If the Boeing cremember is Chris Ferguson, then I'd put my money on Doug Hurley being the NASA crewmember, since both flew together on STS-135 and are familiar with each other's style. Would also be good PR - the crew of the last Shuttle are the same crew as the first commercial crew flight.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 04/17/2015 09:59 pm
I do not hope that everybody is going to post here who he thinks is going to be on the crew....

Please just wait until the names are known and then discuss it.

Why?


Why, because this topic is about crew assignments, so crews that are assigned to a mission, not who "we" think is going to be on one...

If you want to guess who, then start a new topic.... Thinking of it, let me start one, than everybody can have fun with it.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jarnis on 04/17/2015 11:53 pm
I do not hope that everybody is going to post here who he thinks is going to be on the crew....

Please just wait until the names are known and then discuss it.

Why?

I personally love playing "guess the crew", as do many others. I've missed it since Shuttle has been gone.

You may not enjoy it personally, but in that case no-one is forcing you to read this thread.

Just my opinion.


And with that:

If the Boeing cremember is Chris Ferguson, then I'd put my money on Doug Hurley being the NASA crewmember, since both flew together on STS-135 and are familiar with each other's style. Would also be good PR - the crew of the last Shuttle are the same crew as the first commercial crew flight.

You of course mean the *second* commercial crew flight.

(still think Dragon 2 will get there first)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: npuentes on 04/19/2015 02:16 pm
Hello.  Another .pdf with the manned schedule from my database.

After Soyuz MS-03, seats are filled based on info or speculations found here and there, mainly russian sources as NK Forum.

In other news, there are rumors (http://novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/forum/messages/forum10/topic9135/message1353059/#message1353059) that Yuri Malenchenko is (again?) backing off from an ISS expedition assignment that should start this November along with Tim Peake and Tim Kopra....and Anatoly Ivanishin was supposed to be his replacement.  ::)

Yes, Ivanishin sounds as Malenchenko replacement, and Yurchikhin as replacementent of Ivanishin on the backup crew.

Feel free to suggest new info or corrections and I'll post an updated .pdf

Carlos  :)

According to the Kosmonavtiki Forum, it seems that Malenchenko is back on as Soyuz TMA-19M commander
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Patrickb on 05/13/2015 06:01 pm
Sarah Brightman announced today that she is postponing her plans to launch aboard the upcoming Soyuz TMA-18M spaceflight mission. Ms. Brightman said that for personal family reasons her intentions have had to change and she is postponing her cosmonaut training and flight plans at this time.

http://www.sarahbrightman.com/news/postponement-of-flight-plans
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TALsite on 05/13/2015 06:06 pm
Being discussed here:

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=34572.0
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: DwightM on 05/13/2015 09:17 pm
Hello.  Another .pdf with the manned schedule from my database.

After Soyuz MS-03, seats are filled based on info or speculations found here and there, mainly russian sources as NK Forum.
~snip
Feel free to suggest new info or corrections and I'll post an updated .pdf

Carlos  :)
I see you've got Luca Parmitano on MS-05 in 2017 for the ESA slot.  I know you said it's speculative, but if true then where do the folks like Vittori, Eyharts, Fuglesang, Kuipers, Nespoli, and Schlegel fit in for future flights?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: STS-85 on 05/18/2015 01:18 am
Any idea if Tracy Caldwell-Dyson will ever get another flight??
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TALsite on 05/21/2015 04:54 pm
I see you've got Luca Parmitano on MS-05 in 2017 for the ESA slot.  I know you said it's speculative, but if true then where do the folks like Vittori, Eyharts, Fuglesang, Kuipers, Nespoli, and Schlegel fit in for future flights?
Sorry for the delay DwightM

Yes it's very speculative.
I know that some of the "old boys" are working in management positions: Duque, De Winne, Fuglesang... In the ESA's Astronauts web, unfortunately, most of the bios aren't updated and I can't tell you who could be in the flight rotation.
As the last countries assigned to a flight were Italy (2), Germany (1), Denmark (1), UK (1), France (1); maybe can fly one astronaut of another country: Fuglesang (Sweden) or Duque (Spain); Kuipers (Netherlands) and De Winne (Belgium) already did an ISS expedition flight.
I don't know.  I don't have the info, but have in mind that 2017 will be the year when US commercial crew vehicles will start flying, and with mixed nationalities on board.
IMO it's too soon to even imagine who will be assigned where.

Any idea if Tracy Caldwell-Dyson will ever get another flight??
US astronauts are assigned (sometimes) following a Veteran-Rookie-Veteran pattern i.e. Nyberg-Hopkins-Mastracchio  // Swanson-Wiseman-Wilmore // JWilliams-Rubins-Kimbrough  which creates a mix of experienced-inexperienced astronauts aboard the ISS.
It's NEVER too early to speculate....

Several astronauts have been involved in commercial crew development for quite some time, so I would be looking for pilots like Antonelli and Bresnik, and possibly Boe (his tour as deputy chief astro should be ending) and Hurley (has been commercial crew deputy for the flight ops directorate for some time).  [If NASA is really designating the CST-100 flights as "BoeOFT-1" and "BoeOFT-2" it might be tempting.....]

As for MS types, Walheim, Fincke, Stott, Suni Williams, Feustel -- maybe Behnken, if three years is the limit to his chief astro tour.   Some of them, of course, will be not just SpX or Boe crew members, but ISS expedition folks.

Michael Cassutt
As said before, maybe in 2017 most of the veteran astros will want to fly with US capsules so maybe it will push the rookies flying on Soyuz.  But Cadwell-Dyson have previous Soyuz experience as a plus.  Who knows?

And my question: what are the flight opportunities for the Canadian astronauts?
Following Brightman's dismissal, I thought maybe was a good moment for Hansen or Saint-Jacques getting the right Soyuz TMA-18M seat, if they had enough time for training till launch.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben Hawes on 05/26/2015 10:36 am
Any word of Brightman's replacement?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: tonyq on 05/26/2015 10:56 am
Any word of Brightman's replacement?

See reply #2411 above!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Andy DC on 05/26/2015 12:41 pm
Must be getting close to selecting a crew for the Dragon 2 and CST-100 missions. Training about two years before flight?

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2015/03/commercial-crew-demo-missions-dragon-cst-100/
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: HarrisPeters on 05/26/2015 12:51 pm
Must be getting close to selecting a crew for the Dragon 2 and CST-100 missions. Training about two years before flight?

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2015/03/commercial-crew-demo-missions-dragon-cst-100/

Thread for that:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=37339.0
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: dcfowler1 on 06/02/2015 02:56 am
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/two-canadian-astronauts-headed-to-space-as-ottawa-pledges-300-million-to-the-iss/article24734673/

"Two more Canadian astronauts are headed into space, the government will announce on Tuesday as it commits about $350-million to the International Space Station to secure a continued presence in the orbiting research laboratory."
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 06/02/2015 02:10 pm
That'll be Jeremy Hansen and David Saint-Jacques.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Hog on 06/02/2015 04:36 pm
That'll be Jeremy Hansen and David Saint-Jacques.
The only two Active Astros our CSA has at the moment.

Wow another $350 million on top of out past $1.4 billion ISS contribution.  Not bad when our CSA budget is $300-$500 million per annum.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jeff Lerner on 06/02/2015 09:44 pm
I've been thinking about the CSA announcement ....I'm happy for Hansen and St-Jacques of course...that they will FINALLY get to fly, but we're talking 4 and 9 more years before they both actually get to fly...they were originally selected in 2009...it's been a long wait to date and still a long ways to go...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Hog on 06/03/2015 04:33 am
I've been thinking about the CSA announcement ....I'm happy for Hansen and St-Jacques of course...that they will FINALLY get to fly, but we're talking 4 and 9 more years before they both actually get to fly...they were originally selected in 2009...it's been a long wait to date and still a long ways to go...
The earliest they could have flown was in 2011 after the graduated from astronaut candidate to Astronaut after their 2 years of training at JSC.

Canadian Astronauts and their wait-times until orbit.
Bondar had to wait 8 years to fly on STS-42 in 1992
Garneau flew immediately on STS-41G in 1984
Maclean waited 8 years STS-42(EDIT: MacLean flew on STS-52 launched on October 22nd 1992, not STS-42 which launched March 24, 1992)
Money never flew retiring in 1992
Thirsk waited 12 years for STS-78 in 1996
Tryggvason waited 13 years for STS-85 in 1997
Williams waited 5 years for STS-90 in 1998
Payette waited 6 years for STS 96 in 1999
Hadfield waited 2 years for STS-74 in 1995.
McKay resigned as an Astro  in 1995 before flying.

So yes, some Canadians Astronauts do have to wait a while before flying on orbit.

 
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 06/05/2015 03:11 pm
Astronaut Nicole Stott Retires From NASA -

Deserves her own thread. Legend.

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=37759.0
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TALsite on 06/12/2015 05:44 pm

Out of these three the one who deserves the flight most is undoubtedly Aimbetov. He began training for a visiting flight to the ISS at Star City in 2003, but in  2009 Kazakhstan cancelled the mission due to financial problems. However, plans for such a flight were later resurrected and on 12 October 2012 he was given the official status of "Cosmonaut of the Republic of Kazakhstan". In May last year Talgat Musabayev, the head of the Kazakh space agency, said Aimbetov was the leading candidate for a Kazakh mission to the ISS in 2017.

If Aimbetov gets assigned to Soyuz TMA-18M, that would be an ironic twist of fate for Mukhtar Aimakhanov, another Kazakh-born cosmonaut who trained alongside Aimbetov from 2003 to 2009. After the cancellation of the Kazakh mission, he applied for Russian citizenship in order to be able to enter the Russian cosmonaut team. He received Russian citizenship in 2012 and was officially included in the Russian cosmonaut team on 14 August 2014. Therefore Aimakhanov must be better prepared to fly this mission than Aimbetov, but in his new capacity as Russian cosmonaut the Russians would have to give Aimakhonov a free ride. If they assign Aimbetov, they can charge Kazakhstan the usual price for a Soyuz seat. It remains to be seen though if Kazakhstan can come up with the money at such short notice.

It seems that Aimbetov has been chosen to fly the Soyuz TMA-18M mission, as posted by Anik on NK Forum

http://novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/forum/forum10/topic12565/?PAGEN_1=17 (http://novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/forum/forum10/topic12565/?PAGEN_1=17)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: bolun on 06/16/2015 10:40 am
ESA Human Spaceflight statistics

The top ten longest individual ESA space missions and the top ten cumulative times in space for ESA astronauts over one or more missions. The longest flight by any one astronaut was 437 days, by the Russian doctor Valeri Polyakov on board Mir, 1994-95. The record for longest cumulative time in space is held by Russian cosmonaut Sergei Krikalev, 803 days over six flights (the US astronaut with the longest time in space is Peggy Whitson, with 376 days over two spaceflights. Michael Lopez-Alegria holds the record for longest US spaceflight, of 215 days). The longest solo flight was by Russian cosmonaut Valeri Bykovsky, who spent 4 days and 23 hours alone in space from 14–19 June 1963.

http://www.esa.int/spaceinimages/Images/2015/06/ESA_Human_Spaceflight_statistics

Credit: ESA
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 06/16/2015 02:03 pm
From Russia, it is being reported that the main crew for ISS 50/51 will be American Peggy Whitson. Russian Oleg Novitsky and ESA Tom Sands. Is this officially the crew?

old news

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=740.msg1328165#msg1328165
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Galactic Penguin SST on 06/16/2015 02:50 pm

Out of these three the one who deserves the flight most is undoubtedly Aimbetov. He began training for a visiting flight to the ISS at Star City in 2003, but in  2009 Kazakhstan cancelled the mission due to financial problems. However, plans for such a flight were later resurrected and on 12 October 2012 he was given the official status of "Cosmonaut of the Republic of Kazakhstan". In May last year Talgat Musabayev, the head of the Kazakh space agency, said Aimbetov was the leading candidate for a Kazakh mission to the ISS in 2017.

If Aimbetov gets assigned to Soyuz TMA-18M, that would be an ironic twist of fate for Mukhtar Aimakhanov, another Kazakh-born cosmonaut who trained alongside Aimbetov from 2003 to 2009. After the cancellation of the Kazakh mission, he applied for Russian citizenship in order to be able to enter the Russian cosmonaut team. He received Russian citizenship in 2012 and was officially included in the Russian cosmonaut team on 14 August 2014. Therefore Aimakhanov must be better prepared to fly this mission than Aimbetov, but in his new capacity as Russian cosmonaut the Russians would have to give Aimakhonov a free ride. If they assign Aimbetov, they can charge Kazakhstan the usual price for a Soyuz seat. It remains to be seen though if Kazakhstan can come up with the money at such short notice.

It seems that Aimbetov has been chosen to fly the Soyuz TMA-18M mission, as posted by Anik on NK Forum

http://novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/forum/forum10/topic12565/?PAGEN_1=17 (http://novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/forum/forum10/topic12565/?PAGEN_1=17)

I wonder if this has been firmed up yet? Nothing official so far....
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ras391 on 06/18/2015 12:45 pm
Can anyone verify the report from Novosti-Kosmonavtiki that Cosmonaut Evgeny Tarelkin was dismissed from the Cosmonaut Corp.? He was scheduled to fly to the ISS in 2017.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: dcfowler1 on 06/19/2015 03:52 am
NK info is gospel. He's gone.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 06/19/2015 12:59 pm
RSC Energia cosmonauts joined the Public Chamber of Korolev Science Town
June 18, 2015

RSC Energia cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko, Elena Serova and enterprise's specialist Vladimir Romanenkov were elected to the Public Chamber's (PC) new membership of the Korolev City.

137 candidates took part in the final stage of the elections. 45 people among them entered into the Korolev Public Chamber's membership.

According to the established regulations one third of the Public Chamber's membership of the Science Town was approved by the Moscow Region governor Andrey Vorobiev, as much as was approved by the Deputies' Council of Korolev City. The names of 15 more candidates which entered the Science Town's PC, were called on June, 11th at the open plenary meeting of the Public Chamber of the Moscow Region.

According to the data of the social communications' administration of the Moscow Region, the Public Chamber of Korolev city also included the Olympic champion of long jumping sports Tatiana Abbyasova, young scientists' council and youth parliament representatives, workers of scientific institutions and industrial enterprises, "Our Moscow area" contest winners, journalists, veterans.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ZachS09 on 06/23/2015 11:04 pm
According to collectspace.com's newest article, Aidyn Aimbetov is confirmed to fly with Volkov and Mogensen this September.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 06/26/2015 02:56 pm
ESA astronaut Paolo Nespoli started training within the ISS-52/53

June 26, 2015

The Cosmonaut Training Center Yuri Gagarin took place presentation of the program of training ESA astronaut Paolo Nespoli .  From June 25 on the basis of the CPC held astronaut training with Roskosmos cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin and NASA astronaut Jack Fisher in the main crew of the ISS-52/53, the start of which is scheduled for May 2017.  Preflight preparation is complete and comprehensive examination session exam training.

Paolo Nespoli performed two space flights to the ISS.  The first flight of astronaut went 23 October 2007 as part of the expedition crew STS-120 as a mission specialist on the space shuttle "Discovery" to the ISS.  Astronaut assistant played a key role during the extravehicular activity, including the installation of the module «Node 2".  During his flight P. Nespoli conducted a series of scientific experiments in biology and human physiology.  Planting took place November 7, 2007.

The second space mission Paolo Nespoli took place from 15 December 2010 to 24 May 2011.  Astronaut went in flight as a flight engineer of the WPK "Soyuz TMA" and ISS-26/27;  his colleagues on the crew were Russian cosmonaut, spaceship commander, ISS-26, ISS-27 commander Dmitry Kondratyev and NASA astronaut, flight engineer and ISS-CS 26/27 Catherine Coleman .  As part of its European mission «MagISStra» Paolo Nespoli conducted numerous scientific experiments on the subject of engineering and applied sciences.

http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=3059
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 07/08/2015 11:57 pm
An astro from York is now head of the astro office!! (Oh, York, Maine ;) Soooo many places named after my 2,000 year old home town! )

    July 08, 2015
RELEASE J15-015
NASA Astronaut Chris Cassidy New Chief of Astronaut Office

NASA’s Director of Flight Operations Brian Kelly has appointed U.S. Navy Capt. Christopher Cassidy as the chief of the Astronaut Office. Cassidy replaces Air Force Col. Robert Behnken, who has held the position since August 2012.

"Bob has provided outstanding leadership of our astronaut corps during the last three years,” Kelly said. “His selfless dedication and sound guidance has been top-notch as NASA ramped up research aboard the International Space Station and began laying the groundwork for human exploration missions beyond Earth orbit.”

In his new role, Cassidy will be responsible for managing Astronaut Office resources, operations and safety programs. He also will help develop astronaut flight crew operation concepts and crew assignments for future spaceflight missions.

“The Navy has a long history working with NASA and supporting astronauts – during the earliest U.S. space flights, Frogmen helped return astronauts from a splashdown at sea,” Kelly said. “Now, we are proud to have a Frogman leading the Astronaut Office. Chris has served this nation admirably in the most challenging of circumstances and he will be a great leader for the astronaut corps.”

Cassidy was born in Salem, Massachusetts, and considers York, Maine, his hometown. He earned a Bachelor of Science in mathematics from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1993, and a Master of Science in ocean engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2000. Cassidy was a member of the U.S. Navy SEAL team for 10 years before he was selected as an astronaut in 2004.

Cassidy flew on board Space Shuttle Endeavour on STS-127 in July 2009 and as a long-duration Expedition 35/36 crew member from March 28, 2013, through Sept. 11, 2013. For the space station mission, he launched and returned aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft. During his NASA career, Cassidy has spent 182 days in space and conducted six spacewalks.

For Cassidy's complete biography, visit:

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/cassidy-cj.pdf
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 07/09/2015 12:35 pm
I had to write this amazing person an article. What an absolute legend!

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2015/07/navy-seal-new-chief-astronaut-office/

Will give him a standalone thread on the Endeavour section, per his STS-127 mission.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Harold KSC on 07/09/2015 03:50 pm
    

NASA Selects Astronauts for First U.S. Commercial Space Flights

 

July has always been a big month for America’s space program.  Next week, on July 14, New Horizons will make the closest approach ever to Pluto, and the United States will become the first nation to visit this dwarf planet in the outer reaches of our solar system.  It was on July 20, 1969 that Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin made their giant leap for humankind.  It was on July 30, 1971 that the lunar rover was driven on the surface of the Moon for the very first time. It was on July 4, 1997 that Pathfinder arrived on Mars.  Furthermore, it was on July 14, 1965 – 50 years ago next week – that Mariner 4 flew by and sent us the very close-up first pictures of Mars.

 

Today, a half century after we received those first pictures of the Red Planet, we’re able to make a significant announcement that will further our nation’s Journey to Mars.

 

I am pleased to announce that four American space pioneers have been selected to be the first astronauts to train to fly to space on commercial crew carriers, all part of our ambitious plan to return space launches to U.S. soil, create good-paying American jobs and advance our goal of sending humans farther into the solar system than ever before.  These distinguished, veteran astronauts are blazing a new trail, a trail that will one day land them in the history books and Americans on the surface of Mars.  (Click on each astronaut’s name to learn more about him or her!):

 

·        Robert Behnken

·        Sunita Williams

·        Eric Boe

·        Douglas Hurley

 

For as long as I’ve been Administrator, President Obama has made it very clear that returning the launches of American astronauts to American soil is a top priority – and he has persistently supported this initiative in his budget requests to Congress.  Had we received everything he asked for, we’d be preparing to send these astronauts to space on commercial carriers as soon as this year.  As it stands, we’re currently working toward launching in 2017, and today’s announcement allows our astronauts to begin training for these flights starting now.

 

We are on a Journey to Mars, and in order to meet our goals for sending American astronauts to the Red Planet in the 2030s we need to be able to focus both on deep space and the groundbreaking work being done on the International Space Station (ISS).

 

Our commercial crew initiative makes these parallel endeavors possible.  By working with American companies to get our astronauts to the ISS, NASA is able to focus on game-changing technologies, the Orion spacecraft and the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket that are geared toward getting astronauts to deep space.

 

Furthermore, there are real economic benefits to bolstering America’s emerging commercial space market.  We have over 350 American companies working across 36 states on our commercial crew initiative.  Every dollar we invest on commercial crew is a dollar we invest in ourselves, rather than in the Russian economy.

 

Our plans to return launches to American soil also make fiscal sense. It currently costs $76 million per astronaut to fly on a Russian spacecraft.  On an American-owned spacecraft, the average cost will be $58 million per astronaut.  What’s more, each mission will carry four crewmembers instead of three, along with 100 kg of materials to support the important science and research we conduct on the ISS.

 

For these reasons, our commercial crew program is a worthy successor to the incredible 30-year run of the Space Shuttle Program.  The decision that President Bush made in 2004 to retire the Space Shuttle was not an easy decision, but it was the right decision.  As you’ll recall, it was the recommendation of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board, and endorsed by many people in the space community – including yours truly.

 

I cannot think of a better way to continue our celebration of independence this July than to mark this milestone as we look to reassert our space travel independence and end our sole reliance on Russia to get American astronauts to the International Space Station.

 

***

 

I also want to take this opportunity to offer a special word of congratulations to astronaut candidates from the Class of 2013, who are transitioning into flight-ready status.  These eight outstanding Americans – four of them women, four of them men -- were selected from a pool of more than 6,300 applicants – our second largest pool of applicants, ever.

 

The enthusiasm for NASA’s astronaut program reminds us that journeying to space continues to be the dream of Americans everywhere.  So my message to members of our incredible NASA Family, is that you must never lose sight of the fact that by your work every day, you inspire today’s students to become tomorrow’s leaders, scientists, engineers and astronauts.

 

You can click on each astronaut’s name to learn more about our newest astronauts:

 

·        Josh Cassada

·        Victor Glover

·        Tyler "Nick" Hague

·        Christina Hammock

·        Nicole Mann

·        Anne McClain

·        Jessica Meir

·        Andrew Morgan
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 07/09/2015 04:59 pm
So that's what's happened to Col. Behnken. Added it to the article!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John44 on 07/11/2015 01:00 pm
NASA Selects Astronauts for First U.S. Commercial Space Flights
http://www.space-multimedia.nl.eu.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9497

Launching For America Video Feed
http://www.space-multimedia.nl.eu.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9498

Live Interviews with Astronauts Training for First U.S. Commercial Crew Space Flights
http://www.space-multimedia.nl.eu.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9499
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: FNG on 07/12/2015 07:41 am

It's NEVER too early to speculate....

Several astronauts have been involved in commercial crew development for quite some time, so I would be looking for pilots like Antonelli and Bresnik, and possibly Boe (his tour as deputy chief astro should be ending) and Hurley (has been commercial crew deputy for the flight ops directorate for some time).  [If NASA is really designating the CST-100 flights as "BoeOFT-1" and "BoeOFT-2" it might be tempting.....]

As for MS types, Walheim, Fincke, Stott, Suni Williams, Feustel -- maybe Behnken, if three years is the limit to his chief astro tour.   Some of them, of course, will be not just SpX or Boe crew members, but ISS expedition folks.

Michael Cassutt

Boe, Hurley,Williams and Behnken. Good call from Michael!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: DwightM on 07/12/2015 10:57 pm
I see Cady Coleman and Richard Mastracchio are now listed as Management astronauts.
Edit to add Steve Swanson as well.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 07/24/2015 09:02 pm
Astronaut Tony Antonelli Departs NASA After 15 Years

Quote
July 21, 2015
J15-016

Astronaut Tony Antonelli Departs NASA After 15 Years

Two-time space shuttle pilot Tony Antonelli has departed from NASA. His last day with the agency was July 10.

“Tony was a major contributor to our office,” said Chris Cassidy, chief of the Astronaut Office at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. “His skills and expertise were extremely valuable to our exploration and Space Launch System engineering team. We wish him the best in his future pursuits.”

Antonelli was born in Detroit and grew up in Indiana and North Carolina. He holds degrees in aeronautics and astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge and the University of Washington in Seattle. A retired captain in the U.S. Navy, he has accumulated more than 3,200 hours in 41 different kinds of aircraft and has completed 273 carrier-arrested landings.

NASA selected him as an astronaut in 2000. A veteran of two space flights, Antonelli has logged a total of 24 days, 3 hours, 57 minutes in space. He first flew on STS-119 aboard Space Shuttle Discovery in March 2009. The flight delivered the Starboard Integrated Truss Segment and the final pair of power-generating solar array wings to the International Space Station. His second mission was on Atlantis for STS-132 in May 2010. The mission delivered an Integrated Cargo Carrier and a Russian-built Mini Research Module to the Station.


Antonelli’s complete biography is available at:
http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/antonelli-da.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 07/27/2015 09:09 pm
Astronaut Stephen Frick Retires from NASA

Quote
HOUSTON, July 27, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Astronaut Stephen Frick has retired from NASA to accept a position in the private sector. Frick, who flew as both a Shuttle pilot and commander, left the Agency July 13.

"Steve has been a great asset to the astronaut office and NASA, and we are sad to see him leave," said Chris Cassidy, chief of the Astronaut Office at NASA's Johnson Space Center. "We wish him continued success as he transitions to a new career."

Frick grew up in Gibsonia, Pennsylvania, and holds degrees from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, and U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. A retired captain in the U.S. Navy, he has accumulated more than 4,300 hours in 38 different kinds of aircraft and has completed 370 carrier-arrested landings.

Frick joined NASA as an astronaut candidate in 1996. He went on to fly two Space Shuttle missions, accumulating more than 23 days of spaceflight experience. He served as a pilot for STS-110 on Space Shuttle Atlantis in April 2002. The flight delivered the central integrated truss segment to the orbiting complex. His second mission also was on Atlantis for STS-122 in February 2008. That mission delivered and outfitted the European Space Agency's Columbus Laboratory, preparing it for future scientific work benefitting life on Earth.


Frick's complete biography is available at:

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/frick.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 07/30/2015 10:44 am
A bit late, but here is the official word from ESA.....


Press Release
N°28-2015

Paris, 30 July 2015

Third spaceflight for astronaut Paolo Nespoli

ESA astronaut Paolo Nespoli will be heading for space a third time, as part of Expeditions 52 and 53 to the International Space Station. He will be launched on a Soyuz vehicle in May 2017 on a five-month mission. 

The new mission is part of a barter agreement between NASA and Italy's ASI space agency involving ESA astronauts. It will be ASI's third long-duration flight, following Luca Parmitano's Volare in 2013 and Samantha Cristoforetti's Futura this year.

Paolo's first spaceflight was his two-week Esperia mission on the Space Shuttle's STS-120 in 2007, ASI's second short-duration flight under the barter agreement. One of his main tasks was to help install the Node-2 module on the Space Station. 

He returned to the Station in 2010 for ESA's 160-day MagISStra mission as part of Expeditions 26 and 27. In addition to his many experiments, he was involved in the dockings of two cargo craft: Europe's second Automated Transfer Vehicle and Japan's
second HII Transfer Vehicle. 

Following his second flight, Paolo worked at ESA's ESRIN centre in Italy and at the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne. He recently began training at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre near Moscow, Russia, for his new adventure.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 07/30/2015 01:18 pm
Got to do an article on that man!
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2015/07/italian-veteran-paolo-nespoli-return-the-iss/
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: fatjohn1408 on 07/30/2015 02:16 pm
So this is the ninth time an italian is going to visit the station?

That's as much as France, Germany, Belgium and Spain combined.

What gives?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_International_Space_Station_visitors
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Rocket Science on 07/30/2015 03:09 pm
Got to do an article on that man!
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2015/07/italian-veteran-paolo-nespoli-return-the-iss/
The man who took the iconic photo that still give me goosebumps returns! Forza Italia!! ;D
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Rocket Science on 07/30/2015 03:15 pm
So this is the ninth time an italian is going to visit the station?

That's as much as France, Germany, Belgium and Spain combined.

What gives?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_International_Space_Station_visitors
I guess because they deliver fresh home-made pizza with them when they arrive... Who doesn’t like pizza? ;D
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TALsite on 07/30/2015 03:21 pm
www.spacefacts.de is listing the following ISS commanders:

ISS 44 - G. Padalka - Russia
ISS 45 - S. Kelly - USA
ISS 46 - S. Kelly - USA
ISS 47 - T. Kopra - USA
ISS 48 - J. Williams - USA
ISS 49 - A. Ivanishin - Russia
ISS 50 - R. Kimbrough - USA
ISS 51 - P. Whitson - USA
ISS 52 - A. Misurkin - Russia
ISS 53 - F. Yurchikhin - Russia

Is this list correct? 
Four in a row for USA seems a little strange to me, if we are talking about alternance.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: filo on 07/30/2015 04:09 pm
Got to do an article on that man!
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2015/07/italian-veteran-paolo-nespoli-return-the-iss/

while he was with the special forces he served in Lebanon, where he met Oriana Fallaci and inspired the main character (Angelo) of her novel Inshallah
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Rocket Science on 07/30/2015 04:32 pm
Got to do an article on that man!
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2015/07/italian-veteran-paolo-nespoli-return-the-iss/

while he was with the special forces he served in Lebanon, where he met Oriana Fallaci and inspired the main character (Angelo) of her novel Inshallah
Interesting fact and welcome to NSF! :)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 07/30/2015 06:02 pm
www.spacefacts.de is listing the following ISS commanders:

ISS 44 - G. Padalka - Russia
ISS 45 - S. Kelly - USA
ISS 46 - S. Kelly - USA
ISS 47 - T. Kopra - USA
ISS 48 - J. Williams - USA
ISS 49 - A. Ivanishin - Russia
ISS 50 - R. Kimbrough - USA
ISS 51 - P. Whitson - USA
ISS 52 - A. Misurkin - Russia
ISS 53 - F. Yurchikhin - Russia

Is this list correct? 
Four in a row for USA seems a little strange to me, if we are talking about alternance.
According to http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=155 the list is correct.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 07/30/2015 06:14 pm
Veteran NASA Astronaut and Spacewalker Michael Foreman Retires From NASA
Quote
Veteran astronaut Mike Foreman has retired from NASA to join a Houston-based consulting firm. A retired captain in the U.S. Navy, Foreman’s last day with the agency is July 31.
“Mike is a great American who has served our nation for 35 years,” said Chris Cassidy, chief of the Astronaut Office at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. “We have been lucky to have him as part of our NASA team, and wish him and his family the best.”
Foreman grew up in Wadsworth, Ohio. He holds degrees from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, and the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. Designated a Naval Aviator in 1981, Foreman has flown more than 7,000 hours in 50 different aircraft.
Foreman was selected as a NASA astronaut candidate in 1998 and flew on two space shuttle missions, accumulating more than 26 days in space. He also performed five spacewalks, spending 32 hours and 19 minutes outside performing space station assembly tasks. He flew as a mission specialist for STS-123 on space shuttle Endeavour in March 2008. The mission delivered the Japanese Experiment Logistics Module and the Canadian-built Dextre, also known as the Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator, to the station. His next mission was STS-129 on space shuttle Atlantis in November 2009. The mission delivered two logistics carriers and approximately 30,000 pounds of replacement parts for station power systems.
When not flying in space, Foreman held a variety of technical assignments in the Astronaut Office. He also served as chief of External Programs at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland from June 2010 through May 2011. He most recently served as the Safety Branch chief in the Astronaut Office. There, he also supported the Exploration Branch, working on the Commercial Crew Development Program.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: zubenelgenubi on 07/30/2015 06:32 pm
Got to do an article on that man!
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2015/07/italian-veteran-paolo-nespoli-return-the-iss/

while he was with the special forces he served in Lebanon, where he met Oriana Fallaci and inspired the main character (Angelo) of her novel Inshallah

Side note: Oriana Fallaci is the journalist who made the sort-of-famous $500 bet with Pete Conrad regarding his first words when stepping onto the surface of the Moon.  She believed that the Neil Armstrong's first words on the Moon had been scripted and ordered by the US Government.  Conrad knew the opposite was true and composed his "first words" then and there.
"Whoopee! Man, that may have been a small one for Neil, but that's a long one for me."

He fulfilled his side of the bet on the Moon.  Conrad recalled later that she never paid up.

I wonder how many other astronauts and future astronauts Ms. Fallaci encountered in her long career.

Zubenelgenubi
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 08/07/2015 10:59 am
August 06, 2015
RELEASE 15-161

NASA, Space Station Partners Announce Crew Members for Missions in 2017


NASA and its International Space Station (ISS) partners have announced the crew members for missions to the orbiting laboratory in 2017. The selection includes first-time space flyers NASA astronauts Mark Vande Hei and Jack Fischer.

The Expedition 51 and 52 crews will continue important research that advances NASA's journey to Mars while making discoveries that can benefit all of humanity. With adequate funding and technical progress on NASA's Commercial Crew Program, astronauts Vande Hei and Fischer are expected to be at the station during the first test flights of the Boeing CST-100 and SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft, targeted for 2017.

“Spaceflight assignment is one of the highlights of my job, and this is made even more special when that person has not yet flown in space,” said Chris Cassidy, chief of the Astronaut Office at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. “I'm very excited for both Mark and Jack and very much look forward to watching them on the ISS.”

Both Vande Hei and Fischer are members of NASA’s 2009 Astronaut Class. Vande Hei will be the first to fly, when he and Roscosmos cosmonauts Alexander Misurkin and Nikolai Tikhonov, also a first-time flyer, launch in March 2017. The three will join the station’s Expedition 51 crew of NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Thomas Pesquet, and cosmonaut Oleg Novitskiy of Roscosmos.

Vande Hei, a colonel in the U.S. Army, hails from Falls Church, Virginia. His Army service includes a tour in Iraq during Operation Provide Comfort and, later, Operation Iraqi Freedom, during which he led an Army space support team. He is a graduate of the Army’s Airborne School, Ranger School, Engineer Officer Advanced Course, and Command and General Staff College.

Vande Hei joined NASA in July 2006 to serve as a Capsule Communicator (CAPCOM) at the Mission Control Center at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. He was selected as an astronaut candidate three years later and, after completing his initial astronaut training in July 2011, went on to serve as the Astronaut Office’s director of operations in Russia. Following his return, he resumed work in the Astronaut Office’s CAPCOM Branch until his mission assignment. He earned a bachelor’s degree in physics from St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota, in 1989, and a master’s degree in applied physics from Stanford University in Palo Alto, California, in 1999.

Fischer’s mission will begin in May 2017, when he and his crewmates Fyodor Yurchikin of Roscosmos and Paolo Nespoli of ESA will join Vande Hei, Misurkin and Tikhonov on the station for Expedition 52.

Fischer, hailing from Louisville, Colorado, is a colonel in the U.S. Air Force. Fischer served two combat tours in Southwest Asia, flying the F-15E Strike Eagle during Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Southern Watch. He then became a test pilot, flying more than 50 different types of aircraft, including all types of the F-15 and F-22 Raptor. After two test assignments, Fischer served as an Air Force Fellow in Washington, with rotations serving under the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics.

After finishing his astronaut candidate training in July 2011, Fischer also served as a CAPCOM in mission control. Additionally, he performed technical roles supporting Soyuz and space station operations. He most recently served on the Astronaut Office’s Exploration team working on the next generation of human space exploration vehicles, NASA’s Space Launch System rocket, Orion spacecraft, and Commercial Crew Program. Fischer graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1996 with a bachelor’s degree in astronautical engineering, and earned a master’s degree in aeronautics and astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge in 1998.


The crew comprising Expedition 51 will be:
•Peggy Whitson, NASA
•Oleg Novitskiy, Roscosmos
•Thomas Pesquet, ESA
•Mark Vande Hei, NASA
•Alexander Misurkin, Roscosmos
•Nikolai Tikhonov, Roscosmos


The crew comprising Expedition 52 will be:
•Mark Vande Hei, NASA
•Alexander Misurkin, Roscosmos
•Nikolai Tikhonov, Roscosmos
•Jack Fischer, NASA
•Paolo Nespoli, ESA
•Fyodor Yurchikin, Roscosmos

The space station is a convergence of science, technology and human innovation that enables us to demonstrate new technologies and make research breakthroughs not possible on Earth. It has been continuously occupied since November 2000 and, since then, has been visited by more than 200 people and a variety of international and commercial spacecraft. The space station remains the springboard to NASA's next giant leap in exploration, including future missions to an asteroid and Mars.

Follow Vande Hei on Twitter at:

http://www.twitter.com/Astro_Sabot

Follow Fischer on Twitter at:

http://www.twitter.com/Astro2fish
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: eric z on 08/07/2015 11:54 am
  Ms. Fallaci's book "If the Sun Dies" is a fantastic book I strongly recommend to anyone interested in the Original Seven era.  8)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: drpepper on 08/08/2015 01:33 pm
So this is the ninth time an italian is going to visit the station?

That's as much as France, Germany, Belgium and Spain combined.

What gives?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_International_Space_Station_visitors

Many of those are NASA spots that were given to the Italian space agency in exchange for building the three MPLMs, Cupola and probably a few other things I'm forgetting (one of the nodes?).
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Stan Black on 08/08/2015 09:21 pm
So this is the ninth time an italian is going to visit the station?

That's as much as France, Germany, Belgium and Spain combined.

What gives?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_International_Space_Station_visitors

Many of those are NASA spots that were given to the Italian space agency in exchange for building the three MPLMs, Cupola and probably a few other things I'm forgetting (one of the nodes?).


http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=740.msg1064191#msg1064191
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 08/14/2015 01:48 pm
August 13, 2015
RELEASE J15-021

Three-Time Spaceflight Astronaut Steven Swanson Retires From NASA

With nearly 200 days of spaceflight experience, astronaut Steven Swanson has retired from NASA to share his experience and expertise in an academic setting. Swanson will join Boise State University in Boise, Idaho, as a distinguished educator in residence. His last day with NASA is August 30. 

“Steve Swanson, or Swanny as we know him, has contributed so much more to the human space program than just serving on his three missions. His infectious laugh, keen intellect and easy going personality have garnered the respect and friendship of everyone with whom he works. He also will be sorely missed on our Wednesday night basketball team!” said Chris Cassidy, chief of the Astronaut Office at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Swanson was born in Syracuse, New York, and considers Steamboat Springs, Colorado, his hometown. He earned a doctorate in computer science from Texas A&M University in College Station, and holds degrees from the University of Colorado in Boulder and Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton.

Swanson joined NASA in 1987 as a systems engineer and a flight engineer in the Aircraft Operations Division at Johnson, working on the Shuttle Training Aircraft (STA). During his time with the STA, Swanson helped improve the STA’s navigation and control systems and incorporate a real-time wind determination algorithm.

He was selected as an astronaut in May of 1998. He would go on to fly three space missions, including a long-duration mission on the International Space Station. Additionally, he served numerous technical roles within the Astronaut Office Space Station Operations and Robotics branches, as well as serving as a capsule communicator, or capcom.

Swanson flew as a mission specialist for STS-117 on Space Shuttle Atlantis in June 2007 and STS-119 on Space Shuttle Discovery in March 2009. Both missions delivered station truss segments, solar arrays, and other equipment to the station. Swanson conducted two spacewalks on each mission, totaling more than 26 hours of extravehicular activity experience.

Swanson’s final mission was a long duration stay on the station as part of the Expedition 39 and 40 crews in 2014. During his six-month tour of duty aboard the orbiting laboratory, Swanson performed various Earth remote sensing and biology, bone and muscle physiology studies and performed a spacewalk. He assumed command of the station in May 2014 and was commander through his landing on Sept. 10, marking an end to his 169 days in orbit. In total, following his three missions, Swanson accumulated more than 195 days in space.

Swanson’s complete biography is available at:

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/swanson.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 08/26/2015 02:35 pm
August 26, 2015 (JST)

Astronaut Norishige Kanai Selected as Member of ISS Expedition Crew

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) selected Astronaut Norishige Kanai as a crewmember for the 54th/55th Expedition Mission to the International Space Station (ISS).

Astronaut Kanai was selected as an astronaut candidate in September 2009, and then, certified as an ISS astronaut in July 2011 after completion of all basic training requirements.
Since then, he has been continuously maintaining and improving his qualities as an ISS astronaut through various training such as the NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations (NEEMO) conducted at the underwater laboratory in the United States.
For Astronaut Kanai, this long duration stay aboard the ISS will be his first space flight.

Period of scheduled stay at the ISS: 
  About 6 months from around November 2017
Transportation to and from the ISS: 
  Launch and return by Russian Soyuz spacecraft 
Major tasks at the ISS: 
  During the 54th/55th Expedition Mission, he will be in charge of ISS operations as a flight engineer, and science experiments using the space environment.
Astronaut Kanai's schedule in the near future: 
  He will begin training necessary for the Soyuz trip and ISS expedition mission from January 2016.

Attached reference: 
Brief Personal History of Astronaut Norishige Kanai
http://global.jaxa.jp/press/2015/08/20150826_kanai.html#ref1

JAXA's Astronauts onboard the ISS
http://global.jaxa.jp/press/2015/08/20150826_kanai.html#ref2

JAXA President's Statement
http://global.jaxa.jp/press/2015/08/20150826_kanai.html#ref3

Determination to Become Expedition Crew by Norishige Kanai
http://global.jaxa.jp/press/2015/08/20150826_kanai.html#ref4


Reference Link:
International Space Station / Kibo website:
http://iss.jaxa.jp/en/

URL:
http://global.jaxa.jp/press/2015/08/20150826_kanai.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ZachS09 on 08/27/2015 03:46 am
Any ideas who Kanai will fly with? I know one of them is a Russian, because he has to command the Soyuz, but then again, I'm not sure.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: dcfowler1 on 08/27/2015 04:18 am
Sergey Ryazanskiy. I know who the American is, but am not sure that I am at liberty to say.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TALsite on 08/27/2015 05:16 pm
Tell us quietly, please!   ;)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 08/27/2015 05:45 pm
I know who the American is, but am not sure that I am at liberty to say.

It's okay. Just post it in italics to denote a whisper. And be sure to include a :-X emoticon.

;D
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 08/28/2015 08:42 am
Bresnik.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ZachS09 on 08/29/2015 10:37 pm
So Soyuz MS-07's crew is this:

Commander (Center Seat): Sergei N. Ryazansky (2)
Flight Engineer 1 (Left-Hand Side Seat): Norishige Kanai (1)
Flight Engineer 2 (Right-Hand Side Seat): Randolph J. Bresnik (2)

Either this configuration, or Kanai and Bresnik's seating assignments could be switched.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Patrickb on 08/30/2015 06:40 am
And Any idea who the NASA astronaut on soyuz ms-06 will be?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 08/30/2015 01:52 pm
And Any idea who the NASA astronaut on soyuz ms-06 will be?

I'm speculating that Doug Wheelock will get that seat.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: dcfowler1 on 08/31/2015 05:27 am
I think the want to get the '09s flown as soon as possible, so I would say either Auñón or Tingle.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 08/31/2015 02:54 pm
I think the want to get the '09s flown as soon as possible, so I would say either Auñón or Tingle.

NASA has been alternating rookies and veterans with regard to ISS Expedition crew assignments. 3 rookies in a row would be unprecedented but not out of the question. But I was surprised when they assigned 2 rookies back-to-back (Vande Hei and Fischer) so who knows?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TALsite on 08/31/2015 05:33 pm
And Any idea who the NASA astronaut on soyuz ms-06 will be?

I read (don't remember where) that NASA wanted an experienced astronaut in MS-06, maybe because they will send two rookies in MS04 and MS05 (Vande Hei - Fischer). So I bet for Arnold, Cadwell-Dyson or Wheelock all with EVA experience, and based in "more time since their last flight". 

But having Bresnick in MS07, maybe NASA will fly another rookie, then my favourite bet is Epps.  Maybe Tingle -pilot, rookie, 50 years old- could be the right bet (I don't know if he's working with the Commercial Crew spacecrafts) but taking a close look to the NEEMO 18-19-20 expeditions, Epps seems to me the next choice after seeing most of the involved astronauts assigned before.

If they choose a veteran, I suppose they choose the rookie for MS08, or the other way round.

Carlos :)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: dcfowler1 on 08/31/2015 05:46 pm
I have *heard* that Epps may be concentrating on commercial crew, but we'll see.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 08/31/2015 07:33 pm
Interesting to note that there has yet to be an African-American serve as an ISS Expedition crew member. In spite of a number of potential candidates (Curbeam, Higgenbotham, Wilson, Melvin, Drew, Satcher) who either retired or became Management Astronauts after making short visits to the station.

I presume, barring any unforeseen circumstances, that Epps will be the first. Followed at some point by Victor Glover.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Anu on 09/01/2015 08:34 am
In Robert Satcher's case, a possible factor from this interview  was his height - too tall for Soyuz http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/news/story/2012/mar/20/b1-astronaut-doctor-says-us-should-not-abandon/73434/
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Patrickb on 09/02/2015 06:41 pm
All speculations sound plausible. I guess we will know in a few months.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 09/07/2015 06:42 pm
Tingle. So there will be three Russian commanders of ISS in the row. Yurchikhin, Skvortsov and Ryazanskiy.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 09/07/2015 07:58 pm
So there will be three Russian commanders of ISS in the row. Yurchikhin, Skvortsov and Ryazanskiy.
Or four ?  Misurkin, Yurchikhin, Skvortsov and Ryazanskiy.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 09/07/2015 08:01 pm
Or four? Misurkin, Yurchikhin, Skvortsov and Ryazanskiy.

Oh, sorry, Bresnik instead of Ryazanskiy.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: DwightM on 09/07/2015 11:33 pm
Or four? Misurkin, Yurchikhin, Skvortsov and Ryazanskiy.

Oh, sorry, Bresnik instead of Ryazanskiy.
I thought Skvortsov was Prokopyev's backup?  And Tingle is on MS-06 with Prokopyev & Artemyev, right?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 09/08/2015 01:14 am
Or four? Misurkin, Yurchikhin, Skvortsov and Ryazanskiy.

Oh, sorry, Bresnik instead of Ryazanskiy.
I thought Skvortsov was Prokopyev's backup?  And Tingle is on MS-06 with Prokopyev & Artemyev, right?
Negativ. AFAIK Russia has switched the crew from September 2017 with the crew from March 2018, so Tingle will be with Skvortsov and Matveyev.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Frandolf on 09/10/2015 01:31 pm
In a german Interview with Hans-Dietrich Wörner (ESA, from Germany) it is mentioned, that the next German Astronaut will fly in 2018. It's not clear if Gerst again, but he is back to the astronaut training...

Source: http://www.spiegel.de/wissenschaft/weltall/esa-chef-woerner-so-kann-deutschland-eine-astronautin-haben-a-1052053.html (http://www.spiegel.de/wissenschaft/weltall/esa-chef-woerner-so-kann-deutschland-eine-astronautin-haben-a-1052053.html)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ras391 on 10/18/2015 07:28 pm
Have any cosmonauts passed away in the last week or so? I tthink there is a report that one did, but I don't know who. Thanks.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Prof68 on 10/19/2015 11:27 am
Have any cosmonauts passed away in the last week or so? I tthink there is a report that one did, but I don't know who. Thanks.

Does it counts as "the passed away" if cosmonaut becomes a politician? :)
If so, then Roman Romanenko is a new russian congressman (member of Duma)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 10/20/2015 09:38 pm
In a german Interview with Hans-Dietrich Wörner (ESA, from Germany) it is mentioned, that the next German Astronaut will fly in 2018. It's not clear if Gerst again, but he is back to the astronaut training...

Source: http://www.spiegel.de/wissenschaft/weltall/esa-chef-woerner-so-kann-deutschland-eine-astronautin-haben-a-1052053.html (http://www.spiegel.de/wissenschaft/weltall/esa-chef-woerner-so-kann-deutschland-eine-astronautin-haben-a-1052053.html)

The only other active German astronaut, other than Gerst, is Hans Shlegel. At age 64 he probably isn't in the pipeline for a flight assignment.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: dcfowler1 on 10/21/2015 03:53 am
Have any cosmonauts passed away in the last week or so? I tthink there is a report that one did, but I don't know who. Thanks.

Does it counts as "the passed away" if cosmonaut becomes a politician? :)
If so, then Roman Romanenko is a new russian congressman (member of Duma)

Eduard Stepanov from a 1965 selection died on October 19.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 11/22/2015 05:47 pm
In a german Interview with Hans-Dietrich Wörner (ESA, from Germany) it is mentioned, that the next German Astronaut will fly in 2018. It's not clear if Gerst again, but he is back to the astronaut training...

Maybe Thomas Reiter. He isn´t included in the new ESA Senior management team.
http://www.esa.int/For_Media/Press_Releases/Senior_management_team_proposed_at_ESA
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ZachS09 on 11/23/2015 12:41 am
Reiter has been retired from the ESA corps since September 2007.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 11/23/2015 07:15 am
Thomas Reiter is Director of Human Spaceflight and Operations (D/HSO), and Head of ESOC in Darmstadt, Germany, since 18 April 2011.

http://www.esa.int/About_Us/Welcome_to_ESA/Thomas_Reiter_br_Director_of_HSO
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 12/10/2015 02:01 pm
Thomas Reiter is Director of Human Spaceflight and Operations (D/HSO), and Head of ESOC in Darmstadt, Germany, since 18 April 2011.

http://www.esa.int/About_Us/Welcome_to_ESA/Thomas_Reiter_br_Director_of_HSO

Thomas Reiter will be replaced next year...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 12/10/2015 02:02 pm
Oleg Kotov has been appointed as the new Director of Manned programs of Roscosmos.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 12/10/2015 02:54 pm
Thomas Reiter is Director of Human Spaceflight and Operations (D/HSO), and Head of ESOC in Darmstadt, Germany, since 18 April 2011.

http://www.esa.int/About_Us/Welcome_to_ESA/Thomas_Reiter_br_Director_of_HSO

Thomas Reiter will be replaced next year...
This I wrote three weeks ago.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 02/03/2016 02:19 pm
    February 03, 2016
RELEASE J16-003
Veteran Astronaut Kevin Ford Departs NASA

After two spaceflights and more than 15 years with NASA, Kevin Ford left the space agency on Jan. 29. He spent more than 33 years in government service.

“Kevin has served the office in a number of ways over the years, and we will certainly miss him,” said Chris Cassidy, chief of the Astronaut Office at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. “I had the pleasure of serving as his backup for his space station mission, and consequently spent many weeks in Russia and Kazakhstan with him. Personally, I will miss his sense of humor and special insight into technical issues. He is a great American and true friend. We all wish him well and have no doubt that he will bring a great deal of valuable experience to all of his future endeavors.”

NASA selected Ford as an astronaut in 2000. After completing initial training, Ford served in various technical positions, including the director of operations in Star City, Russia, for one year and Capcom for six space shuttle missions. He served as space shuttle pilot for the STS-128 mission in 2009, helping to deliver more than 15,000 pounds of science and storage racks to the International Space Station. He then returned to the station aboard Soyuz TMA-06M in 2012, serving as flight engineer for Expedition 33, and commander on Expedition 34. Ford spent a total of 157 days and 13 hours in space.

Ford was born in Portland, Indiana, and considers Montpelier, Indiana, his hometown. He holds degrees in aerospace engineering, international relations and astronautical engineering from the University of Notre Dame, Troy State University, the University of Florida and the Air Force Institute of Technology. A retired U.S. Air Force colonel, he has accumulated more than 5,000 flying hours, and holds FAA instructor ratings for airplanes and gliders, a commercial rating for helicopters and a private rating for hot air balloons.

Ford’s complete biography is available at:

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/ford-ka.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 02/11/2016 10:38 am
According to this Statement https://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2015/10/20/email-alvin-drew-seeing-stars Mr. Drew is working as
Quote
Assistant Director of Space and Aviation Security in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy
.
Does anyone know, when he has left NASA?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ZachS09 on 02/11/2016 12:42 pm
B. Alvin Drew, Jr. left NASA in October 2013 having logged 25 days and 13 hours in space over the course of two space shuttle missions (STS-118 & STS-133).
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 02/11/2016 01:38 pm
B. Alvin Drew, Jr. left NASA in October 2013 having logged 25 days and 13 hours in space over the course of two space shuttle missions (STS-118 & STS-133).
Thank you.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 02/11/2016 02:55 pm
B. Alvin Drew, Jr. left NASA in October 2013 having logged 25 days and 13 hours in space over the course of two space shuttle missions (STS-118 & STS-133).
Thank you.

Drew actually left NASA in July 2015 -- from February 2013 to that time he was a NASA management astronaut detailed to DOD space agencies at Peterson AFB in Colorado.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-drew-99664828

Michael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 02/11/2016 03:26 pm
B. Alvin Drew, Jr. left NASA in October 2013 having logged 25 days and 13 hours in space over the course of two space shuttle missions (STS-118 & STS-133).
Thank you.

Drew actually left NASA in July 2015 -- from February 2013 to that time he was a NASA management astronaut detailed to DOD space agencies at Peterson AFB in Colorado.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-drew-99664828

Michael Cassutt
Thanks for the correction.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: astropl on 02/14/2016 03:05 pm
Walter Villadei, new Italian astronaut:

http://www.aeronautica.difesa.it/News/Pagine/20151013_VilladeiSoyuzFlightEngineer1.aspx

http://militarynewsfromitaly.com/2014/05/09/la-difesa-al-salone-del-libro-di-torino-programma-del-10-maggio/

http://www.aeronautica.difesa.it/News/Documents/pdf/Al%20via%20la%
20missione%20Volare%20del%20Maggiore%20Parmitano_290513/Spazio_e_AM_2013.pdf
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: DwightM on 03/11/2016 09:05 pm
Found this link on
http://novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/forum/forum10/topic9135/?PAGEN_1=144

http://lk.astronautilus.pl/loty/sms8.htm
That Andrew Feustel is set for MS-08 with Prokopyev and Artemyev for Expedition 55.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 03/11/2016 09:26 pm
March 11, 2016
RELEASE 16-029
Astronaut Scott Kelly to Retire from NASA in April
 

NASA astronaut Scott Kelly inside the cupola of the International Space Station, a special module that provides a 360-degree viewing of the Earth and the station. Kelly will return to Earth on March 1, marking completion of a 340-day mission in space.

Credits: NASA
NASA astronaut and one-year crew member Scott Kelly will retire from the agency, effective April 1. Kelly joined the astronaut corps in 1996 and currently holds the American record for most time spent in space.

After retiring, Kelly will continue to participate in the ongoing research related to his one-year mission. He will provide periodic medical samples and support other testing in much the same way that his twin brother, former astronaut Mark Kelly, made himself available for NASA’s Twins Study during his brother’s mission.

“This year-in-space mission was a profound challenge for all involved, and it gave me a unique perspective and a lot of time to reflect on what my next step should be on our continued journey to help further our capabilities in space and on Earth,” Kelly said. “My career with the Navy and NASA gave me an incredible chance to showcase public service to which I am dedicated, and what we can accomplish on the big challenges of our day. I am humbled and excited by new opportunities for me to support and share the amazing work NASA is doing to help us travel farther into the solar system and work with the next generation of science and technology leaders.”

Kelly flew in space four times, beginning with space shuttle Discovery’s trip to NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope on the STS-103 servicing mission in 1999. On his second mission, STS-118, he crossed the threshold of the International Space Station for the first time as commander of space shuttle Endeavour. He returned to the station for a six-month stay in 2010, commanding Expedition 26.

A veteran of spaceflight, Kelly accepted the opportunity to participate in NASA’s unprecedented yearlong space station mission, which aimed to expand the boundaries of space exploration beyond low-Earth orbit through the collection of critical data on how the human body responds to extended space missions. On this mission, Kelly eclipsed two American space records.

“Records are meant to be broken,” Kelly said. “I am looking forward to when these records in space are surpassed.”

Kelly broke the American record for most cumulative time in space during his one-year mission, accruing 520 days.

“Scott’s contributions to NASA are too many to name,” said Brian Kelly, director of Flight Operations at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. “In his year aboard the space station, he took part in experiments that will have far-reaching effects, helping us pave the way to putting humans on Mars and benefiting life on Earth. His passion for this work has helped give hundreds of thousands of people a better understanding of what NASA does, thanks in part to the numerous photos and updates he shared from space. We appreciate his years of service and anticipate many benefits to come from them, thanks to the research he’s supporting.”

For Kelly’s biography, visit:

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/kellysj.pdf

-end-
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ZachS09 on 03/12/2016 01:08 am
Wow. I can't believe the other Kelly is out. Best of luck to Scott Kelly as he lives the rest of his life on Earth.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ZachS09 on 03/12/2016 01:23 am
Found this link on
http://novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/forum/forum10/topic9135/?PAGEN_1=144

http://lk.astronautilus.pl/loty/sms8.htm
That Andrew Feustel is set for MS-08 with Prokopyev and Artemyev for Expedition 55.

Here's how I picture the seating assignments for Soyuz MS-08:

Commander: Sergei V. Prokopyev (1)
Flight Engineer 1: Oleg G. Artemyev (2)
Flight Engineer 2: Andrew J. Feustel (3)

Center Seat: Prokopyev
Left-Hand Side Seat: Artemyev
Right-Hand Side Seat: Feustel
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 03/12/2016 06:55 am
March 11, 2016
RELEASE 16-030

NASA Administrator Pays Tribute to Astronaut Scott Kelly
 
The following is a statement from NASA Administrator Charles Bolden on the retirement of astronaut Scott Kelly:

“When the first Americans set foot on Mars, they will be following in the footsteps of one of the finest astronauts in the history of the space program, my friend, Commander Scott Kelly.  After spending an American record 520 days in space – including his Year in Space – I can think of no one more deserving of some well-deserved rest and time on the same planet as his family and friends.

“All of us in the NASA family -- and indeed in the broader scientific community -- are grateful that he was willing to sacrifice time with his loved ones, meals that don’t come in a bag, a cold beer, hot showers, cool autumn breezes, the sounds of birds chirping, the ability to lay his head on an actual pillow and so much more of the pleasures of life during his year of research and experimentation the International Space Station.

“We will never forget the 700 stunning images he posted to social media, the leadership he demonstrated as ISS Commander for the last six months and, most of all, the impact that all his missions and years of service will continue to have on our Journey to Mars.”

For more information about Kelly’s NASA career, and biography, visit:

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/kellysj.pdf
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 04/17/2016 06:04 pm
http://www.esa.int/About_Us/Welcome_to_ESA/Thomas_Reiter_br_Director_of_HSO
Thomas Reiter will be replaced next year...
Quote
Thomas Reiter is the acting Director of Human Spaceflight and Robotic Exploration (D/HRE), as of 1 January 2016.
Now
Quote
David Parker took up duty as Director of Human Spaceflight and Robotic Exploration (D/HRE) on 1 April 2016.
http://www.esa.int/About_Us/Welcome_to_ESA/David_Parker_br_Director_of_HRE
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 04/25/2016 09:44 pm
Updated 'Upcoming Crews in Space' list by Space Shuttle Almanac - feel free to jump in with corrections/additions.

ISS crews 2016 thru 2019:
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 04/26/2016 08:38 am
On the Dragon 2 DM-2 flight will be two NASA astronauts, no one from SpaceX.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: mhlas7 on 04/27/2016 06:26 pm
I'm surprised another one year mission hasn't been scheduled yet. Yes it means that fewer astronauts get to go to the ISS but more one year expeditions would allow NASA to get a larger data set on the biological effects of long duration spaceflight needed for a future Mars mission.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Hog on 05/01/2016 03:21 pm
I'm surprised another one year mission hasn't been scheduled yet. Yes it means that fewer astronauts get to go to the ISS but more one year expeditions would allow NASA to get a larger data set on the biological effects of long duration spaceflight needed for a future Mars mission.
Still analyzing the data from the previous year mission?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: rayleighscatter on 05/01/2016 09:36 pm
I'm surprised another one year mission hasn't been scheduled yet. Yes it means that fewer astronauts get to go to the ISS but more one year expeditions would allow NASA to get a larger data set on the biological effects of long duration spaceflight needed for a future Mars mission.
Still analyzing the data from the previous year mission?
Ready to proceed with five further year in space missions supposedly. My guess would be waiting until at a point when they're confident commercial crew can maintain a set schedule.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 05/06/2016 10:41 pm
May 06, 2016
RELEASE 16-047

NASA, Space Station Partners Announce Future Mission Crew Members
 
NASA and its International Space Station partners have announced the crew members for missions to the orbiting laboratory in 2017. The selection includes first-time space flyer NASA astronaut Scott Tingle and veteran Randy Bresnik.

“There’s so much going on aboard the space station at this point, so many science experiments and technology demonstrations,” said Chris Cassidy, chief of the Astronaut Office at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. “Scott and Randy have their work cut out for them, but I have no doubt they’ll do excellent jobs.”

Tingle is a member of NASA’s 2009 astronaut class and will fly with cosmonauts Ivan Vagner, who is also a first-time flier, and veteran Alexander Skvortsov, both of the Russian space agency Roscosmos. They will launch in September 2017. The three will join the station’s Expedition 53 crew of NASA astronaut Jack Fischer, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Paolo Nespoli and Roscosmos cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin.

Tingle, a captain in the U.S. Navy, was born in Attleboro, Massachusetts, but considers Randolph, Massachusetts, his home. He was commissioned as a naval officer in 1991 and earned the gold wings of a naval aviator in 1993. He has accumulated more than 4,000 hours in 48 types of aircraft, 700 carrier landings and 54 combat missions.

Tingle earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Southern Massachusetts University in Dartmouth in 1987, and a master’s degree in mechanical engineering, with a specialty in fluid mechanics and propulsion, from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, in 1988. He also is a 1998 graduate of the Navy Test Pilot School.

Bresnik’s mission will begin in November 2017, when he and his crewmates Sergey Ryazansky of Roscosmos and Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) will join Tingle, Skvortsov and Vagner on the station for Expedition 54.

Bresnik, who considers Santa Monica, California, to be his hometown, is a retired colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps. Bresnik received his commission in May 1989 and was designated a Marine Corps aviator in 1992. He flew the F/A-18 Hornet in support of Operation Southern Watch and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He has accumulated more than 6,000 hours in 81 types of aircraft.

Bresnik was selected as an astronaut in May 2004. His first spaceflight was in November 2009 aboard space shuttle Atlantis for STS-129, which lasted 11 days. The flight was the 31st shuttle flight to the space station, during which Bresnik conducted two spacewalks totaling 11 hours and 50 minutes.

Bresnik graduated from The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina, in 1989 with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics, and earned a master’s degree in aviation systems from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in 2002. He is also a 2008 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Air War College.

The crew comprising Expedition 53 will be:
•Jack Fischer, NASA
•Paolo Nespoli, ESA
•Fyodor Yurchikin, Roscosmos
•Scott Tingle, NASA
•Alexander Skvortsov, Roscosmos
•Ivan Vagner, Roscosmos

The crew comprising Expedition 54 will be:
•Scott Tingle, NASA
•Alexander Skvortsov, Roscosmos
•Ivan Vagner, Roscosmos
•Randy Bresnik, NASA
•Sergey Ryazansky, Roscosmos
•Norishige Kanai, JAXA

The space station is a convergence of science, technology and human innovation that enables us to demonstrate new technologies and make research breakthroughs not possible on Earth. It has been continuously occupied since November 2000 and, since then, has been visited by more than 200 people and a variety of international and commercial spacecraft. The space station remains the springboard to NASA's next giant leap in exploration, including future missions to an asteroid and Mars.

Follow Scott Tingle on Twitter at:

http://www.twitter.com/Astro_Maker

Randy Bresnik will post updates on social media using #AstroKomrade at:

http://twitter.com/space_station

and

http://www.instagram.com/iss/

For Twitter updates from all NASA astronauts, follow:

http://www.twitter.com/NASA_Astronauts
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 05/14/2016 08:44 pm
Quote
Minister Bains to Make Announcement on Human Space Flight

May 13, 2016 - Longueuil, Quebec

On May 16, the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, and Minister responsible for the Canadian Space Agency, will make an important announcement on human space flight to the International Space Station.

http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=1064869&tp=3
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 05/15/2016 03:39 pm
Maybe also interesting.
https://twitter.com/esaoperations/status/731443272309178369
Quote
We’re looking forward to the visit of German Chancellor Angela Merkel to the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: eric z on 05/15/2016 03:56 pm
 It would be wild if the Canada announcement was that one of their astronauts was being assigned to a year-long mission! Get some excitement going! At this point in the program, with the end now when, not if, shouldn't there always be some crew members up there a year,18 months, and longer? What are we waiting for? Even if problems with the first two guys arose,[not life-threatening ones!], don't we need a bigger sample size?
 BTW, Hats off to the people keeping up this topic -it's what got me hooked on Nasaspaceflight.com in the first place.  8)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: astropl on 05/16/2016 02:16 pm
David Saint-Jacques is the Next Canadian to Fly to the International Space Station

May 16, 2016 - Longueuil, Quebec - Canadian Space Agency

Today the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, and the Minister responsible for the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), announced that Canadian astronaut David Saint-Jacques has been assigned to a six-month mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

Mr. Saint-Jacques will launch aboard a Russian Soyuz rocket in November 2018 to join an international crew onboard the orbiting laboratory. Expedition 58/59 will be the first mission for David Saint-Jacques and will mark the 17th space flight for the Canadian Astronaut Corps.

During his time in space, the astronaut will conduct a series of scientific experiments, robotics tasks and technology demonstrations, the details of which will be revealed later this year.

In addition to his extensive training, the Quebec native will bring his expertise in medicine, engineering and astrophysics to the Expedition 58/59 crew. In anticipation of this first assignment, David Saint-Jacques will begin specialized mission training in Russia, Japan, the United States and Canada starting this Summer and for the next two years until his launch.

Quotes
"Eight distinguished Canadian astronauts have been to space, six of them to the International Space Station. These men and women have captured our imagination, motivated us to work and study harder, and inspired us to be our best. Starting in August our next Canadian astronaut, David Saint-Jacques, will begin training for his mission. He is part of a new generation of Canadian astronauts that will continue our nation's proud history in human space flight and prepare for exploration beyond the Space Station. Our government is proud of its commitment to science and its world class space industry by providing in Budget 2016 up to $379 million over eight years towards the Canadian Space Agency's partnership with the International Space Station."

- The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development

"Today, I stand on the shoulders of all the astronauts who came before me. They inspired me—they were my role models. They sparked my curiosity about space and made me want to experience spaceflight for myself. Space exploration is the next step for humanity, and I am proud to be part of it. I would like to thank the Canadian Space Agency for giving me this incredible opportunity. I am humbled to represent Canada on this mission and promise to give it my very best."

-David Saint-Jacques.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jeff Lerner on 05/16/2016 03:09 pm
Happy for Davd St-Jacques but poor Jeremy Hansen...he's got a long wait for his turn...

Funny, I would have thought the selection would have been the other way around...purely anecdotal but I've noticed Hansen on console more then St-Jacques and just assumed they were "grooming" Hansen for being up next as a CSA Astronaut...guess not..
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 05/18/2016 02:10 pm
http://www.dlr.de/dlr/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-10081/151_read-17857/#/gallery/23012
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 05/18/2016 02:23 pm
Press Release
N°16-2016

Paris, 18 May 2016

Alexander Gerst to be Space Station commander 

ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst has been assigned a new mission to the International Space Station, where he will fulfil the role of commander during the second part of his six-month mission in 2018. 

The news was announced today in the presence of German Chancellor Angela Merkel by ESA Director General Jan Woerner at the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany.

Alexander worked on the Station for six months on his Blue Dot mission in 2014. The German astronaut commented: 

"I am humbled by receiving the honour to command the International Space Station. This international sign of trust reflects ESA's reliability as a cooperation partner, and was made possible by the fantastic work of my European colleagues on their previous
missions. I am delighted by the prospect of continuing the scientific work that has been conducted on the ISS for many years. I am particularly looking forward to contributing to one of humanity's greatest exploration adventures: discovering new horizons.

Eleven European countries participate in the Station through ESA together with USA, Russia, Japan and Canada. ESA astronaut Tim Peake is currently working on the Station, to be followed by Thomas Pesquet in November. 

Alexander's mission will continue the programme of research that often spans multiple missions. His second flight will likely see Alexander working with ESA's Mares muscle measurement machine, researching plasma crystals in weightlessness, and testing
new technologies to support ESA's human exploration programme, in addition to the experiments of Station partners.

This is the second time a European astronaut will be commander of the Station in the 15 years it has been occupied - the first was Frank De Winne in 2009. Now heading the European Astronaut Centre, Frank noted, "Alexander showed outstanding performance,
high professionalism and excellent interaction skills during his Blue Dot mission.

"For these reasons, the European Astronaut Centre proposed to the international partners that Alexander be the commander of the Space Station."

Alexander's second mission will run from May to November 2018 as part of Expeditions 56 and 57. He will be commander during the second part of his stay, during Expedition 57. 

Alexander joined the ESA astronaut corps in 2009 and was assigned his first mission in 2011. He was awarded Germany's Order of Merit on return from his 166 days in space in 2015.

-------------------------------------------------------------

Press release, 19 May 2016

Chancellor Angela Merkel visits DLR and ESA in Cologne - Announcement: Alexander Gerst will head to space as Commander of the ISS in 2018

Chancellor Angela Merkel visited the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum fuer Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR) and the European Space Agency (ESA) European Astronaut Centre (EAC) in Cologne on 18 May 2016. The Chancellor was invited by German ESA astronaut
Alexander Gerst and learned about the European Rosetta comet mission, the DLR_School_Lab and the research and training facilities for astronauts at the medical research facility ':envihab' of the DLR Institute of Aerospace Medicine and the EAC. During
the Chancellor's visit, ESA Director General Jan Woerner announced that Alexander Gerst has been selected for a second long-term mission on board the International Space Station.

Second flight into space for Alexander Gerst

During the Chancellor's visit, ESA Director General Jan Wörner announced that European astronaut Alexander Gerst is set to spend six months on the International Space Station, from May to November 2018. During the second half of his long-term mission,
Gerst will take command of the ISS for three months. "I am delighted with the nomination of German ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst as a member of this international crew and appointment as Commander during his second long-term mission to the ISS in 2018.
This mission will enable Germany to further increase its knowledge of space, explained Pascale Ehrenfreund, Chair of the DLR Executive Board. "Space opens up a variety of entirely new or significantly improved applications that can be used to solve
global challenges and contribute to strengthening and expanding Germany's long-term competitiveness. After all, if you can travel to space, you can do anything." 

Gerst will be the first German ESA astronaut to be appointed as Commander of the ISS and will take over the helm from his fellow European, Belgian Frank de Winne. This will be Gerst's second long-term mission in space after his previous mission from
May to November 2014 on the ISS. "Alexander Gerst distinguished himself during his first Blue Dot ISS mission with excellent overall performance and a high level of scientific professionalism. Moreover, he has demonstrated excellent coordination and
social skills when interacting with colleagues in the ISS crew," commented Jan Woerner. "For these reasons, ESA selected Gerst for this mission and proposed him as commander of the ISS." The proposal was adopted by the ISS Multilateral Crew Operations
Panel (MCOP), the international body responsible for selecting ISS crews. 

Visit to the Philae Lander Control Center at DLR

German Chancellor Angela Merkel learned more about the European Rosetta comet mission at the Philae Lander Control Center (LCC). After a 10-year journey through space, ESA's Rosetta spacecraft reached its target comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko in the
spring of 2014. The exploration probe Philae, carried by Rosetta, landed on the comet on 12 November 2014 and explored its mysterious surface. The lander and its instruments were controlled from the Lander Control Center at DLR, where the telemetry
of the lander and measurement data from its instruments were also received and analysed. The scientific data transmitted back to Earth during its short life provided scientists with many new insights into comets and their importance in the development
of the Solar System. The Rosetta mother probe is also due to 'land' on the comet nucleus, not far from Philae, at the end of the mission in September 2016.   

Meeting with young researchers at the DLR_School_Lab 

The Chancellor spent a long time visiting the DLR_School_Labs in Cologne. School groups spend a full day each at one of the 12 DLR_School_Labs across Germany, conducting supervised experiments in the vast laboratories and independently discovering
the fascinating world of research. Along with sixth grade students from Bonner Gymnasium, the Doctor in Physics watched how water behaves in a drop tower during a brief moment of weightlessness. She also examined an artificial comet with the students.
This was created by creating a 'dirty snowball' using nitrogen in a vacuum chamber and exposing it to the radiation of an 'artificial' Sun, a 1200-watt stage light. Due to heat energy, the ice sublimates. During this process, it pulls dust from the
surface with it, forming the comet's tail. 

Training for space at the :envihab research building

The Chancellor was able to learn about research on the adverse effects of weightlessness and the development of effective training methods for astronauts in the ':envihab' facility of the DLR Institute of Aerospace Medicine. Before and after their
stay on the ISS, ESA astronauts go through extensive medical examinations and recovery programmes here. The knowledge gained during these processes is also used for treatments on Earth.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 05/19/2016 06:56 am
http://www.syracuse.com/schools/index.ssf/2016/04/syracuse_schools_alumna_nasa_astronaut_to_spend_6_months_in_space.html

Quote
NASA's Jeanette Epps, a Syracuse high school grad, to spend 6 months in space
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: MattMason on 05/19/2016 06:02 pm
Why does thouest tease me so, with Samantha Christoforetti in the photos but not listed in the flight assignments?

I didn't see many, if any, ESA slots in the next few years, save Gerst, of course.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: DwightM on 05/20/2016 12:45 am
Thomas Pesquet on Exp 50/51
Paolo Nespoli on Exp 52/53
Gerst as mentioned.
Samantha has Luca Parmitano & perhaps Walter Villadei ahead of her in the rotation.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 06/16/2016 05:46 pm
Announcement on the future of the Canadian astronaut program


Longueuil, Quebec, June 16, 2016 — On Friday, June 17, the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, will make an announcement on the future of the Canadian astronaut program.

Media representatives are invited to the event.

Date:           June 17, 2016

Time:           9:00 a.m.

Who:           
 The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development
 Sylvain Laporte, CSA President

Jeremy Hansen, CSA Astronaut
David Saint-Jacques, CSA Astronaut (via videoconference)

 

Where:       
Canada Aviation and Space Museum
11 Aviation Pkwy
 Ottawa, Ontario  K1K 2X5

Facebook: Watch the livestream of the event here.
https://www.facebook.com/CanadianSpaceAgency
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 06/17/2016 01:18 pm
Canadian Space Agency The Canadian Space Agency is recruiting: astronauts wanted!

From June 17 to August 15, the Canadian Space Agency is recruiting the next generation of space explorers.

Apply now: http://asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/astronauts/
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 06/17/2016 01:30 pm
Astronauts Wanted:

Canada is Recruiting Astronauts for Future Space Missions

June 17, 2016 – Longueuil, Quebec

Have you ever wanted to go to space? The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) wants you!

Today, the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, and the Minister responsible for the CSA, launched Canada’s fourth astronaut recruitment campaign. The CSA is seeking the next generation of space explorers to pave the way for potential future space missions.

The Agency is accepting applications from June 17 to August 15, and expects to announce selected candidates in Summer 2017. This next class of Canadian astronaut candidates will start their training at NASA in August 2017.

Requirements and details for applications can be found here: www.asc-csa.gc.ca/astronauts

Through our participation in the International Space Station, Canada has developed aninternationally-renowned expertise in robotics and optics; has provided access to this unique laboratory to Canadian scientists for their science experiments and has flown eight astronauts to space over 16 missions. 


Quotes


“Our astronauts have been a source of national pride for our country. If you have aspired to go beyond our planet’s frontier, now is your chance to make this dream a reality. This class of Canadian astronauts will be part of a new generation of explorers to advance critical science and research aboard the International Space Station. Just like the astronauts before them, they will inspire young Canadians to view science and technology as accessible and interesting tools they can use to build their own adventures.”

The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development


Quick Facts


·           CSA will select two qualified astronaut candidates from a diverse pool of Canadian citizens with a wide variety of backgrounds. 

·           Those selected after the first round of evaluation will take part in a rigorous selection process that will last almost a year.

·           To build on Canada’s proud history in space and create opportunities for the space sector, Budget 2016 provides up to $379 million over eight years for the CSA to extend Canada’s participation in the International Space Station to 2024.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: cylindricalpete on 07/05/2016 06:18 pm
Canadian Space Agency The Canadian Space Agency is recruiting: astronauts wanted!

From June 17 to August 15, the Canadian Space Agency is recruiting the next generation of space explorers.

Apply now: http://asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/astronauts/


Thanks for sharing this - dreams will come true!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Paolo on 07/06/2016 07:47 pm
Someone know the exact birthdate of the Taikonaut Zhang Xiaoguan (Shenzhou X) and of the Japanese Astronauts Takuya Onishi (Soyuz MS-01) and Kanai Norishige (Soyuz MS-07) ?
Thanks
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 07/06/2016 09:20 pm
https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=38221.msg1556225#msg1556225 about Takuya Onishi only
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: astropl on 07/08/2016 07:08 am
According to Shams on Novosti Kosmonavtiki forum (http://novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/forum/messages/forum10/topic9135/message1535016/#message1535016):

09.2018 Союз МС-10: Падалка (КЭ-58, Бабкин, NASA (видимо, Ауньён)
11.2018 Союз МС-11: Кононенко, NASA, Сен-Жак (Канада)
03.2019 Союз МС-12: Волков, Кудь-Сверчков/Матвеев, NASA

Sep 2018 Soyuz MS-10: Padalka (Exp-58 CDR), Babkin, NASA (probably Aunon);
Nov 2018 Soyuz MS-11: Kononenko, NASA, Saint-Jacques (Canada);
Mar 2019 Soyuz MS-12: Volkov, Kud'-Sverchkov/Matveev, NASA.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ZachS09 on 07/08/2016 01:30 pm
According to Shams on Novosti Kosmonavtiki forum (http://novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/forum/messages/forum10/topic9135/message1535016/#message1535016):

09.2018 Союз МС-10: Падалка (КЭ-58, Бабкин, NASA (видимо, Ауньён)
11.2018 Союз МС-11: Кононенко, NASA, Сен-Жак (Канада)
03.2019 Союз МС-12: Волков, Кудь-Сверчков/Матвеев, NASA

Sep 2018 Soyuz MS-10: Padalka (Exp-58 CDR), Babkin, NASA (probably Aunon);
Nov 2018 Soyuz MS-11: Kononenko, NASA, Saint-Jacques (Canada);
Mar 2019 Soyuz MS-12: Volkov, Kud'-Sverchkov/Matveev, NASA.

Oh, my goodness. Looks like Gennadi Padalka will make a sixth spaceflight and possibly break a "time in space" record yet again.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 07/08/2016 04:13 pm
According to Shams on Novosti Kosmonavtiki forum (http://novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/forum/messages/forum10/topic9135/message1535016/#message1535016):

09.2018 Союз МС-10: Падалка (КЭ-58, Бабкин, NASA (видимо, Ауньён)
11.2018 Союз МС-11: Кононенко, NASA, Сен-Жак (Канада)
03.2019 Союз МС-12: Волков, Кудь-Сверчков/Матвеев, NASA

Sep 2018 Soyuz MS-10: Padalka (Exp-58 CDR), Babkin, NASA (probably Aunon);
Nov 2018 Soyuz MS-11: Kononenko, NASA, Saint-Jacques (Canada);
Mar 2019 Soyuz MS-12: Volkov, Kud'-Sverchkov/Matveev, NASA.

The most interesting stuff is a NASA astronaut in march 2019 on a Soyuz flight.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Zed_Noir on 07/09/2016 12:43 am
According to Shams on Novosti Kosmonavtiki forum (http://novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/forum/messages/forum10/topic9135/message1535016/#message1535016):

09.2018 Союз МС-10: Падалка (КЭ-58, Бабкин, NASA (видимо, Ауньён)
11.2018 Союз МС-11: Кононенко, NASA, Сен-Жак (Канада)
03.2019 Союз МС-12: Волков, Кудь-Сверчков/Матвеев, NASA

Sep 2018 Soyuz MS-10: Padalka (Exp-58 CDR), Babkin, NASA (probably Aunon);
Nov 2018 Soyuz MS-11: Kononenko, NASA, Saint-Jacques (Canada);
Mar 2019 Soyuz MS-12: Volkov, Kud'-Sverchkov/Matveev, NASA.

The most interesting stuff is a NASA astronaut in march 2019 on a Soyuz flight.
AIUI they will continued to send up mixed Russian & NASA crews on most crewed vehicles. So you don't have a situation with only Russian or NASA personnel on the ISS if one of the vehicles gets grounded.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 07/09/2016 02:10 am
I can't believe Padalka is flying yet again! :o :D
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: npuentes on 07/09/2016 02:14 am
According to Shams on Novosti Kosmonavtiki forum (http://novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/forum/messages/forum10/topic9135/message1535016/#message1535016):

09.2018 Союз МС-10: Падалка (КЭ-58, Бабкин, NASA (видимо, Ауньён)
11.2018 Союз МС-11: Кононенко, NASA, Сен-Жак (Канада)
03.2019 Союз МС-12: Волков, Кудь-Сверчков/Матвеев, NASA

Sep 2018 Soyuz MS-10: Padalka (Exp-58 CDR), Babkin, NASA (probably Aunon);
Nov 2018 Soyuz MS-11: Kononenko, NASA, Saint-Jacques (Canada);
Mar 2019 Soyuz MS-12: Volkov, Kud'-Sverchkov/Matveev, NASA.

Oh, my goodness. Looks like Gennadi Padalka will make a sixth spaceflight and possibly break a "time in space" record yet again.

Padalka has led an amazing spaceflight career. If he completes this 6th flight as planned, he will have accumulated over 1000 days in space, or nearly 3 years. My major question is radiation exposure. I know that some NASA astronauts have been dropped from flights because of this. Are the Russian rules more lenient? Or does personal and family health have a heavy bearing, with Padalka and his ancestors particularly resilient, allowing him to fly so many long duration missions?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: DaveS on 07/09/2016 02:40 am
According to Shams on Novosti Kosmonavtiki forum (http://novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/forum/messages/forum10/topic9135/message1535016/#message1535016):

09.2018 Союз МС-10: Падалка (КЭ-58, Бабкин, NASA (видимо, Ауньён)
11.2018 Союз МС-11: Кононенко, NASA, Сен-Жак (Канада)
03.2019 Союз МС-12: Волков, Кудь-Сверчков/Матвеев, NASA

Sep 2018 Soyuz MS-10: Padalka (Exp-58 CDR), Babkin, NASA (probably Aunon);
Nov 2018 Soyuz MS-11: Kononenko, NASA, Saint-Jacques (Canada);
Mar 2019 Soyuz MS-12: Volkov, Kud'-Sverchkov/Matveev, NASA.

Oh, my goodness. Looks like Gennadi Padalka will make a sixth spaceflight and possibly break a "time in space" record yet again.

Padalka has led an amazing spaceflight career. If he completes this 6th flight as planned, he will have accumulated over 1000 days in space, or nearly 3 years. My major question is radiation exposure. I know that some NASA astronauts have been dropped from flights because of this. Are the Russian rules more lenient? Or does personal and family health have a heavy bearing, with Padalka and his ancestors particularly resilient, allowing him to fly so many long duration missions?
Well, he could just have been lucky with his radiation exposure. I mean that his on-orbit time could have been all during lulls in solar activity since that is the #1 radiation exposure source. For all missions solar flares are huge concerns and he could just have been lucky to not have any major flares during his missions.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 07/10/2016 11:52 am
According to his Twitter account https://twitter.com/Astro_Wheels Mr. Wheelock is (again) the
Quote
NASA Director of Operations - Star City, Russia.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 07/13/2016 06:27 am
ESA will make an announcement next week on a new astronaut....
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ras391 on 07/13/2016 01:45 pm
Can you provide any details, without causing you any problems?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 07/13/2016 01:55 pm
Can you provide any details, without causing you any problems?

The only thing I can say, it is not an Italian Guy
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: astropl on 07/13/2016 06:14 pm


The only thing I can say, it is not an Italian Guy



And the only thing I can say, it is an German Guy :)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 07/13/2016 06:26 pm


The only thing I can say, it is not an Italian Guy



And the only thing I can say, it is an German Guy :)

Yes, and it will be on the 19th.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 07/21/2016 09:49 pm
It's now the 21st ....
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Patrickb on 07/28/2016 02:32 pm
Has the ESA announcement been postponed?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 08/19/2016 05:37 pm
2016-08-19 - Who could be Canada's next astronaut? (http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/search/images/watch.asp?id=6171)

Quote
Statistics on applications for 2016 Canada's astronaut recruitment campaign

2016-08-19 – The Public Service Commission of Canada and the Canadian Space Agency have published statistics on applications for the astronaut recruitment campaign. (Credit: Canadian Space Agency)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 08/23/2016 08:29 pm
Aug. 23, 2016

Veteran Astronaut Terry Virts Retires from NASA

With more than 3,600 orbits of the Earth under his belt, astronaut Terry Virts will leave NASA on Aug. 23. Over the course of his 16-year-career at NASA, he piloted a space shuttle and commanded the International Space Station.

Virts, a colonel in the U.S. Air Force, considers Columbia, Maryland, his hometown. He is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and Harvard Business School. He also was a member of the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School class 98B at Edwards Air Force Base in California, and served as an experimental test pilot in the F-16 Combined Test Force there before being selected for the astronaut class of 2000.

During his time on the ground at NASA, Virts served in a variety of technical assignments, including as the lead astronaut for the T-38 training jet program, chief of the astronaut office’s robotic branch and lead astronaut for the Space Launch System rocket program.

In space, Virts served as space shuttle pilot for the STS-130 mission in 2010, helping to deliver the Tranquility module to the space station, along with its cupola bay windows. He then returned to the station in December of 2014, serving as flight engineer for Expedition 42, and commander on Expedition 43. Virts spent a total of 213 days space and conducted three spacewalks for a total of 19 hours and 2 minutes outside of the space station.

Find Virts’ complete biography at:
http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/virts-tw.pdf
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 09/26/2016 03:05 pm
Cosmonauts Maxim Suraev and Elena Serova dropped out of the group of cosmonauts

 September 26, 2016

 Russian cosmonaut Maxim Suraev dismissed as a test-cosmonaut instructors in connection with the transition to elected office Deputy of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation.

 Russian cosmonaut Elena Serova also dismissed from his post as a test cosmonaut in connection with the transition to elected office Deputy of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation.

 Maxim Suraev was enrolled in the cosmonaut in 1997.  During the time spent in an astronaut made two space flights (2009 and 2014). Total duration of 334 days, twice worked in open space (total duration - 9 hours 25 minutes).

 Cosmonaut Elena Serova was enrolled in the cosmonaut in 2006.  From September 2014 to March 2015 he made a space flight lasting 167 days as a flight engineer TPK "Soyuz TMA-14M" with cosmonaut Alexander Samokutyaevym and NASA astronaut Barry Wilmore.

 "I am sure that Russian cosmonauts will justify the trust of their voters.  Their experience and personal qualities will help to properly represent the space industry in the legislative body of the country ", - said the head of the Cosmonaut Training Center named after Yuri  Gagarin Yuri Lonchakov .

http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=3603
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 10/01/2016 02:34 pm
http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/search/images/watch.asp?id=6364

1706 people will move on to the next step of Canada’s astronaut recruitment campaign!

Quote
Latest numbers on the Canadian Space Agency's astronaut recruitment campaign (September 30, 2016)

2016-09-30 - The Public Service Commission of Canada and the Canadian Space Agency published the latest numbers on Canada’s 2016 astronaut recruitment campaign. (Credit: Canadian Space Agency)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 10/12/2016 07:29 pm
According to this Statement https://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2015/10/20/email-alvin-drew-seeing-stars Mr. Drew is working as
Quote
Assistant Director of Space and Aviation Security in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy
.
Does anyone know, when he has left NASA?
B. Alvin Drew, Jr. left NASA in October 2013 having logged 25 days and 13 hours in space over the course of two space shuttle missions (STS-118 & STS-133).
Thank you.

Drew actually left NASA in July 2015 -- from February 2013 to that time he was a NASA management astronaut detailed to DOD space agencies at Peterson AFB in Colorado.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-drew-99664828

Michael Cassutt
Thanks for the correction.

I have to ask this question again, because now NASA´s biographies says he is working in NASA´s headquarter.
http://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/astronauts/management
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 10/13/2016 03:10 pm
Another would-be space tourist might make trip to ISS in 2017

More:
http://tass.com/science/906123
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 10/13/2016 03:12 pm
Yuri Malenchenko leaves team of Russian cosmonauts

More:
http://tass.com/science/900118
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 10/13/2016 03:15 pm
According to this Statement https://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2015/10/20/email-alvin-drew-seeing-stars Mr. Drew is working as
Quote
Assistant Director of Space and Aviation Security in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy
.
Does anyone know, when he has left NASA?
B. Alvin Drew, Jr. left NASA in October 2013 having logged 25 days and 13 hours in space over the course of two space shuttle missions (STS-118 & STS-133).
Thank you.

Drew actually left NASA in July 2015 -- from February 2013 to that time he was a NASA management astronaut detailed to DOD space agencies at Peterson AFB in Colorado.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-drew-99664828

Michael Cassutt
Thanks for the correction.

I have to ask this question again, because now NASA´s biographies says he is working in NASA´s headquarter.
http://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/astronauts/management

I've had a tough time getting a straight answer to this, but the latest is that he is still technically a NASA management astronaut assigned to NASA HQ, but detailed to the White House Office of Science and Technology. The earlier indication that he had left the agency may or may not have been accurate, though it was based on Drew's Linkedin profile ;)  It's not unheard of for people to leave NASA, then return, either.

BTW, in the last few weeks there was some kind of re-org affecting management astronauts, with many of them re-assigned to various centers other than JSC.  Hire is at Goddard, for example, though apparently detailed to the U.S. Naval Academy as a professor. Currie-Gregg is assigned to Langley. And so on.

Michael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Patrickb on 10/15/2016 08:29 pm
The shenzhou 11 crew will be announced Sunday at 02:30 UTC
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Patrickb on 10/16/2016 04:44 pm
China has named veteran astronaut Jing Haipeng and rookie Chen Dong as the crew of Shenzhou 11.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 10/22/2016 01:37 pm
Yuri Malenchenko appointed first deputy head of the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center. 

October 21, 2016

Hero of the Russian Federation, Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko was appointed first deputy chief of the State Organization "Research Institute of CPC Gagarin".

 "Yuri Ivanovich has made a great contribution to the development of Russian cosmonautics.  His exceptional experience guarantees the successful fulfillment of the tasks of the Centre for the preparation of Russian cosmonauts and foreign astronauts, as well as the fulfillment of international obligations under the ISS program, "- said the head of the Cosmonaut Training Center Yuri Lonchakov appointment of Yuri Malenchenko.

 For reference: Yuri Malenchenko - one of the most experienced astronauts world.  In June 2016 he completed his 6th spaceflight.

 1st space flight Yuri Malenchenko performed from July 1 to November 4, 1994 the spacecraft "Soyuz TM-19" and "Mir" on the program of EC-16.  During the flight, the first docking of cargo spacecraft "Progress M-24" to the "Mir" orbital complex in the teleoperator mode was implemented.  During the flight of Yuri I. Malenchenko performed two spacewalks total duration of 07 minutes 11:00.  The duration of the flight was 126 days.

 2nd space flight performed from 8 to 20 September 2000 as a mission specialist shuttle "Atlantis» S T S -106.  During the flight was carried out preparation of the ISS for the arrival of the first permanent crew.  During the expedition Yuri Ivanovich performed one spacewalk (of the spacecraft "Atlantis") lasting 6 hours and 14 minutes.  The duration of the flight was 12 days.

 3rd spaceflight performed from 26 April to 28 October 2003 as commander of the WPK "Soyuz TMA-2" and ISS-7.  The main objective of the expedition was to continue plant operation in manned mode during the forced suspension assembly.  The duration of the flight was 185 days.

 4th spaceflight carried out from 10 October 2007 to 19 April 2008 as commander of the spacecraft "Soyuz TMA-11" and ISS-16.  During the flight he performed a spacewalk from the American segment of the ISS by NASA program lasting 6 hours and 55 minutes.  The duration of the flight was 191 days.

 5th spaceflight carried out from 15 July to 19 November 2012 in the composition of the crew 32/33-second long-duration mission on the ISS as the commander of the ship "Soyuz TMA-05M" and ISS flight engineer.  During the flight performed a spacewalk from the ISS Russian Segment 5 hours 50 minutes.  The duration of the flight was 127 days.

 6th space flight performed with 15 December 2015 to 18 June 2016 the crew 46/47-second long-duration mission on the ISS as the commander of the ship "Soyuz TMA-19M" and ISS flight engineer.  During the flight performed a spacewalk from the ISS Russian Segment of 4 hours 43 minutes.  The duration of the flight was 186 days.

http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=3629
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 10/28/2016 03:20 pm
ROSCOSMOS.  APPROVED manning the ISS for 2017

 28.10.2016 16:24

 Interdepartmental Commission of the State Corporation "Roskosmos" adopted the basic compositions (51/52, 52/53, 53/54, 54/55) and backup (51/52, 52/53, 53/54, 54/55) the crews of long expeditions to the International space station (ISS) in 2017.


 The main missions of the crews to the ISS approved in the following composition


 ISS-51/52:
 Yurchikhin Fedor - ISS-51, ISS-52 commander, the commander of the WPK "MS Union" (Roscosmos);
 Jack Fischer (FISCHER, Jack) - ISS-51, ISS-52 flight engineer-1 TPK "MS Union» (NASA).

 ISS-52/53:
 RJaZANSKIJj Sergey - ISS-52, ISS-53 commander of the WPK "MS Union" (Roscosmos);
 Breznik Randolph (BRESNIK, Randolph) - ISS-52 commander of the ISS-53 Flight Engineer-1 TPK "MS Union» (NASA);
 Paolo Nespoli (NESPOLI, Paolo) - ISS-52, ISS-53 Flight Engineer-2 TPK "MS Union» (ESA).

 ISS-53/54:
 Misurkin Alexander - ISS-53, ISS-54 commander, the commander of the WPK "MS Union" (Roscosmos);
 Wanda HI Mark (VANDE HEY, Mark) - ISS-53, ISS-54 flight engineer-1 TPK "MS Union» (NASA).

 ISS-54/55:
 Alexander Skvortsov - ISS-54, ISS-55 commander, the commander of the WPK "MS Union" (Roscosmos);
 Scott Tingley (TINGLE, Scott) - ISS-54, ISS-55 flight engineer-1 TPK "MS Union» (NASA);
 Channel Norishige (KANAI, Norishige) - ISS-54, ISS-55 Flight Engineer-2 TPK "MS Union» (JAXA).


 Backup crews were approved in the following composition


 ISS-51/52:
 RJaZANSKIJj Sergey - ISS commander TPK "MS Union" (Roscosmos);
 Breznik Randolph (BRESNIK, Randolph) - ISS, Flight Engineer-1 TPK "MS Union» (NASA).

 ISS-52/53:
 Misurkin Alexander - ISS commander TPK "MS Union" (Roscosmos);
 Wanda HI Mark (VANDE HEY, Mark) - ISS, Flight Engineer-1 TPK "MS Union» (NASA);
 Channel Norishige (KANAI, Norishige) - ISS flight engineer -2 TPK "MS Union» (JAXA).

 ISS-53/54:
 Alexander Skvortsov - ISS commander TPK "MS Union" (Roscosmos);
 Scott Tingley (TINGLE, Scott) - ISS, Flight Engineer-1 TPK "MS Union» (NASA).

 ISS-54/55:
 Shkaplerov Anton Nikolaevich - ISS commander TPK "MS Union" (Roscosmos);
 Alexander Gerst (GERST, Alexander) - ISS flight engineer TPK "MS Union» (ESA);
 Jeannette Epps - (EPPS, Janet) - ISS, Flight Engineer-2 TPK "MS Union» (NASA).


http://www.roscosmos.ru/22817/
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Targeteer on 10/28/2016 08:59 pm
It looks like NASA "bought" a seat for Kanai on 54/55 if I'm reading that correctly...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 10/29/2016 12:24 pm
It looks like NASA "bought" a seat for Kanai on 54/55 if I'm reading that correctly...

They already paid for that one... There has to be 2 USOS crewmembers on that flight.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Targeteer on 10/29/2016 05:15 pm
It looks like NASA "bought" a seat for Kanai on 54/55 if I'm reading that correctly...

They already paid for that one... There has to be 2 USOS crewmembers on that flight.

Poor wording on my part.  The Kanai spot was supposed to be a Cosmonaut so one of the already purchased NASA slots has been accelerated...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 10/29/2016 11:57 pm
Why has Shkaplerov replaced Samokutyaev?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 11/10/2016 08:20 am
Oleg Kononenko was appointed commander of the cosmonaut corps

November 10, 2016

Hero of the Russian Federation, Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko, the order of the chief of the Cosmonaut Training Center named after Yuri  Gagarin Yuri Lonchakov appointed instructor-test cosmonaut, commander of the cosmonaut corps.

Oleg Kononenko joined the cosmonaut in 1996.  In its space activities has made three space flights for a total of 533 days.  During the flight he performed three spacewalks total duration of 18 hours 31 minutes.

 Perfect space flights:

 1 flight - from April 8 to October 24, 2008 O.Kononenko performed as a flight engineer TPK "Soyuz TMA-12" and ISS-17.  During the flight he performed two spacewalks total duration of 16 minutes 12:00.  The flight duration was 199 days.

 Flight 2 - December 21, 2011 to July 1, 2012 made in the composition of the crew 30/31-second long expedition to the ISS as a commander of the WPK "Soyuz TMA-03M", ISS-30 and ISS-31 commander.  During the flight he performed a spacewalk lasting 6 hours and 15 minutes.  The flight duration was 193 days.

 3 flight - from 23 July to 11 December 2015 performed as part of the ISS-44/45 as the commander of the WPK "Soyuz TMA-17M" and a flight engineer of the ISS-44/45.  The flight lasted 142 days.

 State awards:

 medal "Gold Star" Hero of the Russian Federation (2009);
 honorary title "Russian pilot-cosmonaut" (2009);
 Order "For Services to the Fatherland» IV degree (2014);
 Medal "For Merit in Space Exploration" (2011).


http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=3660
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 11/15/2016 01:04 pm
November 15, 2016
RELEASE 16-105
NASA Updates 2017 International Space Station Crew Assignments
 

NASA and its international partners have updated the assignments for several crew rotations to the International Space Station in 2017. The changes reflect a switch in assignments for some NASA astronauts, as well as a reduction in the number of Russian cosmonauts on some missions.

Expedition 51/52 crew members NASA astronaut Jack Fischer and cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin of the Russian space agency Roscosmos will launch in March 2017. Yurchikhin will be the Expedition 52 commander.

In May 2017, Expedition 52/53 will launch with NASA astronaut Randy Bresnik, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Paolo Nespoli and Russian Cosmonaut Sergey Ryazanskiy. Bresnik will be the Expedition 53 commander.

Expedition 53/54 will launch in September 2017. NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei and Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Misurkin will make up that crew, with Misurkin commanding Expedition 54.

Expedition 54/55 will launch with NASA astronaut Scott Tingle, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Norishige Kanai and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Skvortsov in October 2017. Expedition 55 will be commanded by Skvortsov.

The Expedition 50/51 launch of NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, astronaut Thomas Pesquet of ESA and cosmonaut Oleg Novitskiy is unchanged and on track to launch Nov. 17 from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. They will join Expedition 50 crew members currently on the station, including astronaut Shane Kimbrough of NASA and cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Andrey Borisenko of Roscosmos. Kimbrough is the commander of Expedition 50 and Whitson will assume command for Expedition 51.

The International Space Station is a convergence of science, technology and human innovation that enables us to demonstrate new technologies and make research breakthroughs not possible on Earth. It has been continuously occupied since November 2000 and, since then, has been visited by more than 200 people and a variety of international and commercial spacecraft. The space station remains the springboard to NASA's next giant leap in exploration, including future missions to an asteroid and Mars.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 11/16/2016 06:14 pm
http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/search/images/watch.asp?id=6513

Quote
163 people have moved on to the next step of Canada’s astronaut recruitment campaign.
Latest numbers on the astronaut recruitment campaign (November 16, 2016)

2016-11-16 - The Canadian Space Agency published the latest numbers on Canada's 2016 astronaut recruitment campaign. (Credit: Canadian Space Agency)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 11/18/2016 08:07 am
https://twitter.com/AJ_FI/status/799537844922544128
Quote
Huang Weifen: Selection of third round of Chinese astronauts to begin in 2017, inc. wider range: technical backgrounds, not just airforce.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 12/01/2016 03:00 pm
Quote
CanadianSpaceAgency @csa_asc

Who will #BeTheNextCDNAstro? 100 candidates are one step closer! http://asc-csa.gc.ca/astronauts
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 12/02/2016 09:37 pm
https://twitter.com/Astro_Cady/status/804363449723715584
Quote
After 33 years at #NASA #USAF, 3 space flights & 180 days in space, I’m leaving @NASA!

https://www.facebook.com/AstronautCadyColeman/posts/729398210542225
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ZachS09 on 12/03/2016 03:48 am
https://twitter.com/Astro_Cady/status/804363449723715584
Quote
After 33 years at #NASA #USAF, 3 space flights & 180 days in space, I’m leaving @NASA!

https://www.facebook.com/AstronautCadyColeman/posts/729398210542225

At least Coleman flew three spaceflights. If she retired after STS-73 in 1995, I would've been disappointed. However, retirement after two or more is fine with me.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 12/09/2016 05:50 pm
Dec. 8, 2016
Astronaut Cady Coleman Leaves NASA

After 24 years and three trips to space, astronaut Cady Coleman left NASA on Dec. 1. During her time at NASA, she flew on two space shuttle missions and spent six months aboard the International Space Station.

“Cady always brought a great deal of enthusiasm to her work here,” said Chris Cassidy, chief of the Astronaut Office at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. “We wish her the best in her future endeavors.”

Coleman, a retired colonel in the U.S. Air Force, was born in Charleston, South Carolina. She earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1983 and a doctorate in polymer science and engineering from the University of Massachusetts in 1991. Commissioned as a second lieutenant in the US Air Force, she worked as a research chemist at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base before being selected as an astronaut in 1992.

Coleman’s first journey to space came as a mission specialist in 1995, when space shuttle Columbia carried the US Microgravity Laboratory into space for its second mission on STS-73, a precursor mission to the space station. She returned for STS-93 in 1999, also on Columbia, as the lead mission specialist for the deployment of the Chandra X-ray Observatory. Chandra is still being used to detect X-ray emission from very hot regions of the universe, such as exploded stars, clusters of galaxies, and matter around black holes.

In December 2010, Coleman launched into space for a third time onboard a Russian Soyuz rocket, for a six-month stay onboard the space station, serving as the lead science officer, lead robotics officer and flight engineer for Expedition 26/27. Coleman provided onboard supervision of more than 100 science and technology experiments aboard the station. In addition, she and the Expedition 26/27 crew hosted a record number of visiting vehicles, including two space shuttles, three Russian Progress supply ships, a European Automated Transfer Vehicle and a Japanese H2 Transfer Vehicle.

Coleman spent a total of 180 days space. During her time on the ground at NASA, she served in a variety of roles within the Astronaut Office, including chief of robotics, lead for tile repair efforts after the Columbia accident and lead astronaut for integration of supply ships from NASA’s commercial partners, Space X and Orbital ATK. Most recently, she led open-innovation and public-private partnership efforts for the Office of the Chief Technologist at NASA Headquarters.

Find Coleman’s complete biography at:

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/coleman.pdf
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: texas_space on 12/28/2016 09:23 pm
Anyone heard anything for the 2017 NASA selection?  According to the NASA website, "Initial Interviewees brought to Johnson Space Center for initial interview and activities. Interviewees will be selected from the Highly Qualified group." in August-October 2016.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: tonyq on 12/29/2016 06:39 am
Anyone heard anything for the 2017 NASA selection?  According to the NASA website, "Initial Interviewees brought to Johnson Space Center for initial interview and activities. Interviewees will be selected from the Highly Qualified group." in August-October 2016.

A friend of mine was interviewed in late-October, and was advised that she was the last of 120 'Highly Qualified Candidates' they saw.

A few weeks later she was aware that some candidates had received 'call-backs' for the next stage in the New Year, but I know no more, but the overall process seems to be on track
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 01/04/2017 03:56 pm
January 04, 2017
RELEASE 17-001
NASA Assigns Upcoming Space Station Crew Members


NASA is assigning veteran astronaut Andrew Feustel and first-flight astronaut Jeanette Epps to missions aboard the International Space Station in 2018.

Feustel will launch in March 2018 for his first long-duration mission, serving as a flight engineer on Expedition 55, and later as commander of Expedition 56. Epps will become the first African American space station crew member when she launches on her first spaceflight in May 2018. She’ll join Feustel as a flight engineer on Expedition 56, and remain on board for Expedition 57.

“Each space station crew brings something different to the table, and Drew and Jeanette both have a lot to offer,” said Chris Cassidy, chief of the Astronaut Office at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. “The space station will benefit from having them on board.”

A native of Lake Orion, Michigan, Feustel was selected as part of the 2000 astronaut class and, in 2009, flew on the space shuttle Atlantis for the final servicing mission of NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope. He made his first trip to the space station in 2011 as a member of the STS-134 crew on space shuttle Endeavour’s final mission.

Feustel has a bachelor’s degree in solid Earth sciences and a master’s degree in geophysics from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. In 1995, he completed his doctorate in geological sciences, with a specialization in seismology, from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada.

Epps earned a bachelor’s degree in physics in 1992 at LeMoyne College in her hometown of Syracuse, New York. She went on to complete a master’s of science in 1994 and a doctorate in 2000 in aerospace engineering from the University of Maryland.

While earning her doctorate, Epps was a NASA Graduate Student Researchers Project fellow, authoring several journal and conference articles on her research. After completing graduate school, she went on to work in a research laboratory for more than two years, co-authoring several patents, before being recruited by the Central Intelligence Agency. She spent seven years as a CIA technical intelligence officer before being selected as a member of the 2009 astronaut class. 

Feustel and Epps will join a long and distinguished line of astronauts who have crewed the International Space Station since November 2000. With the help of the more than 200 astronauts who have visited, the space station enables us to demonstrate new technologies and make research breakthroughs not possible on Earth. Its convergence of science, technology and human innovation provide a springboard to NASA's next giant leap in exploration, including the Journey to Mars.

Follow Jeanette Epps on Twitter at:

http://www.twitter.com/Astro_Jeanette

Andrew Feustel will post updates on social media at:

http://twitter.com/space_station

and

http://www.instagram.com/iss/

Get the latest Twitter updates from all NASA astronauts at:

http://www.twitter.com/NASA_Astronauts

-end-
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 01/08/2017 05:51 pm
According to his Twitter account https://twitter.com/Astro_Wheels Mr. Wheelock is (again) the
Quote
NASA Director of Operations - Star City, Russia.
This entry has been removed now.
Any information who is now working in Star City.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 01/10/2017 07:15 am
https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/veteran-astronauts-retire-from-nasa-0

Quote
Jan. 9, 2017

Veteran Astronauts Retire from NASA

Two astronauts with a combined tenure of almost 50 years in the astronaut corps have retired from NASA. Mike Baker and Mike Fossum both left the agency on Jan. 7 to join private industry.
Fossum first came to NASA as part of a U.S. Air Force detail to support the space shuttle flight operations in 1981, just in time for the third space shuttle flight. He returned in 1993 as a systems engineer, supporting the yet-to-be-built International Space Station, as well as the astronaut office and Mission Operations Directorate. Fossum was also a flight test engineer on the X-38 prototype crew return spacecraft.
In 1998, NASA selected Fossum as an astronaut. Over the course of his 18 years in the astronaut corps, he flew onboard space shuttle Discovery to the space station for STS-121 in 2006 and STS-124 in 2008, and returned aboard a Russian Soyuz in 2011 as part of Expeditions 28 and 29. While in space, he performed seven spacewalks for a combined total of more than 48 hours spent outside the space station.
“Mike Fossum has been a personal friend for over two decades,” said Brian Kelly, director of Flight Operations at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. “His outstanding service to our great nation and NASA has prepared him well for whatever challenges lie ahead. I wish him and his wonderful family all the best.”
Since returning to Earth in 2011, Fossum has served in a number of capacities, most recently as assistant to the chief of the astronaut office for the International Space Station.
Fossum was born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and grew up in McAllen, Texas. He earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Texas A&M University; a master’s in systems engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology; and a master’s in physical science (space science) from the University of Houston – Clear Lake. He achieved the rank of colonel in the U.S. Air Force before retiring in 1992, and has logged about 2,000 hours of flight time in 35 different aircraft.
Baker was selected as an astronaut in 1985, after spending 10 years as first a U.S. Navy pilot, and then instructor at the US Navy Test Pilot School and the Empire Test Pilot School, earning the rank of captain. Following the Challenger accident in 1986, he participated in a project to modify the space shuttle fleet’s landing and deceleration systems, and improve its safety margins during landing and rollout. He also was involved in the checkout and verification of the computer software and hardware interfaces for the return-to-flight mission, STS-26.
Baker’s first flight came in 1991, when he piloted space shuttle Atlantis for STS-43 and helped put the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite-5 (TDRS-5) into orbit. He piloted a second mission, STS-52, in 1992, when space shuttle Columbia delivered the Laser Geodynamic Satellite II to space.
He followed that up by commanding two missions – STS-68 in 1994 and STS-81 in 1997. For the first, space shuttle Endeavour carried the Space Radar Laboratory. The latter saw Atlantis make the fifth mission to Russia’s Space Station Mir, delivering supplies, experiments and astronauts.
In all, Baker spent 965 hours in space.
Before his final mission, Baker made the first of what would become many trips to Russia and Kazakhstan. He attended the launch of the Spektr – the fifth module of the Mir – before he made his own trip, and afterward was named assistant director of Johnson Space Center for Human Spaceflight Programs, Russia. In that assignment and the ones that followed, he has attended every Soyuz launch since 1998, as well as the Proton launches that sent the Zvezda and Zarya modules to the International Space Station.
“It’s hard to imagine NASA operations in Russia and Kazakhstan without Mike Baker,” Kelly said. “He has been a part of our work there since the International Space Station came into being. He will be missed, but we wish him well in his next endeavor.”
Baker was born in Memphis, Tennessee, and considers Lemoore, California, his hometown. He earned a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Texas in 1975. Over the course of his career, he has logged more than 5,400 hours flying some 50 different types of airplanes, and has made more than 300 carrier landings.
Fossum’s complete biography is available at:
https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/michael-e-fossum/biography
Find Baker’s complete biography at:
http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/baker-m.html
Brandi Dean
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111
[email protected]
Last Updated: Jan. 9, 2017
Editor: Mark Garcia
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 01/16/2017 11:07 am
http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=3700
Today Nick Hague and Serena Auñón-Chancellor started their training in Star City.
No crew assignments are known at the moment, but it seems they could fly in the second half of 2018.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: tonyq on 01/16/2017 12:09 pm
http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=3700
Today Nick Hague and Serena Auñón-Chancellor started their training in Star City.
No crew assignments are known at the moment, but it seems they could fly in the second half of 2018.

So it appears that Hague will be the first of the NASA 21 (2013) Group to fly?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 01/16/2017 02:53 pm
https://twitter.com/AntonAstrey/status/820985505223475200
First lesson of our crew:Anton, Alex & Jeanette. Первое занятие экипажем: Антон, Алекс и Джанетт
 
(http://up.picr.de/28037744il.jpg)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 01/16/2017 04:01 pm
So Gerst is flying again?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 01/16/2017 05:16 pm
So Gerst is flying again?
http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Human_Spaceflight/Astronauts/Alexander_Gerst_to_be_Space_Station_commander
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 01/16/2017 05:52 pm
So Gerst is flying again?
http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Human_Spaceflight/Astronauts/Alexander_Gerst_to_be_Space_Station_commander

Wow, I must have missed/forgot that! :o
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 01/18/2017 11:35 am
My guess is that these seats have been bought be Boeing in order to prevent them going to tourists, and enable NASA to acquire them without having to make direct payments to Russia. Also, it enables NASA to maintain a 4-crew USOS regardless of any commercial crew delays.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: astropl on 01/18/2017 12:16 pm
https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=d4bd5c52373053a6dfb6acd03398978c&tab=core&_cview=0 (https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=d4bd5c52373053a6dfb6acd03398978c&tab=core&_cview=0)

Jan 17, 2017 8:00 am

NASA/Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Houston, 77058-3696, Mail Code: BG

NASA is considering contracting with The Boeing Company (Boeing) for crew transportation services to and from the International Space Station (ISS) on the Russian Soyuz vehicle. This transportation would be for one crewmember in the Fall of 2017 and one crewmember in the Spring of 2018. NASA is considering purchasing these services from Boeing, without competition, because no other vehicles are currently capable of providing these services in Fall 2017 or Spring 2018. NASA has contracts with two U.S. commercial companies for crew transportation to the ISS. However, these vehicles are still in the developmental stage, and not expected to begin fully operational flights to the ISS until 2019. NASA also is considering an option to acquire crew transportation from Boeing for three crewmembers on the Soyuz in 2019, to ensure the availability of back-up transportation capability in the event the U.S. commercial contractor vehicles are delayed or to augment future ISS operations and research.

NASA is issuing this synopsis in order to provide notice of the Agency's requirements and to determine whether any other potential sources have the current capability to provide these crew transportation services in the needed timeframes. Interested organizations may submit their capabilities and qualifications to provide the crew transportation services described below. Such capabilities/qualifications will be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis. The determination of whether or not to acquire these services without competition is solely within the discretion of the Government.

Submissions must be provided in writing to the identified point of contact not later than 4:30 p.m. local time on January 27, 2017. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice. The Government intends to acquire the described services as a commercial item using FAR Part 12.

Description of Services to be Acquired

The services NASA is considering acquiring from Boeing are the launch, return, and rescue of U.S. or U.S. designated astronauts and associated services, which include the following:

• Launch and return of U.S. Operating Segment (USOS) Crew members to the ISS for planned six-month missions.

• On-orbit rescue services for the duration of six-month missions.

• Provision of Emergency Rescue services and medical support, post flight medical support.

• Search and Rescue services and recovery at landing site.

• Theoretical and practical training of Astronauts for nominal, off nominal and sea survival activities.
 
• Customized Astronaut launch, training and landing gear including: Seat liners, Sokol, Water Survival Cold Weather and Elemental Survival suits.

• Media personnel technical and logistical support to facilitate broadcasting of flight related activities, facilitating the communication of NASA and ISS success to the world.
• Ground support and transportation for up to 110 NASA personnel and delegates for launch, landing and associated events including visa support, housing, logistics, security and clearance for facility access.
 
• Limited cargo services for storage, delivery to, and return, from the ISS including disposal of trash from the ISS for cargo associated with crew delivery and return.
 
• Spacecraft telemetry and support services for all stages of flight.


Background

The purchase of these services in 2017 and 2018 will increase US crew size on the ISS from three to four crew members to maximize ISS science utilization. Maximizing science utilization of the ISS is a program priority as required by the NASA Authorization Act of 2010 and the Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act (CSLCA) of 2015. Given the statutory requirements contained in the 2010 Authorization Act and the 2015 CSLCA, NASA constantly seeks opportunities to maximize scientific utilization of the ISS to achieve the largest possible return on the investment made by the United States and its international partners in the development, assembly, and operations of this unique laboratory.

NASA also has a need for the option to procure crew transportation services in the spring of 2019 time frame to provide either a primary or a backup crew transportation capability. An option ordering period ending in the fall of 2017 will allow NASA to evaluate performance of U.S. crew transportation services providers currently on contract and determine if back up capability is needed or if more crew time may be necessary to maximize research onboard the ISS and the U.S. National Laboratory in 2019. Crew transportation services are currently provided via a contract with the Russian State Space Corporation "Roscosmos" through 2018. NASA has contracts with two U.S. commercial providers developing new crew transportation systems, which are anticipated to provide domestic crew rotation transportation service to and from the ISS beginning in 2019. In the event the U.S. commercial crew providers are delayed in demonstrating a fully operational capability to transport humans to space, the risk of de-crewing ISS greatly increases. The absence of US crew members at any point would diminish vehicle operations to an inoperable state. As a means to mitigate that risk and to ensure that proper launch cadence is maintained for future launches to the ISS, NASA intends to include a contract option from Boeing for its Soyuz seats in CY 2019 that will provide NASA with a capability to ensure uninterrupted access to the ISS while U.S. commercial providers establish that their vehicles have full operational capability, or provide for more crew time to maximize research onboard the ISS and the U.S. National Laboratory in 2019.

The Russian Soyuz is currently the only vehicle with the operational capability to provide crew services to and from the ISS in 2017 and 2018. There are eight Soyuz launches planned between CYs 2017 and 2018 (four per year). The crew capacity of the Soyuz is limited to a maximum of three crew members per vehicle. Because of this limitation, the current launch cadence utilized by NASA to transport crew to the ISS and maintain the current crew complement employs Soyuz launches that alternate between two types of crew configurations. The first Soyuz configuration ("Line A") includes a single US crew member and two Russian crew members that are transported to the ISS. The second Soyuz configuration ("Line B"), usually timed to launch within a couple months of Line A, includes two US crew members and a single Russian crew member. This cadence maintains a typical crew complement of three US crew members aboard the ISS.

Russia recently announced its plans to decrement the Russian crew count onboard ISS from three to two, beginning in CY 2017. As a result of Russia reducing its crew count by one crewmember, there is now an available Soyuz seat in the 2017-2018 timeframe on each of the two planned spacecraft that would have otherwise had two Russian crew aboard. Of the 24 total Soyuz seats available in 2017-2018, the three seats resulting from the Russian crew decrement are the only available means of transporting additional US crewmembers to ISS during this period.

An agreement was recently reached between the Boeing Company and S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Public Corporation, Energia ("RSC Energia"), who is the manufacturer of the Soyuz spacecraft and has the legal rights to sell the seats and associated services. As a part of this agreement, Energia agreed to provide to Boeing two specifically identified seats on the Soyuz spacecraft for long-duration travel to and from the ISS, one on a flight to occur in the Fall 2017 timeframe and another on a flight to occur in the Spring 2018 timeframe. Additionally, Energia provided Boeing three additional specifically identified seats in the Spring 2019 timeframe on two Soyuz spacecraft. Finally, Boeing and RSC Energia agreed that each of these five seats will include a launch of an individual to and from the ISS, including all services normally provided during launches to ISS. Boeing and RSC Energia have represented that Boeing has the full rights to these seats and can sell them to any third party.

Since both U.S. commercial contractors' vehicles are still in the developmental stage, and not expected to begin fully operational flights to the ISS until 2019, the Russian Soyuz is currently the only vehicle capable of meeting the Government's needs in the required timeframes. As stated above, Boeing has obtained the exclusive ownership rights to these particular Soyuz seats and ancillary services during the stated time periods. The option for these Soyuz services in the Spring of 2019 time frame may be utilized as a primary or backup transportation capability to ensure proper launch cadence with no gaps in crew rotation transportation, or to augment future ISS operations and research. However, after U.S. commercial entities are fully operational and able to fulfill crew transportation requirements, the U.S. commercial vehicles will be NASA's primary transportation source to ISS.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 01/18/2017 07:32 pm
http://www.collectspace.com/ubb/Forum32/HTML/000272.html

Quote
On Jan. 18, 2017, the ESA Director General Dr. Wörner held a media briefing at ESA Headquarters in Paris, France.

It was announced that all six astronauts of the latest ESA astronaut selection group (Gerst, Mogensen, Parmitano, Cristoforetti, Pesquet and Peake) are foreseen for a second flight.

Also, Pedro Duque is assignable for a third flight. Alexander Gerst and Paolo Nespoli are already assigned to a second respectively a third mission. Roberto Vittori likes to return to flight status.

In the media briefing, a new name of a German astronaut popped up who was in a reserve position in the last years. Matthias Maurer also applied for the ESA Astronaut Class in 2008 and he already got an assignment as EuroCom.

Maurer already participated as an ESA member in the international NEEMO 21 and CAVES 2014 missions (analogue studies). The presentation says that Dr. Maurer is already assignable for a mission.

So let's keep the fingers crossed for all the forementioned ESA astronauts that they will be assigned to more and fantastic and interesting missions.

http://www.esa.int/spaceinvideos/Videos/2017/01/DG_media_briefing
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: DwightM on 01/18/2017 10:13 pm
No mention of Eyharts, Fuglesang, Kuipers, Schlegel, or Villadei.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 01/25/2017 09:54 am
Press Release
N°03-2017

Paris, 25 January 2017

Call for Media: Introducing ESA’s new astronaut 

Media are invited to ESA’s operations centre in Darmstadt, Germany, for a press conference on 2 February at 10:00 CET (09:00 GMT) with the Agency’s latest recruit to its astronaut corps, Matthias Maurer.

Matthias has a background in materials science engineering and was among the 10 finalists for ESA’s astronaut selection in 2009. He is already undergoing basic training in the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany. 

ESA Director General Jan Woerner, ESA Director of Human Spaceflight and Robotic Exploration David Parker, DLR board member Gerd Gruppe, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy Brigitte Zypries, and Matthias
Maurer will be present and answer questions.

Programme

09:30-Doors open
10:00-Welcome and introduction by Jan Woerner, ESA Director General 
10:10-Statement from Brigitte Zypries, Parliamentary State Secretary 
10:20-Statement from Gerd Gruppe, DLR board member 
10:30-Statement from David Parker, ESA Director of Human Spaceflight and Robotic Exploration 
10:40-Statement and question and answer session with ESA astronaut Matthias Maurer
11:10-Interview opportunities
12:00-End of event

 
The event will be held at:
ESA/ESOC
Presscentre (H 05)
Robert-Bosch-Str. 5
64293 Darmstadt
Germany
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 01/26/2017 11:45 am
ESA's latest recruit to its astronaut corps, Matthias Maurer.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 01/26/2017 11:52 am
Biographie of Matthias Maurer (in German)
http://www.esa.int/ger/ESA_in_your_country/Germany/Matthias_Maurer
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 01/26/2017 03:52 pm
https://airandspace.si.edu/newsroom/press-releases/former-astronaut-and-noaa-administrator-kathy-d-sullivan-named-national-air
Former Astronaut and NOAA Administrator Kathy D. Sullivan Named National Air and Space Museum’s Lindbergh Fellow
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 02/01/2017 06:28 pm
2017-02-01 - Find out who's in the running to be the next Canadian astronaut (http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/astronauts/recruitment/map.asp#tab1)!

70 candidates for future 2 Canadian astronauts
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 02/02/2017 04:18 pm
Introducing ESA's newest astronaut Matthais Maurer

German Federal Minister for Economic Affairs & Energy Brigitte Zypries, newest German ESA astronaut Matthais Maurer, ESA Director General Jan Woerner, and Executive Board member of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) Gerd Gruppe.
 
Matthias Maurer, from Germany, has started his astronaut training as part of ESA’s astronaut corps.
 
Matthias was among the 10 finalists in 2009 selection, and is now undergoing basic training at the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany.
 
Matthias Maurer’s nomination reflects the agency’s success in the Station programme bringing new flight opportunities in the near future.


(DLR-ESA photo)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 02/02/2017 07:17 pm
http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/search/images/watch.asp?id=6841

2017-02-02 - On February 2, 2017, the Canadian Space Agency published the latest numbers on Canada's 2016 astronaut recruitment campaign. (Credit: Canadian Space Agency)

Quote
Who could be the next Canadian astronaut? – Infographic

The infographic features the latest data, as of February 2, 2017, on the candidates who have been selected for the next step of the selection process in the Canadian Space Agency's astronaut recruitment campaign.

There is a map of Canada with dots on it to show which universities the top 72 candidates graduated from. Here are the universities, from west to east.

    British Columbia: Royal Roads Military College, Simon Fraser University, University of British Columbia, University of Victoria.
    Alberta: The King's University, University of Alberta, University of Calgary.
    Saskatchewan: University of Saskatchewan.
    Manitoba: University of Manitoba.
    Ontario: Carleton University, McMaster University, Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Ryerson University, Queen's University, Royal Military College of Canada, Seneca College – School of Aviation and Flight Technology, University of Guelph, University of Ottawa, University of Toronto, University of Waterloo, Western University.
    Quebec: Concordia University, École Polytechnique de Montréal, Laval University, McGill University, University of Sherbrooke.
    New Brunswick: University of New Brunswick.
    Nova Scotia: Acadia University, Cape Breton University, Dalhousie University, St. Francis Xavier University, Technical University of Nova Scotia.
    Newfoundland and Labrador: Memorial University of Newfoundland.

Some candidates also obtained degrees outside Canada (38 universities).

Of the candidates selected for the next step of the selection process, 68% are men and 32% are women.

The candidates hold a total of 210 university degrees.

Here is a breakdown of their degrees by field of study:

    Engineering: 79
    Medicine/health: 38
    Physical sciences: 35
    Biological and biomedical sciences: 23
    Aeronautics and aerospace: 14
    Other: 21

Note: Numbers are based on available data, and percentages are rounded.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Davejfb on 02/20/2017 03:57 pm
Sorry if someone else posted this already. Please delete if so.

I was at this website: http://www.spacefacts.de/schedule/e_schedule.htm Normaly a good source. As you can see at the picture. The returning of Peggy Whitson will be later. Not in June but in september.

Any one with more information if this is true?

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: deruch on 02/23/2017 11:35 pm
Sorry if someone else posted this already. Please delete if so.

I was at this website: http://www.spacefacts.de/schedule/e_schedule.htm Normaly a good source. As you can see at the picture. The returning of Peggy Whitson will be later. Not in June but in september.

Any one with more information if this is true?
Dan Hartman, the Deputy Manager for ISS Program @ NASA, addressed the possibility of delaying the return of one of the USOS crew (as a result of the "open" seat from reduced Russian crew) in the Q&A segment of the pre-launch briefing for the recent CRS-10 (SpX-10) launch:  He says that the discussions about such a possibility are just beginning with with Russians.  And additionally, there's been no decision about which USOS crew member would have their stay extended.  And that currently there's no agreement with their Russian partners on the matter.  It's not for sure that it would be Whitson.  It could be Pesquet.

Here's the briefing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKtBxIqDZeA


The specific question and answer start at the 17m20s mark.  Be sure to watch until the follow-up by the other reporter is asked later in the Q&A for all the info given.

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 02/24/2017 03:15 am
Sorry if someone else posted this already. Please delete if so.

I was at this website: http://www.spacefacts.de/schedule/e_schedule.htm Normaly a good source. As you can see at the picture. The returning of Peggy Whitson will be later. Not in June but in september.

Any one with more information if this is true?
Dan Hartman, the Deputy Manager for ISS Program @ NASA, addressed the possibility of delaying the return of one of the USOS crew (as a result of the "open" seat from reduced Russian crew) in the Q&A segment of the pre-launch briefing for the recent CRS-10 (SpX-10) launch:  He says that the discussions about such a possibility are just beginning with with Russians.  And additionally, there's been no decision about which USOS crew member would have their stay extended.  And that currently there's no agreement with their Russian partners on the matter.  It's not for sure that it would be Whitson.  It could be Pesquet.

Here's the briefing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKtBxIqDZeA


The specific question and answer start at the 17m20s mark.  Be sure to watch until the follow-up by the other reporter is asked later in the Q&A for all the info given.



It's Whitson.

Michael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 02/24/2017 04:34 am
From what I hear from Russia. The Russians are already ok with this. They are waiting for NASA to make a decision.... and they are waiting for a while now...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 03/01/2017 04:35 pm
http://dieastronautin.de/presse/
Die Astronautin: Sechs Frauen haben es ins Finale geschafft
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 03/02/2017 09:59 am
English:

http://dieastronautin.de/english-version/


Facebook: (with lots of movies and photos)
https://www.facebook.com/DieAstronautin/
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 03/03/2017 11:27 am
Press release, 3 March 2017

High level of scientific competence for astronaut selection - DLR is supporting the search for a German female astronaut

Only three female European astronauts have so far been into space. Numerous effects of microgravity on the functioning of the female body must still be researched and understood for future missions to Mars or tourist spaceflights, for example. As part
of the 'Female Astronaut' initiative, HE Space is currently looking for a German female astronaut for a 10-day mission to the International Space Station ISS. The German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum fuer Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR) is assisting
in the selection of the candidates by conducting the psychological and medical aptitude tests.

"The 'Female Astronaut' initiative shows that the German space industry is also exploring new roads. By conducting the psychological and medical examinations as part of the selection process, DLR is once again demonstrating its scientific competence
in this field," emphasises Hansjörg Dittus, DLR's Executive Board Member responsible for space research and technology. "The candidates' medical and psychological data are a unique basis for further work in the field of human spaceflight."

While HE Space is in charge of the actual selection, DLR examined 81 female applicants to recommend suitable candidates for the mission. In the first stage of the selection process, knowledge and performance tests were carried out for the verification
of basic cognitive performance at the Department Aviation and Space Psychology of the DLR Institute of Aerospace Medicine in Hamburg. In stage two, the candidates had to fulfil team tasks and interviews, the results of which were used to assess team
competency and personality. The physical suitability of the candidates was determined in January by the Aeromedical Center at the Institute of Aerospace Medicine at the DLR site in Cologne. Stress tests and multi-day examinations are performed to keep
the risk of a future astronaut needing medical treatment on the ISS as low as possible and reduce the associated risk of having to terminate the mission. Similarly, the examinations should ensure that the female space traveller can participate in all
training and missions and can easily handle a possible emergency escape.  The criteria for the examinations are based on the requirements for a commercial female astronaut and not those for a professional astronaut.

DLR's scientific interest in the studies also includes the German female astronaut's mission to the ISS, planned for 2020. During the 10-day mission, a periodic progression analysis of personality aspects is to be carried out before, during and after
the space flight. Scientists will also monitor any changes in the astronaut's vision or the eyes themselves, which could occur due to the Visual Impairment and Intracranial Pressure Syndrome (VIIP). A much more gender-specific part of the investigations
on the ISS will involve the recording of hormonal conditions in microgravity. In view of further long-term missions and future manned missions to Mars, a better understanding of the hormonal system in microgravity is extremely important. The acquired
data will then be compared with the existing data for male astronauts.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 03/13/2017 02:25 pm
According to a report on the NK forum by Shams Joseph Acaba will fly in September 2017 in Soyuz MS-06, his back-up will be Shannon Walker.
Ms. Walker will fly in March 2018 in Soyuz MS-08.
They started their training today in StarCity.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 03/13/2017 02:44 pm
According to the same report Sergey Volkov has lost his status as an active cosmonaut on February, 28th.
He is now working as a specialist for the Cosmonaut group.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Endeavour126 on 03/13/2017 04:28 pm
According to a report on the NK forum by Shams Joseph Acaba will fly in September 2017 in Soyuz MS-06, his back-up will be Shannon Walker.
Ms. Walker will fly in March 2018 in Soyuz MS-08.
They started their training today in StarCity.

So, Kanai and Epps will not fly on those two Soyuz?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 03/13/2017 05:03 pm
So, Kanai and Epps will not fly on those two Soyuz?
At the moment Kanai is planned on Soyuz MS-07 and Epps on Soyuz MS-09.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 03/13/2017 07:20 pm
So, Kanai and Epps will not fly on those two Soyuz?

No, Kanai and Epps will fly as planned on 53S and 55S respectively.

Acaba and Walker will fly in the empty seats on 52S and 54S respectively.

So Acaba and Walker will be the 4th USOS crewmembers during their respective increments.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 03/14/2017 10:17 am
NASA astronauts Shannon Walker and Joseph Aqaba begin training in the CPC

 13 March 2017

 The presentation to the management and staff of NASA astronauts Shannon Walker and Joseph M. Acaba took place at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center.  Both astronauts start training in the CPC from March 13, 2017.

 In accordance with the training program, astronauts will study the design and systems of the manned spacecraft Soyuz MS, the Russian segment of the International Space Station.  Specialists of the Center will conduct training sessions on actions in case of planting in different climatic and geographic zones.  The program will include separate elements of medical and biological training, the study of the Russian language.  Preflight preparation will end with the examination session and with complex examination exercises.

http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=3737
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 03/14/2017 10:21 am
ROSKOSMOS ANNOUNCES AN OPEN KIT FOR THE COSMONAUTS

 03/14/2012 14:17

 The campaign for the selection of astronauts will start on March 14, 2017 - Interdepartmental Commission decided to hold FGBU "NII TsPK named after Yu.A.  Gagarin "(CPC) contest for the selection of candidates for the cosmonaut squad of Roscosmos in 2017.


 The goal is to select the best specialists who, having the skills of working with space and / or aircraft equipment, will become the first pilots of the new Russian spacecraft Federation, will work on the program of the International Space Station (ISS), and will be the first Russians to fly to The Moon.


 According to the terms of the competition, it is planned to select six to eight people, who will supplement the detachment of cosmonauts ROSKOSMOSA.


 Contestants have to go through several stages.  Selection for compliance with the requirements for education and professional fitness provides for applicants for candidates for cosmonauts a body of knowledge necessary for the successful completion of training programs for cosmonauts.  The complex of medical examinations will allow to conduct the next stage of selection of applicants.  Successful completion of a set of activities that allow assessing the psychological qualities of applicants is a prerequisite for winning a contest.  Also, candidates will have to undergo testing for compliance with the requirements for physical fitness.


 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS:
 Applicant candidates for cosmonauts of the Russian Federation may be a citizen of the Russian Federation.
 Age of applicants should not exceed 35 years.
 Applicants must have a higher education in engineering, scientific or flight specialties and have work experience.  Priority for selection is enjoyed by persons who have experience in the aviation and rocket and space industry of the Russian Federation.
 Applicants must comply with the following requirements necessary for the subsequent preparation for a space flight, in particular:  Have the ability to study space technology (demonstrate the ability to understand the basics and principles of building technical systems, understanding their physical nature, the ability to memorize technical information, terminology and technical characteristics);
 Have knowledge of interaction with computer equipment;
 To know a foreign language (English) within the requirements of programs of non-linguistic high schools of the Russian Federation, etc.


 A full list of requirements for candidates and a list of necessary documents can be found on the website of the State Corporation "ROSCOSMOS" and the CPC ( https://www.roscosmos.ru/media/files/docs/2017/prikaz.244.pdf ).


 The main stages of the selection of candidates for cosmonauts of ROSKOSMOSA will be held on the basis of the TsKK them.  Yu.A.  Gagarin.


 The documents are sent by mail with a notification or delivered by the applicant personally to the address: 141160, Moscow region, Star City, Head of FGBU "NII TsPK named after Yu.A.  Gagarin "with a note" To the commission for the selection of candidates for cosmonauts. "

https://www.roscosmos.ru/23316/
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 03/25/2017 05:25 pm
According to his Twitter account https://twitter.com/Astro_Wheels Mr. Wheelock is (again) the
Quote
NASA Director of Operations - Star City, Russia.
This entry has been removed now.
Any information who is now working in Star City.
https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/joseph-m-acaba/biography
Quote
Acaba recently served as Director of Operations Russia in Star City supporting crew training in Soyuz and Russian Segment systems. He is currently training to be a Flight Engineer for Expedition 53/54.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 03/28/2017 08:40 pm
March 28, 2017
RELEASE 17-017
NASA Announces Upcoming International Space Station Crew Assignments

Five NASA astronauts have been assigned to upcoming spaceflights. Joe Acaba, Ricky Arnold, Nick Hague, Serena Auñón-Chancellor and Shannon Walker all have begun training for missions launching later this year and throughout 2018.

Acaba will be the first to launch, assigned to the Expedition 53 and 54 crews that already include Mark Vande Hei of NASA, and Alexander Misurkin of the Russian space agency Roscosmos. They will launch aboard a Soyuz spacecraft in September. Walker will train as a dedicated backup for Acaba.

Arnold will join NASA’s Drew Feustel and a Russian cosmonaut for Expeditions 55 and 56 to launch in March 2018. Arnold and Acaba’s assignments were enabled by the recent agreement to add additional crew members in 2017 and 2018 to boost space station science and research.

First-time fliers Hague and Auñón-Chancellor will fall into the standard rotation for NASA astronauts. Hague will launch in September 2018 on Expeditions 57 and 58 with two Russian cosmonauts. Auñón-Chancellor will join the Expedition 58 and 59 crews in November 2018, along with Canadian Space Agency astronaut David Saint-Jacques and a Russian cosmonaut.

“It’s great to get to announce so many assignments at once,” said Chris Cassidy, chief of the Astronaut Office at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. “There’s plenty of work to be done at the space station, and the research opportunities are almost limitless. These folks are all going to do great work and bring a lot of value to their crewmates.”

Between now and their launches, each of the astronauts will undergo a busy regimen of training on space station systems and the experiments they’ll work with while in space.

“The addition of these extra crew members will be a boon to the entire scientific community doing research on station, and especially those who have been waiting for access to the platform” said Julie Robinson, NASA’s chief scientist for the International Space Station. “We’ll be capable of undertaking more complex research activities, which will in turn prepare NASA for the journey to Mars, unearth new markets for research in microgravity and deliver benefits back to Earth.”

This will be Acaba’s third trip to the space station and his second long-duration mission. He was selected as an astronaut in 2004, and flew on space shuttle Discovery’s STS-119 station assembly mission in 2009, before returning for a longer stay in 2012, as part of the Expedition 31 and 32 crews.

Born in Inglewood, California, and raised in Anaheim, California, Acaba earned a bachelors’ degree in geology at University of California in Santa Barbara, one master’s in geology from the University of Arizona, and one in education, curriculum and instruction from Texas Tech University. Before coming to NASA, he spent time in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves and the Peace Corps, worked as a hydro-geologist and taught high school and middle school.

Arnold will be visiting the space station for the second time, but this trip will be much longer than his last. He also was selected in the 2004 class and flew with Acaba on STS-119. On that mission, he conducted two spacewalks, spending 12 hours and 34 minutes outside the space station.

Arnold was raised in Bowie, Maryland. He earned a bachelo’s in science from Frostburg State University, and a master’s in marine, estuarine and environmental science from the University of Maryland. He has taught school in Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia and Romania. He also served as an oceanographic technician for the U.S. Naval Academy and a marine scientist at the Cape Cod National Seashore.

Selected as a member of the 2013 astronaut class, Hague is a native of Hoxie, Kansas, and a colonel in the U.S. Air Force. Prior to his selection, he was part of the Air Force Fellows program in Washington, where he worked as an adviser to the U.S. Senate on matters of national defense and foreign policy.

Hague earned a bachelor’s degree in astronautical engineering from the U.S. Air Force Academy and a master’s in aeronautical and astronautical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Auñón-Chancellor, from Fort Collins, Colorado, joined the astronaut corps in 2009, and has been at NASA since 2006, when she became a flight surgeon. She also served as the deputy lead for medical operations for NASA’s Orion spacecraft before being selected as an astronaut.

In addition to a bachelor’s in electrical engineering from George Washington University, Auñón-Chancellor holds a doctorate in medicine from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, and is board certified in internal and aerospace medicine.

She also earned a master’s in public health from the University of Texas Medical Branch.

Walker spent 163 days as a flight engineer for Expedition 24 and 25 in 2010. She was born in Houston and began her career at NASA’s Johnson Space Center as a robotics flight controller for the space station with Rockwell Space Operations Co. in 1987. In 1995, she became a NASA employee, working on robotics and hardware for the station with the program’s international partners. She also coordinated on-orbit problem resolution in the Mission Evaluation Room at Johnson and in Moscow, and served as deputy manager of the On-Orbit Engineering Office before being selected for the 2004 astronaut class.

Walker earned a bachelor’s in physics, a master’s in science and a doctorate in space physics, all from Rice University.

These astronauts will join a long and distinguished line of astronauts who have crewed the International Space Station since November 2000. With the help of the more than 200 astronauts who have visited, the space station enables us to demonstrate new technologies and make research breakthroughs not possible on Earth. Its convergence of science, technology and human innovation provide a springboard to NASA's next giant leap in exploration.

Follow Ricky Arnold on Twitter at:

https://twitter.com/astro_ricky

Follow Serena Auñón-Chancellor on Twitter at:

http://www.twitter.com/AstroSerena

Follow Joe Acaba on Twitter at:

https://twitter.com/astroacaba

Nick Hague and Shannon Walker will post social media updates on Twitter at:

http://www.twitter.com/NASA_Astronauts

-end-
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 03/31/2017 04:44 pm
According to his Twitter account https://twitter.com/Astro_Wheels Mr. Wheelock is (again) the
Quote
NASA Director of Operations - Star City, Russia.
This entry has been removed now.
Any information who is now working in Star City.
https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/joseph-m-acaba/biography
Quote
Acaba recently served as Director of Operations Russia in Star City supporting crew training in Soyuz and Russian Segment systems. He is currently training to be a Flight Engineer for Expedition 53/54.
To continue this topic, Mr. Wheelock seems back to StarCity in his previous function.
https://twitter.com/Astro_Wheels
Quote
NASA Director of Operations - Russia

This is the conformation by himself.
https://twitter.com/Astro_Wheels/status/848165918102478850
Quote
They affectionately call me the 'Boomerang DOR'!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ChrisGebhardt on 04/05/2017 08:21 pm
CONFIRMED:  Dr. Peggy Whitson will remain aboard the ISS for three additional months.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

April 05, 2017
 
RELEASE 17-038

NASA Astronaut Peggy Whitson Adds Three Months to Record-Breaking Mission

NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson is set to extend her mission with an additional three months at the International Space Station.

Already poised to break the record for cumulative time spent in space by a U.S. astronaut, Peggy Whitson is set to extend her mission with an additional three months at the International Space Station.

NASA and the Russian space agency Roscosmos, signed an agreement to extend Peggy Whitson’s stay on the space station into Expedition 52. Rather than returning to Earth with her Expedition 51 crew mates Oleg Novitsky of Roscosmos and Thomas Pesquet of ESA (European Space Agency), in June as originally planned, Whitson will remain on the space station and return home with NASA’s Jack Fischer and Roscosmos’ Fyodor Yurchikhin. That landing is targeted for September.

“This is great news,” Whitson said. “I love being up here. Living and working aboard the space station is where I feel like I make the greatest contribution, so I am constantly trying to squeeze every drop out of my time here. Having three more months to squeeze is just what I would wish for.”

The arrangement takes advantage of a Soyuz seat left empty by the Roscosmos decision to temporarily reduce their crew complement to two cosmonauts. Whitson’s extension will ensure a full complement of six astronauts on board the station and increase the amount of valuable astronaut time available for experiments on board the station.

“Peggy’s skill and experience makes her an incredible asset aboard the space station,” said Kirk Shireman, NASA’s International Space Station Program Manager. “By extending the stay of one of NASA’s most veteran astronauts, our research, our technology development, our commercial and our international partner communities will all benefit."

This is Whitson’s third long-duration stay onboard the space station. She launched on Nov. 17 with 377 days in space already under her belt, and on April 24 will break Jeff Williams’ standing United States record of 534 cumulative days in space. In 2008, Whitson became the first woman to command the space station, and on April 9 will become the first woman to command it twice. In addition, she holds the record for most spacewalks by a female.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 04/05/2017 08:43 pm
Excellent news! :)

This allows for an increase to a 4-crew USOS from August onwards, avoids a lengthy 2-crew ISS period throughout June and July, and also has additional benefits in terms of gathering data on longer duration stays.

--------------------

Edit:

Here's how the updated crew schedule looks for 2017:
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 04/19/2017 01:48 pm
https://www.facebook.com/DieAstronautin/?hc_ref=NEWSFEED
Quote
Unsere zwei Astronautin-Trainees sind #NicolaBaumann und #InsaThieleEich
(http://up.picr.de/28957301yx.jpg)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 04/21/2017 06:23 pm
There is a report on the NK forum, that G. Padalka will leave the Cosmonaut Group on April, 28th.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ZachS09 on 04/21/2017 07:24 pm
I thought Padalka was assigned to a sixth spaceflight.

Did that just change?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skyrocket on 04/21/2017 10:50 pm
https://www.facebook.com/DieAstronautin/?hc_ref=NEWSFEED
Quote
Unsere zwei Astronautin-Trainees sind #NicolaBaumann und #InsaThieleEich
(http://up.picr.de/28957301yx.jpg)

IMHO, the chances that one these women will fly eventually into space is about zero - sadly. It appears to me, that is merely (at best) a PR-show. Currently they have raised only about 34000 € - about 0.085% of the needed ca. 40 million €.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 04/22/2017 04:10 am
I thought Padalka was assigned to a sixth spaceflight.

Did that just change?
There was no assigment, only rumors.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 04/22/2017 09:44 am
https://www.canada.ca/en/space-agency/news/2017/04/minister_bains_tounveiltheidentityofthetopastronautcandidates.html

Quote
Minister Bains to unveil the identity of the top astronaut candidates

Toronto, Ontario, April 20, 2017 — On April 24, Minister Bains will introduce the final candidates to undergo the last rounds of assessments as part of the Canadian Space Agency’s astronaut recruitment campaign.

Date:
April 24, 2017

Time:
10:00 a.m. (EDT)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 04/23/2017 04:38 am
There is a report on the NK forum, that G. Padalka will leave the Cosmonaut Group on April, 28th.
There is also a report, that A. Samokutyayev and S. Revin will leave the Cosmonaut Group.
They expect a decision by the MWK in the next two weeks.
CDR of Soyuz MS-08 in March 2018 could be O. Artemyev. At the moment he is on training in Houston.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: collectSPACE on 04/23/2017 01:10 pm
There is a report on the NK forum, that G. Padalka will leave the Cosmonaut Group on April, 28th.

The Russian Embassy in South Africa on Twitter (https://twitter.com/EmbassyofRussia/status/856080243244904448):
Quote
Russia's legendary cosmonaut Gennady Padalka, the man who spent most time in space — 879 days — officially retires from cosmonaut corps.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 04/24/2017 07:01 am
CDR of Soyuz MS-08 in March 2018 could be O. Artemyev. At the moment he is on training in Houston.
In Houston he joined for training with S. Prokopyev. This suggest, that we will see them 2018 in the ISS.

The link to the site of O. Artemyev doesn´t work, but you can find it here.
http://novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/forum/messages/forum10/topic9135/message1639773/#message1639773
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 04/24/2017 11:17 am
IMHO, the chances that one these women will fly eventually into space is about zero - sadly. It appears to me, that is merely (at best) a PR-show. Currently they have raised only about 34000 € - about 0.085% of the needed ca. 40 million €.
They say, the need only 50000 € from the Crowdfunding campaign.
https://www.facebook.com/DieAstronautin/?hc_ref=NEWSFEED
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skyrocket on 04/24/2017 01:11 pm
IMHO, the chances that one these women will fly eventually into space is about zero - sadly. It appears to me, that is merely (at best) a PR-show. Currently they have raised only about 34000 € - about 0.085% of the needed ca. 40 million €.
They say, the need only 50000 € from the Crowdfunding campaign.
https://www.facebook.com/DieAstronautin/?hc_ref=NEWSFEED

I highly doubt that - according to their crowd funding page (https://www.startnext.com/dieastronautin), the 50 k€ will be used for
* diving licences 10.400 Euro
* basic space station training 19.600 Euro
* survival training 19.600 Euro

They are faaaaar away from financing an actual space flight.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 04/24/2017 02:43 pm
Top 17 Canadian astronaut candidates

http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/astronauts/recruitment/map.asp#tab3

5 women & 12 men
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 04/24/2017 05:41 pm
The link to the site of O. Artemyev doesn´t work, but you can find it here.
http://novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/forum/messages/forum10/topic9135/message1639773/#message1639773

There is his official webpage: http://www.artemjew.ru/en/ (English version) or http://www.artemjew.ru/ (Russian version).
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 04/24/2017 06:12 pm
There is his official webpage: http://www.artemjew.ru/en/ (English version) or http://www.artemjew.ru/ (Russian version).
But on this sites are no information about his latest activities.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 04/24/2017 06:34 pm
From http://vk.com/olegmks:

"21.04.2017: Today I spent a lot of time in the sky - I flew to workout in the USA. I will "catch up" with my colleague and comrade, cosmonaut Sergei Prokopiev. He arrived in Houston a week earlier.

When preparing for a space flight, we are sure to undergo a training course at the Johnson Space Center in Houston to study the American segment of the International Space Station. American colleagues also necessarily train with us at the Cosmonaut Training Center."
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Endeavour126 on 04/25/2017 04:56 am
New info about Samokutyayev, Revin and Volkov (!) resignations.

http://tass.com/science/943001
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Hog on 04/27/2017 04:01 pm
New info about Samokutyayev, Revin and Volkov (!) resignations.

http://tass.com/science/943001
If this is the correct Sergei Volkoff, I remember him being on-orbit when Expedition 28 started on May 23, 2011 when the Expedition 27 Soyuz undocked from ISS. At the same time  STS-134 Endeavour on the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer delivery/installation mission was docked to ISS.  Later that year STS-135 Atlantis was at the ISS during Expedition 28 docking on July 10, 2011m while Volkov was still there.  He left ISS as Expedition ended on November 21, 2011.  Volkoff came back to Earth with Fossum and Satoshi Furukawa.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 04/28/2017 03:50 pm
April 28, 2017
RELEASE J17-005
Legendary Astronaut Retires from NASA

Anna Fisher, a member of NASA's first astronaut class to include women and the first mother in space, has retired after more than three decades of service to the agency.

Fisher was a mission specialist on Space Shuttle mission STS-51A, the second flight of the orbiter Discovery, which launched from Kennedy Space Center, on November 8, 1984. Fisher was assigned to her flight two weeks before delivering her daughter and flew in space when her daughter was just fourteen months old, making her the first mother in space. Fisher logged a total of 192 hours in space.


"We appreciate all of the years that Anna has dedicated to our space program," said Chris Cassidy, chief of NASA's Astronaut Office at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. "She has provided insight to many incoming astronauts as well as new programs. Anna, and that first class of astronauts to include women, set the stage for decades of female astronauts after them and provide a tremendous inspiration to young girls."

Fisher was born in New York City, but considers San Pedro, California, to be her hometown. She holds a doctorate in medicine from the University of California, Los Angeles, and was selected by NASA to be an astronaut in 1978. She joined five other women as the agency's first female astronauts.

During her shuttle mission, Fisher and her crew deployed two satellites: Canada’s Anik D-2 (Telesat H) and Hughes’ LEASAT-1 (Syncom IV-1) and operated the Radiation Monitoring Equipment (RME) device and the 3M Company’s Diffusive Mixing of Organic Solutions (DMOS) experiment. As the first space salvage mission, the crew also retrieved the Palapa B-2 and Westar VI satellites for return to Earth.

Fisher was assigned as a mission specialist on STS-61H that was planned in 1986. The mission was cancelled following the Challenger accident, so Fisher resumed technical assignments in the Astronaut Office. She served on the Astronaut Selection Board for the 1987 class of astronauts and in the Space Station Support office, where she worked part time in the Space Station Operations branch. Fisher also was the crew representative supporting space station development in the areas of training, operations concepts and the health maintenance facility.

From 1989 through 1995, Fisher was on a leave of absence from the Astronaut Office to raise her family, returning in January 1996. From 1996 through 2002, during the early phase of building the International Space Station, Fisher was the chief of the Space Station branch. In that capacity, she coordinated inputs to the operations of the space station for the Astronaut Office, working closely with the international partners and supervising assigned astronauts and engineers. Fisher played an important role in building the foundations for the International Space Station Program, which is advancing scientific knowledge and demonstrating new technologies, making research breakthroughs not possible on Earth that will enable long-duration human and robotic exploration into deep space. 

From January 2011 through August 2013, Fisher served as an ISS Capsule Communicator (CAPCOM) working in the Mission Control Center and was the lead CAPCOM for Expedition 33. Most recently, Fisher was a management astronaut, working on display development for Orion, NASA’s new spacecraft which will take astronauts farther into the solar system than ever before.

Fisher is retiring to spend more time with her family, including her daughters, Kristin and Kara Fisher.

See more of Fisher’s historic career at:

https://youtu.be/aTPM7hlBetw

Fisher’s complete biography is available at:

https://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/fisher-a.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: k1998w on 05/15/2017 08:30 pm
Sad to see that Padalka and Volkov have left the Cosmonaut group. I thought they'd both receive another assignment. Had been wondering for a while why Revin never got another assignment after his first flight, nor Samokutyayev after his second. Maybe this means that cosmonauts like Evgeny Tarelkin and Andrei Borisenko will get assignments as Soyuz commanders ? It would also appear that Aleksei Ovchinin has received another assignment as CDR of Soyuz MS-10, not long after his first flight on TMA-20M.

With regard to NASA, does anyone think astronauts like Don Pettit, Doug Wheelock and Mike Fincke will get assignments ? I'd like to see Pettit on orbit again as he seems like a great guy and an excellent face for NASAs crews.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ZachS09 on 05/16/2017 01:40 am
Yevgeni Tarelkin retired from the cosmonaut corps in June 2015.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 05/16/2017 07:19 am
According to http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=3802 Luca Parmitano started his training in Star City.
Are there any information to which flight he could be assigned?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 05/16/2017 08:50 am
According to http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=3802 Luca Parmitano started his training in Star City.
Are there any information to which flight he could be assigned?
To answer my own question, I have found this.
Quote
During the annual press briefing on 18 January 2017, ESA Director General Jan Woerner confirmed that Luca has been assigned a second mission to the ISS in 2019.   
http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Human_Spaceflight/Astronauts/Luca_Parmitano

There is also a report on the NK forum, that Luca Parmitano will be the back-up for David Saint-Jaques on EC 58/59.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 05/29/2017 03:12 pm
http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Human_Spaceflight/Astronauts/New_Horizons_for_Alexander_Gerst

Quote
29 May 2017

ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst is returning to the International Space Station next year and today he revealed his mission name and logo: Horizons.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 05/30/2017 04:54 pm
Standby for another year of "could be first astros on Mars" ;)

May 30, 2017
MEDIA ADVISORY M17-064
NASA to Announce New Astronaut Class on June 7

After evaluating a record number of applications, NASA will introduce its new astronaut candidates at 2 p.m. EDT Wednesday, June 7, from the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.

The astronaut candidates will join acting NASA Administrator Robert Lightfoot, Johnson Center Director Ellen Ochoa, and Flight Operations Director Brian Kelly on stage at the event, which will air live on NASA Television and the agency’s website.

Following the announcement, media in attendance will have the opportunity to speak with experts about the astronaut selection and training processes, and spacecraft in which the new astronauts could fly. In addition, tours of Johnson’s astronaut training facility will be offered. Media must request credentials to attend no later than 6 p.m. Friday, June 2, by calling Johnson’s newsroom at 281-483-5111.

The astronaut candidates also will be available to talk to media in person at Johnson and by remote satellite link June 8. Media interested in this limited opportunity should contract Brandi Dean at [email protected] to request an interview.

After completing two years of training, the new astronaut candidates could be assigned to missions performing research on the International Space Station, launching from American soil on spacecraft built by commercial companies, and launching on deep space missions on NASA’s new Orion spacecraft and Space Launch System rocket.

With more human spacecraft in development in the United States today than at any other time in history, future astronauts will launch once again from the Space Coast of Florida on American-made commercial spacecraft and carry out exploration missions that will take humans farther into space than ever before.

The astronaut candidates will report to Johnson in August to begin their training in spacecraft systems, spacewalking skills, teamwork, Russian language and other necessary skills.

The new astronaut candidates were chosen from more than 18,300 people who submitted applications from December 2015 to February 2016, more than double the previous record of 8,000 set in 1978. U.S. citizens in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories Puerto Rico, Guam, and American Samoa applied for a chance to join NASA’s astronaut corps and take part in the nation’s human spaceflight program. Requirements to apply were U.S. citizenship, a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in a science, technology, engineering or math (STEM) field and at least three years of related experience, or at least 1,000 hours of pilot-in-command time in jet aircraft.

Get more information about astronaut selection, and for information about the candidates after their introduction, visit:

https://www.nasa.gov/2017astronauts

Follow NASA astronauts on Twitter at:

http://www.twitter.com/NASA_Astronauts

-end-
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 06/02/2017 02:34 pm
June 02, 2017
RELEASE J17-006
NASA Names Astronaut Patrick Forrester New Chief of Astronaut Office
NASA’s Director of Flight Operations Brian Kelly has selected Texas native Patrick Forrester as the chief of the Astronaut Office. Forrester replaces U.S. Navy Capt. Christopher Cassidy, who has held the position since July 2015. Cassidy will return to the astronaut corps and resume his candidacy for flight assignment.
"Chris is an American hero,” Kelly said. “He has been an exemplary leader of NASA’s astronaut corps and has been instrumental in the integration of our entire flight operations as well as the selection of our newest astronaut class. His practical approach in tackling the many challenges that our astronauts encounter while living and working in space has been crucial to the continued success of our human spaceflight missions.”
In his new role, Forrester will be responsible for managing Astronaut Office resources and operations. He also will help develop astronaut flight crew operation concepts and crew assignments for future spaceflight missions.
“I have known Pat for more than 20 years,” Kelly said. “He will no doubt be an outstanding chief of the Astronaut Office. Pat is a well-respected and proven leader who will capably guide our astronauts as they reach beyond low-Earth orbit.”   
       
Forrester was born in El Paso, Texas. He earned a bachelor of science degree in applied sciences and engineering from the U. S. Military Academy, West Point, in 1979, and a master of science degree in mechanical and aerospace engineering from the University of Virginia in 1989. A former Army aviator, he has logged more than 5,300 hours in more than 50 different aircraft. Forrester retired from the Army in 2005.”
After Forrester’s selection as an astronaut in 1996, he flew on space shuttle missions STS-105 in 2001, STS-117 in 2007, and STS-128 in 2009. During his NASA career, Forrester has logged more than 950 hours in space and conducted four spacewalks.
For Forrester's complete biography, visit:
https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/forreste.pdf
         -end-
Brandi Dean
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111
[email protected]

NASA Johnson Space Center news releases and other information are available automatically by sending an e-mail message with the subject line subscribe to [email protected] To unsubscribe from the list, send an e-mail message with the subject line unsubscribe to [email protected]
Other NASA news releases and information are available automatically by sending an e-mail message with the subject line subscribe to [email protected].

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 06/02/2017 09:34 pm
June 02, 2017
MEDIA ADVISORY M17-068
Vice President Pence to Visit NASA’s Johnson Space Center for Astronaut Class Announcement

Vice President Mike Pence will visit NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston on Wednesday, June 7, to welcome America’s newest astronaut candidates, chosen from more than 18,000 applicants to carry the torch for future human space exploration. The event will air live at 2 p.m. EDT on NASA Television and the agency’s website. Additionally, the Vice President will tour the Christopher C. Kraft Jr. Mission Control Center and hear briefings on current human spaceflight operations.

Media who wish to cover the Vice President’s visit must contact the Johnson newsroom at 281-483-5111 no later than 1 p.m. CDT Tuesday, June 6. Badges will be available Wednesday morning at the Johnson Security Office, Bldg. 110, adjacent to the center's main gate off NASA Road One. Television media should plan to arrive at Johnson no later than 9 a.m. to allow time for badging. Other media should arrive at the badging office no later than 10 a.m. Transportation to events will be provided from the Bldg. 2 news center.

Media who already have requested credentials to cover the astronaut announcement event are not required to submit an additional request for the Vice President’s visit.

The new astronaut candidates could one day be performing research on the International Space Station, launching from American soil aboard spacecraft built by American companies, and traveling to the moon or even Mars with the help of NASA’s new Orion spacecraft and Space Launch System rocket.

Get more information on astronaut selection and information on the candidates after their introduction at:

https://www.nasa.gov/2017astronauts

-end-
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 06/06/2017 08:22 am
Second Tim Peake space flight under threat over cost dispute
https://www.ft.com/content/cfbea554-4904-11e7-a3f4-c742b9791d43

My opinion: If the UK wants its fair share of flight assignments, we should pay our fair share of the costs. Let's hope we don't (once again) throw away our HSF program because of short-sighted haggling over comparitively small amounts of money. :(
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 06/06/2017 12:36 pm
http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=3815
Anne McClain has started her training in StarCity.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ZachS09 on 06/06/2017 05:23 pm
http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=3815
Anne McClain has started her training in StarCity.

Even though USOS astronauts will eventually switch from Soyuz to Commercial Crew vehicles, do newly-recruited astronauts like Anne McClain train in Star City just in case they have to revert to Soyuz?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: tonyq on 06/06/2017 08:42 pm
http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=3815
Anne McClain has started her training in StarCity.

Even though USOS astronauts will eventually switch from Soyuz to Commercial Crew vehicles, do newly-recruited astronauts like Anne McClain train in Star City just in case they have to revert to Soyuz?

I think you'll find that in the next few weeks, she'll be assigned to a Soyuz crew for a flight in the 2018/19 timeframe. That is the usual pattern when Roskosmos make this type of announcement.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: JimO on 06/07/2017 01:13 pm
http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=3815
Anne McClain has started her training in StarCity.

Even though USOS astronauts will eventually switch from Soyuz to Commercial Crew vehicles, do newly-recruited astronauts like Anne McClain train in Star City just in case they have to revert to Soyuz?

Unless it's changed recently, it's my understanding that crew rotation schedule requirements will still see Americans on Soyuz flights and also Russians on commercial seats, on a barter one-for-one arrangement.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Space Pete on 06/07/2017 02:17 pm
Unless it's changed recently, it's my understanding that crew rotation schedule requirements will still see Americans on Soyuz flights and also Russians on commercial seats, on a barter one-for-one arrangement.

Correct - even though the USCVs will now use the direct handover model, Soyuzes will continue with the indirect handover model - meaning one Russian will need to fly on the USCVs (and thus one US crewmember on Soyuz) in order to maintain a Russian presence on ISS during Soyuz indirect handover periods.

If however Soyuz switches to the direct handover model - which will be possible due to the freed-up RS docking port associated with the reduction in Progress flights - then this would not be necessary.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 06/07/2017 06:01 pm
http://www.ustream.tv/NASAHDTV
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: zubenelgenubi on 06/07/2017 06:13 pm
It's started...an enthusiastic audience!

Ellen Ochoa, former astronaut and current JSC Director introduces a passel of politicians:

Mike Pence, Vice President of the United States of America
Greg Abbott, Governor of Texas
Ted Cruz, US Senator from Texas
US Congressmen from Texas:
Lamar Smith
Brian Babin
Robert Lightfoot, Acting NASA Administrator
Larry Taylor, Texas State Senator
Dennis Paul, Texas State Representative
Dave Martin, Houston City Council member
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 06/07/2017 06:16 pm
Political suits all there.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 06/07/2017 06:23 pm
Here we go...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 06/07/2017 06:24 pm
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 06/07/2017 06:25 pm
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 06/07/2017 06:27 pm
.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 06/07/2017 06:28 pm
SpaceXer!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 06/07/2017 06:30 pm
There we go!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 06/07/2017 06:31 pm
The new class!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: astropl on 06/07/2017 06:33 pm
https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/gallery/nasa-astronaut-candidates (https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/gallery/nasa-astronaut-candidates)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: zubenelgenubi on 06/07/2017 06:34 pm
Brian K. Kelly, Director, Flight Operations Directorate performed the astronaut candidate introductions.

(He would be the current boss of Ascan Bob Hines!)

Robert Lightfoot welcomes the candidates to NASA, then introduces Mike Pence.

Acting Admin Lightfoot notes the VP's birthday is today.  (Happy 58th Birthday, Mr. Pence!)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: eric z on 06/07/2017 06:42 pm
 Three cheers for the new astronaut class! May they have long, exciting, fulfilling and safe careers exploring outer space. :)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: zubenelgenubi on 06/07/2017 06:43 pm
Has anyone as high up the Executive Branch as Vice President ever attended or spoken at an astronaut candidate class announcement?
***

Pence announces that he'll head the re-constituted National Space Council.

Extended applause for the families of the Ascans.

"If you find a box turtle on a fence post"--certainly didn't get there on its own--support of family, friends, teammates.

Referencing JFK's Rice University speech, Star Trek, and the Psalms.

End of speech, beginning of Q&A for the candidates.

(I have to step away from my computer--I won't get to watch the Q&A.)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 06/07/2017 07:08 pm
SpaceXer Robb says he would like to ride on a vehicle he's been involved in (That'll be Dragon 2!)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 06/07/2017 07:08 pm
Raja says he doesn't care what he rides on (Orion, Starliner, Dragon 2...). He just wants to fly. Correct answer.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 06/07/2017 07:11 pm
Jasmin knew she wanted to be an astro in sixth grade when she got a book on Valentina Tereshkova!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 06/07/2017 07:22 pm
That was fun.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Star One on 06/07/2017 07:39 pm
Second Tim Peake space flight under threat over cost dispute
https://www.ft.com/content/cfbea554-4904-11e7-a3f4-c742b9791d43

My opinion: If the UK wants its fair share of flight assignments, we should pay our fair share of the costs. Let's hope we don't (once again) throw away our HSF program because of short-sighted haggling over comparitively small amounts of money. :(

Is there a version of that story not hidden behind a paywall?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SWGlassPit on 06/07/2017 07:41 pm
I went to school with Loral.  She's one of the brightest people I know and will be a great astronaut.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Targeteer on 06/07/2017 09:31 pm
My faith and pride shot threw the roof because (only) this nation can inspire individuals to strive and support them to create this resume... "Dr. Jonny Kim, 33, Lt., U.S. Navy, was born and raised in Los Angeles. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy, then trained and operated as a Navy SEAL, completing more than 100 combat operations and earning a Silver Star and Bronze Star with Combat V. Afterward, he went on to complete a degree in mathematics at the University of San Diego and a doctorate of medicine at Harvard Medical School. Kim is a resident physician in emergency medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital."
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Targeteer on 06/07/2017 09:56 pm
One more thought.  2 Geologists and 2 Doctors.  In a 4 person crew to Mars, 2 of them will be a Doctor and a Geologist...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: MATTBLAK on 06/07/2017 10:14 pm
Dr Jessica Watkins - Geologist; get her to Mars, A.S.A.P!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: JimO on 06/09/2017 01:00 am
Good viewing seats --

(https://scontent.fhou1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/18893115_10210922228786339_6874782771008152336_n.jpg?oh=139b0620e7590b6d46a064e3ee0fab24&oe=599E2911)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: JimO on 06/09/2017 01:01 am
The view --
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: JimO on 06/09/2017 01:03 am
I scanned all around the area for signs of security. One office high on the right wall was unusually dark. We can guess who was in there, looking out. 

And whenever in a crowd of this type, I spent a few seconds scanning a rapid departure route, even in the dark. Just being paranoid.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: FutureSpaceTourist on 06/09/2017 07:10 pm
Elon has caught up with the news ;)

Quote
Congrats Robb!

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/873248942250573824 (https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/873248942250573824)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 06/14/2017 06:51 am
http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=3815
Anne McClain has started her training in StarCity.

Even though USOS astronauts will eventually switch from Soyuz to Commercial Crew vehicles, do newly-recruited astronauts like Anne McClain train in Star City just in case they have to revert to Soyuz?
According to the newest information in the NK forum Ms. McClain will be the FE2 in the back-up crew of Soyuz MS-11 (November 2018) and then the FE2 in the flight crew of Soyuz MS-13 (September 2019), both together with Luca Parmitano.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Nicolas PILLET on 06/14/2017 06:31 pm
Interesting. According to L2's FPIP, only one USOS crewmember was scheduled on Soyuz MS-13...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 06/15/2017 07:14 am
Interesting. According to L2's FPIP, only one USOS crewmember was scheduled on Soyuz MS-13...
One seat could be part of the Energiya-Boeing-NASA deal.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ras391 on 06/17/2017 02:29 am
Can anyone explain why Shannon Walker has not been assigned to a new crew?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: k1998w on 06/17/2017 12:01 pm
Can anyone explain why Shannon Walker has not been assigned to a new crew?

Isn't she listed as as FE2 with MS-12, with Vinogradov as Commander and Tikhonov as FE1 ? https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_MS-12
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ZachS09 on 06/17/2017 05:11 pm
Can anyone explain why Shannon Walker has not been assigned to a new crew?

Isn't she listed as as FE2 with MS-12, with Vinogradov as Commander and Tikhonov as FE1 ? https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_MS-12

I'm not sure if Wikipedia is an accurate source because third-party editors tend to change the text from time to time.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: k1998w on 06/17/2017 06:29 pm
Can anyone explain why Shannon Walker has not been assigned to a new crew?

Isn't she listed as as FE2 with MS-12, with Vinogradov as Commander and Tikhonov as FE1 ? https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_MS-12

I'm not sure if Wikipedia is an accurate source because third-party editors tend to change the text from time to time.

Indeed, it can't be taken as Gospel but it may give some insight.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 06/17/2017 10:29 pm
Vinogradov would turn 67 during that mission.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: k1998w on 06/17/2017 11:12 pm
Vinogradov would turn 67 during that mission.

That would be very impressive !
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 06/21/2017 10:06 pm
June 21, 2017
RELEASE J17-008
Astronaut Rick Mastracchio Departs NASA

Veteran NASA astronaut Rick Mastracchio has retired from NASA; his last day with the agency was June 16.

“Rick is a classmate and a friend and he has done great work for NASA, both in space and on the ground,” said Chief Astronaut Pat Forrester, who was selected as an astronaut in the same class as Mastracchio. “His breadth of experience over three decades in human spaceflight will serve him well as he moves on to his next endeavor.”

Beginning in 1987, Mastracchio worked first with Hamilton Standard and then with Rockwell Shuttle Operations Co. before coming to NASA in 1990 as an engineer. He worked in the Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory on space shuttle flight software, and in the Astronaut Office on ascent and abort procedures for crew members. From there, he became a Guidance and Procedures Officer flight controller, working in mission control for space shuttle ascents and entries, before being selected as an astronaut in 1996.

As an astronaut, Mastracchio logged 228 days in space on three space shuttle missions and one long-duration stay at the International Space Station. His first flight, STS-106, came in 2000, on board space shuttle Atlantis, when he and his crewmates worked to prepare the space station for its first expedition crew. He returned aboard space shuttle Endeavour for STS-118 in 2007, when as lead spacewalker, he participated in three spacewalks to install a new truss segment, a new gyroscope and a new spare parts platform on the space station’s exterior.

In 2010, Mastracchio was part of the STS-131 crew of space shuttle Discovery. He performed another three spacewalks and helped deliver 27,000 pounds of hardware, including three experiment racks and new sleeping quarters for the space station. He was then able to put the hardware to use in 2014, when he spent 188 days in space as part of the Expedition 38 and 39 crews. During that stay, he performed three more spacewalks, leaving him with a total of 53 hours spent outside the space station on nine spacewalks.

Mastracchio was born in in Waterbury, Connecticut. He holds a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering and computer science from the University of Connecticut, and two master of science degrees in electrical engineering and physical science, from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York, and University of Houston-Clear Lake, respectively.

Find Mastracchio’s complete biography at:

https://go.usa.gov/xNwjy
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: zubenelgenubi on 06/22/2017 08:54 pm
Cross-posting the metaphorical other shoe-drop, which book-ends the weekend, Friday to Monday, regarding Rick Mastracchio's employment.  Wow!

Orbital ATK Names Rick Mastracchio as Senior Director of Operations for Commercial Resupply Services

Former NASA Astronaut Brings Unique Human Spaceflight Experience to Company’s Space Systems Group

Dulles, Virginia 19 June 2017 – Orbital ATK (NYSE: OA), a global leader in aerospace and defense technologies, today announced that Mr. Rick Mastracchio has joined the company’s Space Systems Group as the Senior Director of Operations for the Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) program, which relies on commercial providers to deliver vital cargo to the International Space Station. As a member of the Advanced Programs Division’s Human Space Systems team based in Dulles, Virginia, Mastracchio will be responsible for managing the CRS Mission and Cargo Operations teams. He will also support other Human Space Systems programs, including Orbital ATK’s exploration pursuits beyond low earth orbit.

“We are thrilled to welcome Rick Mastracchio to Orbital ATK,” said Frank DeMauro, Vice President and General Manager of Orbital ATK’s Advanced Programs Division. “With his experience as an astronaut and his time spent on the International Space Station, Rick brings a unique understanding of human space flight, making him an invaluable resource for our human space flight endeavors.”

Prior to joining Orbital ATK, Mastracchio had an impressive career as a NASA astronaut. He was selected as an astronaut candidate in August 1996 and flew as a mission specialist on three space shuttle flights: STS-106, STS-188 and STS-131. He also spent time on the space station as part of Expedition 38/39 and was on the orbiting laboratory when Orbital ATK’s first Cygnus resupply spacecraft under the CRS contract berthed with the station. Mastracchio has logged 228 days in space, including nine spacewalks totaling 53 hours.

Mastracchio also held several roles within NASA. Before he was selected as an astronaut, he worked as an ascent/entry Guidance and Procedures Officer in Mission Control, supporting 17 missions as a Flight Controller. After returning from the space station, he worked as the Cockpit Design Lead on Orion and as the Constellation Deputy Branch Chief.

Mastracchio holds a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering and computer science from the University of Connecticut, as well as master’s degrees in electrical engineering from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and physical science from the University of Houston.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 06/29/2017 05:00 pm
Canada’s newest astronauts to be revealed on July 1 => https://www.canada.ca/en/space-agency/news/2017/06/canada_s_newest_astronautstoberevealedonjuly1.html

Quote
The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, will reveal the country’s two newest astronauts on July 1 as part of the Canada 150 celebrations on Parliament Hill.

The astronauts will deliver brief remarks and be joined onstage by the Prime Minister and the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development.

Date:
July 1, 2017

Time:
11:40 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. (EDT)

Where:
Parliament Hill, Ottawa, Ontario

Canada’s newest astronauts to touch down at the Canadian Space Agency => https://www.canada.ca/en/space-agency/news/2017/06/canada_s_newest_astronautstotouchdownatthecanadianspaceagency.html

Quote
The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, will welcome Canada’s two newest astronauts to the country’s space program. Also in attendance will be astronaut Jeremy Hansen.

This event will be attended by employees of the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and their families. It will include a photo opportunity, question-and-answer session for the audience, media tour of CSA mission control, and media availability with the two newest astronauts.

Date:
July 4, 2017

Time:
9:30 a.m. (EDT): photo-op
10:00 a.m. (EDT): event

Where:
Canadian Space Agency
6767 Route de l’Aéroport
Saint-Hubert, Quebec  J3Y 8Y9
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 06/30/2017 07:28 pm
A "water" training for 2 crews (Noginsk, Moscow region):

From left to right: Serena Auñón-Chancellor (NASA), Oleg Kononenko (Roskosmos) and David Saint-Jacques (CSA)

From left to right: Anne McClain (NASA), Alexei Khomenchuk (CTC instructor) and Luca Parmitano (ESA)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 07/01/2017 05:45 pm
The new Canadian astronauts are:
Sidey, Jennifer and Kutryk, Joshua
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jeff Lerner on 07/01/2017 06:07 pm
The new Canadian astronauts are:
Sidey, Jennifer and Kutryk, Joshua



Some more info


http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/astronauts/bio-joshua-kutryk.asp

http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/astronauts/bio-jennifer-sidey.asp



...and Happy 150 Canada Day to all Canadian NSF members !!!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 07/05/2017 05:58 pm
Reid Wiseman is now listed as a Management Astronaut.
https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/management
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 07/05/2017 07:45 pm
Now he is the new Deputy Chief of the Astronaut Office.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Hog on 07/06/2017 12:12 pm
The new Canadian astronauts are:
Sidey, Jennifer and Kutryk, Joshua



Some more info


http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/astronauts/bio-joshua-kutryk.asp

http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/astronauts/bio-jennifer-sidey.asp



...and Happy 150 Canada Day to all Canadian NSF members !!!
That brings our Active Astronauts Corps up to a contingent of 4 active members.

Jeremy Hansen,
David Saint-Jacques
Joshua Kutryk,
Jennifer Sidey

St. Jacques is scheduled for a 6 month ISS rotation, next year in 2018. It's the 17th Canadian space mission and the third "long-duration" mission.
Jeremy Hansen will probably fly in 2024, if still in the Canadian Astronaut Corps. He is currently 41, and will be aged 47 come 2024.  He was born just up the road from my hometown.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jeff Lerner on 07/12/2017 11:29 pm
Probably not of interest to anyone unless you're Canadian but what the heck.....


.."Former astronaut Julie Payette to be Canada's next Governor General.."


http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/governor-general-canada-julie-payette-1.4201614
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 07/18/2017 04:25 pm
July 18, 2017
RELEASE J17-009
Astronaut William McArthur Retires from NASA

After almost three decades of service to the agency, veteran NASA astronaut William McArthur has retired from NASA. His last day with the agency was June 24.

“We will greatly miss Bill’s excellent leadership at NASA, and we’ve been the fortunate recipient of his many years of dedicated service to America’s space agency,” said Ellen Ochoa, director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. “Bill and I were part of the same astronaut class in 1990. He brought the same enthusiasm he had for his flying career, along with his expertise as a crew member, to his recent positions as director of our safety and mission assurance office and manager of the space shuttle safety and mission assurance office. I wish him all the best as he embarks on the next phase of his life.”

McArthur began his career in the U.S. Army in 1973. He was assigned to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in 1987, after graduating from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School and being designated an experimental test pilot. He spent three years as a space shuttle vehicle integration test engineer, testing the flight control system for each orbiter before being selected as an astronaut.

As an astronaut, McArthur logged 224 days and 22 hours in space during three space shuttle missions and one long-duration stay at the International Space Station. He made his first flight on board space shuttle Columbia, as part of the STS-58 crew in 1993. It was the second Spacelab Life Sciences mission, and McArthur and his crewmates collected more than 650 biological samples from themselves and rodents for 14 different experiments.

McArthur then flew on space shuttle Atlantis for his second mission, STS-74, in 1995. The mission was the second to dock to the Russian Space Station Mir, and delivered a permanent docking module, making future space shuttle dockings safer.

McArthur made his first visit to the International Space Station in 2000, as part of space shuttle Discovery’s STS-92 mission. He conducted two spacewalks, and with his crewmates delivered a truss segment and a pressurized mating adapter to the space station, preparing it for its first residents.

McArthur himself became a six-month resident of the space station on his final mission, Expedition 12, in 2005 and 2006. McArthur served as commander and science officer for the crew, and conducted two more spacewalks, including the only spacewalk ever conducted in NASA’s Extravehicular Mobility Unit without the aid of additional crew members inside the spacecraft. His total time spent spacewalking is 24 hours and 21 minutes.

Following his expedition, McArthur went on to manage the Space Shuttle Safety and Mission Assurance Office, then the Space Shuttle Orbiter Project. Since 2011, he has been the director of Johnson’s Safety and Mission Assurance directorate.

McArthur was born in in Laurinburg, North Carolina, but considers Wakulla, North Carolina, to be his hometown. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in applied science and engineering from the U.S. Military Academy, in West Point, New York, and a Master of Science degree in aerospace engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Find McArthur’s complete biography at:

https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/mcarthur_william.pdf

-end-
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Rocket Science on 07/18/2017 04:39 pm
Happy-trails Bill and thank you for your service! :)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 07/31/2017 11:04 am
http://www.pressreader.com/china/china-daily/20170728/textview
Chinese, European astronauts to train jointly to survive sea landings
Quote
“Chinese astronauts Ye Guangfu and Chen Dong will join Samantha Cristoforetti of Italy and Germany’s Matthias Maurer for a 10-day joint training program in Yantai, on the Bohai Strait, in late August.
The objective of the cooperation with CMSA is to fly a European astronaut on the Chinese Space Station in 2022.”
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ZachS09 on 07/31/2017 01:04 pm
Good to see CNSA let some of ESA's astronauts eventually fly aboard Shenzhou spacecrafts.

Still a shame that NASA can't participate due to the espionage risk.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Hog on 07/31/2017 02:26 pm
Good to see CNSA let some of ESA's astronauts eventually fly aboard Shenzhou spacecrafts.

Still a shame that NASA can't participate due to the espionage risk.
Something about working with Communist countries that makes the US "nervous".   Americans will fly on Shenzous the moment that Chinese Astros fly on ISS.

Canada is an Associate member of ESA.  Any chance our "Corps of Four"can "hitch a ride" on Chinese vehicles?  Hey, we can build excellent Remote Manipulator Systems in trade.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 08/16/2017 03:28 pm
August 16, 2017
MEDIA ADVISORY M17-094

2017 Astronaut Candidates Available for Interviews Before Training


NASA’s newest astronaut candidates, a diverse dozen women and men, will participate in media interviews and a final news conference before training on Tuesday, Aug. 22, at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.

NASA Television will broadcast a conversation between the astronaut candidates and members of the Expedition 52 crew, who currently are working and living aboard the International Space Station, at 12:45 p.m. EDT Tuesday, followed immediately by the news conference.

A limited number of five-minute interviews with individual astronaut candidates are available, in person or by phone. To request an interview or credentials to attend the news conference, U.S. media must contact Johnson’s newsroom by 5 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 17.

Media who wish to participate in the news conference by telephone must call Johnson’s newsroom at 281-483-5111 no later than 12:30 p.m. Aug. 22.

NASA’s astronaut candidates are: Kayla Barron, Zena Cardman, Raja Chari, Matthew Dominick, Bob Hines, Warren “Woody” Hoburg, Dr. Jonny Kim, Robb Kulin, Jasmin Moghbeli, Loral O’Hara, Dr. Francisco “Frank” Rubio and Jessica Watkins.

They will be joined in training and at the news conference by Canadian Space Agency astronaut candidates Joshua Kutryk and Jennifer Sidey.

This is the last expected opportunity for interviews with the astronaut candidates until they complete two years of training. Their training will focus on International Space Station systems, spacewalking, robotic operations, T-38 jet operations, and the Russian language. In addition to these skills, the astronaut candidates perfect expeditionary skills such as leadership, followership, team care and communication through activities like survival training and geology treks. They also learn about NASA’s work in other areas, including aeronautics and research.

Follow NASA astronauts on Twitter at:

https://www.twitter.com/NASA_Astronauts
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Targeteer on 08/19/2017 08:29 pm
http://www.iflscience.com/space/meet-nasa-astronaut-zena-cardman-antarctic-adventurer-and-trained-poet/

“More than 18,000 applied when the job posting went live,” future astronaut Zena Cardman told IFLScience. “After the first round of interviews, there were just 120 remaining; for the final round, there were 50. And then there were 12 – and I’m one of them.”

The allure of the dark star ocean is difficult for anyone to resist – the enormity of it all, the planets, the galaxies, the comets, and the black holes, all wrapped in an impermeable mystery.

No wonder so many kids want to be an astronaut when they grow up, but so few actually get to see if their dreams match up to the extraordinary reality. Shifting expectations, societal barriers, and pressures all contribute to this discrepancy, but the extremely tough selection process itself definitely has something to do with it.

Back in May, NASA announced that it had picked its Class of 2017 – 12 highly skilled and ludicrously lucky individuals that would be trained up to escape Earth’s atmosphere. We sat down to have a chat with a couple of them – both future heroines taking women in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) to the extreme.

Cardman, a self-confessed “microbe wrangler” and Antarctica frequenter, was first up. Hailing from Virginia, she was in the middle of her PhD in microbiology at Penn State when she applied, and even when she received the fate-changing final call.

“I genuinely thought I wouldn’t get it, and I thought that at every stage of the process. The day after I turned in my application, there was all this stuff in the press about 18,000 people applying – so I thought, there goes that!”

The first round of applications opened in December 2015, posted online across several job application websites, like any ordinary job would be. Then came the unnerving waiting. Months flew by, and the first interview requests were sent out in September 2016. After the second round in April, the 12 winners of the competition to end all competitions were found out in May.

“Getting the call for the first round interview was one of complete shock – even more of a shock than the second round one, it was so out of the blue,” Cardman added.

“Just meeting everyone that were experts at what they do, with such a diversity of experience – and so humble and nice on top of that – I just thought there was no way, I wouldn’t be picked out of these people.”

She was ultimately chosen, of course. We point out that she now has the stress of actually being an astronaut for real. “Well that’s a wonderful problem to have,” she replied.

Although she points out that it wasn’t as “cutthroat” as she imagined, Cardman describes the entire process as “definitely unlike any other job interview that I’d had.” Although much of the interview process remains off-the-record and under wraps, it all sounds a little more like the interviews shown at the start of Men In Black than anything else.

Considering that Cardman’s expertise is in extreme life forms – the sort lurking around deep-sea hydrothermal vents and beneath ice sheets – talk of alien life wouldn’t be amiss here. However, it seems that NASA was far more interested in her as a person, and in her experiences, than her academic background.

“I expected to do so many sit ups in a certain amount of time, or run a mile, or do a hundred pull ups or whatever, but they really are just trying to get to know you,” she explains.

“Really, they want to know if they’re willing to spend six months in a tin can with you.”
content-1502286888-bark-europa.jpg
Probably not as high-tech as you'd imagine. xyzena.com

In any case, her academic career – much of which was spent on isolated research vessels heading along the coastline of the Southern Continent, along with a small but diverse crew – certainly appealed to the upper echelons of NASA. After all, this sounds a lot like what she will be doing in a couple of years’ time.

“Antarctica is like summer camp for grown-ups, but cold,” Cardman tells us. You work together, you play together. It’s a really great experience because you have all these different types of people with a common goal of doing a science project – from academics to engineers to cooks to electricians.”

She describes her time in Antarctica – “a constant nature documentary” – as instrumental to not just career, but her life. “It’s amazing, getting to see penguins in real life, getting to smell penguins in real life – that last part is less exciting. They are endlessly adorable and fun to watch.”

She added that, on Christmas morning, while they were out on a pair of Zodiac speedboats, “some humpbacks appeared right next to me – you could reach out and touch them if you wanted to. I am so grateful for that experience.”
content-1502286970-penguins.jpg
Penguin spotting - a classic pastime in Antarctica. xyzena.com

Cardman’s time in extreme environments conducting cutting-edge science certainly seems like a good fit for a future astronaut, but her earlier time at university featured a somewhat more eclectic mix of subjects, including biology, marine science, and poetry.

She signed up for poetry at first simply because all science majors had to take an English class, but thanks to a wonderful lecturer – a long-term substitute to boot – and a fantastic course, she ended up writing a thesis on the subject. “It’d be my last chance to do that sort of thing,” she adds.

We mention the scene in the movie Contact, where protagonist Dr. Ellie Arroway, upon seeing an alien civilization for the first time, remarked: “They should have sent a poet.” How does Cardman feel about finally being an astronaut that ticks this box?

“I hope that experience will help me convey the things that I see when I eventually go to space,” she tells us, before adding: “God, I really… I have no idea what to expect.

“From what I understand, this job continues to feel surreal and fake until that moment that you lift off. But I think getting to see the curve of the Earth against that black background – it must be completely life-altering. I can’t even imagine what it’ll be like, but I hope I’ll be able to convey that back home.”

So what happens now, we ask. With a wonderful sense of nonchalance, Cardman tells us that “the first two years is the training period. It’ll be like being back in school again; everything from learning to fly P-38 supersonic jets to learning spacewalking techniques.”

She’ll also be mandated to learn the Russian language, “which I’m very excited about – I’ve never learned a language that has a different alphabet before.” Robotics and the workings of the International Space Station (ISS) will also feature heavily.

Indeed, the ISS is where she’ll be headed first, but soon after, “our eyes will turn outwards beyond low-Earth orbit, just like it did with the Apollo program.” Cardman says that whether it’s an asteroid, the Moon, Mars, or anywhere else, she’ll be fine. “I’ll happily go wherever they send me.”

Cardman has done much and explored a lot of Planet Earth in the name of science, and she’s not even 30 yet. That makes her a powerful ambassador for women in STEM – and now, she’s also going to be an astronaut. It’s a one-in-a-billion legacy, and something she doesn’t credit to hard work alone.

“Part of it is that I followed what interested me,” she notes. “But more importantly, I got lucky – I had mentors that wrote back and said they would help me, who took a chance on me when I was just some undergrad.

“I will be forever grateful to them – and to my family of course, who let me go on all these crazy adventures, and who are still supporting me on this new, wild adventure.

“I think I speak for everyone in this class when I say, we haven’t done this alone. That’s for sure.”
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 08/21/2017 07:10 pm
Jeremy R. Hansen @Astro_Jeremy

Staring at the sun... #newastronauts join our corps today with a cool astronomical welcome!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Targeteer on 08/22/2017 04:50 pm
NASA TV is airing a live event with the 3 on orbit US crew members and the 12 latest astronaut candidates
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 08/22/2017 06:50 pm
The 2017 class of astronauts, including 12 from @NASA and 2 from @CSA_ASC, are introduced to Exp 52 crew aboard station.

https://twitter.com/NASA_Astronauts/status/900047985089757184
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 08/25/2017 07:11 pm
Reid Wiseman is now listed as a Management Astronaut.
https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/management
His status was changed back to Active Astronaut.
https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/active
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 08/28/2017 06:55 pm
http://spaceflight101.com/soyuz-ms-06/short-crew-visit-to-baikonur-kicks-off-final-soyuz-ms-06-launch-preparations/
Quote
Tikhonov losing his flight assignment (now expected NET 2019)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 09/02/2017 09:03 am
This http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=41016.msg1718610#msg1718610 allows the conclusion, that Robert Behnken and Eric Boe could be the crew of the first Crew Dragon.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ZachS09 on 09/05/2017 11:16 am
This http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=41016.msg1718610#msg1718610 allows the conclusion, that Robert Behnken and Eric Boe could be the crew of the first Crew Dragon.

I thought it was one of the four Commercial Crew astronauts from NASA plus a SpaceX employee, which is similar to the first manned Starliner crew that consists of a Boeing employee and one of NASA's CC astronauts.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 09/05/2017 11:26 am
This http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=41016.msg1718610#msg1718610 allows the conclusion, that Robert Behnken and Eric Boe could be the crew of the first Crew Dragon.

I thought it was one of the four Commercial Crew astronauts from NASA plus a SpaceX employee, which is similar to the first manned Starliner crew that consists of a Boeing employee and one of NASA's CC astronauts.
SpaceX always said that two NASA astronauts will fly on this mission, no one from SpaceX.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 09/17/2017 05:13 pm
https://twitter.com/Astro_Ellen/status/909225561528168448

Quote
And it's official -- the Turtles!! (On fenceposts, in a Harvey flood) #NewAstronauts
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 10/02/2017 03:58 pm
Probably not of interest to anyone unless you're Canadian but what the heck.....


.."Former astronaut Julie Payette to be Canada's next Governor General.."


http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/governor-general-canada-julie-payette-1.4201614

https://twitter.com/Astro_DavidS/status/914850287122345984
Quote
Big day on Parliament Hill, Ottawa! Today former @csa_asc astronaut Julie Payette becomes Governor General of Canada!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: zubenelgenubi on 10/04/2017 05:36 pm
https://twitter.com/Astro_Ellen/status/909225561528168448

Quote
And it's official -- the Turtles!! (On fenceposts, in a Harvey flood) #NewAstronauts

As inspired by Mike Pence's remarks at the astronaut candidate class announcement, I presume?

<snip>

"If you find a box turtle on a fence post"--certainly didn't get there on its own--support of family, friends, teammates.

<snip>
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 10/06/2017 12:32 pm
ESA listed again Claudie Haigneré as an astronaut.
http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Human_Spaceflight/Astronauts/Claudie_Haignere_formerly_Claudie_Andre-Deshays
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 11/03/2017 09:23 am
https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/veteran-space-shuttle-and-management-astronauts-currie-gregg-and-smith-retire-from
Veteran Space Shuttle and Management Astronauts Currie-Gregg and Smith Retire from NASA
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 11/07/2017 07:35 am
http://global.jaxa.jp/press/2017/11/20171107_noguchi.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
JAXA Astronaut Soichi Noguchi Selected as a Member of ISS Expedition Crew
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 11/12/2017 02:55 pm
https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/929737031550488576
Quote
NASA’s Dan Hartman: considering more one-year crews for ISS, but only after commercial crew flights begin.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 11/17/2017 01:48 pm
https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/931493656221159426
Quote
ESA astronaut Matthias Maurer: ...  Did training with Chinese astronauts this year, and hope to fly on Chinese space station in future.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 11/18/2017 11:27 am
https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/931493656221159426
Quote
ESA astronaut Matthias Maurer: ...  Did training with Chinese astronauts this year, and hope to fly on Chinese space station in future.

ESA tooke some steps last week with the Chineese on an agreement to fly ESA astronauts on the Chineese space station, so yes in a few years this  could be happening.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Hog on 11/21/2017 03:15 pm
Probably not of interest to anyone unless you're Canadian but what the heck.....

.."Former astronaut Julie Payette to be Canada's next Governor General.."

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/governor-general-canada-julie-payette-1.4201614

Governor General Julie Payette receives RCAF astronaut “wings”

Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada

News Article / November 14, 2017

From RCAF Public Affairs

The Royal Canadian Air Force’s (RCAF) astronaut flying badge, known as astronaut “wings”, was created in 2000. Colonel (retired) Chris Hadfield was the first to wear them, following his second flight into space in 2001. Her Excellency the Right Honourable Julie Payette, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada has now become only the second person to wear these wings.

Major-General Blaise Frawley, deputy commander of the RCAF, officially presented her with the wings on November 10, 2017, on behalf of Lieutenant-General Michael Hood, commander of the RCAF. She first wore the badge on her RCAF uniform at this year’s National Remembrance Day Ceremony.

Although Governor General Julie Payette has not served in the RCAF, as Commander-in-Chief of Canada she is entitled to wear military uniforms and accoutrements, including the Canadian Forces Decoration and, in her case, because she is an astronaut, RCAF astronaut wings.

As part of her preparations for a space mission assignment, Governor General Payette obtained her commercial pilot license and her pilot captaincy in February 1996 on the CT-114 Tutor aircraft, which is flown by the RCAF’s air demonstration team, the Snowbirds. She obtained her military instrument rating in 1997 and has logged more than 1,300 hours of flight time.

“It is a great honour to present these very well-earned RCAF astronaut wings to Governor General Julie Payette, and it will be a privilege for us to see them worn on her Canadian Armed Forces uniforms,” said Lieutenant-General Hood. “Given her tremendous achievements, from her aviation qualifications, to going to space to being our Commander-in-Chief, I believe she truly embodies our RCAF motto: Such is the pathway to the stars.”

Astronaut wings design

The design of the gold astronaut wings presented to Colonel Hadfield was updated to match the silver theme now used on RCAF uniforms. The design of the astronaut wings is based on the outspread eagle’s wings and crown of the terrestrial aircrew badge. It consists of a silver maple leaf rising above the earth atop a stylized plume of rocket exhaust. The silver grid lines of the earth below outline an arrow pointing up into space.

The white stars set in blackness above all show Earth in the universe and exemplify the RCAF motto Sic Itur Ad Astra – “Such is the pathway to the stars”. As on all aircrew wings, a red laurel wreath surrounds the central design.

Eligibility

RCAF personnel are entitled to wear the astronaut wings on their distinctive environmental uniforms after completing the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) approved astronaut training and a spaceflight. If RCAF members are already entitled to wear aircrew wings (e.g., pilot, flight engineer, air combat systems operator, etc.), they will wear those wings on their uniforms until qualified to wear astronaut wings. After they undertake their first space flight, their aircrew wings will be replaced by the astronaut wings.

NASA allows all members of the astronaut corps to wear civilian astronaut wings on their NASA uniforms, allowing Lieutenant-Colonel Joshua Kutryk and Colonel Jeremy Hansen the option of wearing either their military pilot wings, or civilian astronaut wings until they complete their first spaceflight.

1st picture

A woman wearing a black dress is flanked by two men wearing military uniforms on each side. The woman and the man on her left hold a plaque that displays two winged badges.   
The design the RCAF’s astronaut wings has been updated to match the silver theme now used on RCAF uniforms. The design is based on the outspread eagle’s wings and crown of the terrestrial aircrew badge. It consists of a silver maple leaf rising above the earth atop a stylized plume of rocket exhaust. The silver grid lines of the earth below outline an arrow pointing up into space. The white stars set in blackness above all show Earth in the universe and exemplify the RCAF motto Sic Itur Ad Astra – “Such is the pathway to the stars”. As on all aircrew wings, a red laurel wreath surrounds the central design. IMAGE: DND

http://www.rcaf-arc.forces.gc.ca/en/article-template-standard.page?doc=governor-general-julie-payette-receives-rcaf-astronaut-wings/j9u7sgmw

2nd picture

Julie Payette, Canadas new Governor General and Commander-in-Chief, in Royal Canadian Air Force uniform, Ottawa Ontario Canada, Remembrance Day 2017.

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 11/27/2017 01:47 pm
Russia will prepare a cosmonaut from the Arab Emirates


 Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation Denis Manturov said that an agreement was reached between the UAE and Roskosmos on the preparation of the first emirate cosmonaut, RIA Novosti reported.

 "An agreement was reached between the UAE and Roskosmos on the preparation of the first emirate cosmonaut," Manturov told reporters after the opening of the intergovernmental commission of the Russian Federation and the UAE.

On materials of RIA Novosti

https://yvision.kz/post/786181?utm_source=fb&utm_medium=banner&utm_campaign=SocialShare
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 11/27/2017 02:29 pm
According to the NK forum Mikhail Korniyenko will leave the cosmonaut group on December, 1.
He will stay there as a "leading specialist".
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 12/07/2017 07:38 am
http://gulfnews.com/news/uae/government/hunt-on-for-first-emirati-astronauts-1.2136642
Hunt on for first Emirati astronauts
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 12/14/2017 11:15 am
https://www.facebook.com/DieAstronautin/?hc_ref=NEWSFEED
Quote
Unsere zwei Astronautin-Trainees sind #NicolaBaumann und #InsaThieleEich
According to http://dieastronautin.de/spannende-aussichten-astronautinnen-trainees-absolvieren-die-naechsten-parabelfluege-im-maerz/ Nicola Baumann has cancelled her training.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Paolo on 12/17/2017 07:12 am
Does anyone know the exact birthdate of Norishige Kanai?
Thanks
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 12/20/2017 07:27 am
http://www.collectspace.com/ubb/Forum38/HTML/002129.html
Ricardo Peralta y Fabi has passed away.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 12/22/2017 08:43 pm
Does anyone know the exact birthdate of Norishige Kanai?
Thanks

December 5th, 1976
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Paolo on 12/26/2017 08:10 am
Does anyone know the exact birthdate of Norishige Kanai?
Thanks

December 5th, 1976

Thanks
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 12/28/2017 05:23 pm
Quote
Janet Kavandi, Ph.D. @JanetKavandi

At the 2017 Astronaut Reunion, the female astronauts gathered for a photo. An awesome group of women!
https://twitter.com/JanetKavandi/status/946434732509810688

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 01/05/2018 08:31 pm
Jan. 5, 2018

MEDIA ADVISORY J18-001

Astronaut Mario Runco Jr. Retires from NASA

After nearly 48 years of federal service, veteran NASA astronaut and Earth and planetary scientist Mario Runco Jr. has retired from NASA; his last day with the agency was Dec. 31.

“Mario has had a tremendous career as an astronaut, scientist, and mentor at NASA,” said Pat Forrester, chief astronaut at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.  “He helped design observatory facilities on the International Space Station that have led and will continue to lead to important discoveries. His energy and love for exploration will be missed.”

As an astronaut, Runco logged over 551 hours in space during three space shuttle missions. He conducted one spacewalk and helped deploy four satellites. During his career, he supported more than a dozen other space shuttle missions in various roles before moving into his final role was as an Earth and planetary scientist.

Runco joined NASA in 1987 and remained on active duty as a NASA astronaut until 1994. On his first flight, Runco served on the crew of STS-44 aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis in 1991, helping to deploy a Defense Support Program satellite.  Runco served as a mission specialist on STS-54 aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour, conducting a 4.5-hour spacewalk and helping deploy a NASA Tracking and Data Relay Satellite.  The mission also carried the Diffuse X-Ray Spectrometer, designed to expand the knowledge of stellar evolution, which scanned the local vicinity of our Milky Way galaxy for low-energy X-ray emanations believed to originate from an ancient supernova. Runco also served as a mission specialist on the crew of STS-77 aboard Endeavour in 1996 supporting a number of technology development and microgravity science experiments, and deploying two satellites, one utilizing the Space Shuttle Robotic Manipulator System.

At Johnson Space Center, Runco served as a spacecraft communicator (CAPCOM) for 18 space shuttle missions; helped design, develop and test the space shuttle crew escape system following the Challenger accident; and performed test and evaluation of space shuttle mission-specific flight software in the Software Avionics Integration Laboratory (OV-95).  At the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, he helped prepare space shuttles and their crews for launch.

Runco’s final role was as an Earth and planetary scientist at Johnson, serving as lead for spacecraft window optics and utilization helping with the design, development, and utilization of both the International Space Station’s Earth-viewing optical quality science window and the Window Observational Research Facility, both of which remain in active use today.

Runco was born in the Bronx, New York. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Earth and Planetary Science from the City College of New York, a Master of Science degree in Meteorology from Rutgers University, and an Honorary Doctor of Science degree from the City College of New York.

After graduating from Rutgers University, Runco worked for a year as a research hydrologist, conducting groundwater surveys for the U.S. Geological Survey on Long Island, New York.  In 1977, he joined the New Jersey State Police and worked as a New Jersey State Trooper until he entered the Navy in June 1978. Upon completion of Navy Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island, in September 1978, he was commissioned and assigned to the Naval Research Laboratory in Monterey, California, as a research meteorologist.  From 1981 to 1983 he served as meteorological officer aboard USS NASSAU (LHA-4) where he earned his Surface Warfare Officer designation.  From 1983-1985 he served as a laboratory instructor at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, and in 1986 as Commanding Officer of Oceanographic Unit 4 embarked in USNS CHAUVENET (T-AGS 29), conducting hydrographic and oceanographic surveys of the Java Sea and Indian Ocean. His final Navy billet in 1987 was as a fleet environmental services officer at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

Find Runco’s complete biography at:

https://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/runco.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 01/09/2018 08:21 pm
    African American Astronauts-24x36poster
    NASA ID: AfricanAmericanAstronauts-24x36poster-print
    Keywords: African American astronauts
    Center: HQ
    Date Created: 2018-01-08
    NASA's African American astronauts
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 01/18/2018 02:40 pm
Are there any information about a crew change on Soyuz MS-09?
According to the pictures and the text in this pages http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=4060 and http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=4064 it looks like Serena Auñón-Chancellor is the third member of this crew instead of Jeanette Epps.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 01/18/2018 05:00 pm
Yes Epps was replaced.

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 01/18/2018 05:04 pm
Yes Epps was replaced.
Thank you. Can you tell us more changes?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: tonyq on 01/18/2018 07:30 pm
Yes Epps was replaced.



Does she drop to the back-up crew, and then prime crew for MS-11, or is she out of the crew flow entirely?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: collectSPACE on 01/18/2018 10:51 pm
Astronaut set to be first African American on space station crew removed from flight
http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-011818a-nasa-astronaut-jeanette-epps-removed.html

...NASA announced the crew change on Thursday (Jan. 18), stating that Epps will assume duties in the Astronaut Office at Johnson Space Center in Houston, and "be considered for assignment to future missions."

The reason for Epps' removal was not given. Brandi Dean, a NASA spokesperson, said that a number of factors were considered.

"These decisions are personnel matters for which NASA doesn't provide information," Dean told collectSPACE.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Targeteer on 01/18/2018 10:53 pm
Here is the actual NASA press release


January 18, 2018
RELEASE 18-004
NASA Announces Updated Crew Assignments for Space Station Missions
International Space Station Solar Panels
Credits: NASA

NASA is announcing an addition to the NASA lineup for upcoming launches, and making changes to some assignments for International Space Station missions in 2018.

Serena Auñón-Chancellor, who previously was assigned to Expedition 58/59, has been reassigned to the Expedition 56/57 crew, launching in June. She is taking the place of astronaut Jeanette Epps, who will return to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston to assume duties in the Astronaut Office and be considered for assignment to future missions. Anne McClain, a member of the 2013 astronaut class, will fly on the Expedition 58/59 crew, launching in November.

Auñón-Chancellor, from Fort Collins, Colorado, joined the astronaut corps in 2009 and has been at NASA since 2006, when she became a flight surgeon. Before being selected as an astronaut, she spent more than nine months in Russia supporting medical operations for space station crew members, including water survival training in the Ukraine, and served as the deputy lead for medical operations for NASA’s Orion spacecraft.

In addition to a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from George Washington University, Auñón-Chancellor holds a doctorate in medicine from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, is board certified in internal and aerospace medicine, and earned a master’s degree in public health from the University of Texas Medical Branch.

McClain is from Spokane, Washington. She earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical and aeronautical engineering from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 2002. She then went on to the University of Bath in England for a master’s degree in aerospace engineering, followed by the University of Bristol in England for a master’s degree in international relations.

She was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Army in 2002, and earned her wings as a Kiowa Warrior pilot in 2005. She served 15 months in Operation Iraqi Freedom, flying more than 800 combat hours. McClain graduated from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School in June 2013. She has over 2,000 flight hours in more than 20 rotary- and fixed-wing aircraft, and has logged time as a pilot in command, air mission commander, instructor pilot and test pilot.

Follow Serena Auñón-Chancellor on Twitter at:

https://twitter.com/AstroSerena

Follow Anne McClain on Twitter at:

http://www.twitter.com/AstroAnnimal
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 01/19/2018 05:44 am
Is there any word on NASA crew assignments for 2019? A one-year training flow for ISS expeditions seems extremely short. Unless there's astros already in training, but not publicly announced yet?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 01/19/2018 08:02 am
Is there any word on NASA crew assignments for 2019? A one-year training flow for ISS expeditions seems extremely short. Unless there's astros already in training, but not publicly announced yet?
Christina H. Koch is good candidate. She will take part in winter survival training in Russia next month.
https://twitter.com/Astro_Christina/status/951975197292326912
Quote
Today's lesson: Opening the front door on the Soyuz descent module. For winter survival training next month, nobody's gonna open that hatch but us!

And of course Shannon Walker, who is member of the back-up crew of Soyuz MS-10, so in line for Soyuz MS-12 and commander of EC-60.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 01/19/2018 01:27 pm
Is there any word on NASA crew assignments for 2019? A one-year training flow for ISS expeditions seems extremely short. Unless there's astros already in training, but not publicly announced yet?

For all we know it could be Epps. Her removal could stem from a temporary medical condition or personal situation. Alexander Skvortsov was replaced by Anton Shkaplerov on Expeditions 54/55 for what was described as a temporary medical condition but is now assigned to Expeditions 58/59.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Phillip Clark on 01/19/2018 02:33 pm
BBC story about NASA crew changes.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-42747272
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Zyklotrop on 01/19/2018 02:42 pm
I know it sounds odd, but Epps removal could be linked to the recent ZUMA failure. Epps is one of two group 20 astronauts with connections to the intelligence community. The other is Fisher, who just happened to be on board the ISS when USA 276 (NROL-76) made its unusual close approach to the station. USA 276 in turn has been associated with ZUMA by several observers, mostly due to their similar (target) orbits.

Admittedly, such a speculation might not be the best subject for a first post  ;) But be assured, that I normally stay away from such topics. My interest for the upcoming ISS expedition 56/57 is most and for all due to my fellow-countryman Alexander Gerst.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 01/19/2018 09:57 pm
https://twitter.com/waynehale/status/954462259832639488
Quote
Just saw the announcement that Ellen Ochoa, JSC Center Director, is retiring.
http://www.collectspace.com/ubb/Forum38/HTML/000705.html
Quote
Ellen Ochoa will retire from NASA as center director of Johnson Space Center in May. From a memo she sent to center employees:
Earlier today at the All Hands, I let people know that I am going to retire from NASA at the end of May. It's a really tough decision to determine when to make that transition; for me, it comes down to my personal situation. I reach 30 years at NASA, and my younger son turns 18, so this summer is a natural point for our family in which to move on to the next phase. We'll be moving to Boise, ID, and I intend to be involved with a number of activities that interest me (including getting back to playing flute, which I once considered for a career!). Of course, I'll continue — always — to be a strong proponent of NASA and STEM activities in general.
We're fortunate to have a team of excellent leaders here at JSC, so I know I'll be leaving JSC in good hands. You'll hear more about JSC leadership plans from Robert Lightfoot later in the spring. In the meantime, I have several months to go as Center Director, and you can count on me to continue to be fully committed to our mission and our people here.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ZachS09 on 01/20/2018 02:54 am
I know it sounds odd, but Epps removal could be linked to the recent ZUMA failure. Epps is one of two group 20 astronauts with connections to the intelligence community. The other is Fisher, who just happened to be on board the ISS when USA 276 (NROL-76) made its unusual close approach to the station. USA 276 in turn has been associated with ZUMA by several observers, mostly due to their similar (target) orbits.

Admittedly, such a speculation might not be the best subject for a first post  ;) But be assured, that I normally stay away from such topics. My interest for the upcoming ISS expedition 56/57 is most and for all due to my fellow-countryman Alexander Gerst.

Welcome to the forum, Zyklotrop!

Even though most speculations turn out to be false, I'm impressed by your opinion.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: deruch on 01/20/2018 05:27 am
I know it sounds odd, but Epps removal could be linked to the recent ZUMA failure. Epps is one of two group 20 astronauts with connections to the intelligence community. The other is Fisher, who just happened to be on board the ISS when USA 276 (NROL-76) made its unusual close approach to the station. USA 276 in turn has been associated with ZUMA by several observers, mostly due to their similar (target) orbits.

Admittedly, such a speculation might not be the best subject for a first post  ;) But be assured, that I normally stay away from such topics. My interest for the upcoming ISS expedition 56/57 is most and for all due to my fellow-countryman Alexander Gerst.

Such speculation was due to the expected inclination of Zuma.  But, subsequent viewing of the upper stage over Sudan indicated that the stage was at a much higher altitude than the station (i.e. ~900-1000km).  So, there is less reason to speculate a possible connection between Zuma and ISS.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: erioladastra on 01/21/2018 08:49 pm
I know it sounds odd, but Epps removal could be linked to the recent ZUMA failure. Epps is one of two group 20 astronauts with connections to the intelligence community. The other is Fisher, who just happened to be on board the ISS when USA 276 (NROL-76) made its unusual close approach to the station. USA 276 in turn has been associated with ZUMA by several observers, mostly due to their similar (target) orbits.

Admittedly, such a speculation might not be the best subject for a first post  ;) But be assured, that I normally stay away from such topics. My interest for the upcoming ISS expedition 56/57 is most and for all due to my fellow-countryman Alexander Gerst.

Absolutely not related.  Only trying to read too much into things.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jim on 01/21/2018 08:52 pm
I know it sounds odd, but Epps removal could be linked to the recent ZUMA failure. Epps is one of two group 20 astronauts with connections to the intelligence community. The other is Fisher, who just happened to be on board the ISS when USA 276 (NROL-76) made its unusual close approach to the station. USA 276 in turn has been associated with ZUMA by several observers, mostly due to their similar (target) orbits.

Admittedly, such a speculation might not be the best subject for a first post  ;) But be assured, that I normally stay away from such topics. My interest for the upcoming ISS expedition 56/57 is most and for all due to my fellow-countryman Alexander Gerst.

That is absurd.  There is no such connection
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 01/22/2018 12:49 pm
NASA astronaut Jessica Meir started training in the CPC

January 22, 2018

 In the Center for Cosmonaut Training named after Yu.A.  Gagarin held a presentation to the leadership and staff of the CPC NASA astronaut Jessica Meir, who from January 22 starts training as a flight engineer of the transport manned spacecraft (TPK) Soyuz MS and the ISS flight engineer as part of the ISS-60/61 backup crew.

http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=4067
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 01/22/2018 01:56 pm
The first picture above suggest, that Daniel Burbank is back on duty in StarCity.
Does anyone know, if this is correct, and if yes, when he started again this job?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 01/22/2018 04:18 pm
https://twitter.com/Astro_Soichi/status/954483256551907328

Quote
Soichi Noguchi 野口 聡 @Astro_Soichi

Let's get serious with #EVA power tools! My good friend & training mate Drew Morgan on the left.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: kevind on 01/22/2018 04:38 pm
This post states Jessica Meir was beginning her training as a member of the Expedition 60/61 backup crew.  I have never seen who is training as backup for 58/59 or 59/60.  Anyone know who they might be?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 01/22/2018 05:38 pm
It seems a bit confusing. Is Meir the backup, or replacing Ann McClain? Why would they announce the backup when there is nobody in the prime crew slot? Is it a typo error? Could Burbank be the prime crew member?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 01/23/2018 05:28 am
According to the always well informed Shams in the NK Forum, Mrs. Meir will be the Flight Engineer 1 in the back-up crew of Soyuz MS-13(EC 60/61) for launch in May/June 2019 and then in the prime crew of Soyuz MS-15(EC 63/64) in March 2020.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 01/23/2018 02:50 pm
NASA pulled this astronaut from a space station crew. Her brother blames racism. (https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2018/01/22/nasa-pulled-this-astronaut-from-a-space-station-crew-her-brother-blames-racism/?utm_term=.ffc9eccff060)

... another Yvonne Cagle in the making ?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ZachS09 on 01/23/2018 03:00 pm
Look, guys: I understand that it's disappointing for Jeanette Epps to have been removed from the Soyuz-MS 09 crew, but on the bright side, she's still eligible for future missions. Plus, we have another astronaut, Serena Auñón-Chancellor, from the 20th NASA astronaut corps that's filling in that empty seat.

So, why don't we just move past this issue and focus on more important stuff?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 01/23/2018 09:05 pm
Personally, I don't think it's any more "fair" to ask about African American astronauts than it is to "wonder" why any other minorities haven't flown long-duration missions. Why didn't Chang-Diaz or Ochoa get a spot as a Hispanic American?

The figures are also stark that there are not a huge number of African American astronauts in the corps, any more than there are Hispanic Americans in the corps. In his memoir, "Chasing Space", Leland Melvin describes the medical reasons why he wasn't assigned a long-duration mission. Other Americans have been dropped from crews and later reassigned (or not), including Mark Lee, Don Thomas, Carlos Noriega, to name a few. Still more never even received an assignment, including Caldeiro, Woodward, Cagle etc. Many more Russian cosmonauts have been dropped from flights or were never assigned or never flew.

My roundabout point is that (unless evidence suggests otherwise) we can't make assumptions about Epps' removal. If NASA and the IPs seriously didn't want her on a crew, they (a) wouldn't have selected her for ASCAN training back in 2009 and (b) certainly wouldn't have given her the assignment in Jan 2017.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: MATTBLAK on 01/23/2018 09:20 pm
Have a read of the book 'Dragonfly' by Bryan Burroughs done during the Mir station era. I was once told by impeccable sources that it's a very accurate recounting of the Machiavellian shenanigans surrounding crew selection for that era. I have my own theories about what has happened to Dr Epps, but since I've met the lady a couple of times (she's great) I'm keeping them to myself.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: zubenelgenubi on 01/23/2018 10:15 pm
Have a read of the book 'Dragonfly' by Bryan Burroughs done during the Mir station era. It gives - I was once told by impeccable sources - that it's a very accurate recounting of the Machiavellian shenanigans surrounding crew selection for that era (italics added by zubenelgenubi).

Caution here--and if I'm wrong, may our resident experts on the astronaut/cosmonaut cadres correct me, or Matt--but I'd be leery of any direct comparison of astronaut assignment today to the George Abbey era of astronaut flight assignment, which includes the  Shuttle/Mir era.

(Has any astronaut expressed regret after Dr. Abbey's retirement in 2001 that he would no longer be involved in crew selection?)

As the 2019/2020 ISS Expedition assignments are filled in, we may learn (or deduce) more of, or all of "the rest of the story."  (As Paul Harvey used to say)

Or it may have to wait for current astronauts to write and publish memoirs--and that could be years or decades away.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: meberbs on 01/23/2018 10:25 pm
Epps says health and family issues not to blame "and that her overseas training in Russia and Kazakhstan had been successful".
http://www.newsweek.com/jeanette-epps-nasa-astronaut-iss-health-family-787650

I believe it is entirely fair to ask why no African American astronauts have served on (not just visited) ISS.  The station has been up there since 1998 and something like 230 astro or cosmonauts have visited - and nearly 110 have stayed long-term - during that span.  Those are stark numbers staring us in the face. 

 - Ed Kyle
No, your question is not fair and the numbers that you have provided are completely deceptive.

As implied, but not explicitly stated in your post, African Americans have in fact visited the station, so the 230 visited number is meaningless without a breakdown by race, country of origin etc.

As for the 110 crew members, you first need to consider the country of origin. Around half would be Russian, and then more would be European. Russia and Europe both have very small (<1%) African population, so you expect 0 contribution from them.

In America, African Americans make up about one eighth of the population. This means that all else being equal, if there have been 40 unique American crew members,* you would expect 5 to be African American. Of course all else is not equal and other (very off topic) issues in the U.S. mean that there is a smaller percentage of African Americans that meet basic astronaut requirements (education/experience).

Using the fraction of African American astronauts (14/339 ~= 4%), then in a random selection of 40 of them you expect 1-2 African Americans. This clearly falls into the law of small numbers, and getting a result of 0 is well within expected statistical fluctuations.

The only thing "stark" about the numbers you provided is how wrong the picture you painted is.

* I couldn't quickly find the number for this, 110 is clearly for unique crew members. I quickly counted 63 American crew members total, but that was double counting people who have multiple visits.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: MATTBLAK on 01/23/2018 10:46 pm
Have a read of the book 'Dragonfly' by Bryan Burroughs done during the Mir station era. It gives - I was once told by impeccable sources - that it's a very accurate recounting of the Machiavellian shenanigans surrounding crew selection for that era (italics added by zubenelgenubi).

Caution here--and if I'm wrong, may our resident experts on the astronaut/cosmonaut cadres correct me, or Matt--but I'd be leery of any direct comparison of astronaut assignment today to the George Abbey era of astronaut flight assignment, which includes the  Shuttle/Mir era.

(Has any astronaut expressed regret after Dr. Abbey's retirement in 2001 that he would no longer be involved in crew selection?)

As the 2019/2020 ISS Expedition assignments are filled in, we may learn (or deduce) more of, or all of "the rest of the story."  (As Paul Harvey used to say)

Or it may have to wait for current astronauts to write and publish memoirs--and that could be years or decades away.
You're quite right that Mr Abbey being gone casts a different light on the selection process. But some things doubtlessly have stayed the same, even 20 years later. Although many Astronauts didn't like George Abbey - there must have been more than a couple things that he did right. And I actually think if he was still around, he may have fought hard to keep Dr Epps assigned. Unless of course; he took against her for some reason. We'll never know! But during Abbey's tenure, I think we can say that there was a fair amount of diversity in the crew assignments.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Lar on 01/23/2018 10:47 pm
I suspect that if we open this can of worms very much further, we might have a very divisive discussion that satisfies no one. So I suggest we don't open this can of worms any further at all.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: MATTBLAK on 01/23/2018 11:03 pm
Not sure what you mean, Lar - I think the discussion has been quite civil so far. But I did say I was keeping some of my darker suspicions to myself. :)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Lar on 01/23/2018 11:10 pm
I've bucked this upstairs but talking about numbers and quotas is not likely to end well, IMHO. I might be worrying over nothing.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Steve G on 01/24/2018 02:30 am
I might be way off base here, but the tone from NASA's announcement, and Jeanette Epps' revelation that it wasn't due to medical or personal issues, is that the powers that may be didn't feel she was ready for a six month long flight. Whether it be training issues, personal clashes or behavioral, it clearly wasn't an easy decision to make, and it would have had nothing to do with race.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 01/24/2018 06:32 pm
Have a read of the book 'Dragonfly' by Bryan Burroughs done during the Mir station era. It gives - I was once told by impeccable sources - that it's a very accurate recounting of the Machiavellian shenanigans surrounding crew selection for that era (italics added by zubenelgenubi).

Caution here--and if I'm wrong, may our resident experts on the astronaut/cosmonaut cadres correct me, or Matt--but I'd be leery of any direct comparison of astronaut assignment today to the George Abbey era of astronaut flight assignment, which includes the  Shuttle/Mir era.

(Has any astronaut expressed regret after Dr. Abbey's retirement in 2001 that he would no longer be involved in crew selection?)

As the 2019/2020 ISS Expedition assignments are filled in, we may learn (or deduce) more of, or all of "the rest of the story."  (As Paul Harvey used to say)

Or it may have to wait for current astronauts to write and publish memoirs--and that could be years or decades away.
You're quite right that Mr Abbey being gone casts a different light on the selection process. But some things doubtlessly have stayed the same, even 20 years later. Although many Astronauts didn't like George Abbey - there must have been more than a couple things that he did right. And I actually think if he was still around, he may have fought hard to keep Dr Epps assigned. Unless of course; he took against her for some reason. We'll never know! But during Abbey's tenure, I think we can say that there was a fair amount of diversity in the crew assignments.

There are many unverified statements in this thread involving Mr. Abbey, not Dr. -- for example, he had no direct control over flight assignments from October 1987 on even though as director of JSC he was in the approval chain. (Assignments were made by chief astronauts Brandenstein, Gibson, Cabana, Cockrell, Precourt, with first level approvals from the director of flight crew ops.) And don't take DRAGONFLY as gospel -- or even as a properly sourced document.

And anyone who troubled to ask around might find that many astronauts regretted Mr. Abbey's dismissal in the spring of 2001

Michael Cassutt, co-author DEKE! and WE HAVE CAPTURE, author of THE ASTRONAUT MAKER
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: MATTBLAK on 01/24/2018 09:22 pm
Thanks for the interjection, Mr Cassutt. I hope you can see from my previous post that I was kind of sticking up for Mr Abbey ;)

I have your books, by the way and they're treasured possessions. I hope you can sign them for me one day! It also turns out that you and I have a mutual friend in Colin Burgess. Best regards, Matt Pavletich.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 01/25/2018 02:38 pm
Thanks for the interjection, Mr Cassutt. I hope you can see from my previous post that I was kind of sticking up for Mr Abbey ;)

I have your books, by the way and they're treasured possessions. I hope you can sign them for me one day! It also turns out that you and I have a mutual friend in Colin Burgess. Best regards, Matt Pavletich.

Matt,

I'd be delighted to sign a book or three for you, should we ever be in the same hemisphere at the same time.

I did note your positive statement about Abbey, thank you. In 30 plus years of following astronaut assignments and politics, having conversations with several dozen astronauts (including most chief astronauts), and now six years of work with Abbey himself, I have concluded that descriptions of his tenure and the motivations for his decisions, notably as described in DRAGONFLY and RIDING ROCKETS, are incomplete.

Michael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 01/27/2018 04:49 am
To help understand this news about Dr. Epps being replaced, can anyone describe the process for Astronaut training in Russia, to what extent Russia's space agency has a say in approving U.S. astronauts for Expedition missions, and what the timing of the change might say about who/what/why, etc.?   Could her work history (she's ex-CIA) have played a role?

 - Ed Kyle 

Epps' bg in the CIA had nothing to do with her removal from an ISS assignment. Any such concern -- and in this case it's just not relevant -- would have been addressed back in 2015, when her original assignment was approved by the International Partners, NASA, Roskosmos, ESA, JAXA and others.  (That decision typically follows a NASA assignment by several months.... and is the reason you find public reports of astronauts like Meir beginning training at the Gagarin Center six months before NASA issues a press release.) Point being: if an astronaut is announced by the partners, that astronaut has been cleared.

During training, which typically lasts two years, sometimes more, NASA astronauts are subject to technical exams on Soyuz -- all crew members are. And must be proficient in ISS mission tasks -- EVA, robotics, management of scientific experiments, etc. Progress is noted, and judged, and corrections are made if necessary.

It's possible that a NASA or ESA or JAXA astronaut might perform so poorly on a Soyuz-specific exam that Roskosmos would sound an alarm, but Soyuz training takes up a small percentage of ISS training time. Less than airport waiting time (not flight time ;)  And even if Roskosmos felt that a NASA/ESA/JAXA crew member wasn't ready on Soyuz, refresher training would be the first option.

Michael Cassutt


Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: erioladastra on 01/27/2018 03:16 pm
To help understand this news about Dr. Epps being replaced, can anyone describe the process for Astronaut training in Russia, to what extent Russia's space agency has a say in approving U.S. astronauts for Expedition missions, and what the timing of the change might say about who/what/why, etc.?   Could her work history (she's ex-CIA) have played a role?

 - Ed Kyle 

Epps' bg in the CIA had nothing to do with her removal from an ISS assignment. Any such concern -- and in this case it's just not relevant -- would have been addressed back in 2015, when her original assignment was approved by the International Partners, NASA, Roskosmos, ESA, JAXA and others.  (That decision typically follows a NASA assignment by several months.... and is the reason you find public reports of astronauts like Meir beginning training at the Gagarin Center six months before NASA issues a press release.) Point being: if an astronaut is announced by the partners, that astronaut has been cleared.

During training, which typically lasts two years, sometimes more, NASA astronauts are subject to technical exams on Soyuz -- all crew members are. And must be proficient in ISS mission tasks -- EVA, robotics, management of scientific experiments, etc. Progress is noted, and judged, and corrections are made if necessary.

It's possible that a NASA or ESA or JAXA astronaut might perform so poorly on a Soyuz-specific exam that Roskosmos would sound an alarm, but Soyuz training takes up a small percentage of ISS training time. Less than airport waiting time (not flight time ;)  And even if Roskosmos felt that a NASA/ESA/JAXA crew member wasn't ready on Soyuz, refresher training would be the first option.

Michael Cassutt




Great summary Michael.  A couple points I would add.  For Soyuz training there are actually exams that have to be passed.  On the NASA/IP side of training passing graded are based a number of people evaluating the subject (i.e., no exams but a up/down vote).  Note that the folks who make this assessment are instructures, astronauts, flight directors and senior management.  And of course the training process works real hard to help those that are struggling.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 01/30/2018 01:28 pm
http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=4077
Google translation
Quote
In accordance with the plan for preparing crews for space flights in the Cosmonaut Training Center named after Yu.A. Gagarin started training after the landing in a wooded swampy area in winter ("winter survival"). Astronauts of the "ROSKOSMOS" Alexander Skvortsov, Oleg Skripochka, Andrei Borisenko, Sergei Ryzhikov, Andrei Babkin, Nikolai Chub, NASA astronauts Anne McClean, Andrew Morgan, Shannon Walker, Christina Cook, Jessica Meir, Richard Arnold, ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano and astronaut JAXA Soichi Noguchi will take part in the training.
This could be the crew members of 2019 (except Richard Arnold and Anne McClain).
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 01/30/2018 02:43 pm
Where does Burbank fit in? He was pictured with Meir. Is Burbank in training, or at GCTC in a management capacity?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 01/31/2018 09:14 am
It seems, that Dan Burbank is NASA´s Director of Operations at at the TsPK.
The third round of Doug Wheelock in this function looks like a really short one.
Maybe Mr. Cassutt does have some information for us?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 02/01/2018 01:48 pm
The answer from GCTC about Mr. Burbank:
"He is the Director of the NASA office in the Gagarin Research&Test Cosmonaut Training Center, that's why he was on that event."
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 02/01/2018 08:30 pm
This post states Jessica Meir was beginning her training as a member of the Expedition 60/61 backup crew.  I have never seen who is training as backup for 58/59 or 59/60.  Anyone know who they might be?

Andrew Morgan will be a backup for 58/59!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 02/02/2018 04:36 am
This post states Jessica Meir was beginning her training as a member of the Expedition 60/61 backup crew.  I have never seen who is training as backup for 58/59 or 59/60.  Anyone know who they might be?

Andrew Morgan will be a backup for 58/59!
Jessica Koch will be back-up for 59/60.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: tonyq on 02/02/2018 09:38 am
This post states Jessica Meir was beginning her training as a member of the Expedition 60/61 backup crew.  I have never seen who is training as backup for 58/59 or 59/60.  Anyone know who they might be?

Andrew Morgan will be a backup for 58/59!
Jessica Koch will be back-up for 59/60.

Jessica Koch???

You mean Jessica Meir or Christina (Hammock)-Koch?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 02/02/2018 10:05 am
Sorry, of course Christina Koch.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 02/02/2018 06:18 pm
This back-up crews were mentioned in the NK forum:
for Soyuz MS-12: Andrei Borisenko, Nikolai Chub, Christina Koch
for Soyuz MS-13: Sergei Ryshikov, Jessica Meir, Soichi Noguchi
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 02/04/2018 01:03 pm
Besides Astronauts Boe, Behnken, Hurley and Williams...are any other astronauts "assigned" to SpaceX and Boeing commercial flights?
I saw a preliminary schedule that had a 4 member crew (3 NASA / 1 CSA-JAXA or ESA) flying a Boeing mission after the initial 2 member flight.
Thank you.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 02/04/2018 01:54 pm
Besides Astronauts Boe, Behnken, Hurley and Williams...are any other astronauts "assigned" to SpaceX and Boeing commercial flights?
I saw a preliminary schedule that had a 4 member crew (3 NASA / 1 CSA-JAXA or ESA) flying a Boeing mission after the initial 2 member flight.
Thank you.

I have no inside information, but I'd be willing to bet dollars to donuts that Doug Wheelock will be on USCV-1.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 02/04/2018 07:12 pm
Is Noguchi definitely attached to a Soyuz crew? My impression was that he was aimed at a late 2019 launch, which would imply a USCV?

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 02/04/2018 07:14 pm
Besides Astronauts Boe, Behnken, Hurley and Williams...are any other astronauts "assigned" to SpaceX and Boeing commercial flights?
I saw a preliminary schedule that had a 4 member crew (3 NASA / 1 CSA-JAXA or ESA) flying a Boeing mission after the initial 2 member flight.
Thank you.

I have no inside information, but I'd be willing to bet dollars to donuts that Doug Wheelock will be on USCV-1.

No info to support this - but Stephanie Wilson wouldn't be a total shock to me either for an early Commercial Flight as she went from a Management Astronaut following around the end of the Shuttle Program, to back on the active list.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 02/04/2018 08:07 pm
Is Noguchi definitely attached to a Soyuz crew? My impression was that he was aimed at a late 2019 launch, which would imply a USCV?


Yes, he is currently assigned to the back-up crew of Soyuz MS-13.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: dcfowler1 on 02/05/2018 02:53 am
A Boeing astronaut is on the first CST-100 flight. A better than even chance that this will be Chris Ferguson.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 02/05/2018 07:47 am
A Boeing astronaut is on the first CST-100 flight. A better than even chance that this will be Chris Ferguson.
Mr. Ferguson said this four years ago
Quote
“So how about you? Would you like to do it?” I quickly inquired.
“I don’t know. Sure I’d like to go to space again, who wouldn’t like to go to space,” Ferguson mused, as we chuckled.
“But it’s a business for young, steely eyed missile men,” he replied, taking himself out of the running. … Maybe …
http://www.americaspace.com/2014/05/29/who-will-fly-aboard-boeings-1st-private-cst-100-space-taxi-one-on-one-interview-with-chris-ferguson-last-shuttle-commander/
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 02/05/2018 11:34 am
http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=4087
Astronauts of NASA and JAXA arrived in the TsPK.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 02/05/2018 05:27 pm
Is Noguchi definitely attached to a Soyuz crew? My impression was that he was aimed at a late 2019 launch, which would imply a USCV?

I'm wondering if it's possible that some of the crewmembers assigned to Soyuz backup crews could wind up later being assigned to CCV launches, instead of Soyuz?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 02/05/2018 05:56 pm
Is Noguchi definitely attached to a Soyuz crew? My impression was that he was aimed at a late 2019 launch, which would imply a USCV?

I'm wondering if it's possible that some of the crewmembers assigned to Soyuz backup crews could wind up later being assigned to CCV launches, instead of Soyuz?
http://global.jaxa.jp/press/2017/11/20171107_noguchi.html#app4
Quote
For the crew members’ round-trip to the ISS, the mission will employ the Russian Soyuz spacecraft or the new US manned spacecraft now being developed by a private company. This consequently requires me to complete the Soyuz spacecraft left-seater training as well as training for a new type of spacecraft that will become a leading player in future manned spaceflight.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: zubenelgenubi on 02/06/2018 05:08 pm
I apologize for the belated reply; I've been off-forum for a while.

In short, I owe an apology re: my commentary on other's opinions of Mr. Abbey.  (Yes, that was a "freshman" mistake.)

I do look forward to purchasing and reading Mr. Cassutt's new book.  I hope, if possible, that he'll do a book-signing in the DC area.

Sincerely,
Zubenelgenubi
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 02/09/2018 07:39 pm
Morgan, Skvortsov and Parmitano:

Walker, Skripochka and Babkin:
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 02/09/2018 08:27 pm
And Noguchi, Ryshikov and Meir
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Nicolas PILLET on 02/22/2018 09:20 pm
If I understand correctly, Pavel Vlassov announced that NASA and Roscosmos took the decision to reduce backup crews to only two people.

At 06'00" approximately :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjQNyJ2krWc
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 03/02/2018 07:19 am
http://global.jaxa.jp/press/2018/03/20180302_hoshide.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
Quote
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), a national research and development agency, is delighted to announce today that JAXA Astronaut Akihiko Hoshide was selected as a crew member of the International Space Station (ISS) Expedition 64/65. He will be the second Japanese to assume the post of commander on the ISS in leading the 65th Expedition.
Quote
Period of stay in space: Approximately six months starting around May of 2020
Mission:
Expedition 64 (approx. four months): Activities as the ISS Flight Engineer, mainly consisting of maintenance of the ISS facilities (including “Kibo”), scientific experiments, and manipulation of the Mobile Servicing System (MSS)
Expedition 65 (approx. two months): In addition to the above activities, taking the lead as ISS Commander for a successful mission and ensured safety of the crew
Project schedule: Training necessary for the long-duration stay on the ISS scheduled to begin around autumn 2019
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: dcfowler1 on 03/03/2018 03:21 am
Will he get there by Soyuz-MS or USCV?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 03/03/2018 10:30 am
Am I correct in thinking Noguchi launches in Nov 2019 (presumably via USCV) and Hoshide launches in May 2020 (also presumably via USCV)? So this will produce an almost continuous presence of a Japanese astronaut on ISS for a full year?

Soyuz schedule calls for launches in Sept and March from Sept 2019 onwards.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 05/24/2018 03:36 pm
May 24, 2018
RELEASE 18-040

NASA, Space Station Partners Announce Future Mission Crew Members

NASA astronauts Christina Hammock Koch and Andrew Morgan have been assigned to spaceflights scheduled to launch in 2019. Both Koch and Morgan were selected as NASA astronauts in 2013.
 
Koch has been assigned to Expedition 59/60, which is set to launch to the International Space Station in April 2019. Morgan will follow as a member of the Expedition 60/61 crew in July 2019.
Koch, who grew up in Jacksonville, North Carolina, earned bachelor’s degrees in electrical engineering and physics, and a master’s degree in electrical engineering from North Carolina State University in Raleigh.

Koch started her career as an electrical engineer focusing on space science instrument design at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. She went on to work as a research associate with the United States Antarctic Program, completing several deployments including spending the winter at the South Pole. She returned to space science instrument design at the Johns Hopkins University’s Applied Physics Laboratory, contributing to such missions as the Juno probe to Jupiter. She then returned to her work at remote scientific research stations, including sessions as a field engineer in the Arctic and as station chief with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in American Samoa. Her extracurricular pursuits include running and other outdoor sports.

Morgan, who considers New Castle, Pennsylvania, his hometown, earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, as well as a doctorate of medicine from the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland, before completing his residency in emergency medicine at Madigan Army Medical Center-University of Washington.

Morgan began his career in military medicine by volunteering for U.S. Army special operations forces. He served as a medical team member in the Joint Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and went on to become the battalion surgeon for the 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group, where he served for three years.  Following this, Morgan served on a strategic special operations assignment in Washington, D.C., before completing a fellowship in primary care sports medicine. Over the course of his special operations assignments, Morgan deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan and Africa in support of combat operations.
Follow Koch on social media at:

https://twitter.com/Astro_Christina

https://www.facebook.com/AstroChristina/

and

https://www.instagram.com/astro_christina/

Follow Morgan on social media at:

https://twitter.com/AstroDrewMorgan/

https://www.facebook.com/AstroDrewMorgan/

and

https://www.instagram.com/AstroDrewMorgan/
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 05/24/2018 03:48 pm
Anyone know why Shannon Walker is no longer assigned to Exp. 59/60?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 05/26/2018 06:36 am
Jack Fischer has retired from NASA, to return to the Air Force:

https://twitter.com/Astro2fish/status/999742305966829569
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 05/30/2018 07:30 am
http://www.collectspace.com/ubb/Forum38/HTML/001687.html
Quote
Space Nation will send the first Space Nation Astronaut to lower orbit next year and then further out every year after that.
Never heard about that.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 05/30/2018 05:21 pm
Walker returns to the Astronaut Office as Chief of the Assigned Crew Branch.

She replaces Marshburn in this post.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 05/30/2018 08:16 pm
http://www.americaspace.com/2018/05/30/no-u-s-crew-will-command-the-international-space-station-in-2019/

Quote
When Expedition 56 astronaut Drew Feustel relinquishes the helm of the International Space Station (ISS) to Germany’s Alexander Gerst, early in October, more than a year will elapse with no U.S. citizen in command of the multi-national orbiting outpost. From that date, and throughout the entirety of 2019—for the first time in the station’s two-decade history—we will see a 12-month calendar year without a U.S. ISS Commander. NASA has revealed that no fewer than two European Space Agency (ESA) astronauts will command the ISS during this period, together with three Russian cosmonauts.

Quote
When Kononenko, Saint-Jacques and McClain land in early July, Skripochka will take command of Expedition 60 and lead ISS operations until he and Hammock-Koch return to Earth on 22 October, concluding a 200-day increment. After a few days as a two-member crew, Soyuz MS-13 will launch on 15 July, carrying Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Skvortsov, Italian ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano and NASA’s Drew Morgan. When Skripochka and Hammock-Koch depart on 22 October, Parmitano will command Expedition 61 until his own crew returns to Earth in late January 2020. Shorly thereafter, Soyuz MS-13 will launch with two Russians and an as-yet-unnamed U.S. astronaut. In doing so, Parmitano will be the third European—after Belgium’s Frank de Winne and Germany’s Alexander Gerst—to command the station and the first Italian to do so.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: DistantTemple on 05/30/2018 08:42 pm
Bravo Europe, and European astronauts.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 05/31/2018 06:00 pm
ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano to be Space Station commander on his next flight

31 May 2018

Next year ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano is returning to the International Space Station for his second mission and he will be acting as commander of the weightless research outpost during the second part of his flight.

Luca was the first of ESA’s astronauts selected in 2009 to fly to the Space Station in 2013 and stayed for 166 days. On his Volare mission Luca conducted two spacewalks and collected data for many experiments that are still running today.

Luca commented on the news: “I am honoured that the Space Station programme chose me for this role, and at the same time I am humbled by the task.”

 “Being the commander of the most trained and proficient people on and off Earth can be daunting,” continues Luca, “I see myself as a facilitator, my goal will be to put everybody in the condition to perform to the best of their capability. Ultimately, though, I am responsible for the safety of the crew and the Station, and for overall mission success.”

“I have been lucky enough, in my experience, to work with leaders whom I could look up to: I will do my best to follow their example and mentorship to achieve those goals” concludes Luca.

The Italian astronaut is preparing for his second trip into space by running through simulations and training with the new experiments that he will take part in. He is now training in Russia on the Soyuz spacecraft that will launch him into space alongside NASA astronaut Andrew Morgan and Roscosmos astronaut Alexander Skvortsov.

The trio will be part of Expeditions 60/61 on the Space Station. It is the first time that an Italian astronaut will be commander of the Space Station and only the third time for an ESA astronaut in its 18 years of operation. ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst is set to take up duties as Space Station commander during the second half of his Horizons mission this year.

 “With two ESA astronauts set to run the Space Station as commander in one year, it is a great time for European spaceflight and an example of the international character of our collaboration in space”, says ESA’s director of human and robotic exploration David Parker.

“I am proud of the excellent work done by the astronauts and their trainers to be given the responsibility of humanity’s outpost in space.”

Circling our planet at 28 800 km/h the International Space Station offers space for six astronauts to conduct experiments for researchers all over the world in weightlessness as well as test and demonstrate techniques needed to further explore our Solar System.

Europe’s laboratory Columbus was launched 10 years ago this year and over 200 experiments have been done inside. Columbus houses as many disciplines as possible in a small volume, from astrobiology to solar science through metallurgy and psychology. Countless papers have been published drawing conclusions from experiments performed in Columbus, and Luca will continue the research during his mission.

Follow Luca as he prepares for the mission via lucaparmitano.esa.int.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 05/31/2018 07:08 pm
Also from http://www.americaspace.com/2018/05/30/no-u-s-crew-will-command-the-international-space-station-in-2019/
Quote
Those Commercial Crew missions presently remain in flux, with the unpiloted test-flights of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon and Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner targeted for launch in August 2018, followed by piloted test-flights at year’s end or, more likely, in the first quarter of 2019. Although veteran NASA shuttle and ISS flyers Eric Boe, Doug Hurley, Sunita Williams and former Chief Astronaut Bob Behnken were assigned to the test-flight program in July 2015, it remains to be seen which missions they will actually fly.
“The specific flight assignments for the first Commercial Crew flights haven’t been made yet,” Ms. Dean told AmericaSpace, “but it is not a given that the four “commercial crew cadre” members will be on the first two flights—they may be spread among the first several flights. At this point, everyone has been participating in work on both vehicles and they’ll start focusing on one or the other once they’ve been assigned to a specific flight. And there is a certain amount of space station training that everyone will need, as well.”
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 06/01/2018 07:09 am
The Twitter account of Doug Wheelock says again
Quote
NASA Director of Operations - Star City, Russia
https://twitter.com/Astro_Wheels
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 06/01/2018 05:15 pm
May 31, 2018
RELEASE J18-005
Astronaut Jack Fischer Leaves NASA to Return to U.S. Air Force

After nine years with NASA and 136 days in space, Astronaut Jack Fischer is returning to the U.S. Air Force. His last day with NASA will be Thursday, May 31.

“Jack brought one of the brightest minds and a great deal of enthusiasm to the Astronaut Corps,” said Pat Forrester, chief of the Astronaut Office at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. “We wish him the best as he continues to serve our country in the Air Force.”

Fischer, a colonel in the U.S. Air Force, was born in Louisville, Colorado. He earned a bachelor’s degree in astronautical engineering from the U.S. Air Force Academy, and a master’s degree in aeronautics and astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Fischer is an Air Force Command pilot with more than 3,000 flight hours in more than 45 types of aircraft.

Fischer was selected in July 2009 as a member of the 20th NASA astronaut class, and completed astronaut candidate training in July 2011. He has worked in the CAPCOM (spacecraft communicator), Soyuz, International Space Station operations, space station integration, and exploration branches of the Astronaut Office.

On April 20, 2017, Fischer launched aboard a Russian Soyuz rocket for a five-month mission to the International Space Station. He served as a flight engineer on Expeditions 51 and 52. During his time on orbit, he worked on hundreds of scientific experiments and conducted two spacewalks totaling 6 hours, 59 minutes. One spacewalk was to replace an avionics box and install a connector for the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer and the other was to replace a failed critical computer relay box.

Find Fischer’s complete biography at:

https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/jack-d-fischer
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 06/07/2018 05:11 am
https://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Human_Spaceflight/ESA_astronaut_Pedro_Duque_appointed_to_new_Spanish_government
ESA astronaut Pedro Duque appointed to new Spanish government
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 06/13/2018 03:36 pm
https://twitter.com/SpaceNews_Inc/status/1006743972725886977
Quote
NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine says he’s pushing to have a current NASA center director and former astronaut, Janet Kavandi, be nominated to be his deputy.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 06/15/2018 03:19 pm
     June 15, 2018
RELEASE 18-054
Record-Setting NASA Astronaut Peggy Whitson Retires
Peggy Whitson

NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, who holds the U.S. record for most cumulative time in space, is retiring from the agency, effective Friday.

“Peggy Whitson is a testament to the American spirit,” said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine. “Her determination, strength of mind, character, and dedication to science, exploration, and discovery are an inspiration to NASA and America. We owe her a great debt for her service and she will be missed. We thank her for her service to our agency and country.”

Whitson, a native of Beaconsfield, Iowa, first came to NASA in 1986 as a National Research Council Resident Research Associate at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. She served in a number of scientific roles, including project scientist for the Shuttle-Mir Program and co-chair of the U.S.-Russian Mission Science Working Group, before her selection to the astronaut corps in 1996.

“It has been the utmost honor to have Peggy Whitson represent our entire NASA Flight Operations team,” said Brian Kelly, director of Flight Operations at Johnson. “She set the highest standards for human spaceflight operations, as well as being an outstanding role model for women and men in America and across the globe. Godspeed, Peg.”

As an astronaut, Whitson completed three long-duration missions to the International Space Station, setting records on each. She made her first trip in 2002 as part of Expedition 5, during which she took part in 21 science investigations and became NASA’s first space station science officer. In 2008, Whitson returned on Expedition 16 and became the first female commanderof the space station.

During her most recent mission,spanning Expeditions 50, 51 and 52 from November 2016 to September 2017, Whitson became the first woman to command the space station twice (Expedition 51). She also claimed the title for most spacewalks by a woman – 10 spacewalks totaling 60 hours and 21 minutes – and set the record for most time spent in space by a U.S. astronaut at 665 days.

Whitson’s time on the ground at NASA was no less groundbreaking. She served as chief of the astronaut corps from 2009 to 2012, becoming both the first woman to hold the position and the first non-military astronaut corps chief.

“Peggy is a classmate and a friend, and she will be deeply missed,” said Pat Forrester, current chief of the Astronaut Office. “Along with her record setting career, she leaves behind a legacy of her passion for space.”

Find Whitson’s complete biography at:

https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/peggy-a-whitson

-end-
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 06/19/2018 07:54 am
New crew assignments from the TsPK
http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=155
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 06/21/2018 10:49 am
When will the commercial crew be announced ? August ?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 06/21/2018 11:00 am
Sheikh Mohammed: First UAE astronaut is heading to the stars next year (https://www.thenational.ae/uae/science/sheikh-mohammed-first-uae-astronaut-is-heading-to-the-stars-next-year-1.742182)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 06/29/2018 05:14 pm
June 29, 2018
MEDIA ADVISORY m018-097
Astronaut Dan Burbank Retires from NASA

NASA Astronaut Dan Burbank, who spent 188 days in space over three missions, is retiring from the agency. Friday, June 29, will be his last day with NASA.

“Dan has been a good friend since we began astronaut candidate training together,” said Pat Forrester, chief of the Astronaut Office at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. “He’s done extraordinary work for the agency and has been a valuable member of the NASA team for more than 20 years. He will be missed and we wish him all the best moving forward.”

Burbank began his career in the U.S. Coast Guard, where he achieved the rank of captain and logged more than 4,000 flight hours, primarily in Coast Guard helicopters. He flew more than 2,000 missions – including more than 300 search and rescue missions – before being selected as an astronaut candidate in 1996.

After becoming an astronaut, Burbank flew his first mission aboard space shuttle Atlantis in 2000, a mission specialist on STS-106. He and his crewmates prepared the then-fledgling International Space Station for its first crew, which would arrive two months later. They stayed 12 days and delivered more than three tons of supplies.

He returned to the space station, again aboard Atlantis, for the STS-115 mission in 2006. On that mission, which also lasted 12 days, he and his crewmates delivered a set of electricity-generating solar arrays, which Burbank helped to install during a 7-hour and 11-minute spacewalk.

Burbank’s final trip to the space station lasted more than five months. In November 2011, Burbank launched aboard Soyuz TMA-22 from Baikonur, Kazakhstan, and served as a flight engineer for Expedition 29 and commander of Expedition 30. He and his crew completed 23 major hardware upgrades and six major software upgrades to the command and data handling system, hosted five visiting spacecraft and took part in nearly 200 science experiments before returning to Earth in April 2012.

Between his space missions, Burbank served in a number of technical and managerial positions, most recently as chief of the vehicle integration and test office in the Flight Operations Directorate at NASA Johnson.

Burbank was born in Manchester, Connecticut, but considers Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts, to be his home. He earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in 1985, and a master’s degree in Aeronautical Science from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in 1990.

Burbank’s complete biography is available at:

https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/daniel-c-burbank/biography
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 07/01/2018 07:31 am
Tim Kopra and Rex Walheim are now listed as a management astronaut (from June 28th, 2018)
at: https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/management.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ZachS09 on 07/01/2018 02:23 pm
Tim Kopra and Rex Walheim are now listed as a management astronaut (from June 28th, 2018)
at: https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/management.

Which means that Kopra and Walheim are not eligible for spaceflight for the time being.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 07/05/2018 11:53 am
http://russianspacenews.com/gctc-water-survival-starts/

Quote
GCTC. “Water survival” starts.

On July 2, 2018 a series of training sessions on the actions after landing of the spacecraft on the water surface starts and will last until July 20, 2018.

Six crews will participate in the “water survival”, including seven Russian cosmonauts, six NASA astronauts, one JAXA astronaut.

The trainings are providing by the training and testing team, which includes instructors, doctors, psychologists, divers, translators and other specialists of the GCTC, as well as representatives of NASA and JAXA.

Before the stage of practical training, which will take place in Noginsk rescue center EMERCOM of Russia, the crew will listen to the theoretical course of disciplines.

https://twitter.com/ShuttleAlmanac/status/1014618968026312704

Quote
First crew to begin this years Cosmonaut Water Survival Training at Star City - L-R Babkin, Tikhonov & Cassidy
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 07/06/2018 06:37 am
http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=4279
Sergey Ryazanski will leave the TsPK on July, 16.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Targeteer on 07/06/2018 03:43 pm
http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=4279
Sergey Ryazanski will leave the TsPK on July, 16.

Roscosmos Facebook post

Роскосмос
9 hrs ·

Космонавт Сергей Рязанский принял решение об уходе из Центра подготовки космонавтов в связи с переходом на другую работу. С 2015 года по настоящее время Сергей Рязанский совмещал свою деятельность в ЦПК с руководством общероссийской детско-юношеской организацией «Российское движение школьников».

В 2017 году Герой России Сергей Рязанский блестяще выполнил свой второй космический полет в качестве командира пилотируемого корабля «Союз МС-05» и бортинженера экипажа МКС-52/53.

По возвращении из экспедиции и после прохождения полного курса реабилитации Сергей Николаевич принял решение завершить карьеру космонавта, чтобы полноценно применить свой организаторский опыт на посту Председателя Российского движения школьников. Трудовой договор ФГБУ «НИИ ЦПК имени Ю.А. Гагарина» с инструктором-космонавтом-испытателем 1 класса будет прекращен 16 июля.

«Я благодарен Центру подготовки космонавтов за совместную работу, доверие и возможность реализовывать масштабные проекты», - отметил Сергей Николаевич.

В Роскосмосе и ЦПК уверены, что Сергей Рязанский сможет с полной самоотдачей вывести на новый уровень возглавляемую им общественную организацию, и быть полезным в области развития лидерского потенциала. При этом не исключается возможность возвращения космонавта в ЦПК для возобновления подготовки по новым космическим программам.
Космонавт Sergej Râzanskij has made a decision to leave the cosmonaut training center in connection with the transition to another job. From 2015 to the present, Sergei Ryazan has co-hosted his activities in CPC with the leadership of the Russian children's movement "Russian movement of schoolchildren".

In 2017, the hero of Russia Sergey Ryazan brilliantly performed his second space flight as commander of the manned ship "Union Ms-05" and engineer crew of iss-52/53.

On his return from the expedition and after passing the full course of rehabilitation, Sergei Nikolayevich decided to complete the career of the cosmonaut to fully apply his organizatorskij experience as chairman of the Russian school of schoolchildren. The work contract of the fgbu "NIA CPC NAME I.A. GAGARIN" with the instructor-Astronaut-Test 1 class will be terminated on 16 July.

"I am grateful to the centre for the preparation of cosmonauts for joint work, trust and opportunity to implement large-scale projects",-noted by Sergei Nikolayevich

In Roskosmose and CPC, it is confident that Sergei Ryazan will be able to take a new level to the new level of his public organization, and to be useful in the development of leadership capacity. The possibility of returning an astronaut to CPC to resume training on new space programmes is not excluded.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 07/09/2018 10:58 am
The second crew on survival training
http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=4281
translation from facebook
Last week, two full-time crew of the iss   …   cosmonauts " Roskosmos " Anatoly Ivanishin, Ivan Wagner, NASA Astronaut Stephen Bowen
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 07/11/2018 05:02 pm
Quote
Six crews will participate in the “water survival”, including seven Russian cosmonauts, six NASA astronauts, one JAXA astronaut.

1) crew: Nikolai Tikhonov, Andrei Babkin, Christopher Cassidy;
2) crew: Anatoli Ivanishin, Ivan Vagner, Stephen Bowen;
3) crew: Oleg Skripochka, Christina Hammock Koch;
4) crew: Andrei Borisenko, Jessica Meir;
5) crew: Sergei Ryzhikov, Thomas Marshburn, Soichi Noguchi (JAXA);
6) crew: 1 GCTC instructor, Drew Morgan;
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 07/13/2018 03:15 pm
3) crew portrait
4) crew portrait
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 07/19/2018 07:41 am
https://twitter.com/Astro_Soichi/status/1019808797894815744
Quote
Meat new #Soyuz 59S backup crew! Water survival training in #Russia
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 07/24/2018 05:26 pm
https://twitter.com/BoeingSpace/status/1021761282377113600
Quote
An exciting day for the entire #Starliner and @BoeingSpace team! Let's get ready to fly! Learn more about #Boeing test pilot @Astro_Ferg via @washingtonpost and @wapodavenport.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/business/wp/2018/07/24/feature/nasa-trained-boeing-employed-chris-ferguson-hopes-to-make-history-as-a-company-astronaut/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.c4f991ffff52
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 07/25/2018 07:06 am
https://twitter.com/ShuttleAlmanac/status/1021944263796383745
Quote
So its official @Astro_Ferg will be flying the first @BoeingSpace #CST100 Starliner as a company Test pilot along with two yet to be named @NASA_Astronauts from the @Commercial_Crew group of four. The @NASA crew will be named Aug. 7.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 07/25/2018 05:54 pm
Gregory C. "Ray J" Johnson is now listed on the former astronaut page at: (https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/former) from July 24th, 2018.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 07/25/2018 09:18 pm
Quote
July 25, 2018
MEDIA ADVISORY M18-111
NASA to Name Astronauts Assigned to First Boeing, SpaceX Flights

NASA will announce on Friday, Aug. 3, the astronauts assigned to crew the first flight tests and missions of the Boeing CST-100 Starliner and SpaceX Crew Dragon, and begin a new era in American spaceflight. NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine will preside over the event, which will begin at 11 a.m. EDT on NASA Television and the agency’s website.

NASA will announce the crew assignments for the crew flight tests and the first post-certification mission for both Boeing and SpaceX. NASA partnered with Boeing and SpaceX to develop the Starliner spacecraft to launch atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket and the Crew Dragon launching atop the Falcon 9 rocket, respectively.

U.S. media are invited to attend the event at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston and, afterward, speak with the astronauts about their assignments. Media wishing to attend must contact Johnson's newsroom at 281-483-5111 by 4 p.m. CDT Wednesday, Aug. 1.

Johnson Space Center Director Mark Geyer and Kennedy Space Center Director Bob Cabana will join Bridenstine and representatives from Boeing and SpaceX to introduce the crews.

NASA’s Commercial Crew Program is working with the American aerospace industry as companies develop and operate a new generation of spacecraft and launch systems designed to carry crews safely to and from low-Earth orbit. The Starliner and Crew Dragon will launch American astronauts on American-made spacecraft from American soil to the International Space Station for the first time since NASA retired its Space Shuttle Program in 2011.

Commercial transportation to and from the space station will enable expanded station use, additional research time and broader opportunities of discovery aboard the orbiting laboratory. The station is critical for NASA to understand and overcome the challenges of long-duration spaceflight, and necessary for a sustainable presence on the Moon and missions deeper into the solar system, including Mars.

Following the announcement, the astronauts will participate in a Reddit Ask Me Anything at 12:30 p.m. at:

https://www.reddit.com/r/AMA/

Images and video highlights from the announcement will be available at:

https://images.nasa.gov


Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 07/26/2018 09:33 pm
6) crew: 1 GCTC instructor, Drew Morgan;
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 07/29/2018 03:27 pm
Koichi Wakata now works as
Quote
Japanese space agency’s vice president and director general for human spaceflight Technology.
https://spacenews.com/jaxa-astronaut-charts-future/

Is also mentioned here http://global.jaxa.jp/about/director/index.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 08/02/2018 04:57 am
New task for Yang Liwei?
https://twitter.com/AJ_FI/status/1024723449158230017
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: vp. on 08/02/2018 12:05 pm
Quote
July 25, 2018
MEDIA ADVISORY M18-111
NASA to Name Astronauts Assigned to First Boeing, SpaceX Flights

NASA will announce on Friday, Aug. 3, the astronauts assigned to crew the first flight tests and missions of the Boeing CST-100 Starliner and SpaceX Crew Dragon, and begin a new era in American spaceflight. NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine will preside over the event, which will begin at 11 a.m. EDT on NASA Television and the agency’s website.

NASA will announce the crew assignments for the crew flight tests and the first post-certification mission for both Boeing and SpaceX. NASA partnered with Boeing and SpaceX to develop the Starliner spacecraft to launch atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket and the Crew Dragon launching atop the Falcon 9 rocket, respectively.

U.S. media are invited to attend the event at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston and, afterward, speak with the astronauts about their assignments. Media wishing to attend must contact Johnson's newsroom at 281-483-5111 by 4 p.m. CDT Wednesday, Aug. 1.

Johnson Space Center Director Mark Geyer and Kennedy Space Center Director Bob Cabana will join Bridenstine and representatives from Boeing and SpaceX to introduce the crews.

NASA’s Commercial Crew Program is working with the American aerospace industry as companies develop and operate a new generation of spacecraft and launch systems designed to carry crews safely to and from low-Earth orbit. The Starliner and Crew Dragon will launch American astronauts on American-made spacecraft from American soil to the International Space Station for the first time since NASA retired its Space Shuttle Program in 2011.

Commercial transportation to and from the space station will enable expanded station use, additional research time and broader opportunities of discovery aboard the orbiting laboratory. The station is critical for NASA to understand and overcome the challenges of long-duration spaceflight, and necessary for a sustainable presence on the Moon and missions deeper into the solar system, including Mars.

Following the announcement, the astronauts will participate in a Reddit Ask Me Anything at 12:30 p.m. at:

https://www.reddit.com/r/AMA/

Images and video highlights from the announcement will be available at:

https://images.nasa.gov


Someone starts the game of predictions ?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 08/02/2018 12:17 pm
I think at least 1 or 2 of the unassigned rookies from Group 21 will be included. Josh Cassada, Victor Glover, Nicole Mann. Jessica Meir is assigned to a Soyuz backup crew but will likely make her first flight on a CCV. I think Doug Wheelock is a good possibility. Akihido Hoshide has been assigned to expeditions 64/65. Jeanette Epps?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 08/02/2018 02:12 pm
As of May 2018, Hopkins and Fincke were both assistants to the chief for Commercial Crew, so...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Mammutti on 08/02/2018 03:31 pm
Quote
NASA’s last space shuttle commander — former U.S. Navy fighter pilot Chris Ferguson — will fly Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner crew capsule on its first piloted test mission to the International Space Station next year.

https://spaceflightnow.com/2018/08/02/nasas-last-shuttle-commander-to-helm-test-flight-of-boeing-crew-capsule/
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: punder on 08/02/2018 03:38 pm
Interesting quote from Ferguson. I'll have to track down the interview.

In an interview with the Washington Post, Ferguson said the competition between Boeing and SpaceX is “sort of grown-up capture the flag … It probably has a lot more significance to me than it does to, say, somebody from our competition.”

Hey... this is the "Fergie" from the couple of launch/reentry videos I've watched lately??
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SWGlassPit on 08/02/2018 04:45 pm
Interesting quote from Ferguson. I'll have to track down the interview.

In an interview with the Washington Post, Ferguson said the competition between Boeing and SpaceX is “sort of grown-up capture the flag … It probably has a lot more significance to me than it does to, say, somebody from our competition.”

Hey... this is the "Fergie" from the couple of launch/reentry videos I've watched lately??

Yes -- most recently, he was CDR for STS-135.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 08/03/2018 03:39 pm
https://twitter.com/spacecom/status/1025404066749276160
Boeing Flight Test:
Eric Boe - Chris Ferguson - Nicole Anapu Mann 

SpaceX Crew Dragon Flight Test
Bob Behnken - Doug Hurley 

Boeing Starliner Commercial Flight
John Cassada - Suni William 

SpaceX Crew Dragon Commercial Flight
Victor Glover - Mike Hopkins
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Galactic Penguin SST on 08/03/2018 03:41 pm
Some questions mainly on how ISS crew rotation will be done once US spacecraft starts carrying people to space again:

- Why only 2 people per flight on the first missions with long term crew? Shouldn't it be 4?
- Would Russian cosmonauts fly on US spacecraft per this plan?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: gongora on 08/03/2018 03:43 pm
Some questions mainly on how ISS crew rotation will be done once US spacecraft starts carrying people to space again:

- Why only 2 people per flight on the first missions with long term crew? Shouldn't it be 4?
- Would Russian cosmonauts fly on US spacecraft per this plan?

also each flight will probably have a European/Canadian/Japanese astronaut.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Orbiter on 08/03/2018 04:00 pm
Great to see Williams returning to an ISS expedition.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 08/03/2018 04:09 pm
I presume there will also be backup crews assigned.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 08/03/2018 04:20 pm
from https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-assigns-crews-to-first-test-flights-missions-on-commercial-spacecraft

"Additional crew members will be assigned by NASA’s international partners at a later date."
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: woods170 on 08/03/2018 08:53 pm
I presume there will also be backup crews assigned.
That is an incorrect assumption. NASA stopped using back-up crews a long time ago.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 08/03/2018 09:15 pm
Quote
Butch Wilmore will serve as backup for both the test flight and first mission crews for Boeing's Starliner. Kjell Lindgren will be the backup for both the test flight and first mission crews for SpaceX's Dragon.

Mission positions (e.g. commander, pilot, etc.) have not yet been decided and will be announced at a later time.

(http://www.collectspace.com/ubb/Forum35/HTML/000729.html)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 08/04/2018 02:00 am
And yes, NASA still does name backup crews for ISS Expedition assignments.  Has done so all along.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: woods170 on 08/05/2018 12:06 pm
And yes, NASA still does name backup crews for ISS Expedition assignments.  Has done so all along.
That is for long-duration missions. DM-2 and CFT are short-duration missions that don't have backup crews.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 08/05/2018 12:18 pm
Wilmore is backup for Starliner demo. Lindgren is backup for Dragon 2 demo.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 08/05/2018 12:25 pm
Wilmore is backup for Starliner demo. Lindgren is backup for Dragon 2 demo.
According to the stament above
Quote
Butch Wilmore will serve as backup for both the test flight and first mission crews for Boeing's Starliner.
and
Quote
Kjell Lindgren will be the backup for both the test flight and first mission crews for SpaceX's Dragon.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 08/09/2018 11:54 am
http://www.collectspace.com/ubb/Forum35/HTML/000729-2.html
Quote
According to Johnson Space Center public affairs, Wilmore and Lindgren are the only backups for the astronauts assigned to their respective assigned companies' flight test and first post-certification mission (PCM).
It is still to be seen if Russia or the other international partners assign backups for their crew members (to be announced later) on the PCM flights.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 08/09/2018 09:04 pm
Gregory C. "Ray J" Johnson is now listed on the former astronaut page at: (https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/former) from July 24th, 2018.


August 9, 2018
MEDIA ADVISORY: M18-008

Veteran Astronaut and Aviator Retires from NASA

Gregory C. “Ray J” Johnson, who piloted the space shuttle and more than 50 different aircraft, has retired after 28 years of service to the agency.

Johnson came to NASA in 1990 as a research and instructor pilot in the Aircraft Operations division at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. He was selected as an astronaut in 1998 and piloted space shuttle Atlantis on the STS-125 mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope in 2009. Most recently he had served as the chief of the Aircraft Operations division and deputy chief of the Flight Operations Directorate.

"Working and flying with Ray J has always been a pleasure," said Brian Kelly, director of Flight Operations. "We will miss him both in the office and in the air, but we wish him the best as he begins a new phase in his career.”

Johnson is a retired U.S. Navy Captain from Seattle, Washington. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics from the University of Washington, and graduated from the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base in California.

During the STS-125 mission, Johnson and his crewmates spent 12 days, 21 hours and 37 minutes in space, making repairs on the Hubble Space Telescope. They orbited the Earth 197 times, traveling more than 5 million miles.

In addition to piloting Atlantis in space, during his time at NASA, Johnson also piloted the T-38 jets used to train astronauts, the WB-57 high altitude research plane, the KC-97 Super Guppy and the KC-135 zero-gravity plane, among others. He was the fifth chief of the Aircraft Operations division chief in the group’s more than 55 years of operation, before being named deputy chief of the Flight Operations directorate.

Between his time in the Navy and at NASA, Johnson has logged more than 11,800 hours in more than 50 aircraft.

For Johnson’s complete biography, visit:

https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/johnson-gc.pdf
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 08/17/2018 03:28 pm
Walter Villadei is back on training in the TsPK.
https://www.airpressonline.it/34702/villadei-russia-addestramento/ (in Italian)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 08/30/2018 08:28 am
Astronaut candidate resigns from NASA for first time in 50 years  (https://eu.usatoday.com/story/tech/nation-now/2018/08/28/nasa-astronaut-candidate-resignation-rare/1124236002/)

What happened ?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aurora899 on 08/30/2018 08:39 am
Astronaut candidate resigns from NASA for first time in 50 years  (https://eu.usatoday.com/story/tech/nation-now/2018/08/28/nasa-astronaut-candidate-resignation-rare/1124236002/)

What happened ?

There's a separate thread for this:

https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=43104.0
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 08/30/2018 08:53 am
Why create a separate thread when there is already a thread about Flight crew assignments where these things are already discussed. This is very confusing a a good way to make sure this discussion will eventually be lost.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: aurora899 on 08/30/2018 09:00 am
Why create a separate thread when there is already a thread about Flight crew assignments where these things are already discussed. This is very confusing a a good way to make sure this discussion will eventually be lost.

That's not a new thread. And it's dedicated to the astronaut class of which Robb Kulin is (was) a member.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 08/31/2018 08:45 pm
https://twitter.com/Thom_astro/status/1035560186415644672
Quote
Today, long time colleague German astronaut Reinhold Ewald is retiring ! Nice ceremony for a long career (including a space flight to Mir). Farewell !!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 09/05/2018 09:19 am
Is there a thread somewhere for the two Emirati astronauts who got announced on Monday ?

UAE names 2 astronauts to International Space Station  (https://gulfnews.com/news/uae/society/uae-names-2-astronauts-to-international-space-station-1.2274003)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 09/05/2018 10:23 am
Is there a thread somewhere for the two Emirati astronauts who got announced on Monday ?

UAE names 2 astronauts to International Space Station  (https://gulfnews.com/news/uae/society/uae-names-2-astronauts-to-international-space-station-1.2274003)
It is in this thread.
https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=45883.20
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 09/18/2018 10:14 am
http://www.esa.int/ger/ESA_in_your_country/Germany/Presseeinladung_zur_Graduierung_von_ESA-Astronaut_Matthias_Maurer

Presseeinladung zur Graduierung von ESA-Astronaut Matthias Maurer

18 September 2018
Medienvertreter sind am Dienstag, 25. September 2018 anlässlich der Graduierung von ESA-Astronaut Matthias Maurer herzlich ins Europäische Astronautenzentrum in Köln eingeladen. Als zweites deutsches Mitglied der aktuellen „ESA-Astronautenklasse 2009“ hat Maurer vor kurzem seine Grundausbildung abgeschlossen und ist nun bereit für das so genannte missionspezifische Training, das ihn auf seinen ersten Raumflug vorbereiten wird.

Erwartet werden weiterhin Thomas Jarzombek, Koordinator der Bundesregierung für Luft- und Raumfahrt im Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie, Armin Laschet, Ministerpräsident des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen, Tobias Hans, Ministerpräsident des Saarlandes sowie Pascale Ehrenfreund, Vorstandsvorsitzende des Deutschen Zentrums für Luft- und Raumfahrt und Jan Wörner, Generaldirektor der Europäischen Weltraumorganisation ESA. Matthias Maurer ist promovierter Materialwissenschaftler (RWTH Aachen) und studierte an der Universität des Saarlandes, der University of Leeds, der European School for Materials Technology in Nancy, der Fernuniversität Hagen und der UPC Barcelona. Er bewarb sich im Rahmen der letzten Astronauten-Auswahlrunde der ESA und arbeitet seit 2010 im Europäischen Astronautenzentrum EAC in Köln.

Programm – 25. September 2018

Ab 09:00
Eintreffen, Aufbau

10:00 – 10:05
Begrüßung und Einführung durch Frank De Winne, Leiter des Europäischen Astronautenzentrums (EAC) der ESA

10:05 – 10:50
Begrüßung durch Jan Wörner, ESA-Generaldirektor

Statements von

Pascale Ehrenfreund (Vorstandsvorsitzende DLR)
 Thomas Jarzombek (Koordinator der Bundesregierung für Luft- und Raumfahrt)
 Armin Laschet (Ministerpräsident NRW)
Tobias Hans (Ministerpräsident Saarland)

Matthias Maurer (ESA Astronaut)

10:50 – 11:00
Video “Matthias Maurer im Training”

Übergabe des Zertifikats an Matthias Maurer durch Jan Wörner

Gruppenfoto

11:00 – 12:00
Pool- und individuelle Interviews


-----

Press invitation for the graduation of ESA astronaut Matthias Maurer

18 september 2018

Media representatives are cordially invited to the European Astronaut Center in Cologne on Tuesday, September 25, 2018, on the occasion of the graduation of ESA astronaut Matthias Maurer. As the second German member of the current "ESA Astronaut Class 2009" Maurer has recently completed his basic training and is now ready for the so-called mission-specific training that will prepare him for his first space flight.

Thomas Jarzombek, Coordinator of the Federal Government for Aerospace in the Federal Ministry of Economics and Energy, Armin Laschet, Prime Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, Tobias Hans, Prime Minister of Saarland and Pascale Ehrenfreund, Chairman of the German Aerospace Center, are also expected and Jan Wörner, Director General of the European Space Agency ESA. Matthias Maurer holds a doctorate in materials science (RWTH Aachen University) and studied at the University of Saarland, the University of Leeds, the European School for Materials Technology in Nancy, the Fernuniversität Hagen and the UPC Barcelona. He applied for ESA's last astronaut selection round and has been working at the European Astronaut Center EAC in Cologne since 2010.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 09/25/2018 12:34 pm
ESA's article on him:
http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Human_Spaceflight/Astronauts/Matthias_Maurer_graduates_as_ESA_astronaut
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 09/26/2018 07:03 am
Press release, 25 September 2018

Matthias Maurer officially becomes an astronaut

On 25 September 2018, Matthias Maurer graduated as an astronaut – an accolade granted following basic cosmonaut training – thereby receiving formal approval for a flight into space. The ceremony took place in the European Astronaut Centre (EAC) at
the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum fuer Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR) site in Cologne.

"Germany has been one of the leading nations for space travel for 40 years now. The appointment of Matthias Maurer gives Germany another representative on the European astronaut team," says Professor Pascale Ehrenfreund, Chair of the DLR Executive
Board. "This ensures that the magnificent work of Sigmund Jaehn, the first German in space, and our country's 10 other astronauts and cosmonauts, who have a total of 16 missions between them, will be successfully continued."

Johann-Dietrich Woerner, Director General of the European Space Agency (ESA), presented Maurer with his certificate at the formal ceremony attended by invited guests. In addition to Professor Ehrenfreund, other dignitaries congratulated the German
astronaut, who is a Saarland native. They included Armin Laschet, the Minister President of North Rhine-Westphalia; Tobias Hans, the Prime Minister of Saarland; and Thomas Jarzombek, Federal Government Coordinator of German Aerospace Policy. "We are
all sharing the excitement with your colleague Alexander Gerst and his horizons mission at the moment. Therefore, the time to publicly announce your graduation is well chosen. I expect and hope – for you and for the sake of us all – that you too will
be on a mission to space very soon. The German government supports this goal," says Thomas Jarzombek. Walther Pelzer, Head of the DLR Space Administration and thus responsible for German contributions to the European Space Agency (ESA) on behalf of
the German government, adds: "Germany, with its 40 percent contribution, is the leading European user of the ISS. We can well imagine that the ISS will also be used beyond 2024, so we are especially pleased that Matthias Maurer has successfully completed
his basic training to become an astronaut."

NRW Minister President Laschet subsequently took the opportunity to exchange views with Professor Ehrenfreund; with Hansjoerg Dittus, DLR Executive Board Member for Space Research and Technology; and with Walther Pelzer, Head of the DLR Space Administration.

Only all-rounders and multitaskers become astronauts

Matthias Maurer joined the European astronaut corps in Cologne in July 2015. During his 18-month basic training, he had to learn and develop a whole range of skills, initially as a candidate for an ESA astronaut job. Extensive knowledge of scientific
theory and practice, physical fitness and mental resilience were the basic prerequisites. During his training, the prospective astronaut became acquainted with the technical functions of the International Space Station (ISS) and gained medical knowledge,
practised extravehicular activity in an underwater simulator, and learned to speak Russian and Chinese. From social skills to interdisciplinary expertise: only genuine all-rounders are capable of gaining the important insights required for technical
progress in science and society under space conditions.

The graduation ceremony marked the end of Maurer's basic training. Now the journey of the @Explornaut, as he calls himself on Twitter, can really begin – to a space station, the Moon or beyond.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 10/03/2018 07:02 am
October 02, 2018
MEDIA ADVISORY M18-010

Astronaut Tim Kopra Leaves NASA

After 20 years and two spaceflights, Astronaut Tim Kopra is leaving NASA. His last day was Oct. 1, 2018.

Kopra, born in Austin, Texas, and a retired colonel in the U.S. Army, was selected as an astronaut in 2000. He flew on two space shuttles and was a member of two International Space Station expeditions.

“I had the pleasure of flying with Tim during STS-128,” said Pat Forrester, chief of the Astronaut Office at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. “It was an honor to serve with him in space and on the ground. He has a tremendous work ethic and a breadth of knowledge and experience. We wish him the best in his future endeavors.”

Kopra was assigned to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston in September 1998 as a vehicle integration test engineer. In that position, he served as an engineering liaison for space shuttle launch operations and space station hardware testing.

After his selection and initial astronaut training, Kopra served in the Space Station Branch of the Astronaut Office, where he was involved in the testing of crew interfaces for two space station modules as well as the implementation of support computers and operational Local Area Network on the station.

On July 15, 2009, Kopra launched on the space shuttle Endeavour with the STS-127 crew to the space station. He served as a flight engineer on Expedition 20, where he performed one spacewalk totaling 5 hours and 32 minutes, executed tasks with the space station and Japanese robotic arms, and conducted numerous science experiments. He returned to Earth with the STS-128 crew aboard the space shuttle Discovery on Sept. 11, 2009.

Kopra flew to the space station again as a flight engineer for Soyuz-19M and Expedition 46 and was commander of Expedition 47 from December 2015 to June 2016. During 186 days onboard, Kopra and his crewmates completed human research studies in ocular health, cognition, salivary markers and microbiome. The crew also welcomed four cargo spacecraft, including one that delivered the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module, an expandable habitat technology demonstration. Kopra ventured outside for two spacewalks, totaling 7 hours 59 minutes. The objective of the first spacewalk was to move the station’s mobile transporter rail car to a secure position. On the second spacewalk, Kopra helped replace a failed voltage regulator to restore power to one of the station’s eight power channels. He returned to Earth on June 18, 2016.

In total, he logged a total of 244 days in space on two spaceflights, and 13 hours and 31 minutes on three spacewalks.

Kopra earned a bachelor’s degree from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, a master’s degree in aerospace engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology, a master’s degree in strategic studies from U.S. Army College, and a master’s of business administration degree from Columbia Business School and London Business School.

Find Kopra’s complete biography at:

https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/timothy-l-kopra/biography
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 10/08/2018 03:55 pm
According to his own statement here https://twitter.com/JimBridenstine/status/1049286500829999105 Joe Acaba is the current Director of Operations - Russia.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 10/30/2018 12:06 pm
https://spacepolicyonline.com/news/todays-tidbits-october-29-2018/
Quote
Epps Not Sure Why She was Bumped From ISS Mission

NASA astronaut Jeanette Epps reiterated today that she does not know why she was removed from her mission to the International Space Station (ISS).  Epps was training in Russia for the Expedition 56/57 mission that launched in June on Soyuz MS-09 when she was informed that she would not fly after all.   She was replaced by Serena Auñón-Chancellor.
Epps would have been the first African-American on a long-duration ISS expedition mission.
Speaking at a CSIS event this evening, she said her removal was a “management decision” that she does not yet understand and “we are still working through it.”  Asked if it was racially motivated or if the Russians were involved, she emphasized that her training was going well and her work with the Russians was “very friendly and very warm. … I wouldn’t say that the Russians had anything to do with this. … In my opinion I don’t think that they did.  Whether race played an issue,  I don’t know what’s in the mind of other people, I can’t say that, oh, definitely, or anything like that.  So I’m not quite sure of the reasons myself.  I do see a lot in the media of people speculating, but it is all speculation at this point.”
She has not been assigned to another mission yet, but is hopeful that’s in her future.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Lar on 10/30/2018 01:23 pm
Dropping hints that something was amiss with the removal decision, even very indirect ones, is probably not the way to get another assignment.  It's difficult not to do this when you are questioned about it repeatedly but astronauts are selected in part for their public facing skills. Which includes not answering questions.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SpacedX on 10/30/2018 03:01 pm
Hi Lar,

Could you point out how she indirectly made out like something was amiss?

It looks to me like she deflected some rather pointed questions about racism being the root cause. Well done.

And it seems to me NASA owes some kind of explanation to her and to the African American community who may very well doubt the motivation for NASA's decision.

cheers
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Lar on 10/31/2018 04:06 am
Sure. and this is my view only, could be a misread of the vibe...

Quote
"Whether race played an issue,  I don’t know what’s in the mind of other people, I can’t say that, oh, definitely, or anything like that.  So I’m not quite sure of the reasons myself.  I do see a lot in the media of people speculating, but it is all speculation at this point.”

Saying you don't know if race played an issue is an indirect way of suggesting it did...  But I wouldn't be surprised if it actually did, we've come a long way since the events of Hidden Figures (which were dramatized) but on the other hand, no we haven't.

I'm loth to get into this too much and maybe I shouldn't have said anything at all.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 10/31/2018 07:12 am
I find it hard to believe that racism is the issue why she was removed....

Why would she even be selected as an astronaut, let alone be selected to the MS-09 crew if that would be the issue, why go to all that and pull her of the flight so close to launch, being it racism.... To me that would not make sense...

So it has to be a training issue since we can rule out a medical issue now, since that would have been know to Epps...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: A_M_Swallow on 10/31/2018 06:29 pm
If the Russians rejected Jeanette Epps because she was a woman or black or both then NASA can gain a public relations revenge by sending her to the all American B330 module on a commercial crew capsule.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: The man in the can on 10/31/2018 09:55 pm
If the Russians rejected Jeanette Epps because she was a woman or black or both ...
or coming from the CIA...  ;)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Lar on 11/01/2018 04:53 pm
If the Russians rejected Jeanette Epps because she was a woman or black or both ...
or coming from the CIA...  ;)
(mod) OK no. That is already farther than we should go on that particular line of inquiry.

Another post got removed (not by me) for good reason[1]


1 - pro tip, if your post starts out "mods please feel free to remove if objectionable" it's probably objectionable, save your electrons. 
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 11/24/2018 09:20 am
https://twitter.com/astro_duque/status/1066039183972679680
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: gongora on 12/03/2018 06:04 pm
https://twitter.com/flatoday_jdean/status/1069663003321217024
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 12/03/2018 07:34 pm
December 03, 2018
RELEASE 18-106

NASA Astronaut Nick Hague Set for New Space Station Mission After abort

NASA astronaut Nick Hague, who was forced to abort his recent mission to the International Space Station, is scheduled to launch again Feb. 28, 2019, from the Baikonour Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

Hague will launch with Alexey Ovchinin of the Russian space agency Roscosmos, who was his commander and crewmate on the aborted mission in October, and NASA astronaut Christina Hammock Koch aboard the Russian Soyuz MS-12 spacecraft. The trio will join the station’s Expedition 59 crew and return to Earth in October 2019 as members of Expedition 60. Hague and Koch will serve as flight engineers for Expeditions 59 and 60. Ovchinin will serve as a flight engineer on Expedition 59 and the commander of Expedition 60.

Hague will be available for media interviews at 7 a.m. EST Friday, Dec. 7. To schedule an interview, media must contact Megan Sumner at [email protected] or 281-483-5111 by noon Thursday, Dec. 4.

All three crew members will participate in a news conference at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 12, at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. The news conference will air live on NASA TV and the agency’s website. To participate in person, media must contact Johnson’s newsroom at 281-483-5111 by 5 p.m. on Dec. 11 for credentials. To participate by phone, media must contact Johnson’s newsroom by 1:45 p.m. Dec. 12.

During their mission, the station crew will take part in about 250 research investigations and technology demonstrations not possible on Earth to advance scientific knowledge of Earth, space, physical, and biological sciences. Science conducted on the space station continues to yield benefits for humanity and will enable future long-duration human and robotic exploration on missions to the Moon and Mars. The crew also is scheduled to be onboard during the first test flights of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, which will return human spaceflight launches to U.S. soil.

This will be Koch’s first spaceflight. Hague and Ovchinin were scheduled to join the station’s Expedition 57 crew on Oct. 11, but were forced to abort their mission when their Soyuz’s rocket booster experienced a malfunction shortly after launch. Flight dynamics specialists determined Hague and Ovchinin achieved enough altitude on their aborted climb to orbit to qualify for previous spaceflight status, making this Hague’s second spaceflight and Ovchinin’s third.

Hague is a native of Hoxie, Kansas, and a colonel in the U.S. Air Force. Prior to his selection as an astronaut in 2013, he was part of the Air Force Fellows Program in Washington, where he worked as an adviser to the U.S. Senate on matters of national defense and foreign policy. He earned a bachelor’s degree in astronautical engineering from the U.S. Air Force Academy and a master’s degree in aeronautical and astronautical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Koch, who grew up in Jacksonville, North Carolina, earned bachelor’s degrees in electrical engineering and physics and a master’s degree in electrical engineering from North Carolina State University in Raleigh. Her career includes experience as an electrical engineer focusing on space science instrument design at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, and the Johns Hopkins University’s Applied Physics Lab, in Laurel, Maryland. She also worked as a research associate with the United States Antarctic Program, completing several deployments, including spending the winter at the South Pole. Her work at remote scientific research stations went on to include sessions as a field engineer in the Arctic and as station chief with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in American Samoa. She was selected by NASA as an astronaut in 2013.

See video of Hague’s launch, abort, and landing, as well as interviews and family welcome at:

https://www.nasa.gov/feature/astronaut-cosmonaut-safe-after-abort-during-launch-to-international-space-station

Follow Hague on social media at:

https://twitter.com/AstroHague

https://www.facebook.com/astrohague

Follow Koch on social media at:

https://twitter.com/Astro_Christina

https://www.facebook.com/AstroChristina

https://www.instagram.com/astro_christina
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 12/04/2018 07:58 am
Interesting news(if correct)
http://militarynews.ru/story.asp?rid=1&nid=496858
Google Translation
Quote
"The UAE astronaut will go to the station in October 2019 for a week and a half on the Soyuz MS-15," a source said.
As expected, the first UAE astronaut will return to Earth on the descent vehicle of the Soyuz MS-12.
"For this, the possibility is being studied that the cosmonaut Alexei Ovchinin, who after the emergency landing in October in the spring will again start on the ISS, will spend at the station twice as long as planned - a year instead of six months and will return to Earth on the descent vehicle of Soyuz MS-15 in the first half of 2020, "- said the source.
This would require, that Nick Hague will be the commander of Soyuz MS-12 during the descent, because there will be no Russian in this Soyuz.
Is this possible?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 12/04/2018 09:37 am
Interesting news(if correct)
http://militarynews.ru/story.asp?rid=1&nid=496858
Google Translation
Quote
"The UAE astronaut will go to the station in October 2019 for a week and a half on the Soyuz MS-15," a source said.
As expected, the first UAE astronaut will return to Earth on the descent vehicle of the Soyuz MS-12.
"For this, the possibility is being studied that the cosmonaut Alexei Ovchinin, who after the emergency landing in October in the spring will again start on the ISS, will spend at the station twice as long as planned - a year instead of six months and will return to Earth on the descent vehicle of Soyuz MS-15 in the first half of 2020, "- said the source.
This would require, that Nick Hague will be the commander of Soyuz MS-12 during the descent, because there will be no Russian in this Soyuz.
Is this possible?

Yes it is possible, if true, almost all astronauts are trained to land a Soyuz... I know all ESA astronauts have Soyuz landing certification.. So I would assume Hague will have this also, if not he has until February to train for it... And he has already had a Soyuz landing.... plus A Soyuz landing is almost automatic all the way down, there is not much a crew does during decent.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: woods170 on 12/04/2018 11:04 am
Interesting news(if correct)
http://militarynews.ru/story.asp?rid=1&nid=496858
Google Translation
Quote
"The UAE astronaut will go to the station in October 2019 for a week and a half on the Soyuz MS-15," a source said.
As expected, the first UAE astronaut will return to Earth on the descent vehicle of the Soyuz MS-12.
"For this, the possibility is being studied that the cosmonaut Alexei Ovchinin, who after the emergency landing in October in the spring will again start on the ISS, will spend at the station twice as long as planned - a year instead of six months and will return to Earth on the descent vehicle of Soyuz MS-15 in the first half of 2020, "- said the source.
This would require, that Nick Hague will be the commander of Soyuz MS-12 during the descent, because there will be no Russian in this Soyuz.
Is this possible?

Yes it is possible, if true, almost all astronauts are trained to land a Soyuz... I know all ESA astronauts have Soyuz landing certification.. So I would assume Hague will have this also, if not he has until February to train for it... And he has already had a Soyuz landing.... plus A Soyuz landing is almost automatic all the way down, there is not much a crew does during decent.


I can confirm that Hague is certified for landing a Soyuz.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 12/30/2018 07:33 am
https://twitter.com/Astro_Soichi/status/1079263473597444096
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 12/31/2018 03:01 pm
https://twitter.com/Astro_Soichi/status/1079764995196346368
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 01/22/2019 12:08 pm
http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=4490
In Russia started the winter survival training.
As participants are planned : Thomas Marshburn from NASA, the two cosmonauts from the UAE and from Roscosmos Anatoli Ivanishin, Ivan Vagner, Nikolai Tikhonov, Andrei Babkin and the eight candidates from the 2018 selection.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 01/22/2019 07:17 pm
https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-announces-updated-crew-assignment-for-boeing-flight-test

Quote
NASA Announces Updated Crew Assignment for Boeing Flight Test

(https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/thumbnails/image/jsc2011e050736.jpg)


NASA astronaut Mike Fincke has been added to the crew of the Boeing CST-100 Starliner’s Crew Flight Test. He previously served as an International Space Station flight engineer and science officer on Expedition 9, and commanded the station on Expedition 18.
Credits: NASA

NASA astronaut E. Michael “Mike” Fincke has been added to the crew of the Boeing CST-100 Starliner’s Crew Flight Test, scheduled to launch later this year.

Fincke takes the place of astronaut Eric Boe, originally assigned to the mission in August 2018. Boe is unable to fly due to medical reasons; he will replace Fincke as the assistant to the chief for commercial crew in the astronaut office at NASA’s Johnson Space Center.

This will be Fincke’s fourth trip to space since joining the astronaut corps in 1996. He previously served as an International Space Station flight engineer and science officer on Expedition 9, and commanded the station on Expedition 18. He returned as a mission specialist for the STS-134 crew on space shuttle Endeavour’s final mission. So far, the Pennsylvania native has spent 382 days in space and performed nine spacewalks.

In addition, Fincke, who is a retired U.S. Air Force colonel, has served as assistant to the chief for commercial crew in the astronaut office since 2013. In that role, he has worked closely with both Boeing and SpaceX, and with the astronauts assigned to their vehicles on the development and testing of the new spacecraft.

Fincke will begin training immediately alongside NASA’s Nicole Mann and Boeing’s Chris Ferguson, who were both assigned to the mission in August 2018.

The Starliner’s Crew Flight Test will be the first time that the new spacecraft, which is being developed and built by Boeing as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, is launched into space with humans on board. An uncrewed flight test of the Starliner will test the spacecraft’s critical systems prior to Fincke, Ferguson and Mann’s launch.

Follow Fincke on Twitter at @astroironmike.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: DwightM on 01/22/2019 09:11 pm
Here's to a speedy recovery for Eric.
Wasn't Barry Wilmore the Boeing backup?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ZachS09 on 01/23/2019 03:52 am
Here's to a speedy recovery for Eric.
Wasn't Barry Wilmore the Boeing backup?

Wilmore is the backup for both the CFT and the first operational flight of Starliner, but I never heard of Mike Fincke training for the CC missions.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 01/23/2019 01:46 pm
https://twitter.com/janwoerner/status/1088050840244535296
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 01/27/2019 09:10 am
Do we have an information about the name of the Russian cosmonaut (and a possible back-up), who is intended to launch on USCV-1/Crew-1? If they want really to launch in October, then he should have already started his training in Houston.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 01/27/2019 10:36 am
Here a information from CNES regarding Thomas Pesquet
https://twitter.com/CNES/status/1089465294811291648
Google Translation
Quote
Astronaut @esa @Thom_astro may soon return aboard the ISS as announced yesterday by the Minister @VidalFrederique during her vows
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Tobias_Corbett on 01/27/2019 11:04 am
Here a information from CNES regarding Thomas Pesquet
https://twitter.com/CNES/status/1089465294811291648
Google Translation
Quote
Astronaut @esa @Thom_astro may soon return aboard the ISS as announced yesterday by the Minister @VidalFrederique during her vows

Since the two ESA 2009 selection astronauts who have or are scheduled to fly their second mission (Gerst and Parmitano) have both been assigned as Expedition Commanders, is it likely that we could see Pesquet be serving as the first ever French Commander of the ISS?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: tonyq on 01/29/2019 04:06 pm
Do we have an information about the name of the Russian cosmonaut (and a possible back-up), who is intended to launch on USCV-1/Crew-1? If they want really to launch in October, then he should have already started his training in Houston.

Nikolai Tikonov has posted images of training in Houston on his social media recently, and he seems to have lost his place (yet again) in the Soyuz crew flow after the reorganisation post the MS-10 incident, so perhaps he is a possibility? Just speculating, though?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 01/29/2019 04:38 pm
Do we have an information about the name of the Russian cosmonaut (and a possible back-up), who is intended to launch on USCV-1/Crew-1? If they want really to launch in October, then he should have already started his training in Houston.

Nikolai Tikonov has posted images of training in Houston on his social media recently, and he seems to have lost his place (yet again) in the Soyuz crew flow after the reorganisation post the MS-10 incident, so perhaps he is a possibility? Just speculating, though?
Nikolai Tikhonov takes part in the current winter survival training, so I think he will get another flight opportunity for a Soyuz flight, maybe Soyuz MS-16 in spring 2020. Also only speculation.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Hog on 01/29/2019 08:20 pm
Do we have an information about the name of the Russian cosmonaut (and a possible back-up), who is intended to launch on USCV-1/Crew-1? If they want really to launch in October, then he should have already started his training in Houston.

Nikolai Tikonov has posted images of training in Houston on his social media recently, and he seems to have lost his place (yet again) in the Soyuz crew flow after the reorganisation post the MS-10 incident, so perhaps he is a possibility? Just speculating, though?
Nikolai Tikhonov takes part in the current winter survival training, so I think he will get another flight opportunity for a Soyuz flight, maybe Soyuz MS-16 in spring 2020. Also only speculation.
Wikipedia states
 """Tikhonov is now assigned as the Soyuz Commander for the Soyuz MS-15 flight scheduled for late 2019."""


I personally thought that he was some sort of Payload Specialist and would only fly with the Russian  Nauka module?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: DwightM on 01/29/2019 09:23 pm
Wikipedia is not a good source for upcoming crew assignments, that entry is pretty outdated. Several of the rookie cosmonauts have been unfortunately bumped around, but their time will come, whether on Soyuz or CC.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 01/29/2019 09:36 pm
I wonder if the reason Wilmore did not rotate into Boe's seat is because he is also backing up the first operational CST-100 too?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Tobias_Corbett on 01/29/2019 09:44 pm
I wonder if the reason Wilmore did not rotate into Boe's seat is because he is also backing up the first operational CST-100 too?

I highly doubt that would be the case, what would be the point of having Willmore as the Boe-CFT and CTS-1 backup if he is only going to rotate on to CTS-1 if needed? The only explanation I fan think of at the moment is that something came up that barred Wilmore from flying of CFT, even though it is extremely unlikely for that to have happened.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 01/30/2019 04:45 am
Wikipedia states
 """Tikhonov is now assigned as the Soyuz Commander for the Soyuz MS-15 flight scheduled for late 2019."""

I personally thought that he was some sort of Payload Specialist and would only fly with the Russian  Nauka module?

Nikolai Tikhonov was planned as the commander of MS-15, but due to the decision to give the crew of Ovchinin/Hague a second flight opportunity Oleg Skripochka was moved from MS-12 to MS-15 and N. Tikhonov has to wait.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: skeer on 01/30/2019 05:17 am

Could it be that Wilmore can make another 6 month increment but Finke has reached his radiation allowance, and thus Wilmore would be preferred backing up the operational flight, since Finke is available for the shorter first one
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Tobias_Corbett on 01/30/2019 05:38 am

Could it be that Wilmore can make another 6 month increment but Finke has reached his radiation allowance, and thus Wilmore would be preferred backing up the operational flight, since Finke is available for the shorter first one

I might be wrong here but that doesn't sound right either, Fincke has made two six month missions to the ISS, other NASA astronauts have done at least two six month missions and then gone on to fly other sometimes longer missions. For example Peggy Whitson and Jeff Williams who have both flown three missions over or around six months.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 02/05/2019 07:51 pm
Two cosmonauts from the UAE during winter survival training:

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 02/15/2019 02:12 pm
http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=4514
Google translation
Quote
The representative of the Italian Air Forces, Walter Villadei, who is currently undergoing training at the CPC, acted as a guide for the Center’s training base for his countrymen. For several years now he has been training under the Russian astronaut training program and therefore is familiar with the Center’s simulators firsthand.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 02/18/2019 06:38 am
Have I missed something?

https://twitter.com/Aki_Hoshide/status/1097390098809790464
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 02/18/2019 02:44 pm
Here is it.
http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=4518
JAXA astronaut Akihido Hoshide began training at the TsPK.
Quote
From today, Akihido Hoshide is undergoing training in the TsPK named after Yu.A. Gagarin on the level of flight engineer-2 transport manned spacecraft (TLC) and the level of the user on the Russian segment of the ISS. The program, in addition to studying the systems of the ship and the station, will include training on the crew’s action in case of landing in various climatic and geographical zones (winter and water “survival”), medical and biological training and a course in learning Russian.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 02/20/2019 09:20 am
Roscosmos and Space Adventures have signed a contract for the flight of two space tourists

 The Roskosmos State Corporation and the American company Space Adventures, Inc. signed a contract for short-term space flights to the International Space Station (ISS) of two non-professional astronauts on the same ship.  The flight to the station will take place before the end of 2021.

 Roscosmos and Space Adventures have been cooperating in the field of space tourism since 2001, when the first space tourist, Denis Tito, flew into orbit.  In total, during this time, 7 people visited the space tourism program in space, and Charles Simoni visited the ISS two times.

 The conclusion of this contract will allow additionally “loading” the production facilities of RSC Energia, Progress RCC, TsENKI and other enterprises of the rocket and space industry.  The industry has already begun to create the Soyuz transport manned spacecraft and the Soyuz-2 launch vehicle for the flight of tourists into space.  The execution of all works on the creation of space technology will be carried out at the expense of space tourists.

https://www.roscosmos.ru/26030/
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 02/20/2019 05:41 pm
https://twitter.com/MBRSpaceCentre/status/1098235453860466688
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 02/25/2019 09:36 am
https://twitter.com/DXBMediaOffice/status/1099946395014963200
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 02/25/2019 09:42 am
https://twitter.com/DXBMediaOffice/status/1099930924400156672
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 02/27/2019 01:19 pm
https://twitter.com/Aki_Hoshide/status/1100756255730061313
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 03/01/2019 11:11 am
http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=4490
In Russia started the winter survival training.
As participants are planned : Thomas Marshburn from NASA, the two cosmonauts from the UAE and from Roscosmos Anatoli Ivanishin, Ivan Vagner, Nikolai Tikhonov, Andrei Babkin and the eight candidates from the 2018 selection.
Additionally participated Chris Cassidy from NASA, Akihiko Hoshide from JAXA and a represantative from the Italian AirForce, I assume this was Walter Villadei.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 03/12/2019 03:11 pm
https://twitter.com/Astro_Jessica/status/1105492486691143682
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 03/18/2019 10:31 am
http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=4568
Michael Hopkins, Victor Glover and Kjell Lindgren arrived at the TsPK for training
Google translation
Quote
Currently, Michael Hopkins and Victor Glover are being trained as part of the crew Crew-1, which will be the first crew of the SpaceX Crew Dragon manned spacecraft after the certification flight. Chell Lindgren is trained as part of the Crew-1 backup crew.
Quote
The NASA astronaut training at the CPC will be held for five weeks and divided into three training sessions. In the first and second training sessions, the ISS RS systems will be studied and part of the training on emergency procedures will be conducted; in the third, they will be trained on the crew’s actions in case of accidents on the ISS RS.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 03/18/2019 06:47 pm
https://twitter.com/VicGlover/status/1107661330671169543
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 03/19/2019 09:53 am
03/18/2019

NASA astronauts start training at CPC

 A presentation of NASA astronauts Michael Hopkins, Victor Glower and Chell Lindgren to the leadership and staff of the CPC took place today at the Y. Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center.

 Michael Hopkins , Colonel of the US Air Force, from 2009 to 2011 was trained under the program of astronaut candidates of the 20th set.  He performed a space flight as part of the crew of the ISS-37/38 as a flight engineer-2 of the Soyuz TMA-10M transport manned spacecraft (TLC) and an ISS flight engineer.  Together with the cosmonauts of Roscosmos Oleg Kotov and Sergey Ryazansky, Hopkins went into orbit from the Baikonur cosmodrome on September 25, 2015.  While working on the ISS, Michael and his colleague Richard Mastrakkio made two spacewalks to replace a failed pump module.  M. Hopkins, O. Kotov and S. Ryazansky returned to Earth on March 10, 2014, spending 166 days in space.

 Michael was already trained at the CPC and is very happy to be back in Star City, like his colleague Chell Lindgren , who performed a space flight as part of the crew of the ISS-44/45 as a flight engineer-2 TPK Soyuz TMA-17M and a flight engineer of the ISS.  The crew of the cosmonaut Roskosmos cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko, flight engineers Chell Lindgren and Kimi Yui (JAXA) went to space orbit from the Baikonur cosmodrome on July 23, 2015.  During the 141-day flight, the crew of the Antares took part in more than a hundred different scientific experiments, including research in the fields of physiology, physics of fluid and combustion, Earth observation, and the development of space science and technology.

 Chell Lindgren and the commander of the ISS-45 expedition Scott Kelly conducted two spacewalks in late 2015.  During the first release, Lindgren installed thermal protection on an alpha magnetic spectrometer and laid external cables, while Kelly performed maintenance on the ISS robotic manipulator.  During the second VKD, the crew performed maintenance operations on the external circuit COTR.  The crew consisting of Oleg Kononenko, Kimii Yui, Chella Lindgren landed on Soyuz TMA-17M TPK in Kazakhstan on December 11, 2015.

 Unlike his colleagues, Victor Glover does not yet have experience in space travel.  But he has 3,000 hours of raids on more than 40 types of aircraft, 400 landings on the deck of aircraft carriers and 24 sorties.  Captain of the 3rd rank of the US Navy Glover from 2013 to 2015 was trained in the program of candidates for astronauts of the 21st set.

 Currently, Michael Hopkins and Victor Glover are being trained as part of the crew Crew-1, which will be the first crew of the SpaceX Crew Dragon manned spacecraft after the certification flight.  Chell Lindgren is trained as part of the Crew-1 backup crew.

 NASA astronaut training in the CPC will be held for five weeks and divided into three training sessions.  In the first and second training sessions, the ISS RS systems will be studied and part of the training on emergency procedures will be conducted; in the third, they will be trained on the crew’s actions in case of accidents on the ISS RS.

https://www.roscosmos.ru/26217/
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 03/19/2019 12:43 pm
Does the current plan still call for a cosmonaut to join Hopkins and Glover on their flight?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 03/19/2019 01:43 pm
Does the current plan still call for a cosmonaut to join Hopkins and Glover on their flight?
https://twitter.com/RussianSpaceWeb/status/1106382597171699712
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Targeteer on 03/19/2019 10:36 pm
With Russians flying on the US Commercial Crew vehicles, will Russia/Roscosmos stop charging NASA for Soyuz flights, assuming that NASA won't be charging the Russians?...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 03/20/2019 06:41 pm
https://twitter.com/Astro_Jessica/status/1108433647449919488
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ChrisGebhardt on 03/20/2019 08:23 pm
With Russians flying on the US Commercial Crew vehicles, will Russia/Roscosmos stop charging NASA for Soyuz flights, assuming that NASA won't be charging the Russians?...

That's the general understanding of how it'll work, yes.  1 Russian on Dragon/Starliner = 1 American on Soyuz.  There is likely more to it than that to make the cost difference fair.  I could see, for example, a scenario that includes a specific amount of Russian cargo on Dragon, Cygnus, and/or DreamChaser to make up the difference for Russia (because Dragon/Starliner are generally cheaper than Soyuz).
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: gongora on 03/20/2019 08:49 pm
I could see, for example, a scenario that includes a specific amount of Russian cargo on Dragon, Cygnus, and/or DreamChaser to make up the difference for Russia (because Dragon/Starliner are generally cheaper than Soyuz).

Starliner is more expensive than Soyuz. (further discussion on this point would probably be better in the Commercial Crew threads.)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 03/21/2019 06:55 pm
https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/astronaut-kathryn-kay-hire-retires-from-nasa


March 21, 2019

RELEASE J19-004

Astronaut Kathryn (Kay) Hire Retires from NASA

After a 30-year career with NASA, Astronaut Kay Hire retired from the agency on Feb. 28.

Hire joined the NASA team in 1989 where she worked as a space shuttle orbiter mechanical systems engineer, test project engineer, and supervisor of space shuttle orbiter mechanical systems and launch pad access swing arms at Kennedy Space Center. Hire processed space shuttles from landing through ground preparations and launch countdowns for more than 40 missions.

“Kay has had an extensive career both at NASA and in the military. We are thankful for her 30-year career with NASA and the contributions that she has made to the space program,” said Chief Astronaut Pat Forrester.

Hire reported to the Johnson Space Center in 1995 as a member of Astronaut Group 15, becoming the first astronaut selected from the Kennedy Space Center workforce. She flew to space for the first time as a mission specialist aboard Space Shuttle Columbia for the 16-day Spacelab Neurolab mission, STS-90, in 1998. The seven-member crew played both the role of experiment subjects and operators for 26 life science experiments focused on the effects of microgravity on the brain and central nervous system.

Hire flew to space on a second mission aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour for STS-130 in 2010 to help assemble the International Space Station. Hire and her crewmates delivered and outfitted Node 3, also known as the Tranquility module, and the Cupola, a seven-windowed portal for the space station which has been a focal point of the station since installation. As a mission specialist, Hire operated the robotic arms, led the transfer of 4,500 pounds of cargo, and helped install water recycling, air cleaning and cooling, and crew exercise equipment in Node 3 and cupola.

Between her space flights, Hire supported missions in various roles including Capsule Communicator (CAPCOM) in mission control, Astronaut Support Personnel where she strapped crew members into the space shuttle orbiter for launch, and management astronaut in which she helped develop procedures for commercial spacecraft carrying cargo to the International Space Station.

Hire also spent time at NASA Wallops Flight Facility and NASA Goddard Space Flight Center where she was chief liaison to the Department of Defense.

Originally from Mobile, Alabama, Hire graduated from the U. S. Naval Academy, and was designated a Naval Flight Officer. She conducted worldwide airborne oceanographic research missions, flying to 25 countries.

In 1993, Hire became the first woman in the U. S. military to be assigned to a combat air crew, when she reported to Patrol Squadron Sixty-Two (VP-62) to fly the P-3 maritime patrol aircraft.  Hire served in multiple leadership roles throughout her Navy career, spanning operational missions as well as research and development of new technologies.  She served in the Navy a total of 35 years and achieved the rank of Navy Captain.

Hire logged more than 3,400 flight hours in various aircraft, and more than 711 hours in space.

Find Hire’s complete biography at:

https://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/hire.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 03/21/2019 07:12 pm
In 2012 I met Kay Hire at KSC
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 04/01/2019 05:26 pm
https://twitter.com/Astro_Jessica/status/1112729366658723840
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 04/01/2019 05:31 pm
http://gctc.ru/main.php?id=4578
Nicole Mann, Michael Fincke and Barry Willmore arrived in the TsPK for training
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 04/06/2019 07:43 am
https://twitter.com/ShuttleAlmanac/status/1114381730318655490
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 04/12/2019 08:35 am
https://www.interfax.ru/world/657933
Quote
A citizen of the United Arab Emirates Hazzaa Al-Mansuri will be the first person in space in the history of this country, an informed source told Interfax.
"Hazzaa Al-Mansuri should go to the International Space Station on September 25 this year, along with Russian Oleg Skripochka and American Jessica Mier," the agency’s source said.
Currently, Al-Mansuri, along with his compatriot Sultan Al-Neyadi, are conducting training at the Cosmonaut Training Center (CPC).
"The first UAE astronaut will return to Earth on October 3 on the Soyuz MS-12 spacecraft together with NASA astronaut Nick Haig and Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexei Ovchinin," the agency’s source said.
The astronaut from the USA, Christine Cook, who flew to the ISS on March 14 with a Russian and an American, will have to stay in orbit, since there are only three places in the ship. She will return to Earth on another ship.
The flight of an UAE astronaut will lead to an extension of the time spent at the station and a member of another expedition. Andrew Morgan will stay longer than planned in orbit, who will go into space on July 20 with Russian Alexander Skvortsov and European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Luca Parmitano from Italy.
Skripochka and Meir will work on the ISS until February 6.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 04/12/2019 06:37 pm
https://twitter.com/MBRSpaceCentre/status/1116753278979563521
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 04/13/2019 06:17 am
So Skripochka and Meir will fly Soyuz MS-15 in Sept, with al-Mansouri? I didn't know that.

What's happened to Cassidy?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 04/13/2019 08:36 am
So Skripochka and Meir will fly Soyuz MS-15 in Sept, with al-Mansouri? I didn't know that.

What's happened to Cassidy?
I suppose that he maybe flying together with Hoshide in spring 2020, because they took part together in the winter survival training two month ago.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 04/15/2019 11:47 am
http://gctc.ru/main.php?id=4578
Nicole Mann, Michael Fincke and Barry Willmore arrived in the TsPK for training
http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=4595
Today Chris Ferguson has started his training in Star City too.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 04/20/2019 09:12 am
https://twitter.com/Astro_Soichi/status/1119314739774009345
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: lele on 04/20/2019 02:14 pm
If the crewed Starliner test flight becomes a "normal" ISS 6-month crew rotation, this means Ferguson will stay ~6month on the ISS right? He will be the first commercial astro on a long duration mission. How will that work? Will he do pretty much the same thing as NASA astronauts?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Tomness on 04/20/2019 02:23 pm
If the crewed Starliner test flight becomes a "normal" ISS 6-month crew rotation, this means Ferguson will stay ~6month on the ISS right? He will be the first commercial astro on a long duration mission. How will that work? Will he do pretty much the same thing as NASA astronauts?


You think so since he was NASA Astronaut.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Eric Hedman on 04/20/2019 05:24 pm
I'm curious, does anyone know when they'll start picking the crew for the EM-2 mission to lunar orbit?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: dcfowler1 on 04/21/2019 04:45 am
Although best case for an EM-2 crew would probably be late next year, I'm guessing that this will not end up being a best case situation.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 04/30/2019 12:38 pm
http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=155
The new overview about "Crews in Training".
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Tobias_Corbett on 05/01/2019 11:42 pm
http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=155
The new overview about "Crews in Training".

I thought Steve Bowen was backup for Meir on Soyuz MS-15, but this lists Marshburn as her backup, was there a change?, or was the word on Bowen being backup on MS-15 wrong?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 05/14/2019 06:00 pm
https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/1128294403649540102
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 05/16/2019 12:18 pm
New job for Doug Wheelock

https://twitter.com/ramidaud/status/1128875938370994176
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 05/17/2019 08:21 pm
Jeremy Hansen and Chris Cassidy?

https://twitter.com/AstroDrewMorgan/status/1129474215357407232
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Hog on 05/18/2019 12:58 am
Jeremy Hansen and Chris Cassidy?

https://twitter.com/AstroDrewMorgan/status/1129474215357407232
Jeremy Hansen is on the left. He's hiding a small jug of Maple Syrup in his left hand.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Tobias_Corbett on 05/23/2019 06:19 am
Could this mean the CCV Noguchi is flying on is Dragon 2?, or could he just be training with SpaceX assigned astronauts?

https://twitter.com/Astro_Soichi/status/1130916636209360898
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 05/25/2019 06:49 am
Another tweet on this topic.
https://twitter.com/Astro_Soichi/status/1132067652883501056
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: dcfowler1 on 05/26/2019 04:58 am
Noguchi was on USCV-1 with Glover and Hopkins, but not sure if he'll stay there with SpaceX delays.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Tobias_Corbett on 05/27/2019 06:20 am
Noguchi was on USCV-1 with Glover and Hopkins, but not sure if he'll stay there with SpaceX delays.

Noguchi did also tweet that he was training on the CST-100, so maybe he is training on both and will then fly on which ever flies an operational mission first.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 05/30/2019 09:16 am
New development?
https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/nac_budget_charts_final-1_1.pdf
FY 2020 Budget Strategy/Overview
from page 10
Quote
enable Private Astronaut Missions to ISS
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 06/01/2019 05:57 am
New development?
https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/nac_budget_charts_final-1_1.pdf
FY 2020 Budget Strategy/Overview
from page 10
Quote
enable Private Astronaut Missions to ISS
Also mentioned here by Mr. Hale.
Quote
ISS provisions for space flight participants in coming years
https://twitter.com/SpcPlcyOnline/status/1134480354876841984
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: tonyq on 06/02/2019 07:40 am
New development?
https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/nac_budget_charts_final-1_1.pdf
FY 2020 Budget Strategy/Overview
from page 10
Quote
enable Private Astronaut Missions to ISS

Although this has come as a big surprise to me, I understand from a reliable source, that NASA is collaborating with two unnamed ‘Private Astronauts’ who are being considered to fly on early Commercial missions, staying on ISS for up six months.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 06/05/2019 07:25 pm
June 05, 2019
RELEASE J19-006
Astronaut Michael Good Retires from NASA

Veteran NASA astronaut Michael Good is retiring from NASA after flying two space shuttle missions and helping the Commercial Crew Program get off the ground. After 35 years of government service in the U.S. Air Force and at NASA, May 31 is his last day with the agency.

“Mike’s vision and execution for the Commercial Crew Program’s Joint Test Team has been critical to the maturing of each of the providers’ crew cabins,” Kathy Lueders, Commercial Crew Program manager, said. “Mike had the dream of bringing the best of NASA to work side by side with the best of Boeing and SpaceX to find the safest and most practical solutions to the inevitable trades that need to be made. His leadership will be sorely missed but he set the right trajectory for us and now it will be our job to make him proud.”

Good came to NASA from the U.S. Air Force, where he achieved the rank of colonel before retiring in 2009. He was selected as an astronaut in 2000 and flew first to the Hubble Space Telescope on board space shuttle Atlantis as part of the STS-125 mission in 2009. Good took part in two of the five spacewalks to upgrade and repair the telescope on the fifth and final Hubble servicing mission. He racked up 15 hours, 58 minutes of spacewalking time.
 

He added another 13 hours, 55 minutes spacewalking outside the International Space Station in 2010, when he visited as part of Atlantis’ STS-132 mission. He and his crewmates delivered a rack of cargo and the Russian-built research module Rassvet, as well as replacing batteries for the station’s solar arrays.

Good spent a total of 24 days, 16 hours and 5 minutes in space over the course of the two shuttle missions.

Following his second flight, Good served as the NASA liaison to the Air Force Space Command in Colorado. On his return, he joined NASA’s Commercial Crew Program as assistant to the program manager for crew operations and testing. In that role he has helped SpaceX and Boeing prepare to launch NASA astronauts to the International Space Station.

Good was born in Parma, Ohio, but considers Broadview Heights, Ohio, his hometown. He earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in aerospace engineering from the University of Notre Dame in Indiana.

Find Good’s complete biography at:

https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/good_michael.pdf
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: AS_501 on 06/05/2019 07:43 pm
Was Mike Good the last to actually 'touch' the HST on STS-125?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 06/07/2019 02:13 pm
https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-opens-international-space-station-to-new-commercial-opportunities-private
Quote
Private Astronaut Missions

NASA also is enabling private astronaut missions of up to 30 days on the International Space Station to perform duties that fall into the approved commercial and marketing activities outlined in the directive released Friday, with the first mission as early as 2020. A new NASA Research Announcement focus area issued today outlines the path for those future private astronaut missions.

If supported by the market, the agency can accommodate up to two short-duration private astronaut missions per year to the International Space Station. These missions will be privately funded, dedicated commercial spaceflights.  Private astronaut missions will use a U.S. spacecraft developed under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.

The commercial entity developing the mission will determine crew composition for each mission and ensure private astronauts meet NASA’s medical standards and the training and certification procedures for International Space Station crew members. Market studies identified private astronaut missions to low-Earth orbit as a key element to demonstrate demand and reduce risk for future commercial destinations in low-Earth orbit.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ZachS09 on 06/07/2019 11:35 pm
Was Mike Good the last to actually 'touch' the HST on STS-125?

I thought it was John Grunsfeld because both him and Drew Feustel conducted the last spacewalk on that mission.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: DwightM on 06/08/2019 09:37 am
Was Mike Good the last to actually 'touch' the HST on STS-125?

I thought it was John Grunsfeld because both him and Drew Feustel conducted the last spacewalk on that mission.
Correct.  Grunsfeld made a point of it in fact.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 06/09/2019 07:46 am
Interesting News
https://www.nasa.gov/leo-economy/faqs
Quote
Who is considered an ISS crew member?
Anyone who is on the International Space Station, including NASA astronauts, International Partner astronauts, or private astronauts.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Hog on 06/11/2019 06:27 pm
All the NASA crewmembers comprising Expeditions 59, 60 and 61, are all from the 2013 NASA selection Group 21. Nicknamed the "Eight Balls" by the preceding NASA Group 20 (the Chumps).
Christina Koch Exp. 59, 60, 61
Anne McLain Exp. 58/59 MS-11
Nick Hague Exp. 59/60 Soyuz MS-10(abort to Earth)/MS-12
Jessica Meir Exp. 61/62 Soyuz MS-15
Andrew R. Morgan Exp. 60, 61, 62  Soyuz MS-13/MS-15

All of the NASA Group 20-2013 have flown, or will have flown(hopefully) by the end of 2019.(C'mon Commercial Crew).

All of "The Chumps"/NASA Astronaut Group 20-2009 have flown except for Jeanette J. Epps on the NASA side and Canadian Jeremy Hansen on the International Mission Specialists side.
 
NASA Group 20-2013 was the first NASA Astronaut Group in 50 years, since NASA Astronaut Group-3 from 1963, that didn't have anyone who rode a Space Shuttle. 

Out of the 14 Astronaut Candidates selected for Group-3 in 1963, 4 men died in training accidents prior to their spaceflights.   
Charles Bassett selected as Pilot for Gemini-9 died Feb 28, 1966 in a T-38 crash
Roger B Chaffee assigned as 3rd ranking Pilot on Apollo-1 died Jan 27, 1967
Theodore Freeman  died Oct 31, 1964 in a T-38 crash. Freeman  was the first fatality from the NASA Astronaut Corps
Clifton Williams  selected as Pilot for an Apollo mission to the Moon died Oct. 5 1967 in a T-38 crash


NASA Astronaut Group-4 (the Scientists) from 1965 would have had that distinction, but Owen Garriott rode on Columbia during STS-9(SpaceLab-1). "Garriott held the distinction of being the NASA astronaut with the earliest-obtained PhD degree, having earned his PhD from Stanford University in 1960, two years before Robert A. Parker who obtained his PhD from Caltech in 1962." Members of Group-4 Graveline and Michel left NASA without flying in space.

Group 17-1998 (the Penguins)Neil Woodward and Patricia Robertson never got a flight assignment.
Group 18-2000(the Bugs) all received flight assignments
Group 19-2004-(the Peacocks) all received flight assignments
Group 20-2009-(the Chumps) Jeanette J. Epps  and Jeremy Hansen(Canada)  haven't flown yet.
Group 21-2013-(the "Eight Balls") all received flight assignments
Group 22-2017-(the Turtles)  This group of Astronaut Candidates

It must be difficult being a flight ready Active Astronaut, but in practise being utilized as a Management Astronaut and never get a flight.  It may be even more difficult to have received a flight assignment, only to have it taken away as you prepare for said mission.

pics
#1)Jeanette J. Epps NASA Group 20
#2) Jeremy R. Hansen CD, NASA International Group 20

#3) Charles Bassett, Group 3
#4) Roger Chaffee, Group 3
#5) Theodore Freeman, Group 3
#6) Clifton Williams, Group 3
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 06/12/2019 01:31 pm
Also never flown:

Group 5: John Bull and Ed Givens.
Group 6: Phil Chapman, Don Holmquest, Anthony Llewellyn and Brian O'Leary.

Jeremy Hansen is waiting for the next Canadian slot, which comes about every 3 years.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 06/19/2019 01:54 pm
https://twitter.com/markmccaughrean/status/1139465801415700482

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 06/23/2019 08:53 am
So Skripochka and Meir will fly Soyuz MS-15 in Sept, with al-Mansouri? I didn't know that.

What's happened to Cassidy?
I suppose that he maybe flying together with Hoshide in spring 2020, because they took part together in the winter survival training two month ago.
https://twitter.com/ShuttleAlmanac/status/1141877804843225088

This has Akihiko Hoshide as FE2 on Soyuz MS-16 and Chris Cassidy as his back-up.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 06/25/2019 12:23 pm
https://ria.ru/20190620/1555719743.html
Quote
Potential space tourists for the flight on the Russian ship "Soyuz" were found in 2021, they are ready to come to Russia to go through the medical commission to join the first "tourist crew", Space Adventures head of the Russian representative office Sergey Kostenko told RIA Novosti.
Quote
At the same time, candidates were found for both places in the Soyuz.
Who exactly will fly to the ISS will be reported according to the procedure after they are approved by the main medical commission. According to the regulations, this will take place one year before the start of semi-annual trainings, that is, one and a half years before the flight. “Only after the decision of the main medical commission do they become candidates for space flight participants,” said Kostenko.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 06/26/2019 12:37 pm
With the crewing situation being in flux until Commercial Crew comes online, what are the plans to alternate ISS-CDR spots between the partners?

It seems that the next few months will see Ovchinin, Parmitano and Skripochka in command, but will one of the Ferguson-Fincke-Mann trio take command during their increment or will they remain Flight Engineers? What about Hopkins? Surely these decisions can't be left until the manifest shapes up, and must have been decided by now?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ZachS09 on 06/26/2019 06:42 pm
With the crewing situation being in flux until Commercial Crew comes online, what are the plans to alternate ISS-CDR spots between the partners?

It seems that the next few months will see Ovchinin, Parmitano and Skripochka in command, but will one of the Ferguson-Fincke-Mann trio take command during their increment or will they remain Flight Engineers? What about Hopkins? Surely these decisions can't be left until the manifest shapes up, and must have been decided by now?

I can't see Ferguson commanding the ISS if the Starliner crew becomes part of an expedition. I'd go for Fincke since he was the Expedition 18 commander in 2008. Not implying that it will happen; just theorizing.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 06/26/2019 11:10 pm
I don't see a Boeing employee commanding the ISS.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: dcfowler1 on 06/27/2019 04:09 am
Ferguson is a commercial visitor, so I don't think he can be CDR.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 06/27/2019 03:19 pm
This has Akihiko Hoshide as FE2 on Soyuz MS-16 and Chris Cassidy as his back-up.

https://twitter.com/ShuttleAlmanac/status/1144201309811179520
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 07/04/2019 06:57 pm
Looking at the manifest for the months ahead (and assuming Commercial Crew dates hold), I'm trying to clarify in my mind the crewing situation, excluding short-term visits. Is the following roughly accurate?

If so, am I correct in thinking that from Nov 2019-Feb 2020 the ISS will see its first-ever long-duration crew of more than 6 people? And with Hoshide already named specifically to command Expedition 65, and Noguchi following on USCV-1, I believe this will be the first time that two Japanese long-duration crew members have been aboard the station simultaneously. And five U.S. crew members and one Russian after the return of Soyuz MS-13 in February and the launch of Soyuz MS-16 in April 2020.

Expedition 60 (July-October 2019)
Alexei Ovchinin, Commander
Nick Hague, Flight Engineer
Christina Koch, Flight Engineer
Luca Parmitano, Flight Engineer
Aleksandr Skvortsov, Flight Engineer
Drew Morgan, Flight Engineer

Expedition 61 (October 2019-November 2019)
Luca Parmitano, Commander
Christina Koch, Flight Engineer
Aleksandr Skvortsov, Flight Engineer
Drew Morgan, Flight Engineer
Oleg Skripochka, Flight Engineer
Jessica Meir, Flight Engineer

Expedition 62 (November 2019-February 2020)
Luca Parmitano, Commander
Christina Koch, Flight Engineer
Aleksandr Skvortsov, Flight Engineer
Drew Morgan, Flight Engineer
Oleg Skripochka, Flight Engineer
Jessica Meir, Flight Engineer
Mike Fincke, Flight Engineer
Chris Ferguson, Flight Engineer
Nicole Mann, Flight Engineer

Expedition 63 (February-April 2020)
Oleg Skripochka, Commander
Drew Morgan, Flight Engineer
Jessica Meir, Flight Engineer
Mike Fincke, Flight Engineer
Chris Ferguson, Flight Engineer
Nicole Mann, Flight Engineer

Expedition 64 (April-May 2020)
Mike Fincke, Commander (?)
Chris Ferguson, Flight Engineer
Nicole Mann, Flight Engineer
Akihiko Hoshide, Flight Engineer
Nikolai Tikhonov, Flight Engineer
Andrei Babkin, Flight Engineer

Expedition 65 (May-October 2020)
Akihiko Hoshide, Commander
Nikolai Tikhonov, Flight Engineer
Andrei Babkin, Flight Engineer
Mike Hopkins, Flight Engineer
Victor Glover, Flight Engineer
Soichi Noguchi, Flight Engineer

Expedition 66 (October-November 2020)
Mike Hopkins, Commander (?)
Victor Glover, Flight Engineer
Soichi Noguchi, Flight Engineer
Anatoli Ivanishin, Flight Engineer
Ivan Vagner, Flight Engineer
Chris Cassidy, Flight Engineer
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 07/05/2019 07:01 am
AFAIK there was no announcment of the Soyuz crew in autumn 2020. Could be like that Sergey Ryzhikov, Thomas Marshburn and a second Russian cosmonaut.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Tobias_Corbett on 07/05/2019 07:10 am
And with Hoshide already named specifically to command Expedition 65

It looks like Hoshide is now scheduled to command Expedition 64 now that he's flying on 63/64. Remember it's been a few years since he was assigned to Command Expedition 65, and with the amount of delays Commercial Crew has had it isn't very surprising that there has been changes to who is flying on which expedition.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: vp. on 07/05/2019 05:05 pm
I'm surprised to see that Hoshide will fly before Noguchi and fly together !
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 07/05/2019 10:32 pm
One correction so far ;)

Expedition 60 (July-October 2019)
Alexei Ovchinin, Commander
Nick Hague, Flight Engineer
Christina Koch, Flight Engineer
Luca Parmitano, Flight Engineer
Aleksandr Skvortsov, Flight Engineer
Drew Morgan, Flight Engineer

Expedition 61 (October 2019-February 2020)
Luca Parmitano, Commander
Christina Koch, Flight Engineer
Aleksandr Skvortsov, Flight Engineer
Drew Morgan, Flight Engineer
Oleg Skripochka, Flight Engineer
Jessica Meir, Flight Engineer
Mike Fincke, Flight Engineer
Chris Ferguson, Flight Engineer
Nicole Mann, Flight Engineer

Expedition 62 (February-April 2020)
Oleg Skripochka, Commander
Drew Morgan, Flight Engineer
Jessica Meir, Flight Engineer
Mike Fincke, Flight Engineer
Chris Ferguson, Flight Engineer
Nicole Mann, Flight Engineer

Expedition 63 (April-May 2020)
Mike Fincke, Commander (?)
Chris Ferguson, Flight Engineer
Nicole Mann, Flight Engineer
Akihiko Hoshide, Flight Engineer
Nikolai Tikhonov, Flight Engineer
Andrei Babkin, Flight Engineer

Expedition 64 (May-October 2020)
Akihiko Hoshide, Commander
Nikolai Tikhonov, Flight Engineer
Andrei Babkin, Flight Engineer
Mike Hopkins, Flight Engineer
Victor Glover, Flight Engineer
Soichi Noguchi, Flight Engineer

Expedition 65 (October-November 2020)
Mike Hopkins, Commander (?)
Victor Glover, Flight Engineer
Soichi Noguchi, Flight Engineer
Anatoli Ivanishin, Flight Engineer
Ivan Vagner, Flight Engineer
Chris Cassidy, Flight Engineer
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: vp. on 07/06/2019 06:10 am
My proposition

(https://i92.servimg.com/u/f92/09/02/92/25/sans_t15.jpg) (https://servimg.com/view/10029225/62)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 07/07/2019 01:44 pm
http://www.ariss-f.org/mission-thomas-pesquet-2020-21/
Google translation
Quote
The next mission of Thomas PESQUET is planned from December 2020 to June 2021. The dates are not yet definitively confirmed.
So we can accept, that he will be the third person on USCV-2, whatever this will be.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 07/08/2019 09:24 am
My proposition

The Russians on USCV-1/2 are unlikely.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 07/08/2019 10:03 am
My proposition

The Russians on USCV-1/2 are unlikely.
What´s then about a NASA Astronaut on Soyuz MS-17 in October 2020?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: vp. on 07/08/2019 06:15 pm
The Russians on USCV-1/2 are unlikely.
Why ?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: anik on 07/09/2019 08:23 am
Why ?

As Rogozin said, U.S. spacecrafts should prove their safety at first.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Tobias_Corbett on 07/09/2019 08:29 am
Why ?

As Rogozin said, U.S. spacecrafts should prove their safety at first.

When USCV-1/2 fly both DM-1/2 and Boe-OFT/CFT will have flown. Won’t they have proved their safety by then?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ZChris13 on 07/09/2019 08:29 am
Why ?

As Rogozin said, U.S. spacecrafts should prove their safety at first.

When USCV-1/2 fly both DM-1/2 and Boe-OFT/CFT will have flown. Won’t they have proved their safety by then?
Not to the degree that Soyuz has. It's a political thing.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Lar on 07/09/2019 04:56 pm
"it's political" .... so keep moving the trampoline, er, goalposts, then?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ZachS09 on 07/10/2019 07:06 pm
"it's political" .... so keep moving the trampoline, er, goalposts, then?

I doubt that they'll "move the goalposts" since my belief is that there's a slim chance of the "moving" happening.

My opinion is that the safety approval should be finalized after both test flights of Starliner and the DM-2 mission have been flown.

Remember that DM-1 was a success before the Crew Dragon anomaly.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 07/11/2019 06:38 am
http://www.collectspace.com/ubb/Forum38/HTML/001018.html
Quote
Per an email sent by NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine to employees on Wednesday (July 10), Ken Bowersox is the new acting associate administrator for the Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate, replacing the long-serving Bill Gerstenmaier.
Bowersox, who previously served as Deputy Associate Administrator for HEO, is a retired U.S. Naval Aviator with more than two decades of experience at NASA. He is an accomplished astronaut and a veteran of five space shuttle missions and served as commander on the International Space Station.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 07/13/2019 03:11 pm
According to NASA, decisions about crew positions and responsibilities on both Crew Dragon and CST-100 Starliner are "TBD". I find this difficult to believe, only 4-5 months out from flight.

One interesting caveat, via Rob Navias: NONE of the crew members currently assigned to CCP missions will rotate into ISS-CDR roles, so no command for Fincke, Williams etc. Presumably this means they'll all remain Flight Engineers throughout their expeditions. Not sure if this also includes Ferguson. NASA is very tight-lipped even on who is in overall command on Boe-CFT.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 07/13/2019 03:49 pm
Passenger 1, Passenger 2, Passenger 3?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 07/19/2019 09:17 pm
Quote
nikolay.tikhonov
Friends and colleagues! Mark and Aki. With Mark, we were preparing in the backup crew of the ISS 51, and today he will evaluate our test dive with Aki!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 07/21/2019 12:35 am
Not sure this is the place for this but here goes....

Former NASA astronaut  Jeffrey Ashby   rescued after Colorado hiking fall


Jeffrey Ashby was severely injured Monday after falling 500 feet near the summit of La Plata Peak mountain.

https://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/local-news/former-nasa-astronaut-rescued-after-colorado-hiking-fall
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 07/22/2019 05:22 pm
Not sure this is the place for this but here goes....
Maybe we should create a new thread like "Information about former astronauts/cosmonauts/space flight participants" ?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 07/23/2019 07:26 am
https://global.jaxa.jp/press/2019/07/20190723a.html
Quote
JAXA astronaut Soichi Noguchi, as he was released from his backup crew assignment for Soyuz 59S with its successful launch, is now slated to begin training to board a United States Crew Vehicle (USCV) while he continues to train for an ISS expedition crew.
The specific vehicle provider and its flight schedule will be announced when more details are available.
Please note that the plan is tentative and may change due to various factors including the USCV development schedule.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Tobias_Corbett on 07/24/2019 08:48 pm
It seems like Eric Boe is still in training for a Starliner flight, even after being removed from Boe-CFT.

https://mobile.twitter.com/ulalaunch/status/1154091159008010242
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 07/26/2019 01:37 pm
https://www.roscosmos.ru/media/img/rk2019-06.pdf
On pages 19 -21 an excellent overview of the current Russian cosmonaut group.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 07/27/2019 07:02 pm
It seems like Eric Boe is still in training for a Starliner flight, even after being removed from Boe-CFT.

https://mobile.twitter.com/ulalaunch/status/1154091159008010242

Not necessarily. Boe is astronaut office branch chief for commercial crew, so he could easily be present for that reason.

Michael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 07/29/2019 07:44 pm
Quote
50 years after his historic flight, #Apollo 11 astronaut @astromichaelcollins meets with our newest astronaut candidates from the class of 2017. They will be part of the team returning to the moon on future #Artemis missions. Passing on wisdom from one generation of explorers to the next

Moghbeli and Kutryk have been absent ... someone's leg is broken?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 08/04/2019 05:06 pm
https://twitter.com/ShuttleAlmanac/status/1157997437505507328
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 08/06/2019 09:54 pm
Soyuz MS-16 prime crew starts training:
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 08/13/2019 01:01 pm
https://twitter.com/ollie_turrell/status/1161215417135902720
https://twitter.com/ollie_turrell/status/1161215767934898177

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 08/13/2019 01:15 pm
https://twitter.com/ShuttleAlmanac/status/1161136266743701506
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 08/13/2019 04:12 pm
http://www.ariss-f.org/mission-thomas-pesquet-2020-21/
Google translation
Quote
The next mission of Thomas PESQUET is planned from December 2020 to June 2021. The dates are not yet definitively confirmed.
So we can accept, that he will be the third person on USCV-2, whatever this will be.


There are Suni Williams, Josh Cassada and Thom Pesquet on USCV-2 so far.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 08/22/2019 05:49 pm
Here we have the plan for the next Russian crews.
http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=155
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 08/30/2019 10:37 am
https://www.militarynews.ru/story.asp?rid=1&nid=516097&lang=RU
Google translation
Quote
The first Soyuz with a fully Russian crew will arrive on the ISS next fall, Pavel Vlasov, head of the Cosmonaut Training Center, told Interfax.
"The crew of the spacecraft launching to the ISS in the fall of 2020 may consist entirely of Russian cosmonauts. This is due to the fact that at present there is no agreement between Roscosmos and NASA on whether there will be an American astronaut in this crew," Vlasov said on the sidelines aerospace salon MAKS.
According to Vlasov, at the moment there is a possibility that an agreement on the formation of an international crew will nevertheless be reached.
"American colleagues, due to delays in their ships, can prepare an appeal to Roscosmos with proposals for the formation of an international crew. Then plans to send only Russian cosmonauts can be replayed," said the head of the CPC.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 09/06/2019 10:08 am
I´ve seen on Wikipedia, that Megan McArthur is the new deputy of the Chief of the Astronaut Office.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_of_the_Astronaut_Office
Can anyone confirm this?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 09/06/2019 09:35 pm
Well it is difficult to connect to wikipedia today; but this is an entirely different matter.

Wikipedia down (https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/wikipedia-down-not-working-google-stopped-page-loading-encyclopedia-a9095236.html)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 09/11/2019 12:03 pm
https://twitter.com/Astro_Alex/status/1171740329520898049
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 09/11/2019 02:20 pm
I´ve seen on Wikipedia, that Megan McArthur is the new deputy of the Chief of the Astronaut Office.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_of_the_Astronaut_Office
Can anyone confirm this?

Yes, she took the job in May when Wiseman departed.

MC
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 09/11/2019 02:32 pm
Many thanks for your help.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 09/11/2019 06:02 pm
https://twitter.com/roscosmos/status/1171795732157935616

Cosmonaut Oleg Artemyev elected to the Moscow City Duma - https://roscosmos.ru/26788/

Roscosmos congratulates Oleg Germanovich Artemyev on his victory in the elections to the Moscow City Duma and wishes him the successful completion of his new mission in serving the residents of Moscow!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 09/12/2019 01:00 pm
https://www.thenational.ae/uae/science/all-you-need-to-know-about-the-uae-space-mission-1.909125
Quote
Though Maj Al Mansouri will be the first Emirati to travel to space, he will not be the last. Dr Al Neyadi has been promised the next spot on a UAE mission to space.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 09/15/2019 07:47 am
https://ria.ru/20190915/1558699267.html
Fyodor Yurchikhin must leave the cosmonaut group
Google translation
Quote
Quote
The main medical commission at a meeting in the Cosmonaut Training Center decided to exclude from the detachment the most experienced of the current cosmonauts - Fedor Yurchikhin.
This information RIA Novosti confirmed the commander of the cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko. I couldn’t reach Yurchikhin himself.
Answering the question whether Yurchikhin will be able to eliminate the comments, the squad commander replied that the commission’s decision was final. It must be approved by an order to be expelled from the detachment, which will require the collection of an interdepartmental commission.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 09/15/2019 01:16 pm
https://twitter.com/ShuttleAlmanac/status/1173152798491328512
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 10/01/2019 06:18 pm
https://www.zeit.de/wissen/2019-10/matthias-maurer-raumfahrt-astronaut-esa-iss
Matthias Maurer will be the next German to fly to the ISS. NET 2021
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 10/03/2019 11:34 am
https://twitter.com/andreabettini/status/1179718965146374144

GT:  The Villadei cosmonaut at RaiNews24: three Italians in space in 2020 with Virgin Galactic Three Italians will fly simultaneously into space next year thanks to an agreement between the Air Force and the US private company Virgin Galactic. It will be a first. Carlotta Macerollo talked about it with the cosmonaut Walter Villadei - See more at: http://www.rainews.it/dl/rainews/media/Il-cosmonauta-Villadei-a-RaiNews24-tre-italiani-nello-spazio-nel -2020-with-Virgin-Galactic-4a5690b8-ce02-4375-966d-b960c85de8a1.html



http://www.rainews.it/dl/rainews/media/Il-cosmonauta-Villadei-a-RaiNews24-tre-italiani-nello-spazio-nel-2020-con-Virgin-Galactic-4a5690b8-ce02-4375-966d-b960c85de8a1.html


Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 10/03/2019 06:30 pm
From: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/future.html (02.10.2019)

Future Expeditions

Future Crew Assignments Under Review

 :o
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Hog on 10/03/2019 08:47 pm
From: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/future.html (02.10.2019)

Future Expeditions

Future Crew Assignments Under Review

 :o
Is that because of Commercial Crew uncertainty?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 10/05/2019 07:22 pm
I´ve seen on Wikipedia, that Megan McArthur is the new deputy of the Chief of the Astronaut Office.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_of_the_Astronaut_Office
Can anyone confirm this?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 10/05/2019 07:38 pm
https://twitter.com/ShuttleAlmanac/status/1179944864445685760
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 10/09/2019 11:01 am
New developments
https://twitter.com/ShuttleAlmanac/status/1181837633778905089
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 10/11/2019 05:35 pm
Nikolai Chub, Sergei Kud'-Sverchkov, Walter Villadei and Sergei Korsakov on water trainings at Sochi:
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Yellowstone10 on 10/14/2019 01:05 pm
Reporting from RIA Novosti indicates that NASA's Christopher Cassidy has replaced JAXA's Akihiko Hoshide on Soyuz MS-16. Via Google Translate:

Quote
The crew of the Soyuz MS-16 includes Russian cosmonauts Nikolai Tikhonov and Andrei Babkin and NASA astronaut Christopher Cassidy.

https://ria.ru/20191011/1559653373.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 10/15/2019 01:23 pm
https://twitter.com/roscosmos/status/1184019329626574849



Lot's of great pictures in this link including video below...
https://www.roscosmos.ru/26944/




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiy-TVu2mmQ


Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 10/22/2019 05:40 pm
https://twitter.com/Astro_Soichi/status/1186662607035535360
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: tonyq on 10/22/2019 08:22 pm
New developments
https://twitter.com/ShuttleAlmanac/status/1181837633778905089

The reference to 'Two Tourists' to Soyuz in late 2021, prompted me to re-visit and update the story of Johanna Maislinger, an Austrian-German airline pilot who has been in negotiations with Space Adventures since 2017, for a seat on this flight.

Further extensive details here:-

https://spacesleuth2.blogspot.com/2019/10/austrian-german-woman-to-ISS.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 10/24/2019 03:44 pm
https://twitter.com/StephenClark1/status/1187395277902303234
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 10/26/2019 08:09 am
An update
https://twitter.com/ShuttleAlmanac/status/1187838799042117633
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 10/26/2019 10:49 pm
End of water training in Sochi:

https://www.roscosmos.ru/26987/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xY4BzRd5mFo
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 10/27/2019 01:06 pm
https://twitter.com/AirbusSpace/status/1188001934223007746
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 10/30/2019 05:18 pm
Oleg Novitskiy: Trying on a spacesuit.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Targeteer on 10/31/2019 04:48 am
October 30, 2019
MEDIA ADVISORY M19-124
NASA Assigns Chris Cassidy to Next Space Station Crew, Holds Media Briefing

NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy will return to the International Space Station next April. Cassidy will join his crewmates – Russian space agency Roscosmos cosmonauts Nikolai Tikhonov and Andrei Babkin – to discuss their upcoming mission during a news conference at 2 p.m. EST Thursday, Nov. 7, at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.

The briefing will air live on NASA Television and the agency’s website. The crew will be available for in person and remote media interviews following the news conference.

To request credentials to participate in person or to reserve an interview opportunity, U.S. reporters must contact Johnson's newsroom at 281-483-5111 by 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6. Media who wish to participate in the news conference by telephone must call Johnson's newsroom no later than 1:45 p.m. Nov. 6. Those following the briefing on social media may ask questions using #AskNASA.

Cassidy, Babkin and Tikhonov will arrive at the station as NASA flight engineers Jessica Meir and Drew Morgan, along with Expedition 62 commander Oleg Skripochka of Roscosmos, wrap up Expedition 62. When Meir, Morgan and Skripochka depart the orbital outpost, Cassidy will become commander of Expedition 63. He and his crewmates are expected to remain aboard the station until October 2020.

This will be the third spaceflight for Cassidy, who considers York, Maine, to be his hometown. He earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the U.S. Naval Academy and a master’s degree in ocean engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Before NASA selected him as an astronaut in 2004, he spent 11 years as a member of the U.S. Navy SEAL Team and deployed to the Afghanistan region two weeks after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. He achieved the rank of Navy captain in 2014 and remains on active duty.

Cassidy’s first spaceflight was as a mission specialist aboard space shuttle Endeavour for the STS-127 mission in 2009, when he became the 500th person to fly in space. During the 16-day mission, Cassidy participated in three spacewalks to help install the Japanese Kibo laboratory’s exposed facility and replace solar array batteries on the Port 6 truss of the space station.

His first long-duration mission was in 2013 as part of Expeditions 35 and 36. He took part in three more spacewalks during his six-month stay. He has spent 182 days in space, and 31 hours and 14 minutes spacewalking.

This is the first flight for both Tikhonov and Babkin.

Follow Cassidy on Instagram at:

https://www.instagram.com/astro_seal
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 10/31/2019 09:44 am
https://ria.ru/20191031/1560432296.html
Google translation
Quote
As the head of Roscosmos explained, the tests of American commercial ships will be completed no earlier than 2021, so Russia went forward and will be forced to "squeeze" its crews.
Quote
Unfortunately, this violates our plans for a set of tests and experiments aboard the ISS Russian segment. “We will have to sacrifice something by reducing our crew to provide space for our American colleagues,” he added.
Quote
In addition, after NASA’s request, Roskosmos decided to allocate money for the construction of two additional Soyuz spacecraft, Rogozin said.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 10/31/2019 12:49 pm
https://tass.ru/kosmos/7065836
Quote
I gave yesterday a command to allocate additional funds by Roscosmos to create two ships [Soyuz] additionally. The production capacities of our plant [RSC Energia] are four ships per year, but five ships can be made. There are such opportunities, and we will use them. In addition to our plans for the Federal Space Program, we are now ordering two new ships, "Rogozin told reporters on Thursday.
Quote
According to him, one ship will be built for the flight of space tourists in 2021, the second Soyuz is necessary to ensure the flight of international crews to the ISS.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: gemmy0I on 10/31/2019 05:03 pm
https://tass.ru/kosmos/7065836
Quote
I gave yesterday a command to allocate additional funds by Roscosmos to create two ships [Soyuz] additionally. The production capacities of our plant [RSC Energia] are four ships per year, but five ships can be made. There are such opportunities, and we will use them. In addition to our plans for the Federal Space Program, we are now ordering two new ships, "Rogozin told reporters on Thursday.
Quote
According to him, one ship will be built for the flight of space tourists in 2021, the second Soyuz is necessary to ensure the flight of international crews to the ISS.
Fascinating. I wonder what their lead time is going to be on those new ships, and when they'll be available to fly?

We'd heard in the past that the reason they couldn't "just order more Soyuzes" was because the capsules had too long a lead time to be useful in filling the gap until Commercial Crew is online. It would take long enough to build an additional Soyuz that CC would be online anyway by then despite the delays - or so the talking points went.

It sounds like (unsurprisingly) the reality is a bit more complex than that. Similar to what SpaceX has had to do with Crew Dragon to compensate for the need for a new capsule for IFA, it wouldn't be so much a matter of "ordering new Soyuzes from scratch" as speeding up the production line to its full capacity. "New" ships would become available because the time to build each individual one is compressed and future ships which were going to be made anyway (eventually) get pulled closer to the present day.

Honestly, I'm kind of surprised the Russians weren't already seizing the opportunity to keep Soyuz capsule production at full tilt even with the demand from the U.S. decreasing. By all indications, the market for LEO/ISS tourists is surprisingly robust - likely enough to fill as many free Soyuz seats as the Russians can produce given their production limitations. There has, after all, been (AFAIK) a backlog of would-be tourists (and "spaceflight participants" who are professional astronauts from junior spacefaring nations, like the UAE recently) for as long as the U.S. has been monopolizing the seats since the Shuttle retirement. Prior to that they didn't seem to have trouble filling seats.

As long as those tourist seats can pay enough to break even (and all indications are that they can), it's hard to see why Roscosmos was ever dragging their feet on making any less than the maximum number of Soyuzes possible. Soyuz development costs have long been amortized so only the marginal cost should matter. I wonder if the reason is something more cynical - maybe they're quietly concerned about the slips in quality control and would rather not unnecessarily increase the flight rate so as to minimize the Russian roulette they're playing.

With the U.S. side of the ISS now officially open for tourism, I imagine its popularity will increase substantially. Once the first Commercial Crew tourist flight happens you can bet a whole lot of the billionaires and hundred-millionaires out there will be saying "I've got to have that too". :)

(Apart from the Soyuz capsules, there's certainly plenty of Soyuz rockets available; IIRC they're going full-tilt on those to support OneWeb's launch campaign, leaving plenty that could be potentially re-prioritized to crew configuration. Of course that would mean bumping some OneWeb flights...which they might be reluctant to do if their profit margins are higher there.)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 10/31/2019 08:11 pm
astro_seal:
I’m honored to join my friends @nikolay.tikhonov and Andrey Babkin as members of Expedition 63 on the @iss Launch is scheduled for April 9th from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Our lives will be busy between now and then as we prepare for six months in space.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 11/01/2019 02:47 pm
https://twitter.com/genejm29/status/1190235372908888069
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 11/10/2019 06:23 am
An updated ISS crew manifest
https://twitter.com/ShuttleAlmanac/status/1193383976972386304

I'm a bit unsure about the numbering of the EC. If the CFT crew doesn´t count as EC, as mentioned here http://www.collectspace.com/ubb/Forum18/HTML/001499.html
Quote
Technically speaking, the Boeing Starliner CFT crew members are not expedition crew members. They are flight test crew members. Expedition members won't begin flying aboard Starliner (or Dragon) until after the vehicle has been certified by NASA.
So it is possible that Expedition 62 will only be a three-person crew, even though there may be six people on board the space station at the time.
then the  the crew of Soyuz MS-17 will be EC 63/64.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 11/12/2019 03:46 pm
https://ria.ru/20191112/1560833313.html
Google Translate:....
NUR-SULTAN, November 12 - RIA Novosti. Russia can send the first astronaut from Egypt into space, the relevant negotiations are underway, said the head of the Russian Space Agency Dmitry Rogozin at the conference "Space Days in Kazakhstan".

Initially, the question of the flight of the first astronaut of Egypt into space on the Russian Soyuz spacecraft was considered in 2001.
Earlier, Roscosmos and the Space Agency of Saudi Arabia concluded an agreement providing for the possibility of launching a Saudi cosmonaut to the ISS. Roscosmos is negotiating with other countries of the Arab world. Recently, an astronaut from the UAE Hazzaa al-Mansuri went to the ISS on the Soyuz. Space talks are also underway with Bahrain and Turkey.



Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 11/15/2019 02:25 pm
Here we have the latest presentation of "Crews in Training" from the TsPK.
It approves Stephen Bowen as the back-up for Chris Cassidy.
At the moment there are no NASA astronauts on the next two crews after Soyuz MS-16.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 11/18/2019 05:01 pm
https://blogs.nasa.gov/stationreport/2019/11/15/iss-daily-summary-report-11152019/
Quote
and FE-9,  Drew Morgan (EV-2)
Are there new rules of numbering the FE in the Expedition crews?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 11/19/2019 04:13 pm
https://twitter.com/katlinegrey/status/1196715310092558336
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 11/21/2019 07:00 am
According to http://novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/forum/messages/forum10/topic9135/message1915491/#message1915491 A. Borisenko struck out of the Starliner crew on November 16.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: AnalogMan on 11/27/2019 07:41 pm
Posted today - NASA synopsis for additional Soyuz rides.

Procurement of Crew Transportation and Rescue Services from ROSCOSMOS
Notice ID: 80JSC020ROSCOSMOS
Original Published Date: Nov 27, 2019 08:00 am CST

NASA is considering contracting with the State Space Corporation "Roscosmos" for these services on a sole source basis for two (2) Soyuz seats and associated services to the International Space Station (ISS) on the Russian Soyuz spacecraft vehicle. This transportation would be for one crewmember in the fall of 2020 and one crewmember in the spring of 2021.

[…]

This Soyuz seat procurement ensures uninterrupted access to the ISS in the event of a delay in U.S. commercial crew launches, mitigating the significant risk to ISS safety and operations that the absence of U.S. or US-designated crew members at any point in time would cause. This procurement will ensure that NASA has at least one crewmember on-orbit through September 2021. Obtaining this Soyuz transportation provides flexibility and back-up capability without adding unnecessary schedule pressure to our US commercial crew providers. The Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel has previously recommended that NASA should provide additional back-up capability in case US crew flights are delayed. This will also insure that NASA is meeting its own needs for crew transportation as well as its obligations to the International Partnership. Eleven months from now, in October 2020, there may no longer be a USOS presence on-board ISS unless action is taken. Based on the current status of the U.S. commercial program this date should allow overlap in capability and protect for continued ISS operation. Overlap with U.S. commercial crew capability is required to allow smooth and safe transition to a new U.S. capability. Even after U.S. crew transportation completes its test program, history has shown that developing an operational cadence of flights is difficult. Launch delays will occur. This overlap in crew transportation capability provides assurance of continuous safe operation and research activity on ISS.

https://beta.sam.gov/opp/d7b7aed2f1324b99b76633b1e6afd9e6/view (https://beta.sam.gov/opp/d7b7aed2f1324b99b76633b1e6afd9e6/view)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 11/28/2019 02:44 pm
https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/1200054918314414082
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 11/28/2019 02:58 pm
Does this 2-flight promise for each ESA member mean that Alexander Gerst, and Luca Parmitano after his current mission, won't get another spaceflight?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 11/28/2019 03:14 pm
Well it is at least 2 flights I hope, not "not more than"...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 11/30/2019 03:04 pm
Another flight opportunity for Walter Villadei besides Soyuz and Virgin Galactic
https://mailchi.mp/axiomspace.com/axiom-space-raises-16mlaunches-astronaut-mission-sales-and-training
Quote
Milestone: Our first astronaut begins training in Houston this year. The Italian Air Force has contracted Axiom to provide training to Lieutenant Colonel Walter Villadei as a professional astronaut to crew an Axiom long-duration research mission to ISS.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 12/01/2019 07:42 pm
https://www.bfmtv.com/planete/thomas-pesquet-pourra-repartir-dans-l-espace-en-2021-1815199.html?fbclid=IwAR1x2uux-M3iXwwmSzAjTqntExhUzYLeL0Z1lbphIx1xky6GMu9it1D_uPc
Google translation
Quote
Thomas Pesquet will again leave the mainland. The French astronaut will be able to leave for a second mission in space aboard the International Space Station (ISS) in late 2021, announced Thursday the European Space Agency (ESA).

A German by his side?
ESA will also propose to the other ISS member countries to send a new European, German astronaut Matthias Maurer. The project is that the latter briefly join Thomas Pesquet aboard the ISS, which will be "a very beautiful symbol of European friendship," said Frédérique Vidal.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 12/02/2019 10:53 am
Matthias Maurer wird nächster Deutscher auf ISS


https://www.spiegel.de/wissenschaft/weltall/matthias-mauerer-wird-naechster-deutscher-astronaut-auf-der-iss-a-1289539-amp.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 12/02/2019 06:16 pm
Is it correct to assume, that Kathleen Rubins is the current NASA Director of Operations, Russia?
She took part in some events in Russia in the last days.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 12/02/2019 09:29 pm
Is it correct to assume, that Kathleen Rubins is the current NASA Director of Operations, Russia?
She took part in some events in Russia in the last days.


She is, yes, and has been since April 2019 or so.

Michael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 12/05/2019 06:14 pm
https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/1202645399913271297
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 12/13/2019 07:19 am
https://twitter.com/katlinegrey/status/1205381945187811329
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 12/13/2019 12:22 pm
So I assume this Non-NASA astronauts on the first Commercial crew flights:
USCV-1 Soichi Noguchi
USCV-2 Akihiro Hoshide
USCV-3 Thomas Pesquet
USCV-4 Matthias Maurer
Any other ideas?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 12/20/2019 10:34 am
https://ria.ru/20191220/1562641729.html
Google translation
Quote
Roscosmos decided to provide NASA with two seats on Soyuz-MS spacecraft for flights to the ISS in 2020 and 2021, RIA Novosti was told by Dmitry Rogozin, general director of the state corporation, on Friday.
"We made a fundamental decision to provide NASA with seats on our ships for flights to the ISS. So far they have requested two seats at the end of 2020 - the spring of 2021," Rogozin said.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 12/26/2019 12:18 pm
2020 Astronaut Poster
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 12/26/2019 02:05 pm
2020 Astronaut Poster

Strange mixture....
Where is Serena Auñón-Chancellor?   

And why all the management people in there who will never fly again? 
Such as Forrester,
James Kelly,
Rick Linnehan,
Stan Love,
Lee Morin
Karen Nyberg
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 12/26/2019 02:38 pm
Management astronauts assigned to the Astronaut Office are considered members of the Astronaut corps. And yes, interesting that Serena Aunon-Chancellor is not included. Oversight? Or announcement forthcoming?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 12/27/2019 09:20 am
Also  noticed Management Astronaut Michael Gernhardt isn't included.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 12/29/2019 10:32 am
https://starlinerupdates.com/starliner-data-collected-ahead-of-spacecraft-move/
Quote
This same Starliner, now named Calypso, is slated to fly a long-duration mission to the International Space Station, carrying NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Josh Cassada, along with two international partner astronauts.
This could mean, Akihiko Hoshide and Thomas Pesquet or one of them and a Russian cosmonaut.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 12/30/2019 07:38 am
https://starlinerupdates.com/starliner-data-collected-ahead-of-spacecraft-move/
Quote
This same Starliner, now named Calypso, is slated to fly a long-duration mission to the International Space Station, carrying NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Josh Cassada, along with two international partner astronauts.
This could mean, Akihiko Hoshide and Thomas Pesquet or one of them and a Russian cosmonaut.

Last week (December 19) when I was at KSC for the Starliner launch, I had a chance to talk to 4 of the Starliner astronauts. One of them was Suni, and when asked who here other 2 crew mates would be on the flight (besides Cassada) She did not say names but that it would be a Russian Cosmonaut and an Astronaut from Japan.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 12/30/2019 08:00 am
an Astronaut from Japan.
As I found out, that at the moment it is not shure, which will fly first (Crew Dragon or Starliner) this could be Soichi Noguchi or Akihiko Hoshide.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ZachS09 on 12/30/2019 11:37 am
an Astronaut from Japan.
As I found out, that at the moment it is not shure, which will fly first (Crew Dragon or Starliner) this could be Soichi Noguchi or Akihiko Hoshide.

I thought Soichi Noguchi was selected to fly on the first operational Crew Dragon mission with Michael Hopkins and Victor Glover.

This means that Akihiko Hoshide is the one to go up on Starliner.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 12/30/2019 02:52 pm
an Astronaut from Japan.
As I found out, that at the moment it is not shure, which will fly first (Crew Dragon or Starliner) this could be Soichi Noguchi or Akihiko Hoshide.

I thought Soichi Noguchi was selected to fly on the first operational Crew Dragon mission with Michael Hopkins and Victor Glover.

This means that Akihiko Hoshide is the one to go up on Starliner.
According to the last known FPIP Soichi Noguchi will fly in the first USCV no matter if it will be a Crew Dragon or Starliner.
But this was six months ago, maybe it has chnaged.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: dcfowler1 on 12/31/2019 03:11 am
As of mid-November that was still true.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 12/31/2019 01:43 pm
As of mid-November that was still true.
His twitter account https://twitter.com/Astro_Soichi also says USCV-1 crew, nothing about Crew Dragon or Starliner.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 01/02/2020 07:33 pm
https://twitter.com/Super_Grover/status/1212822039956008960
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 01/09/2020 06:56 am
http://www.collectspace.com/ubb/Forum38/HTML/002277.html
Quote
Per NASA public affairs:
Serena and Mike are both management astronauts. The astronaut poster does include a few management astronauts, but only those who are still directly supporting the astronaut office. (So, for example, Pat Forrester, as chief astronaut, is included, but Bob Cabana, as KSC center director, is not.)
Mike has actually been supporting the engineering directorate for quite a while. He wasn't on the last astronaut poster, either.
Serena much more recently became what is called a "Special Government Employee" working with LSU Health Sciences Center. She does still have a few NASA activities that she's supporting, but the bulk of her time goes to her work at LSU. (They also pay the bulk of her salary.)
Serena's entry will be moved from Active to Management Astronauts on the NASA website soon.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Targeteer on 01/10/2020 04:36 pm
January 10, 2020
20-002
NASA’s Newest Astronauts Ready for Space Station, Moon, and Mars Missions
NASA's new class of astronauts appear on stage during their graduation ceremony at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston

NASA welcomed 11 new astronauts to its ranks Friday, increasing the number of those eligible for spaceflight assignments that will expand humanity’s horizons in space for generations to come. The new astronauts successfully completed more than two years of required basic training and are the first to graduate since the agency announced its Artemis program.

The new graduates may be assigned to missions destined for the International Space Station, the Moon, and ultimately, Mars. With a goal of sustainable lunar exploration later this decade, NASA will send the first woman and next man to the surface on the Moon by 2024. Additional lunar missions are planned once a year thereafter and human exploration of Mars is targeted for the mid-2030s.

“These individuals represent the best of America, and what an incredible time for them to join our astronaut corps,” said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston where the graduation ceremony took place. “2020 will mark the return of launching American astronauts on American rockets from American soil, and will be an important year of progress for our Artemis program and missions to the Moon and beyond.”

During Friday’s ceremony, each new astronaut received a silver pin, a tradition dating back to the Mercury 7 astronauts, who were selected in 1959. They will receive a gold pin once they complete their first spaceflights.

This was the first public graduation ceremony for astronauts the agency has ever hosted, and Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz of Texas were among the speakers at the event.

“For generations, the United States has been the world leader in space exploration, and Johnson Space Center will always be both the heart and home of human spaceflight activity,” said Cornyn. “I have no doubt the newly minted astronauts will add to that history and accomplish incredible things.”

Selected for training in 2017, the NASA astronaut candidates were chosen from a record-setting pool of more than 18,000 applicants.

“I congratulate these exceptional men and women on being the first graduating class of the Artemis program,” Cruz said. “They are the pioneers of the final frontier whose work will help fortify America's leadership in space for generations to come. I am excited for the opportunities ahead of them, including landing the first woman ever on the surface of the Moon, and having the first boots to step on Mars.”

Including the current class, NASA now has 49 active astronauts in its corps. NASA is also considering plans to open the application process this spring for the next class of astronaut candidates.

Training alongside the NASA astronaut candidates for the past two years were two Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronauts who also participated in the graduation ceremony.

NASA’s newest astronauts are:

    Kayla Barron, a U.S. Navy lieutenant, originally is from Richland, Washington. She graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy with a bachelor’s degree in systems engineering. A Gates Cambridge Scholar, Barron earned a master’s degree in nuclear engineering from the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom. As a submarine warfare officer, Barron served aboard the USS Maine (SSBN 741), completing three strategic deterrent patrols. She came to NASA from the U.S. Naval Academy, where she was serving as the flag aide to the superintendent.

    Zena Cardman calls Williamsburg, Virginia, home. She completed a bachelor’s degree in biology and a master’s degree in marine sciences at The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Cardman was a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow, working at The Pennsylvania State University. Her research focused on microorganisms in subsurface environments, ranging from caves to deep sea sediments. Her field experience includes multiple Antarctic expeditions, work aboard research vessels as both a scientist and crew member, and NASA analog missions in British Columbia, Idaho and Hawaii.

    Raja Chari, a U.S. Air Force colonel, hails from Cedar Falls, Iowa. He graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy with bachelor’s degrees in astronautical engineering and engineering science. He continued on to earn a master’s degree in aeronautics and astronautics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and graduated from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School in Patuxent River, Maryland. Chari served as the commander of the 461st Flight Test Squadron and the director of the F-35 Integrated Test Force at Edwards Air Force Base (AFB) in California.

    Matthew Dominick, a U.S. Navy lieutenant commander, was born and grew up in Wheat Ridge, Colorado. He earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of San Diego and a master’s degree in systems engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. He also graduated from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School. Dominick served on the USS Ronald Reagan as department head for Strike Fighter Squadron 115.

    Bob Hines, a U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel, attended high school in Mountaintop, Pennsylvania, but considers Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, his hometown. He has a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from Boston University and a master’s degree in flight test engineering from the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards AFB. Hines served as a developmental test pilot on all models of the F-15 while earning a master’s in aerospace engineering from the University of Alabama. He has deployed in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Prior to being selected as an astronaut, he was a Federal Aviation Administration flight test pilot and a NASA research pilot at Johnson.

    Warren Hoburg originally is from Pittsburgh. He earned a bachelor’s degree in aeronautics and astronautics from MIT, and a doctorate in electrical engineering and computer science from the University of California, Berkeley. He is a commercial pilot, and spent several seasons serving on the Bay Area Mountain Rescue Unit and Yosemite Search and Rescue. Hoburg came to NASA from MIT, where he led a research group as an assistant professor of aeronautics and astronautics.

    Dr. Jonny Kim, a U.S. Navy lieutenant, was born and grew up in Los Angeles. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy, then trained and operated as a Navy SEAL, completing more than 100 combat operations and earning a Silver Star and Bronze Star with Combat V. Afterward, he went on to complete a degree in mathematics at the University of San Diego and a doctorate of medicine at Harvard Medical School. Kim was a resident physician in emergency medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.

    Jasmin Moghbeli, a U.S. Marine Corps major, considers Baldwin, New York, her hometown. She earned a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering with information technology at MIT and a master’s degree in aerospace engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School. She also is a distinguished graduate of the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School. Moghbeli came to NASA from Yuma, Arizona, where she tested H-1 helicopters and served as the quality assurance and avionics officer for Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron 1.

    Loral O’Hara was born in Houston. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Kansas and a master’s degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics from Purdue University. Prior to joining NASA, O’Hara was a Research Engineer at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, where she worked on the engineering, test, and operations of deep-ocean research submersibles and robots.

    Dr. Francisco “Frank” Rubio, a U.S. Army lieutenant colonel, originally is from Miami. He earned a bachelor’s degree in international relations at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, and a doctorate of medicine from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland. Rubio has accumulated more than 1,100 hours as a Blackhawk helicopter pilot, including 600 hours of combat and imminent danger time. He was serving as a surgeon for the 3rd Battalion of the Army’s 10th Special Forces Group at Fort Carson, Colorado, before coming to NASA.

    Jessica Watkins hails from Lafayette, Colorado. She graduated from Stanford University in Palo Alto, California, with a bachelor’s degree in geological and environmental sciences, then went on to earn a doctorate in geology from the University of California, Los Angeles. Watkins has worked at NASA’s Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley, California, and Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, and was a postdoctoral fellow at the California Institute of Technology, where she collaborated on NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory rover, Curiosity.

CSA’s astronaut candidates are:

    Joshua Kutryk, a Royal Canadian Air Force lieutenant colonel, is from Beauvallon, Alberta. He has a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, as well as master’s degrees in space studies, flight test engineering, and defense studies. Prior to joining CSA, Kutryk worked as an experimental test pilot and a fighter pilot in Cold Lake, Alberta, where he led the unit responsible for the operational flight-testing of fighter aircraft in Canada.

    Jennifer Sidey-Gibbons hails from Calgary, Alberta. She holds an honors bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from McGill University in Montreal and a doctorate in engineering from the University of Cambridge. While at McGill, she conducted research on flame propagation in microgravity, in collaboration with CSA and the National Research Council Flight Research Laboratory. Prior to joining CSA, Sidey-Gibbons worked as an assistant professor in combustion in the Department of Engineering at Cambridge.

Astronaut candidate training for the new graduates included instruction, practice, and testing in spacewalking, robotics, International Space Station systems, T-38 jet proficiency, and Russian language. As astronauts, they will help develop spacecraft, support the teams currently in space and ultimately join the ranks of only about 500 people who have had the honor of going into space. NASA continues its work aboard the space station, which, in November, will celebrate 20 consecutive years of human occupation. The agency also is on the verge of launching astronauts again from American soil aboard American commercial spacecraft, and is preparing to send humans to the Moon as part of the Artemis program.

Find additional photos of the astronaut candidates and their training here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasa2explore/albums/72157698260056092

Find video of their training here:

https://archive.org/details/Astronaut-Candidate-Training-B-Roll
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 01/13/2020 11:25 am
https://twitter.com/Super_Grover/status/1212822039956008960

Apparently this is a topic for discussion in Italy.

L’addio di AstroSamantha è il simbolo dell’incapacità italiana di riconoscere il merito (c’entra pure il governo) (https://www.linkiesta.it/it/article/2020/01/03/samantha-cristoforetti-aeronautica-esa/44941/)

Quote
AstroSamantha's farewell is the symbol of the Italian inability to recognize merit (the government also has to do)

The astronaut Cristoforetti left the Air Force apparently due to a pressure from the military on the European Space Agency in favor of Walter Villadei, whom the first Conte government wanted to send on a mission with the Russians (and Italian money). You did well to go to work with ESA

Quote
There is certainly a political aspect in this affair, linked to the system of relations that governs a bit of everything in Italy, even the designation of an astronaut. Industry insiders say that Samantha has never worked very hard on it, she is very good and convinced that she can make her way even on her own (as the ESA verdict basically confirms). Her competitor, Villadei, seems more equipped from this point of view. The governments that have followed each other in recent years have invested heavily in him, to the point that he fancies a plan by the first Conte government to organize a joint mission with Russia completely financed by Italy: the protagonist should have been Villadei (who he trained as an astronaut in Moscow). Then he skipped everything for the exorbitant costs of the project. But Villadei also obtained a non-secondary role in the General Space Office established in 2017 by the Air Force, the one that defines the policy in the sector and presides over the selection of Italian astronauts. In short, he is a very good pilot - they are all, at that level - but also a "protected investment" of military and political chains of command.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 01/13/2020 11:33 am
Storia di Walter Villadei, il cosmonauta che sarebbe la causa dell’addio della Cristoforetti (https://www.ilsole24ore.com/art/la-storia-walter-villadei-l-astronauta-che-sarebbe-causa-dell-addio-cristoforetti-ACDBVp9)

Quote
The story of Walter Villadei, the cosmonaut who would be the cause of Cristoforetti's farewell

The Italian astronaut has resigned from the Air Force giving way to controversy: many conspiracy theories but at the basis of abandonment there would be the insistence on proposing an alternative but unsuitable candidate for the International Space Station


Quote
The lieutenant colonel Walter Villadei, having failed to pass the first selections as a European astronaut, will never be able to get to the ISS, the international space station, with this label, therefore appearing with NASA, and since we want him to fly to all costs, even at the expense of international reputation and economic outlay, you go to Russia where, for the generous compensation, it seems 2 million at a time but it is difficult to know the exact figure, the Villadei himself trains, as a cosmonaut, so they are called in those parts .
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 01/20/2020 06:38 am
https://twitter.com/ChrisG_NSF/status/1218968079398555649
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 01/30/2020 01:22 pm
https://ria.ru/20200130/1564064758.html
Google translation
American astronaut will be allocated a place on the "Soyuz"
Quote
One of the seats on the Soyuz spacecraft this fall at the request of the United States will be allocated to the American astronaut, Pavel Vlasov, head of the Russian Cosmonaut Training Center, told reporters on Thursday.
"The application of the Americans has been considered, on this occasion there is already a decision of the interagency commission that we include Chris Cassidy for the spring start, and there [in the autumn start], in my opinion, Stephen Bowen. One of the astronauts is already included in the autumn start," said Vlasov.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 02/11/2020 01:56 am
https://twitter.com/katlinegrey/status/1226755758550913024

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: PM3 on 02/17/2020 11:45 am
https://www.vedomosti.ru/politics/articles/2020/02/16/823140-v

https://twitter.com/katlinegrey/status/1229289185376374784
Quote
The source says, that the new contract between @Roscosmos and @NASA includes buying of two seats in #SoyuzMS17 and #SoyuzMS18 and NASA will pay $170 million for it. The contract can be signed in April.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 02/19/2020 03:41 pm
Roscosmos statement
https://www.roscosmos.ru/28064/
Google translation
On the replacement of the crew of the Soyuz MS-16
Quote
The Russian members of the main crew of the Soyuz MS-16 manned spacecraft, Roscosmos cosmonauts Nikolai Tikhonov and Andrei Babkin, will be replaced by backups for medical reasons.
The positions of the commander and flight engineer of the Soyuz MS-16 spacecraft will now be taken by the cosmonauts of Roscosmos Anatoly Ivanishin and Ivan Wagner. The changes will affect only the Russian part of the crew, NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy continues to prepare for the flight in accordance with the established plan.
The launch of the Soyuz-2.1a launch vehicle with the Soyuz MS-16 manned spacecraft and members of the long-term expedition ISS-63 is scheduled for April 9 this year from launch pad No. 31 of the Baikonur Cosmodrome.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 02/19/2020 05:32 pm
from: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/future.html

Quote
Expedition 63

Launch: April 9, 2020
Land: October 2020

Chris Cassidy
Anatoly Ivanishin
Ivan Vagner
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 02/28/2020 01:07 pm
A possibility for the Soyuz MS-18 main and back-up crew
https://twitter.com/anik1982space/status/1233348061696593920
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 03/06/2020 07:59 am
https://twitter.com/katlinegrey/status/1235816643487354885
https://twitter.com/katlinegrey/status/1235820875301015555
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 03/06/2020 05:24 pm
https://twitter.com/katlinegrey/status/1235993606441361408
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 03/11/2020 06:07 pm
https://blogs.esa.int/exploration/thomas-starts-training-for-second-space-mission/
Quote
Though the exact date for Thomas’ mission is yet to be confirmed, he will be the first European astronaut to fly on a US Commercial Crew Vehicle and is expected to be launched in the second half of 2021.

Quote
Thomas will fly on either a SpaceX or Boeing spacecraft, both of which are in the testing stages of development
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 03/12/2020 09:45 am
https://www.militarynews.ru/story.asp?rid=1&nid=528544&lang=RU
Google translation
Quote
Cosmonaut Nikolai Tikhonov, who was injured in February, whose flight to the International Space Station (ISS) was supposed to take place in April, could fly to the ISS this fall, the head of the Cosmonaut Training Center (CPC) Pavel Vlasov told reporters.
“If the pace of cosmonaut Nikolai Tikhonov’s recovery is as it is now, we hope that we will postpone his flight for a short while. In an ideal scenario, this could be an autumn start. We are ready for this option,” Vlasov said.
He said that postponing a longer expedition to the station is not profitable, since Tikhonov is completely ready and it all depends on his state of health.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 03/19/2020 04:59 pm
https://twitter.com/anik1982space/status/1240637732097069063

GT:  According to rumors, Shannon Walker is included in the crew of the first operational flight of the Crew Dragon ship in addition to Michael Hopkins, Victor Glover and Soichi Noguchi

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: dcfowler1 on 03/20/2020 03:31 am
Not a rumor.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ZachS09 on 03/27/2020 02:44 am
https://www.vedomosti.ru/politics/articles/2020/02/16/823140-v
https://ria.ru/20200306/1568227299.html

Two more NASA seats have been purchased.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 03/31/2020 07:03 am
Now we got it.             global.jaxa.jp/press/2020/03/2020031-1_e.html.                 JAXA astronaut, Noguchi Soichi, currently preparing and training for the ISS Expedition, will start training to board the first operational Crew Dragon under development by Space X.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 03/31/2020 03:12 pm
March 31, 2020
RELEASE 20-035
NASA Adds Shannon Walker to First Operational Crewed SpaceX Mission
 
NASA has assigned astronaut Shannon Walker to the first operational crewed flight of the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft on a mission to the International Space Station.

Walker will join NASA astronauts Michael Hopkins and Victor Glover Jr., as well as Soichi Noguchi of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), for a six-month expedition aboard the unique space laboratory.

This mission will be the first in a series of regular, rotational flights to the station following NASA’s certification of the new crewed system following completion and validation of SpaceX’s test flight with astronauts, known as Demo-2. This test is expected to take place in mid-to-late May as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.

Pending the successful Demo-2 test, Walker, Glover, Hopkins, and Noguchi will launch aboard Crew Dragon on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Pad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. That launch is targeted for later this year.

Walker was born in Houston and began her career at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston in 1987 as a robotics flight controller for the space shuttle with Rockwell Space Operations Co. She became a NASA employee in 1995, working on robotics and avionics hardware for the station with the program’s international partners. She also coordinated on-orbit problem resolution in the Mission Evaluation Room at Johnson and in Moscow and served as acting manager of the On-Orbit Engineering Office before NASA selected her for the 2004 astronaut class. As an astronaut, she spent 163 days as a flight engineer aboard the space station for Expeditions 24 and 25 in 2010. Walker earned a bachelor’s degree in physics and a master’s and doctorate in space physics, all from Rice University in Houston.

NASA already assigned Glover and Hopkins to the first operation SpaceX crewed mission in August 2018. This will be the first spaceflight for Glover and the second for Hopkins, who lived aboard the space station from September 2013 to March 2014 as part of Expeditions 37 and 38.

It will be the third spaceflight for Noguchi, who was a space shuttle crew member on the STS-114 mission in 2005 and a space station crew member from December 2009 to June 2010 as part of Expeditions 22 and 23.

NASA’s Commercial Crew Program is working with the American aerospace industry as companies develop and operate a new generation of spacecraft and launch systems capable of carrying crews to low-Earth orbit and to the space station. Commercial transportation to and from the station will provide expanded utility, additional research time and broader opportunities for discovery on the orbital outpost.

The station is a critical testbed for NASA to understand and overcome the challenges of long-duration spaceflight. As commercial companies focus on providing human transportation services to and from low-Earth orbit, NASA is free to focus on building spacecraft and rockets for deep space missions.

Follow NASA astronauts on social media at:
https://www.twitter.com/NASA_astronauts

Get more information on NASA’s Commercial Crew Program at:
https://www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew
-
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 03/31/2020 09:36 pm
March 31, 2020

Veteran Astronaut Karen Nyberg Retires from NASA

MEDIA ADVISORY: M20-006

Veteran Astronaut Karen Nyberg Retires from NASA

After nearly 30 years at NASA’s Johnson Space Center supporting human spaceflight, including 20 years as an astronaut and two spaceflights totaling 180 days in space, Astronaut Karen Nyberg is retiring from NASA. Her last day is March 31. 

Nyberg is from Vining, Minnesota. She received a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of North Dakota, and master’s and doctorate degrees in mechanical engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. She was selected as an astronaut in 2000, flew on one space shuttle mission, and was a member of one International Space Station long-duration expedition.

“Karen has been an important part of the astronaut corps for many years. Her teamwork and leadership skills have made her a great astronaut, a dear colleague, and a mentor to many,” said Pat Forrester, chief of the Astronaut Office at Johnson. “I have so much respect for her and I appreciate all that she has contributed to the space program. I am sorry to see her go but wish her the best in the next chapter of her life.”

Nyberg started at Johnson as an intern in 1991 and worked in a variety of areas. She holds a patent for work done on the Robot Friendly Probe and Socket Assembly. After her astronaut selection and initial training in 2000, she was assigned technical duties in the Astronaut Office’s Station Operations Branch where she served as a crew support astronaut for the Expedition 6 crew during its six‐month mission aboard the International Space Station.

On May 31, 2008, Nyberg launched on the space shuttle Discovery with the STS-124 crew to the space station to deliver the Japanese Experiment Module‐Pressurized Module and the Japanese Remote Manipulator System.

Nyberg flew to the space station again as a flight engineer for Expedition 36/37 on May 28, 2013. Nyberg and her crewmates spent 166 days in orbit, participating in hundreds of research experiments in the areas of physical science, technology, education, medicine and more. She also generated interest around the world by posting on social media including how to wash your hair in space, quilting in space, and being a mom while in space. She completed that mission and landed on Nov. 10, 2013.

-end-
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 05/06/2020 02:56 am
https://twitter.com/JimBridenstine/status/1257752395750289409

https://www.ctvnews.ca/entertainment/tom-cruise-will-be-launched-into-space-to-make-a-movie-on-the-iss-1.4926258

https://www.theverge.com/2020/5/5/21248460/nasa-tom-cruise-movie-international-space-station

---

SPECIFIC TOM CRUISE THREAD:
https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=50850.0
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Tobias_Corbett on 05/09/2020 02:01 pm
Ryzhikov and Kud-Sverchkov (and I assume with Bowen to) confirmed for Soyuz MS-17. Disappointing for Tikhanov and Babkin, hears hoping they finally get their shot on MS-18.

https://twitter.com/anik1982space/status/1259112811407564801
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 05/11/2020 02:51 pm
https://twitter.com/NASAWatch/status/1258774729416212481
Quote
So: who is going to fly to ISS with Tom Cruise? @Axiom_Space has a deal with @SpaceX  to fly private astronauts to ISS. Sources report Axiom's former @NASA astronaut employee @CommanderMLA Michael López-Alegría is expected to be on the Cruise flight.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 05/12/2020 09:32 am
https://twitter.com/fandeliss/status/1260098089014177792

Google translation
Quote
arrived in Houston ... it took a lot of resources, but you couldn't wait any longer or the mission (and the whole program) would be delayed.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 05/27/2020 09:10 am
The TsPK has provided a new "Crews in Training" overview.
According to this, on Soyuz MS-17 in October will fly Kathleen Rubins as FE2 and her back-up will be Mark Vande Hei.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Joachim on 05/27/2020 10:44 am
Can you please tell us the URL?
I can't find it.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 05/27/2020 12:07 pm
Can you please tell us the URL?
I can't find it.
Sorry, it seems deleted again.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Tobias_Corbett on 05/28/2020 05:02 am
The TsPK has provided a new "Crews in Training" overview.
According to this, on Soyuz MS-17 in October will fly Kathleen Rubins as FE2 and her back-up will be Mark Vande Hei.

Anyone have any idea what happened to Bowen?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 05/28/2020 07:34 am
The TsPK has provided a new "Crews in Training" overview.
According to this, on Soyuz MS-17 in October will fly Kathleen Rubins as FE2 and her back-up will be Mark Vande Hei.

Anyone have any idea what happened to Bowen?
Maybe he will fly on an USCV?

BTW the new NASA crew members of Soyuz MS-17 are also mentioned here.
https://ria.ru/20200528/1572092208.html
Google translation
Quote
In the crew of the Soyuz MS-17, NASA replaced Bowen with Rubins," the agency’s interlocutor said, without specifying the reason for the replacement.
He added that the astronaut Mark Vande Hai was chosen as the backup for Rubins.
The "crew list" of the Union MS-17 has not yet been officially approved. The approval of the crew will take place in the near future, "a spokesman for Roscosmos told RIA Novosti.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Tobias_Corbett on 05/28/2020 07:47 am
The TsPK has provided a new "Crews in Training" overview.
According to this, on Soyuz MS-17 in October will fly Kathleen Rubins as FE2 and her back-up will be Mark Vande Hei.

Anyone have any idea what happened to Bowen?
Maybe he will fly on an USCV?

Thats what I thought to actually, he could be in the fourth seat on the first Starliner PCM, considering there probably wont be a Russian cosmonaut on that seat like with Crew-1.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 06/03/2020 02:42 pm
June 03, 2020
RELEASE 20-060

NASA Assigns Astronaut Kate Rubins to Expedition 63/64 Space Station Crew

NASA has assigned astronaut Kate Rubins to a six-month mission to the International Space Station as a flight engineer and member of the Expedition 63/64 crew.

Rubins, along with cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Sergey Kud-Sverchkov of the Russian space agency Roscosmos, are scheduled to launch Oct. 14 on the Soyuz MS-17 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

Among some of the hundreds of experiments ongoing during her mission, Rubins will conduct research using the Cold Atom Lab to study the use of laser-cooled atoms for future quantum sensors, and will work on a cardiovascular experiment that builds on an investigation she completed during her previous mission.

NASA selected Rubins as an astronaut in 2009, and she completed her first spaceflight in 2016 as an Expedition 48/49 crew member. She launched July 6, 2016, and spent 115 days in space, during which she conducted two spacewalks totaling 12 hours and 46 minutes before her return to Earth Oct. 29, 2016. During her stay on the space station, Rubins helped advance important science and research and became the first person to sequence DNA in space.

Born in Farmington, Connecticut, and raised in Napa, California, Rubins received a Bachelor of Science degree in molecular biology from the University of California, San Diego, in 1999 and a doctorate in cancer biology in 2005 from Stanford University School of Medicine’s Department of Biochemistry and Department of Microbiology and Immunology in Palo Alto, California. Before joining NASA, Rubins worked as a fellow/principal investigator at the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research in Cambridge and headed 14 researchers studying viral diseases that primarily affect Central and West Africa.

For nearly 20 years, astronauts have continuously lived and worked on the space station, testing technologies, performing science and developing the skills needed to explore farther from Earth. As a global endeavor, 239 people from 19 countries have visited the unique microgravity laboratory that has hosted more than 2,800 research investigations from researchers in 108 countries. Through NASA’s Artemis program, the agency will send astronauts to the Moon by 2024, with eventual human exploration of Mars. Inspiring the next generation of explorers – the Artemis Generation – ensures America will continue to lead in space exploration and discovery.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 06/19/2020 05:36 pm
https://twitter.com/anik1982space/status/1273992872392642560
Google translation
Quote
Cosmonaut Andrei Borisenko is working out spacewalk from the Search module for laying and connecting five electric and information cables for the Science module for its integration into the ISS Russian Segment

The message on the CPC website notes that in July the ISS-65 crew will be preparing for spacewalk (launch - April 9, 2021 at Soyuz MS-18).

It is possible that a separate training Borisenko (not in the crew of the ISS-65) means his flight to the USCV-2 in February 2021.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 06/19/2020 07:02 pm
BTW, Andrey Borisenko said in a Russian TV channel, that he will fly in a spacecraft of Elon Musk.
https://topspb.tv/news/2020/05/21/kosmonavt-iz-peterburga-rasskazal-pochemu-soglasilsya-na-uchastie-v-programme-ilona-maska/
Quote
Cosmonaut Borisenko said that he was encouraged to participate in the Ilon Mask program
He was among the candidates for a flight to the ISS in a manned spaceship in the United States.
A cosmonaut born in Leningrad told why he agreed to participate in the Ilona Mask program. Andrei Borisenko shared his thoughts on the air of the St. Petersburg TV channel.
The astronaut became one of the possible participants in the Space X program Ilona Mask. He became one of the candidates for a flight to the ISS on new manned US ships. According to Borisenko, he gladly agreed to the proposal.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 06/22/2020 09:59 pm
What is the current plan for which expedition crew will replace Mike Hopkins' Dragon crew? Is it supposed to be Chris Ferguson's crew (assuming all goes well), Suni Williams' crew (again assuming all goes well), or the next Dragon crew? I feel like I've seen all of the above.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: dcfowler1 on 06/23/2020 03:56 am
Glover-Hopkins-Noguchi-Walker runs Sept 20-Feb 21. Third SpaceX crew then runs Feb 21-Aug 21.

Boeing crew is just a short visit in Apr-May 21.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 06/23/2020 04:50 am
Interesting. So the Crewed Flight Test is back to being a short flight, then? Last I knew, that was going to be a full crew rotation flight, though that was sometime in between the official extension to six months (when it was going to be a six-month visiting crew) and when it slipped behind Mike Hopkins' crew.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 06/26/2020 06:32 pm
https://twitter.com/anik1982space/status/1276574577800478720
Google translation
Quote
Kononenko in "Evening Urgant" said that Kikina might fly with him in the fall of 2022, and Chub in the spring of 2022.

That is, Chub at the Soyuz MS-21 in March 2022, and Kononenko with Kikina at the Soyuz MS-22 in September 2022.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Tobias_Corbett on 06/26/2020 10:17 pm
https://twitter.com/anik1982space/status/1276574577800478720
Google translation
Quote
Kononenko in "Evening Urgant" said that Kikina might fly with him in the fall of 2022, and Chub in the spring of 2022.

That is, Chub at the Soyuz MS-21 in March 2022, and Kononenko with Kikina at the Soyuz MS-22 in September 2022.

Interesting to see Kononenko going up again, assuming Soyuz MS-22 is around 150-200 days, he will break Gennady Padalka's longest time in space record and might become the first person to spent over 900 days in space.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 07/03/2020 06:01 pm
https://twitter.com/anik1982space/status/1279051212105678848
Google translation
Quote
According to rumors, if the Americans do not need a place on the Soyuz MS-18, then Borisenko will fly with Novitsky and Dubrov
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 07/03/2020 08:24 pm
Is he not supposed to be on the Dragon flight after Mike Hopkins' anymore, then?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 07/04/2020 05:19 pm
Any word on who will be CDR and PLT on SpaceX Crew 2 mission.
I heard it will include French astronaut Pesquet as well as Russian cosmonaut Borisenko.
Thank you.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 07/04/2020 05:49 pm
I presume Kjell Lindgren will have one of those two slots, since he backed up Hurley and Behnken and is backing up Mike Hopkins, but I don't know who would have the other.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 07/04/2020 08:29 pm
Reid Wiseman?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 07/04/2020 09:14 pm
I've been figuring he'd get a USCV command sooner or later, but I don't know if he's had enough time since being Deputy Chief of the Astronaut Office to be ready.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 07/05/2020 05:24 am
Brandi Dean told me in Apr 2019 that Wiseman had rotated from deputy chief into associate director of FOD.

McArthur replaced him as deputy last year, but has recently been replaced by Tingle.

Maybe McArthur might get the Dragon Crew-2 seat alongside Lindgren?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 07/05/2020 05:18 pm
Is Lindgren the only backup crewmember for Crew 1? If so, is that going to be the policy going forward (not assigning a complete backup crew)? If there is a 4-person backup crew, why is Lindgren the only one officially announced? I would presume backup assignment to Crew 1 would be a good indicator for prime crew assignment to Crew-2.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: dcfowler1 on 07/06/2020 02:06 am
Yes, he is the only backup crew.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ras391 on 07/06/2020 02:43 am
Which flight will Butch Wilmore have?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 07/06/2020 02:58 am
Presumably the Starliner after Suni Williams', as he's on the backup crew for both of the first two Starliner flights.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 07/06/2020 02:08 pm
On a related topic, are NASA astronauts specifically trained to fly either Dragon or Starliner vehicles, or are they "cross-trained" to fly both? Thank you.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 07/06/2020 04:37 pm
I would think if Jeanette Epps is actually going to fly it would be on an early CCV. If she doesn't show up on Crew 2 or Starliner 2 as a prime or backup crew member, then when? Or will she become another Yvonne Cagle?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 07/06/2020 04:45 pm
On a related topic, are NASA astronauts specifically trained to fly either Dragon or Starliner vehicles, or are they "cross-trained" to fly both? Thank you.

The initially assigned astronauts trained on both first and then specialized on one, if memory serves.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 07/07/2020 12:04 pm
According to NASA's Megan Sumner, "after training on a vehicle, they will not alternate between Starliner and Crew Dragon".
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 07/10/2020 01:26 pm
Again from anik
https://twitter.com/anik1982space/status/1281522732677636096
Google translation
French astronaut Tom Peske can fly to the ISS six months earlier, in February 2021, on the Crew Dragon (USCV-2) instead of USCV-3 due to the fact that Russia is giving up its place on this flight
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 07/10/2020 09:16 pm
I thought he was already scheduled to fly on the flight with Cosmonaut Borisenko?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 07/27/2020 04:08 pm
https://twitter.com/Thom_astro/status/1287776098760237056
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Tobias_Corbett on 07/28/2020 10:33 am
https://twitter.com/Thom_astro/status/1288035053872783361

https://twitter.com/Thom_astro/status/1288040247239028737

Looks like Thomas Pesquet will fly on Crew Dragon, second photo appears to be him training alongside Akihiko Hoshide, maybe Crew-2 will be Two NASA astronauts, Hoshide and Pesquet.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 07/28/2020 10:53 am
(From left) Matthias Maurer of ESA, Akihiko Hoshide of JAXA, and Megan Behnken and Raja Chari of NASA are seen during the training at NASA's Johnson Space Center. / June 25, 2020

Nothing official yet :(
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 07/28/2020 01:20 pm
Veteran Astronaut Rex Walheim Retires from NASA

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/veteran-astronaut-rex-walheim-retires-from-nasa-301100588.html

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/veteran-astronaut-rex-walheim-retires-222500426.html

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 07/28/2020 01:24 pm
Thomas Pesquet first ESA astronaut to ride a Dragon to space

28/07/2020

ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet has officially been assigned to the second operational flight of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft, launching in spring 2021 from Cape Canaveral, USA, to the International Space Station.

“I am thrilled to be the first European to fly on the new generation of US crewed spacecraft,” says Thomas. “It will be extra interesting for me to compare with my first flight as a Soyuz pilot, and to bring this experience to the team.


“The Dragon spacecraft is a modern machine with amazing new capabilities. On the other hand, the Soyuz has an unbelievable track record which enabled us to reach the International Space Station for many years. It is a privilege to fly on both.”

"With Thomas being the first European astronaut to fly to the International Space Station on a Crew Dragon vehicle, this shows that even when using a commercial spacecraft built in the US, the international character of human spaceflight is still given. The close collaboration among the Space Station partners NASA, JAXA, CSA, Roscosmos and ESA was strong in the past and remains very strong today and will do so in the future," says ESA Director General Jan Wörner.


"I am very much looking forward to see European astronauts in an environment again where no borders exist - the International Space Station.”

“These new assignments are thanks to the strong commitment to the European exploration programme made by ministers at Space19+ in Seville,” adds David Parker, ESA’s Director of Human and Robotic Exploration.

“With a 30% increase in annual investment we intend that all current members of the European Astronaut Corps will make a second Space Station mission in due course.”

Winning name revealed

Thomas’ second mission to the International Space Station will be called Alpha. This is after Alpha Centauri, the closest stellar system to Earth, following the French tradition to name space missions after stars or constellations.

The name was chosen from over 27 000 entries submitted to an ESA competition, in which Alpha was suggested 47 times. The first to submit this name was Christelle de Larrard from Mios, Gironde, France.

Christelle will receive a ‘flown’ mission patch that will orbit Earth in Thomas’ luggage on his mission. The other 46 winners will receive unflown but original mission patches as runner-up prizes.

“There were many reasons to choose Alpha as a mission name,” says Thomas. “It connects to my first mission, Proxima, as the stars belong to the same system close to Earth, and therefore convey the same idea of proximity (such as space research for people on Earth) and an idea of continuation in my work. Alpha, a Greek letter, is also widely used in mathematics, science and technology. And, as the first letter of the alphabet, it is often synonymous with the excellence we try to achieve in space exploration.”

Alpha was also the original denomination of the International Space Station, and is still used today as its radio call sign. The word is pronounced the same in almost every language, for a simple yet meaningful mission name. 

“Congratulations Christelle and the 46 others!” concludes Thomas.

Patch design

The Alpha patch was designed by ESA’s graphic artists, and features a rocket launch – the most dramatic moment of every space mission. Around the patch are 17 coloured slots representing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

At the top, the International Space Station is stylised in the colours of the French flag. Ten stars sparkle in the background, evoking the Centaurus constellation, and the number of French citizens who have flown to space.

Thomas has already started training for his new spacecraft in the simulator, and for his six-month stay on the International Space Station, refreshing skills to ensure the best is made from his time in space. During his last mission, Proxima, he took part in more than 60 European experiments, more than 200 overall, and set a record for the number of hours spent on science in a week.

The crew of Expedition 50/51 still found the time to make six spacewalks, launch 36 nanosatellites, perform a handful of robotic operations, and, in their free time, take thousands of breathtaking pictures of Earth.


The next mission promises to be even more action-packed as the crew increases from six to seven members on average – because the US crew capsules can now fly four astronauts into space, one more than a Soyuz – and major upgrades to Europe’s laboratory that will give quicker access to microgravity experiments for researchers on Earth.

ESA also was able to acquire an additional mission to the International Space Station in 2021 for the first flight of ESA astronaut Matthias Maurer. Details of that mission are yet to be established, but for now Matthias is training as the backup for Thomas.

“The International Space Station is celebrating 20 years of human presence in space later this year, but even after two decades of continuous human presence in Earth orbit, spaceflight is no easy undertaking,” says Frank De Winne, Space Station Expedition 21 Commander and Head of the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany.

“This mission assignment is the first time a European will fly to the Space Station in the Crew Dragon, making it extra special, while ensuring research for the benefit of humankind continues at all times above our heads.” 

The Alpha mission will be the first time a European astronaut is launched from the USA in almost a decade, after Roberto Vittori travelled in Space Shuttle Endeavourto the International Space Station to deliver the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer AMS-02 in 2011.


https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/Thomas_Pesquet_first_ESA_astronaut_to_ride_a_Dragon_to_space
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 07/28/2020 01:24 pm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ky9hwYtbjY4 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ky9hwYtbjY4)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 07/28/2020 01:37 pm

https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-announces-astronauts-to-fly-on-spacex-crew-2-mission-to-space-station


July 28, 2020
RELEASE 20-076
NASA Announces Astronauts to Fly on SpaceX Crew-2 Mission to Space Station

NASA and its international partners have assigned crew members for Crew-2, which will be the second operational SpaceX Crew Dragon flight to the International Space Station as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.

NASA astronauts Shane Kimbrough and Megan McArthur will serve as spacecraft commander and pilot, respectively, for the mission. JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Akihiko Hoshide and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Thomas Pesquet will join as mission specialists.

Crew-2 is targeted to launch in spring 2021, following the successful completion of both NASA’s SpaceX Demo-2 test flight mission, which is expected to return to Earth Aug. 2, and the launch of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-1 mission, which is targeted for late September. The Crew-2 astronauts will remain aboard the space station for approximately six months as expedition crew members, along with three crewmates who will launch via a Russian Soyuz spacecraft. The increase of the full space station crew complement to seven members – over the previous six – will allow NASA to effectively double the amount of science that can be conducted in space.

This will be Kimbrough’s third trip to space and his second long-duration stay at the space station. Born in Killeen, Texas, and raised in Atlanta, Kimbrough was selected as an astronaut in 2004. He first launched aboard space shuttle Endeavour for a visit to the station on the STS-126 mission in 2008, then aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft for Expedition 49/50 in 2016. He has spent a total of 189 days in space, and performed six spacewalks. Kimbrough also is a retired U.S. Army colonel and earned a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, and a master’s degree in operations research from the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta.

McArthur will be making her second trip to space, but her first to the station. She was born in Honolulu but considers California to be her home state. After being selected as an astronaut in 2000, she launched on space shuttle Atlantis as a mission specialist on STS-125, the final Hubble Space Telescope servicing mission, in 2009. McArthur operated the shuttle’s robotic arm over the course of the 12 days and 21 hours she spent in space, capturing the telescope and moving crew members during the five spacewalks needed to repair and upgrade it. She holds a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a doctorate in oceanography from the University of California, San Diego.

This will be Hoshide’s third spaceflight. He was part of the STS-124 mission aboard space shuttle Discovery in 2008 and a crew member for Expeditions 32 and 33, launching aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft in 2012 for a 124-day visit to the station. Pesquet previously flew as part of Expeditions 50 and 51, launching aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft and spending 196 days in space.

NASA’s Commercial Crew Program is working with the American aerospace industry as companies develop and operate a new generation of spacecraft and launch systems capable of carrying crews to low-Earth orbit and the space station. Commercial transportation to and from the station will provide expanded utility, additional research time, and broader opportunities for discovery on the orbital outpost.

For almost 20 years, humans have lived and worked continuously aboard the International Space Station, advancing scientific knowledge and demonstrating new technologies, making research breakthroughs not possible on Earth. As a global endeavor, 240 people from 19 countries have visited the unique microgravity laboratory that has hosted more than 3,000 research and educational investigations from researchers in 108 countries.

The station is a critical testbed for NASA to understand and overcome the challenges of long-duration spaceflight. As commercial companies focus on providing human transportation services to and from low-Earth orbit, NASA is free to focus on building spacecraft and rockets for deep space missions to the Moon and Mars.

Follow Kimbrough on Twitter and Instagram.

Follow Hoshide on Twitter.

Follow Pesquet on Twitter and Instagram.

Find more information on NASA’s Commercial Crew Program at:

https://www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew




The members of the SpaceX Crew-2 mission to the International Space Station. Picture from left are NASA astronauts Megan McArthur and Shane Kimbrough, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Akihiko Hoshide and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Thomas Pesquet.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TorenAltair on 07/28/2020 09:35 pm
So still no flight assignment for Kjell Lindgren? Anybody heard reasons what‘s going on?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: DwightM on 07/28/2020 09:37 pm
He's still fulfilling his backup duties for Crew-1.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Tobias_Corbett on 07/29/2020 01:06 am
Since Hoshide will probably be the ISS Commander out of the Crew-2 astronauts (Seeing as he was already assigned as ISS-CDR when he was first assigned to 64/65), that means Kimbrough will probably be "demoted" having previously commanded Expedition 50. This isn't all to uncommon with Russian cosmonauts, although to my knowledge this is the first occurrence with a NASA astronaut.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 07/29/2020 01:29 am
I had wondered who would command that expedition myself. The other question is who is supposed to be the ISS commander after Sergei Ryzhikov; I had wondered if the upcoming JAXA command slot would go to Soichi Noguchi, in which case I would be surprised if there were two JAXA commands in such short succession (with ESA the other year, it was a full year, and even that was a bit surprising), but stranger things have happened.

Can we presume, then, that the rest of Suni Williams' crew will be Matthias Maurer and another international astronaut yet to be determined? Also, are Satoshi Furukawa and Denis Matveyev still active? I've been following crew assignments and was slightly surprised not to see them.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Tobias_Corbett on 07/29/2020 01:37 am
I had wondered who would command that expedition myself. The other question is who is supposed to be the ISS commander after Sergei Ryzhikov; I had wondered if the upcoming JAXA command slot would go to Soichi Noguchi

I was thinking it could possibly be Shannon Walker, I remember reading she was originally set to be ISS-CDR on Expedition 60 before she was replaced on 59/60 by Christina Koch, so it could possibly make sense for her to take command for Expedition 65, but only time will tell I guess, we might learn when Crew-1 has a press conference (If they are going to have one).

Can we presume, then, that the rest of Suni Williams' crew will be Matthias Maurer and another international astronaut yet to be determined? Also, are Satoshi Furukawa and Denis Matveyev still active? I've been following crew assignments and was slightly surprised not to see them.

According to Roscosmos's Acting cosmonaut page and JAXA's website both are still active, It does seem about time for Furukawa to get a second assignment though.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 07/29/2020 01:38 am
I was also wondering if Jeanette Epps would get one of the early CCV flights. The longer it goes without that happening,  one has to wonder if it is ever going to happen. If she's  not assigned to Crew 3 or Starliner 2, imo that's an indication that NASA has no intention of flying her.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 07/29/2020 01:43 am
I read somewhere that a NASA official was quoted that once an astronaut is assigned as a backup crewmember on a CCV,  they won't be switched to the other for a prime crew assignment. If so, Mathias Maurer probably won't fly until Crew 3.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Tobias_Corbett on 07/29/2020 02:04 am
Does anyone know who is replacing McArthur-Behnken as deputy chief of the astronaut office? I assume she can't hold the role while training for Crew-2. I also found it interesting how short her tenure in the role was, if i remember correctly she only took over from Wiseman earlier this year.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: DwightM on 07/29/2020 02:10 am
Scott Tingle
Edit: see reply #3090 by Ben E on this thread.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 07/29/2020 05:01 am
Thanks, Tobias and Delta. I had forgotten about not switching ships, but that makes sense. Unless the plan for Maurer to fly next changes, I wonder if that means Jeremy Hansen will get the seat.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: gongora on 07/29/2020 08:55 pm
Veteran Astronaut Rex Walheim Retires from NASA

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/veteran-astronaut-rex-walheim-retires-from-nasa-301100588.html

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/veteran-astronaut-rex-walheim-retires-222500426.html

https://twitter.com/Astro_Rex/status/1288561830248493056
Quote
I’m pleased to announce that after 35 years of government service, I have joined @Axiom_Space as Director of Safety & Mission Assurance. With this team's expertise and commercial energy, I look forward to carrying on the work we began at NASA to settle and utilize Low Earth Orbit
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 07/31/2020 01:12 pm
https://twitter.com/Space_Dahlia/status/1289183753600815104

GT:Cosmonaut Nikolai Tikhonov left the body of cosmonauts on July 31, 2020 due to new data on his state of health. I am sad for him ..... I wish him all the best for his future endeavors!

http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=5036

GT:Cosmonaut Nikolai Tikhonov dropped out of the cosmonaut corps
| Cosmonauts
July 31, 2020

On July 31, 2020, the employment contract with test cosmonaut Nikolai Tikhonov was terminated.

Nikolai Tikhonov was enrolled in the cosmonaut corps in 2006. In June 2009, after completing a course of general space training, at a meeting of the Interdepartmental Qualification Commission (IQC), he was awarded the qualification "test cosmonaut". Later, he underwent training as part of the specialization and improvement group under the ISS program.

From June 2015 to October 2016, he trained as part of the ISS-49/50 backup crew as a flight engineer of the Soyuz MS-02 TPK and an ISS-49/50 flight engineer.

From December 2017 to April 2018, N. Tikhonov was trained as a member of the ISS-57/58 prime crew as a flight engineer of the Soyuz MS-10 TPK. The composition of the crew was changed due to the revision of the ISS flight program.

From June 2018 to February 2020, the cosmonaut was trained as part of the ISS-63 crew as the commander of the Soyuz MS-16 TPK and the ISS-63 flight engineer.

From February to July 2020, he was trained as part of the specialization and improvement group under the ISS program.

N. Tikhonov made the decision to leave the cosmonaut corps in connection with the new data on the state of health.

Currently, the Roscosmos cosmonaut corps includes 31 people, of which 23 are active cosmonauts and 8 are candidates for test cosmonauts.

https://twitter.com/anik1982space/status/1289189163179241472

GT: Today Nikolai Tikhonov, who was four times assigned to the main crews of Soyuz for flights to the ISS (but never flew) and received an eye injury before the Soyuz MS-16 flight, left the cosmonaut corps for health reasons

https://twitter.com/roscosmos/status/1289191323409346561

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: mdee on 08/05/2020 04:14 pm
We are almost there! Bridenstine soon announcing crew-1 , #launchamerica

[zubenelgenubi: Attach files to a post. Do not embed them.]
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 08/22/2020 09:50 am
https://twitter.com/Anton_Astrey/status/1297065576272203776
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 08/25/2020 03:31 pm
https://twitter.com/Astro_Suni/status/1298280432379793408
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 08/25/2020 03:33 pm
Aug. 25, 2020

RELEASE 20-082
NASA Astronaut Jeanette Epps Joins First Operational Boeing Crew Mission to Space Station

NASA has assigned astronaut Jeanette Epps to NASA’s Boeing Starliner-1 mission, the first operational crewed flight of Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft on a mission to the International Space Station.

Epps will join NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Josh Cassada for a six-month expedition planned for a launch in 2021 to the orbiting space laboratory. The flight will follow NASA certification after a successful uncrewed Orbital Flight Test-2 and Crew Flight Test with astronauts.

The spaceflight will be the first for Epps, who earned a bachelor’s degree in physics in 1992 from LeMoyne College in her hometown of Syracuse, New York. She completed a master’s degree in science in 1994 and a doctorate in aerospace engineering in 2000, both from the University of Maryland, College Park.

While earning her doctorate, Epps was a NASA Graduate Student Researchers Project fellow, authoring several journal and conference articles on her research. After completing graduate school, she worked in a research laboratory for more than two years, co-authoring several patents, before the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) recruited her. She spent seven years as a CIA technical intelligence officer before her selection as a member of the 2009 astronaut class.

NASA assigned Williams and Cassada to the Starliner-1 mission in August 2018. The spaceflight will be the first for Cassada and third for Williams, who spent long-duration stays aboard the space station on Expeditions 14/15 and 32/33.

NASA’s Commercial Crew Program is working with the American aerospace industry as companies develop and operate a new generation of spacecraft and launch systems capable of carrying crews to low-Earth orbit and to the space station. Commercial transportation to and from the station will provide expanded utility, additional research time and broader opportunities for discovery on the orbital outpost.

For nearly 20 years, the station has served as a critical testbed for NASA to understand and overcome the challenges of long-duration spaceflight. As commercial companies focus on providing human transportation services to and from low-Earth orbit, NASA will concentrate its focus on building spacecraft and rockets for deep-space missions.

Follow Epps on social media at:

https://twitter.com/Astro_Jeanette

and

https://www.instagram.com/jeanette.epps/

-end-

https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-astronaut-jeanette-epps-joins-first-operational-boeing-crew-mission-to-space/
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 08/25/2020 08:23 pm
https://twitter.com/JimBridenstine/status/1298279772116652035

https://twitter.com/astro_josh/status/1298286008686055427

https://twitter.com/Astro_Ferg/status/1298285857238024192

https://twitter.com/Astro_Jeanette/status/1298281502543876097

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Hog on 08/26/2020 05:20 pm
https://twitter.com/JimBridenstine/status/1298279772116652035


Excellent, excellent NEWS all the NASA Class 20 will be complete one Dr Epps flies.  It's a great to have that cloud finally dissipate.

Now we just have to get that Canuck Jeremy Hansen on a flight and all participants of the "The Chumps" Class of 2011, both NASA and International astronauts will have flown. 
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 08/26/2020 06:21 pm
http://www.astronaut.ru/index/in_pers3/11_068.htm

Google translation
In August 2020, British astronautics historian Tony Quine received confirmation of the information that Johanna Meislinger is one of two space tourists who will fly on a visiting expedition to the ISS in December 2021 on the Soyuz MS-20 spacecraft under a contract with Space Adventures.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Targeteer on 08/27/2020 01:25 am
Aug. 25, 2020

RELEASE 20-082
NASA Astronaut Jeanette Epps Joins First Operational Boeing Crew Mission to Space Station

NASA has assigned astronaut Jeanette Epps to NASA’s Boeing Starliner-1 mission, the first operational crewed flight of Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft on a mission to the International Space Station.

Epps will join NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Josh Cassada for a six-month expedition planned for a launch in 2021 to the orbiting space laboratory. The flight will follow NASA certification after a successful uncrewed Orbital Flight Test-2 and Crew Flight Test with astronauts.

The spaceflight will be the first for Epps, who earned a bachelor’s degree in physics in 1992 from LeMoyne College in her hometown of Syracuse, New York. She completed a master’s degree in science in 1994 and a doctorate in aerospace engineering in 2000, both from the University of Maryland, College Park.

While earning her doctorate, Epps was a NASA Graduate Student Researchers Project fellow, authoring several journal and conference articles on her research. After completing graduate school, she worked in a research laboratory for more than two years, co-authoring several patents, before the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) recruited her. She spent seven years as a CIA technical intelligence officer before her selection as a member of the 2009 astronaut class.

NASA assigned Williams and Cassada to the Starliner-1 mission in August 2018. The spaceflight will be the first for Cassada and third for Williams, who spent long-duration stays aboard the space station on Expeditions 14/15 and 32/33.

NASA’s Commercial Crew Program is working with the American aerospace industry as companies develop and operate a new generation of spacecraft and launch systems capable of carrying crews to low-Earth orbit and to the space station. Commercial transportation to and from the station will provide expanded utility, additional research time and broader opportunities for discovery on the orbital outpost.

For nearly 20 years, the station has served as a critical testbed for NASA to understand and overcome the challenges of long-duration spaceflight. As commercial companies focus on providing human transportation services to and from low-Earth orbit, NASA will concentrate its focus on building spacecraft and rockets for deep-space missions.

Follow Epps on social media at:

https://twitter.com/Astro_Jeanette

and

https://www.instagram.com/jeanette.epps/

-end-

https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-astronaut-jeanette-epps-joins-first-operational-boeing-crew-mission-to-space/

Has NASA ever explained why her Expedition assignment was cancelled 2 years ago?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Tobias_Corbett on 08/27/2020 07:49 am
Possible Soyuz MS-19 crew (Shkaplerov, Babkin and Korsakov)

https://twitter.com/Anton_Astrey/status/1298883991236497408
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 08/28/2020 07:48 pm
https://ria.ru/20200828/ekipazh-1576406868.html

Google translation

"It is proposed to include three Russian cosmonauts in the Soyuz MS-18 crew: Oleg Novitsky, Pyotr Dubrov and Andrey Borisenko," the agency's source said.
As a spokesman for the Roskosmos press service told RIA Novosti, the composition of the crew has not yet been approved.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 08/30/2020 01:51 pm
https://twitter.com/spaceexplore/status/1300044593191366657

GT:
Quote
European astronaut @astro_matthias
finished his 1st training session on the @Space_Station
but Russian segment at the Star City near Moscow.
Without forgetting the "cooking" classes with tastings of Russian food for the # ISS
With @Astro_Raja
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Galactic Penguin SST on 08/31/2020 06:34 am
https://ria.ru/20200828/ekipazh-1576406868.html

Google translation

"It is proposed to include three Russian cosmonauts in the Soyuz MS-18 crew: Oleg Novitsky, Pyotr Dubrov and Andrey Borisenko," the agency's source said.
As a spokesman for the Roskosmos press service told RIA Novosti, the composition of the crew has not yet been approved.

Does that mean the US Segment & Russian crew barter is now off the table? 🤔
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 08/31/2020 03:18 pm
https://ria.ru/20200828/ekipazh-1576406868.html

Google translation

"It is proposed to include three Russian cosmonauts in the Soyuz MS-18 crew: Oleg Novitsky, Pyotr Dubrov and Andrey Borisenko," the agency's source said.
As a spokesman for the Roskosmos press service told RIA Novosti, the composition of the crew has not yet been approved.

Does that mean the US Segment & Russian crew barter is now off the table? 🤔

I don't think so. I think it just means that it hasn't started yet, since Russian cosmonauts haven't started flying on our vehicles yet.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: yg1968 on 08/31/2020 04:23 pm
Has NASA ever explained why her Expedition assignment was cancelled 2 years ago?

My understanding is that they haven't and they won't. NASA doesn't comment on personnel decisions.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 09/01/2020 09:01 pm
According to the last edition of Russian Space: https://www.roscosmos.ru/29140/

"READY TO TAKE THE RELAY
To fly under the ISS-64 program on October 14 this year
two crews are preparing.
Prime: Sergey Ryzhikov, Sergey Kud-Swerchkov (both represent Roskosmos) and Kathleen Rubins (NASA).
Backup: Oleg Novitsky, Petr Dubrov (Roscosmos) and Mark Vande Hei (NASA).
The ISS-64 expedition program includes spacewalk to disconnect electrical cables between the Zvezda module
and "Pirs" with the aim of preparing the latter for the undocking.

In addition to the above mentioned, the preparation for work on ISS
are conditional crews in the following crews: Anton Shkaplerov - Andrey Babkin, Oleg Kononenko -
Anna Kikina
."
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 09/05/2020 02:40 pm
Richard Arnold was moved from "Active Astronauts" to "Management Astronauts".

The problem with Paul Richards and Charles Camarda, who are according to their biographies retired from NASA in 2019, but still listed as "Management Astronauts" is not solved. Maybe someone with connections to NASA PAO can ask them?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 09/08/2020 08:40 pm
https://twitter.com/katlinegrey/status/1303406716751618050
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 09/08/2020 11:32 pm
https://twitter.com/MannedTweets/status/1303464156620873728

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 09/14/2020 06:13 pm
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/future.html

Page Last Updated: Sept. 14, 2020

Future Expeditions

Expedition 64
Launch: Oct. 14, 2020
Land: Spring 2021

Crew:
Kate Rubins
Sergey Ryzhikov
Sergey Kud-Sverchkov
. . .
SpaceX Crew-1
Launch: NET Oct 23, 2020

Crew:
Mike Hopkins
Victor Glover
Shannon Walker
Soichi Noguchi
. . .
SpaceX Crew-2
Launch: Spring 2021

Crew:
Shane Kimbrough
Thomas Pesquet
Megan McArthur
Akihiko Hoshide
. . .
Boeing Orbital Flight Test (OFT)
Launch: NET June 2021

Crew:
Chris Ferguson
Mike Fincke
Nicole Mann
. . .
Boeing Starliner-1
Launch: NET Dec 2021

Crew:
Suni Williams
Josh Cassada
Jeanette Epps
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 09/14/2020 06:54 pm
At least both Boeing flights will not be part of Expediton 64.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: vp. on 09/15/2020 07:43 am
. . .
SpaceX Crew-2
Launch: Spring 2021

Crew:
Shane Kimbrough
Thomas Pesquet
Megan McArthur
Akihiko Hoshide
. . .
It's surprising to see the order of the names.
Pesquet is the pilot 
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 09/15/2020 08:57 am
. . .
SpaceX Crew-2
Launch: Spring 2021

Crew:
Shane Kimbrough
Thomas Pesquet
Megan McArthur
Akihiko Hoshide
. . .
It's surprising to see the order of the names.
Pesquet is the pilot 

According to https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-announces-astronauts-to-fly-on-spacex-crew-2-mission-to-space-station
Quote
NASA astronauts Shane Kimbrough and Megan McArthur will serve as spacecraft commander and pilot, respectively, for the mission. JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Akihiko Hoshide and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Thomas Pesquet will join as mission specialists.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 09/17/2020 09:22 pm
https://twitter.com/thesheetztweetz/status/1306633490633494530



Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 09/18/2020 01:59 pm
https://twitter.com/free_space/status/1306941899186593795
Quote
Space Hero mission  is about 4th on @Axiom_Space manifest, Mike Suffredini tells @AviationWeek. First up in Oct '21 is flight of 3 private individuals and former @NASA_Astronauts Mike Lopez-Algeria.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 09/18/2020 10:12 pm
Have the plans for the MS-18 crew changed? I've seen a couple places that have gone back to listing Mark Vande Hei as a possibility at FE2.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Eric Hedman on 09/20/2020 01:46 am
Article in Fox News about NASA crew assignments.

https://www.foxnews.com/us/nasa-takes-on-bigger-missions-us-astronauts-still-dont-know-how-theyre-picked (https://www.foxnews.com/us/nasa-takes-on-bigger-missions-us-astronauts-still-dont-know-how-theyre-picked)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: dcfowler1 on 09/21/2020 09:02 pm
Michael Hopkins, the Crew-1 commander, has been selected to transfer from the US Air Force to the US Space Force:

https://www.congress.gov/nomination/116th-congress/2019

Nominees
One nomination, beginning with Michael S. Hopkins and ending with Michael S. Hopkins

Organization
Space Force

Latest Action
07/30/2020 - Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

Date Received from President
06/17/2020

Committee
Senate Armed Services
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 09/22/2020 10:41 pm
https://twitter.com/marc_dournel/status/1308447372062621698
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 09/23/2020 09:11 am
Is Loral O’Hara the direct successor of K. Rubins as Director of Operations in Russia?
IIRC I´ve seen in mart Richard Arnold with the other members of the board during the examination of Soyuz MS-16.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 09/23/2020 10:20 am
Is he Richard Arnold?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 09/23/2020 10:26 am
I thought, he looks like. But maybe, there is someone from NASA who knows it better.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 09/23/2020 10:44 am
Is Loral O’Hara the direct successor of K. Rubins as Director of Operations in Russia?

Confirmed this fact.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 09/23/2020 11:32 am
I thought, he looks like. But maybe, there is someone from NASA who knows it better.

I think he is John McBrine like from this photo:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasahqphoto/35627758141/in/photostream/
and https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/expedition-52-crew-members-report-for-qualification-exams ?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 09/23/2020 12:20 pm
Any idea if the fourth seat of the Cruise flight is marketed for a random space tourist or is earmarked for the Cruise film as well.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 09/23/2020 07:16 pm
I thought, he looks like. But maybe, there is someone from NASA who knows it better.

I think he is John McBrine like from this photo:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasahqphoto/35627758141/in/photostream/
and https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/expedition-52-crew-members-report-for-qualification-exams ?

Yes, McBrine, not an astronaut but a NASA official with at least one prior tour as DOR, succeeded Rubins in spring 2020. Obviously O'Hara has succeeded him.

Arnold transferred to management status recently and is now detailed to the University of Maryland's Center for Environmental Science as director of STEM.

Michael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: dcfowler1 on 09/24/2020 02:55 am
Any idea if the fourth seat of the Cruise flight is marketed for a random space tourist or is earmarked for the Cruise film as well.

Reporting has suggested, but not confirmed that it will be another actor, probably a woman.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 09/25/2020 11:06 am
https://novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/news/76002/
It looks like the Russians will copy the plan of her colleagues from Hollywood( with not so well known names, one director and one actor on the ISS.
Google translation
Quote
Director Klim Shipenko announced his intention to go to the International Space Station (ISS) to shoot the film. He told TASS about this on Thursday.
Quote
"There is an intention," he said, answering a request to confirm plans to go to the ISS along with the hero of the film, which will be filmed by Roskosmos in cooperation with Channel One and the Yellow, Black and White studio.
Quote
Channel One will begin casting in October for the role of the protagonist of the first feature film filmed in space on board the International Space Station, the channel's website reported on Wednesday. Any citizen of the Russian Federation can take part in the selection. Everyone will need to go through the flight commission of Roscosmos and training at the Cosmonaut Training Center.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klim_Shipenko
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 09/30/2020 10:05 pm
Does anyone if the Dragon Crew-3 crew has been officially announced? I've seen two different unofficial permutations (Marshburn-Chari-Barron-Borisenko and Marshburn-Chari-Borisenko-Maurer) but am not seeing any official word.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Tobias_Corbett on 09/30/2020 10:06 pm
Does anyone if the Dragon Crew-3 crew has been officially announced? I've seen two different unofficial permutations (Marshburn-Chari-Barron-Borisenko and Marshburn-Chari-Borisenko-Maurer) but am not seeing any official word.

I think Borisenko is officially on MS-18 now so I doubt he will be on Crew-3.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 09/30/2020 10:32 pm
I've seen that myself, but I'm not sure if it was ever made official, and I saw some places recently flip back to Vande Hei as MS-18 FE2, which is part of why I wondered.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 10/01/2020 06:55 pm
https://twitter.com/DaveMosher/status/1311719026150834176

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 10/07/2020 03:10 pm
https://twitter.com/Astro_Ferg/status/1313856730908983296

https://twitter.com/BoeingSpace/status/1313858729499131904

https://twitter.com/BoeingSpace/status/1313858743474548743
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 10/07/2020 04:09 pm
Oct. 7, 2020
RELEASE 20-096
NASA, Boeing Announce Crew Changes for Starliner Crew Flight Test

Veteran NASA astronaut Barry “Butch” Wilmore will join astronauts Mike Fincke and Nicole Mann for NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test, the inaugural crewed flight of the CST-100 Starliner launching to the International Space Station in 2021.

Wilmore will take the place of Boeing astronaut Chris Ferguson on the flight test as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. Ferguson decided not to fly for personal reasons.

Wilmore has been training side-by-side with the crew since being named the sole backup for all flight positions in July 2018. He now will shift his focus specifically to the spacecraft commander’s duties in preparation for the flight to the space station. The flight is designed to test the end-to-end capabilities of the new Starliner system.

“Butch will be able to step in seamlessly, and his previous experience on both space shuttle and space station missions make him a valuable addition to this flight,” said Kathy Lueders, associate administrator of NASA’s Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate. “Chris has been a talented member of the crew for this mission. The NASA and Boeing Commercial Crew teams sincerely appreciate the invaluable work he has completed and he will continue to lead in the development of Starliner, which will help ensure that the Starliner Crew Flight Test will be a success.”

Wilmore has spent a total of 178 days in space over the course of two missions. In 2009, he served as the pilot of space shuttle Atlantis on STS-129, helping to deliver 14 tons of spare parts for the space station. In 2014, he returned to the space station via a Russian Soyuz spacecraft for a 167-day mission, during which he performed four spacewalks.

A native of Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, Wilmore earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering from Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville, and a master’s degree in aviation systems from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. He is a retired captain in the U.S. Navy, with more than 7,800 flight hours and 663 carrier landings in tactical jet aircraft. He was selected as an astronaut in 2000.

“I’m grateful to Chris for his exceptional leadership and insight into this very complex and most capable vehicle,” Wilmore said. “Having had the chance to train alongside and view this outstanding crew as backup has been instrumental in my preparation to assume this position. Stepping down was a difficult decision for Chris, but with his leadership and assistance to this point, this crew is positioned for success. We will move forward in the same professional and dedicated manner that Chris has forged.”

Ferguson will assume the role of director of Mission Integration and Operations, as well as director of Crew Systems for Boeing’s Commercial Crew Program, where he will focus on ensuring the Starliner spacecraft meets the needs of NASA astronauts. In this role, he will be one of the last people the crew sees before leaving Earth and one of the first they see upon their return, as well as supporting them throughout their training and mission.

“I have full confidence in the Starliner vehicle, the men and women building and testing it, and the NASA astronauts who will ultimately fly it,” Ferguson said. “The Boeing team has taken all lessons from our first uncrewed Orbital Flight Test to heart, and is making Starliner one of the safest new crewed spacecraft ever fielded. I will be here on the ground supporting Butch, Nicole, and Mike while they prove it.”

Ferguson has been an integral part of the Starliner program since 2011, after retiring from NASA as a three-time space shuttle veteran, including as commander of STS-135, the final space shuttle flight to the space station.

“My personal thank you to Chris for his leadership. He is putting his family first, which Boeing fully supports,” said Leanne Caret, president and CEO, Boeing Defense, Space & Security. “We are fortunate he will continue to take an active role on the Starliner program and bring his depth and breadth of experience in human spaceflight to the program.”

The development of a safe, reliable and cost-effective solution for crew transportation services to and from the International Space Station remains a priority for NASA and Boeing, allowing the on-orbit research facility to continue to fulfill its promise as a world-class laboratory.

NASA’s Commercial Crew Program is working with the American aerospace industry as companies develop and operate a new generation of spacecraft and launch systems capable of carrying crews to low-Earth orbit and to the space station. Commercial transportation to and from the station will provide expanded utility, additional research time and broader opportunities for discovery on the orbital outpost.

For more information on NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew

https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-boeing-announce-crew-changes-for-starliner-crew-flight-test
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Hog on 10/07/2020 04:28 pm
Wow, that's a surprise.

You are of a rare breed, you got to do things like this:
Attachments
1)  STS-115 Atlantis-Pilot  (with Canadian Steven MacLean-CSA)
2)  STS-126 November 15/2008 Endeavour Commander
3)  (11:29 a.m. (EDT) on July 8, 2011 STS-135 Courtesy: NASA high-res) Atlantis-Commander

and you did them well. You have inspired the next generation.

 Best wishes to you and yours "Fergy".  Onto the "next chapter".
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: eric z on 10/07/2020 05:05 pm
  Thanks and best wishes to Mr. Ferguson; he's been a great ambassador for human spaceflight since his last, historic mission.
   I have two questions that keep me up at night: 1] Who will wind-up being the last shuttle astronaut to fly in space?
2] Will a shuttle-flown astronaut make it to the moon? Or will John Young be the only astronaut in history to claim that honor?
   With the announcement of Michael L.A.'s command of the SpaceX tourist flight, what does the future hold for former
astronauts, and cosmonauts for that matter, getting back into outer space?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: eriblo on 10/09/2020 12:07 am
  Thanks and best wishes to Mr. Ferguson; he's been a great ambassador for human spaceflight since his last, historic mission.
   I have two questions that keep me up at night: 1] Who will wind-up being the last shuttle astronaut to fly in space?
2] Will a shuttle-flown astronaut make it to the moon? Or will John Young be the only astronaut in history to claim that honor?
   With the announcement of Michael L.A.'s command of the SpaceX tourist flight, what does the future hold for former
astronauts, and cosmonauts for that matter, getting back into outer space?
I know most of you know all of this already  ;)  but for those who were wondering like me - just using Wikipedia and public sites there are currently 23 Shuttle astronauts ages 49-65 listed as active (plus a few in management positions). 8 of these are currently scheduled for flight (in current public NET order):

Soichi Noguchi on SpaceX Crew-1
Robert S. Kimbrough, K. Megan McArthur and Akihiko Hoshide on SpaceX Crew-2
Barry Wilmore and Michael Fincke on Boeing Crew Flight Test
Michael López-Alegría on SpaceX Axiom Space-1
Sunita Williams on Boeing Starliner-1

I have not seen anything to rule out that Sunita could in theory be joined by Koichi Wakata, the only other active international Shuttle astronaut left, but it is probably not likely. There might be a few spots left on later missions but all Shuttle astronauts have/will have had multiple flights and the post Shuttle astronauts (Group 20 and up) are racking up experience or eagerly awaiting their turns.

Regarding the moon it is of course more speculative. If we look at those with EVA experience but do not want to break the EVA age record (Pavel Vinogradov at 59) even if we believe the current plan of Artemis III in 4 years from now ::) we are down to 9 candidates with Chris Cassidy and Bob Behnken the youngest at 50 now.

On the other hand if we count lunar flybys we might have a good contender in Soichi, the super overqualified tourist guide...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Hog on 10/09/2020 02:03 pm
Ferguson, Christopher J.

Entered Astronaut Corps: 1998
Group Number: 17
Space Flights: 3
Status: Former Astronaut

As of 2013 "There are currently 50 active astronauts and 35 management astronauts in the
program; 196 astronauts have retired or resigned; and 49 are deceased."

Mr Ferguson retired from NASA on December 9, 2011 less than 6 months following wheelstop of the last shuttle mission, STS-135. He became director of Crew and Mission Operations for Boeing's Commercial Crew Program. In August 2018, Ferguson was assigned to the first test flight of the Boeing Starliner although he stepped down from the mission in October 2020."  He is/was a private Boeing astronaut.  Mr Ferguson will continue as Boeing's director of Mission Integration and Operations.

attachments
1)NASA astronaut fact book, dated 2013.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 10/13/2020 04:32 pm
https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/1315996014466170882
Quote
Axiom’s Michael Suffredini says that the company has identified the customers for its 1st commercial ISS mission in 4Q/21 and is finalizing contracting with them, and its contract with NASA. “Cautiously optimistic” everything will be in place by end of this month. #IAC2020
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 10/27/2020 03:29 pm
https://www.virgingalactic.com/articles/virgin-galactic-hires-two-new-pilots-into-its-pilot-corps/
Quote
Virgin Galactic today announced the appointment of two new pilots into its Pilot Corps, bringing the total number of pilots to eight.
Quote
Jameel Janjua and Patrick Moran will be based at Spaceport America, New Mexico, and join the Virgin Galactic team as preparations for commercial service continue.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 10/27/2020 03:52 pm
https://blogs.nasa.gov/bridenstine/2020/10/27/nasas-international-partnerships-artemis-team-to-shape-lunar-exploration/
Quote
Exploration requires more than hardware though – and that is why this commitment with ESA includes opportunities for European astronauts to fly with NASA astronauts on future Artemis missions to the Gateway.
Quote
In regard to the NASA astronauts who may travel to the Moon on Artemis missions, we plan to use a similar approach to what we did with the Commercial Crew Program. NASA will announce an initial group of astronauts eligible for early lunar missions known as the Artemis Team. Closer to launch, usually within about two years, we will announce specific flight assignments for crew as well as their backups. We will add more members to this team throughout the Artemis program.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 10/27/2020 04:00 pm
MOU foresees three ESA astronauts flying to the Gateway.

NASA, European Space Agency Formalize Artemis Gateway Partnership (https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-european-space-agency-formalize-artemis-gateway-partnership)

Quote
The agreement, signed Tuesday, marks NASA’s first formal commitment to launch international crew members to the lunar vicinity as part of NASA’s Artemis missions.

Positive signs for Europe as ESA goes forward to the Moon  (https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/Positive_signs_for_Europe_as_ESA_goes_forward_to_the_Moon)

Quote
ESA will also receive three flight opportunities for European astronauts to travel to and work on the Gateway.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 10/27/2020 04:01 pm
https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/Positive_signs_for_Europe_as_ESA_goes_forward_to_the_Moon
Quote
ESA will also receive three flight opportunities for European astronauts to travel to and work on the Gateway.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Hog on 10/27/2020 06:04 pm
ESA is getting just 3 spots for Earth to Gateway travel and a stay at the Gateway?  EEEk, looks like I'd better "sweeten" the CSA/Gateway deal a bit with the promise of Canadian Maple Syrup at Gateway through 2040, in addition to the Gateway/Canadarm-3 deal. 

Would that get some Canadian footprints on the Moon?  We do have female astros as well, but sorry, no visible minorities.  We've got a male, the last of the 2009 class that hasnt been assigned to space yet(seeing that Dr Epps has now gotten her assignment), he's always the CAPCOM, never the bride.

I was surprised that our 2% contribution to ISS got us the first non-American/Russian to command ISS in Mr Hadfield.  We were the first country to step in and sign up for Gateway, even before Russia stated it "wanted no part of Artemis"

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: dcfowler1 on 10/28/2020 03:16 am
looks like I'd better "sweeten" the CSA/Gateway deal a bit with the promise of Canadian Maple Syrup at Gateway through 2040, in addition to the Gateway/Canadarm-3 deal. 



Make sure it's the real stuff, not the crap that they sell at the airport!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: vp. on 10/28/2020 07:09 pm
I was surprised that our 2% contribution to ISS got us the first non-American/Russian to command ISS in Mr Hadfield.
Frank DeWinne ISS-21
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ZachS09 on 10/28/2020 10:18 pm
I was surprised that our 2% contribution to ISS got us the first non-American/Russian to command ISS in Mr Hadfield.
Frank DeWinne ISS-21

Koichi Wakata during ISS-39, Alexander Gerst during ISS-57, and Luca Parmitano during ISS-61.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Hog on 10/30/2020 12:00 pm
I was surprised that our 2% contribution to ISS got us the first non-American/Russian to command ISS in Mr Hadfield.
Frank DeWinne ISS-21
Thank you, I'm always forgetting about ESA and their 5 billion.  During Expedition 34/35 many of our NEWS reporting agencies got their NEWS wrong as well.  That's what I get for listening to the mainstrteam NEWS and NOT NSF.com for my spaceNEWS inputs.

During the Expedition 20-21 switchover there was another first, it was the first time that 3 Soyuz vehicles were visiting ISS at once..
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Hog on 10/30/2020 12:18 pm
I was surprised that our 2% contribution to ISS got us the first non-American/Russian to command ISS in Mr Hadfield.
Frank DeWinne ISS-21

Koichi Wakata during ISS-39, Alexander
Gerst during ISS-57, and Luca Parmitano during ISS-61.
Is that list complete on non Russian/American ISS Commanders? 
Well, now that the ESA and CSA astros are added?

non Russia/USA ISS commanders

1) Frank Dewinne Exp 21 ESA/Belgium

2) Chris Hadfield Exp 35 Dec-May 2013 CSA/Canada

3) Koichi Wakata during Exp-39 JAXA/Japan

4) Alexander Gerst during Exp-57  ESA/Germany

5) Luca Parmitano during ISS-61 ESA/Italy (Parmitano is the youngest non-Russian astronaut to undertake a long-duration mission, at 36 years and eight months old on the launch day of his mission.)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 10/30/2020 03:48 pm
http://www.parabolicarc.com/2020/10/30/for-new-virgin-galactic-ceo-the-ultimate-perk-an-all-expenses-paid-trip-to-space/#more-76114
Quote
For 26 years, Michael Colglazier worked for a company whose theme parks feature a popular attraction named Space Mountain.
When the former Walt Disney Company executive signed on to become Virgin Galactic’s CEO in July, his contract included a free ride to space for himself and three friends aboard his new employer’s SpaceShipTwo suborbital vehicle.
Quote
Virgin Galactic’s former CEO, George Whitesides, has a provision in his contract that will allow him and his wife, Loretta Hildalgo Whitesides, to fly aboard SpaceShipTwo.

Whitesides, who is now the company’s chief space officer, is expected to fly on SpaceShipTwo VSS Unity during one of two upcoming suborbital flight test to be conducted from Spaceport America in New Mexico. The first of the flights is set for later this fall.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 11/02/2020 07:23 pm
https://twitter.com/katlinegrey/status/1323308896740610051

From story via GT:
As previously reported, the film will be directed by Klim Shipenko ("Salute 7"), who announced his intention to go to the International Space Station (ISS) for the filming of the film.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 11/02/2020 08:35 pm
Assuming that this is, as it appears to be, a different movie than Tom Cruise's (in which case one of them could potentially have gone up with Axiom), how will both Shipenko and the woman get to ISS? There's only one spare seat on MS-19, and MS-20 is probably too far afterward to be useful.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: vj9 on 11/02/2020 10:52 pm
It is comical that again the Russians will do anything to make sure that they are the first in something related to space; when NASA announced to do the first woman EVA, Russians made everything possible to put Savitskaya into EVA first. This saga with Russian film from space reminds me that. Nothing was planned for decades but when Axiom announced this filming, Russians just have to beat them no matter how many complications it could bring.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 11/03/2020 12:16 am
I think that was more the result of Soviet communist propaganda considerations. Because the Soviets were all about propaganda over reality. More likely in this case the Russians saw an idea for making money and seized on it.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: vj9 on 11/03/2020 09:24 am
@roscosmos
Роскосмос утвердил основной и дублирующий экипажи МКС-65. Запуск корабля #СоюзМС18 запланирован на апрель следующего года Rocket

Основной экипаж:

Man astronaut Олег Новицкий;
Man astronaut Петр Дубров;
Man astronaut Сергей Корсаков.

Их дублёры:

Man astronaut Антон Шкаплеров;
Man astronaut Андрей Бабкин;
Man astronaut Дмитрий Петелин.

The main crew of #SoyuzMS18: Oleg Novitskiy, Petr Dubrov, Sergey Korsakov. The backup crew: Anton Shkaplerov, Andrey Babkin, Dmitry Petelin.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 11/03/2020 10:54 am
https://www.virgingalactic.com/articles/virgin-galactic-flight-test-program-update-spaceflight-from-new-mexico-progress/
Quote
It’s a hive of activity here at Spaceport America as preparations to deliver Virgin Galactic’s first spaceflight from New Mexico later this Fall continue to progress well.
If all goes to plan, not only will this flight be the first human spaceflight to depart from New Mexico, it will also mark Virgin Galactic Pilot CJ Sturckow’s sixth time in space, ...
CJ will be alongside our Chief Pilot, Dave Mackay, in the cockpit, as we verify a number of key points to take us to the next stage of our flight test program. ...
While we are planning for CJ and Dave to reach space, if test conditions on the day suggest a shorter burn, that’s fine and we’ll return to fly again soon.
Quote
Upon successful completion of this flight, and data review, we will proceed to the next phase of testing, where we will fly four mission specialists in the cabin to test and refine the equipment, procedures, training and overall experience.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: tonyq on 11/04/2020 07:36 am
It is comical that again the Russians will do anything to make sure that they are the first in something related to space; when NASA announced to do the first woman EVA, Russians made everything possible to put Savitskaya into EVA first. This saga with Russian film from space reminds me that. Nothing was planned for decades but when Axiom announced this filming, Russians just have to beat them no matter how many complications it could bring.

One complication, which does not appear to have been mentioned so far, is that it seems that one of the crew of MS-18, announced yesterday, will need to remain on ISS until Spring 2022. This is the only way that a seat can be created for the 'actress' to return to Earth, within 10/11 days.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 11/04/2020 02:44 pm
It is funny that the Russians are still in the old cold war paradigm to try and do anything before the US astronauts.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 11/06/2020 08:18 am
Here the plan from the TsPK for EC-65
Oleg Novizkij will be the commander of EC-65
http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=155
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Olaf on 11/06/2020 08:20 am
One complication, which does not appear to have been mentioned so far, is that it seems that one of the crew of MS-18, announced yesterday, will need to remain on ISS until Spring 2022. This is the only way that a seat can be created for the 'actress' to return to Earth, within 10/11 days.

Russian cosmonaut may stay on the ISS due to the flight of the actress
https://ria.ru/20201106/mks-1583288804.html
Quote
One of the Russian cosmonauts leaving for the International Space Station in the spring of 2021 may have to stay at the station for a period of two to six months due to the shooting of the first feature film in space in the fall of 2021, according to the academician of the Tsiolkovsky Russian Academy of Cosmonautics Alexander Zheleznyakov.
Quote
In April 2021, a crew of Russian cosmonauts Oleg Novitsky, Pyotr Dubrov and Sergei Korsakov is to leave for the ISS on the Soyuz MS-18 spacecraft. Their return to Earth on this ship is scheduled for October 2021. At the same time, it is planned that the actress will fly to the station on the Soyuz MS-19 spacecraft in the same month, and it is assumed that after filming the film, she will return to Earth on the Soyuz MS-18, which has only three seats.
Quote
"There are many options. One of them is that someone from the Soyuz MS-18 crew will have to stay on the ISS for another six months and return to Soyuz MS-19 in April 2022," Zheleznyakov told RIA Novosti.
Quote
Earlier it was reported that in December 2021 it is planned to fly to the ISS of the Soyuz MS-20 spacecraft with a Russian cosmonaut and two space tourists.

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: tonyq on 11/06/2020 11:33 am
Here is my own thoughts, commentary and analysis of the 'actress in space' project, and how it might impact other Soyuz flights and crewing arrangements.

https://spacesleuth2.blogspot.com/2020/11/russia-to-send-actress-into-space.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: vp. on 11/11/2020 10:26 am
When will the Crew-3 be officially announced ?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Josh_from_Canada on 11/13/2020 06:14 pm
When Crew-3 (USCV-3) flies around September 2021, do we expect to see a Russian cosmonaut on this flight and an American astronaut fly on Soyuz MS-18 in October 2021 for a the beginning of a seat swap program between the agencies?

Edit: I mixed up the Soyuz flights, Soyuz MS-17 currently on orbit, Soyuz MS-18 will have an all Russian crew in April 2021, and Soyuz MS-19 is scheduled to go off in October 2021.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 11/13/2020 07:16 pm
I expect to see a cosmonaut on Crew-3 but do not expect to see an astronaut on MS-18. As I understand it, MS-18 has three cosmonauts because Roscosmos gave up its slot on Crew-2. (In other words, if you think of pairs of Soyuz/Commercial Crew flights for the barter system, MS-18 goes with Crew-2, not Crew-3.) I would thus have expected to see an astronaut on MS-19 if there's a cosmonaut on Crew-3, but given Russia's space movie, it looks to me like there will be four cosmonauts on ISS for an expedition or two and that NASA astronauts will resume flying on Soyuz (now under the barter system) with MS-21.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: vj9 on 11/16/2020 11:12 am
https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-former-fighter-pilot-named-second-israeli-to-go-to-space-1.9311356

It was not immediately made clear on whose behalf Stibbe will be sent. However, a statement released by the Israeli Space Agency said the launch itself and Stibbe's stay on the station was led and initiated by a company called Axiom Space

so the Axiom-1:
Lopez-Alegria
Cruise +1
Eytan Stibbe
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skyrocket on 11/16/2020 01:05 pm
https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-former-fighter-pilot-named-second-israeli-to-go-to-space-1.9311356

Eytan Stibbe

The name is also given as Eitan Stiva in some publications. I guess, there are at least two different ways to transliterate Hebrew letters.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Josh_from_Canada on 11/16/2020 04:28 pm
https://twitter.com/anik1982space/status/1328232773354737664

Quote
Everything turned out to be much more interesting, judging by the piece of the ISS preliminary flight program for 2021, developed by RSC Energia, obtained by Alexander Khokhlov. Someone else will fly with the actress, so Dubrov and Korsakov will have to stay on the ISS for a year. The flight itself - October 5-17

It looks like we might have a year long mission coming up on station made possible by the Russian movie project. Pyotr Dubrov and Sergey Korsakov (who will both make their first spaceflight) would launch on Soyuz MS-18 and then come home on Soyuz MS-19 while Oleg Novitsky, the Soyuz commander, would come home on Soyuz MS-18. Two crew members, one of them being the actress, would launch with Anton Shkaplerov on Soyuz MS-19 before coming home around a week later on Soyuz MS-18. A similar situation happened back in 2015 with Scott Kelly's and Mikhail Kornienko's year long mission. We will have to wait until we get further conformation from Roscosmos. The seat transfer program that has been in talks between the agencies would have to wait until Soyuz MS-21 and USCV-4 in 2022.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Josh_from_Canada on 11/20/2020 02:58 am
https://twitter.com/JAXA_en/status/1329618064875290624
Quote
@Astro_Wakata
 and
@Astro_Satoshi
 will fly to the International Space Station! Koichi will be aboard in 2022 and Satoshi in 2023.
@Astro_Soichi
 is now on the ISS.
@Aki_Hoshide
 will launch on Crew-2 in spring 2021.
Keep watching JAXA Astronauts!

JAXA will send up Koichi Wakata in 2022 on his fifth spaceflight and Satoshi Furukawa in 2023 on his second spaceflight, we don't know what expedition they will be a part of or what vehicle they will fly in.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 11/20/2020 03:12 pm
It looks to me like that would put Wakata either on CST-1 or CST-2 and Furukawa on either CST-3 or Crew-4, although that could get moved depending on when Jeremy Hansen gets a flight.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: vp. on 11/20/2020 03:39 pm
There is a place for a Japanese, a European or a Canadian on each USCV.
In 10 places, there will be 5 for the Japanese, 4 for the Europeans and 1 for the Canadians.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Hog on 11/20/2020 04:25 pm
There is a place for a Japanese, a European or a Canadian on each USCV.
In 10 places, there will be 5 for the Japanese, 4 for the Europeans and 1 for the Canadians.
That's great, we still have 1 member of the CSA Astronaut Corps who was part of the 2009 NASA group. in Jeremy Hansen.  He is the last 2009 astronaut to be assigned a space mission. Dr Jeanette Epps was the 2nd last astronaut from that same class to get her mission.

Then we have Joshua Kutryk and Jenni Sidey-Gibbons, both selected for the 2017 Group that just graduated in 2020.

Hopefully Canada fairs a bit better in Beyond LEO missions, than it did in the current LEO/ISS ops.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: vp. on 11/20/2020 05:24 pm
After :
Eyharts, Wakata
DeWinne/Thrisk, Nogushi
Nespoli, Furukawa
Kuipers, Hoshide
Hadfield, Wakata
Gerst, Yui
Peake, Onishi
Pesquet, Kanai
Gerst, Saint-Jacques (there seems to be a deficit of 2 Japanese)
Parmitano, Nogushi

The next ones will be :
USCV-2 : Hoshide and Pesquet
USCV-3 : Maurer

then probably :
2022 : USCV-4 with Wakata et USCV-5 with Mogensen, Peake or Christoforetti
2023 : USCV-6 with Furukawa et USCV-7 with Hansen
2024 : USCV-8 with one japanese (Yui ?) et USCV-9 with one european
...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Josh_from_Canada on 11/20/2020 05:38 pm
then probably :
2022 : USCV-4 with Wakata et USCV-5 with Mogensen, Peake or Christoforetti
2023 : USCV-6 with Furukawa et USCV-7 with Hansen
2024 : USCV-8 with one japanese (Yui ?) et USCV-9 with one european

Starting 2022 with USCV-4 and Soyuz MS-21 is when the seat swap program may begin. With the Commander and the Pilot being American in the USCV flights and a Mission Specialist being Russian that leaves one seat for either an astronaut from ESA, JAXA, CSA, or another NASA astronaut. Soyuz flights after this point will likely include 2 Russians and an American. Unless ESA, JAXA, or CSA decides to put one of their Astronauts on Soyuz in exchange for Roscosmos flying two of their Cosmonauts on an American crew flight.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 11/20/2020 06:24 pm
Is there not supposed to be a cosmonaut on Crew-3 (probably Andrei Borisenko, since he's not on MS-18), then? I thought I'd seen that there would be, and I figured that Expedition 68 would just have four Russians (Shkaplerov, Dubrov, Korsakov, and probably Borisenko).
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Josh_from_Canada on 11/20/2020 06:47 pm
Is there not supposed to be a cosmonaut on Crew-3 (probably Andrei Borisenko, since he's not on MS-18), then? I thought I'd seen that there would be, and I figured that Expedition 68 would just have four Russians (Shkaplerov, Dubrov, Korsakov, and probably Borisenko).

This is a possibility as I don't think Roscosmos would want to fly their Cosmonauts on the first operational flight of Starliner just as they did not with Crew Dragon. They could swap a seat on USCV-3 (Crew-3) for a seat on Soyuz MS-21. That would make an expedition with USCV-3 (Crew-3) and Soyuz MS-19 that has 4 Russians, 2 Americans, and 1 German followed by an expedition with USCV-4 (CST-1) and Soyuz MS-21 that has 2 Russians, 4 Americans, and possibly 1 Japanese. After that the station should be consistent with 3 Russians, 3 Americans, and 1 from ESA, JAXA, or CSA.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 11/20/2020 07:21 pm
Makes sense, but if Crew-3 is Dragon, I had thought they would put a cosmonaut there even if they skip one on CST-1 and then pick up with CST-2. Technically, though, isn't USCV-3 "paired" with MS-19, not MS-21, for the swap (MS-17/USCV-1, MS-18/USCV-2, MS-19/USCV-3)? Or am I wrong?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Joachim on 11/21/2020 05:52 am
BTW NASA uses no longer USCV or CST.
Mission names are now
SpaceX Crew-1 ...
Boeing Starliner-1 (for the first operational flight).
Please have a look at https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/future.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Hog on 11/21/2020 02:05 pm
BTW NASA uses no longer USCV or CST.
Mission names are now
SpaceX Crew-1 ...
Boeing Starliner-1 (for the first operational flight).
Please have a look at https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/future.html
So does that mean the 2nd operational flight for Boeing will be named Boeing Crew-2?

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Joachim on 11/21/2020 02:27 pm
No.
The 2nd operational flight for Boeing will be named "Boeing Starliner-2". Only SpaceX use "Crew".
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: kdhilliard on 11/21/2020 06:03 pm
BTW NASA uses no longer USCV or CST.
Mission names are now
SpaceX Crew-1 ...
Boeing Starliner-1 (for the first operational flight).
Please have a look at https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/future.html

I thought "USCV-n" was used internally by NASA to designate the nth post-certification mission of the Commercial Crew program, regardless of (and perhaps prior to them knowing) which provider flies it.  Has that usage been dropped?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jorge on 11/21/2020 06:21 pm
BTW NASA uses no longer USCV or CST.
Mission names are now
SpaceX Crew-1 ...
Boeing Starliner-1 (for the first operational flight).
Please have a look at https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/future.html

I thought "USCV-n" was used internally by NASA to designate the nth post-certification mission of the Commercial Crew program, regardless of (and perhaps prior to them knowing) which provider flies it.  Has that usage been dropped?

No, you are correct.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: eric z on 12/09/2020 07:04 pm
 Congratulations to the Artemis astronauts! Stephanie Wilson! wow...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: DreamyPickle on 12/09/2020 07:10 pm
Official "Artemis Team" announcement: https://www.nasa.gov/specials/artemis-team/

It's a slightly odd announcement, my guess is that this is legacy-building by the outgoing Trump/Pence administration.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 12/09/2020 10:16 pm
I would say the selection was done prior to the launch of Crew 1 since Victor Glover had his picture taken in the same set up as the other team members. Contrary to Kate Rubins.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 12/10/2020 02:23 am
What a coincidence...18 astronauts selected as the Artemis Team today.
Back in 1967, Chief Astronaut Deke Slayton selected 18 astronauts (three crews along with back-ups) with the intent of landing a crew on the Moon.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 12/10/2020 12:27 pm
I'm surprised by the number of rookies in the group. More due to my own skepticism of Artemis meeting its goals. Usually the Astronaut Office tries to get them flown soon-ish. With the exception of Nicole Mann (assigned to the upcoming Boeing CFT), does this take them "out of the running" for near-term ISS flights?

A similar question applies to Kjell Lindgren - after backing up the first two Dragon crews, I would have expected him to fly on Dragon himself.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 12/10/2020 01:06 pm
Kayla Baron and Raja Chari are tentatively scheduled for launch on Dragon Crew 3 next year.

I'm surprised there weren't a few more of the older veterans included. Bresnick,  Cassidy, Behnken,  Hurley, Feustel, Hopkins, Walker, Caldwell-Dyson come to mind.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Cherokee43v6 on 12/10/2020 01:15 pm
Kayla Baron and Raja Chari are tentatively scheduled for launch on Dragon Crew 3 next year.

I'm surprised there weren't a few more of the older veterans included. Bresnick,  Cassidy, Behnken,  Hurley, Feustel, Hopkins, Walker, Caldwell-Dyson come to mind.

Considering that 2024 is a political objective and the driving force behind that date is leaving office, I'm not surprised that the selection skewed younger/newer.  Even if they met the 2024 date, by then they would be the veterans in the office.  Better for continuity of the program that they not be having team members wantint to retire from the program right at the time flights are beginning to occur.

edit:  As a proud NC State University alum, I'm pulling hard for Christina Koch to command the first landing! :D
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 12/10/2020 02:32 pm
My money's on either Nicole Mann or Anne McClain to make the first Artemis moon landing.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 12/10/2020 03:51 pm
My money's on either Nicole Mann or Anne McClain to make the first Artemis moon landing.
Makes sense as both are "pilots".
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Hog on 12/10/2020 04:08 pm
My money's on either Nicole Mann or Anne McClain to make the first Artemis moon landing.
Makes sense as both are "pilots".
But not NASA pilots, Mann a fixed wing test pilot, McClain a rotary wing test pilot.  The point was to differentiate between pilots and non-pilots of the shuttle days.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 12/10/2020 06:03 pm
My money's on either Nicole Mann or Anne McClain to make the first Artemis moon landing.
Makes sense as both are "pilots".
But not NASA pilots, Mann a fixed wing test pilot, McClain a rotary wing test pilot.  The point was to differentiate between pilots and non-pilots of the shuttle days.

I don't see that as hurting McClain's odds in this case though. The Apollo Astronauts went thru helicopter training as part of training to fly the Lunar Module. You could argue that makes her more qualified than they were to attempt a lunar landing.

To my early point about the number of rookies, the divide wasn't as extreme as I thought, once I broke down the numbers. But my question about the rookies still stands - with a couple exceptions (Mann, maybe Chari and Baron) are the rest out of the ISS crew "pool" since they are working on Artemis now?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 12/12/2020 09:49 pm
My money's on either Nicole Mann or Anne McClain to make the first Artemis moon landing.
Makes sense as both are "pilots".
But not NASA pilots, Mann a fixed wing test pilot, McClain a rotary wing test pilot.  The point was to differentiate between pilots and non-pilots of the shuttle days.

I don't see that as hurting McClain's odds in this case though. The Apollo Astronauts went thru helicopter training as part of training to fly the Lunar Module. You could argue that makes her more qualified than they were to attempt a lunar landing.

To my early point about the number of rookies, the divide wasn't as extreme as I thought, once I broke down the numbers. But my question about the rookies still stands - with a couple exceptions (Mann, maybe Chari and Baron) are the rest out of the ISS crew "pool" since they are working on Artemis now?

Given the lead time, and the size of this pool (which is going to increase, especially with ESA, JAXA, CSA astronauts), I believe we'll see Chari and Barron flying ISS missions, and several others, too. Those who fly in 2021-2022 might miss out on Artemis II, but my sense is that it would still leave them as candidates for 2-3 NASA seats on Artemis III.

I do think it's a tad premature to be making bets on who gets what mission. Deke Slayton didn't know who was going to be on Apollo 11 until Christmas 1968, probably two weeks before he had to announce the crew and get them training for the first landing. Even if Artemis III holds to 2024, that crew wouldn't need to be named for another three years. Look how today's NASA handled the Commercial Crew cadre: four in the pool in 2015, expanded to flight assignments three years later with the addition of five additional astronauts.

Michael Cassutt

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 12/13/2020 01:01 am
My money's on either Nicole Mann or Anne McClain to make the first Artemis moon landing.
Makes sense as both are "pilots".
But not NASA pilots, Mann a fixed wing test pilot, McClain a rotary wing test pilot.  The point was to differentiate between pilots and non-pilots of the shuttle days.

I don't see that as hurting McClain's odds in this case though. The Apollo Astronauts went thru helicopter training as part of training to fly the Lunar Module. You could argue that makes her more qualified than they were to attempt a lunar landing.

To my early point about the number of rookies, the divide wasn't as extreme as I thought, once I broke down the numbers. But my question about the rookies still stands - with a couple exceptions (Mann, maybe Chari and Baron) are the rest out of the ISS crew "pool" since they are working on Artemis now?

Given the lead time, and the size of this pool (which is going to increase, especially with ESA, JAXA, CSA astronauts), I believe we'll see Chari and Barron flying ISS missions, and several others, too. Those who fly in 2021-2022 might miss out on Artemis II, but my sense is that it would still leave them as candidates for 2-3 NASA seats on Artemis III.

I do think it's a tad premature to be making bets on who gets what mission. Deke Slayton didn't know who was going to be on Apollo 11 until Christmas 1968, probably two weeks before he had to announce the crew and get them training for the first landing. Even if Artemis III holds to 2024, that crew wouldn't need to be named for another three years. Look how today's NASA handled the Commercial Crew cadre: four in the pool in 2015, expanded to flight assignments three years later with the addition of five additional astronauts.

Michael Cassutt



Michael, we also need to keep in mind that NASA actually did fly a rookie astronaut on the first manned lunar mission, Apollo 8. But when it comes to the actual landing, I believe both crew members will have (space)flight experience.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 12/13/2020 06:45 am
I am surprised Bresnik is not in the list. He was involved in lots of public events related to Orion.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 12/13/2020 05:05 pm
I presume that NASA will consider the Artemis III lunar landing a test flight of whatever vehicle they wind up using. As such I think it's likely that both crewmembers will have some type of test flying background. Among the women on the list, Mann, McClain and Moghbelli meet that requirement. Along with Tingle, Glover, Chari and Dominic among the men. I think that narrows the list for the Artemis III lunar landing down a bit.

I also presume at least one of those on my list will be on Artemis II, since it will also have major test objectives.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 12/13/2020 06:33 pm
Before being assigned to Starliner, Mann worked on development of the Orion spacecraft.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 12/13/2020 09:56 pm
I'd be very surprised if Mann were not assigned to either Artemis II or III.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Josh_from_Canada on 12/14/2020 02:40 pm
Three of the Crew-3 members have been confirmed. The fourth will be announced at a later date. Tom Marshburn and Raja Chari of NASA along with Matthias Maurer of ESA.

https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-esa-choose-astronauts-for-spacex-crew-3-mission-to-space-station
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 12/14/2020 02:47 pm
ESA astronaut Matthias Maurer officially assigned first flight
14/12/2020

ESA astronaut Matthias Maurer has been assigned to his first flight to the International Space Station during a meeting of representatives from the US, Russian, Japanese, Canadian and European space agencies at the beginning of December.

Matthias’ mission is expected to begin in autumn 2021. He will be the second ESA astronaut to fly under NASA’s Commercial Crew Programme and is expected to be launched from the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA, as part of SpaceX Crew-3, along with NASA astronauts Raja Chari and Thomas H. Marshburn.

The mission will see the German ESA astronaut live and work in orbit for roughly six months, carrying out science and operations on behalf of researchers and international partners worldwide.

One year, two flights

ESA Director General Jan Wörner looks forward to Matthias’ first mission and says the Space Station is a shining symbol of what can be achieved when nations from around the world work together.

“The work we do on the International Space Station helps improve life on Earth as we go forward to the Moon,” he says.

“Two European missions in 2021 will enable us to carry out even more vital science and research in collaboration with our international partners. I’m delighted to see this great collaboration continuing more than 20 years after the first crew was launched.”

Matthias officially joined ESA’s Astronaut Corps in 2015 and is the only ESA astronaut yet to fly to space. ESA Director of Human and Robotic Exploration David Parker says his flight, and the second flight of ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet before him, stands testament to a strong commitment to European space exploration shown by Member States in context of ESA’s Space19+ ministerial conference in 2019.

“With a 30% increase in annual investment we are able to continue European flights to the Space Station at the rate of at least one per year, ensuring Europe is well represented in space.

“The recent Memorandum of Understanding with NASA also provides three opportunities for European astronauts to fly to a new lunar outpost known as the Gateway, where they will live and work in orbit around the Moon for the first time. We are entering an exciting new era for space exploration in which Europe will play a key role.”

https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/ESA_astronaut_Matthias_Maurer_officially_assigned_first_flight
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: freddo411 on 12/14/2020 03:15 pm
Three of the Crew-3 members have been confirmed. The fourth will be announced at a later date. Tom Marshburn and Raja Chari of NASA along with Matthias Maurer of ESA.

https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-esa-choose-astronauts-for-spacex-crew-3-mission-to-space-station


Any guesses on the forth crew member?    Maybe the slot is for a Russian once rogozin signs off on flying on Dragon.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 12/14/2020 03:50 pm
I would say a Russian cosmonaut or Kayla Barron if the discussion does not conclude positively.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 12/14/2020 03:55 pm
It'll probably be Borisenko if the Russians are okay with that--he's been supposed to fly on Dragon for a while and was only linked to MS-18 when it seemed like that might fall through. Otherwise, I've heard the rumors about Barron, too, and especially since she's now on the Artemis team, I wouldn't at all be surprised if it's her.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: eric z on 12/14/2020 05:19 pm
  We have a cat named Kayla and have taken to calling her Space-Cat, or Astro-Cat, Once in a while Moon-Girl. She seems to respond well to all three nicknames, especially if there is a  :D treat involved!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 12/15/2020 09:03 pm
Minister Bains to make a major announcement on the future of Canadian space exploration

Longueuil, Quebec, December 15, 2020 — On Wednesday, December 16, 2020, the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, will make a major announcement related to Canada's future in space exploration.

Space represents the potential for infinite discovery, sparking curiosity, and economic opportunity for Canadians. Canada's Space Strategy aims to leverage Canadian strengths like robotics, while advancing science and innovation in exciting areas like artificial intelligence, biomedical technologies, food production, and research on the impact of climate change on Earth's atmosphere.

Minister Bains will be joined virtually by Canadian Space Agency (CSA) President Lisa Campbell and CSA astronauts Jeremy Hansen, Joshua Kutryk, David Saint-Jacques and Jenni Sidey-Gibbons.

https://www.canada.ca/en/space-agency/news/2020/12/minister-bains-to-make-a-major-announcement-on-the-future-of-canadian-space-exploration.html

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Tobias_Corbett on 12/15/2020 09:29 pm
Does anyone know if a new backup has been assigned to the first two crewed Starliner flights? now that Wilmore has been moved up to the prime crew.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 12/16/2020 06:00 pm
No specific astronaut named but definitely 1 Canadian to be on Artemis 2 mission

And a 2nd to go to Gateway later..

https://twitter.com/NavdeepSBains/status/1339229717409501187

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 12/16/2020 08:32 pm
https://twitter.com/usembassyottawa/status/1339226750228844548

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Jeff Lerner on 12/16/2020 08:37 pm
No specific astronaut named but definitely 1 Canadian to be on Artemis 2 mission

And a 2nd to go to Gateway later..

https://twitter.com/NavdeepSBains/status/1339229717409501187




Poor Jeremy Hansen...last of his Class...still unflown since becoming a CSA astronaut in 2009 ...wonder if he did something to upset someone.....
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 12/17/2020 02:02 am

Poor Jeremy Hansen...last of his Class...still unflown since becoming a CSA astronaut in 2009 ...wonder if he did something to upset someone.....

Not likely, I have heard only great glowing things.   It has to do with Canada only contributing something like 2.3% to ISS costs so only get a crew member every few years.    Wikipedia says 76.6% for NASA, 12.8% for JAXA, 8.3% for ESA, and 2.3% for CSA

The Artemis program is a whole new game with money earmarked for that specifically.

Although Canada takes up a big piece of the map it has less population than California!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 12/17/2020 02:03 am
Canadian spots on the ISS are spaced about every 3 years. Hansen is simply a victim of the math.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: vp. on 12/17/2020 06:02 am
Canadian spots on the ISS are spaced about every 3 years. Hansen is simply a victim of the math.
Hansen will fly on USCV-7 in 2023 (the next canadian spot)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 12/17/2020 12:38 pm
I'm willing to bet that Kutryk will fly on Artemis II as he has flight test experience. Sidey-Gibbons will get the Gateway science mission. St. Jacques will fly another ISS long duration mission after Hansen,  who will eventually land on the moon later in the decade.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 12/17/2020 12:50 pm
Canadian spots on the ISS are spaced about every 3 years. Hansen is simply a victim of the math.
Hansen will fly on USCV-7 in 2023 (the next canadian spot)

I'm reminded of how long it took Bob Thirsk and Bjarni Tryggvason to fly. Both were selected in 1983 and didn't fly until 1996 and 1997 respectively. I guess it was more stark for them because Chris Hadfield got to fly before them (selected in 1992, flew in 1995 on STS-74).

In any case, as noted, the limited flight opportunities for CSA Astronauts aren't a new thing in this business.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: vp. on 12/17/2020 04:31 pm
St. Jacques will fly another ISS long duration mission after Hansen,  who will eventually land on the moon later in the decade.
The next canadian spot is USCV-7, probably in 2023 for Hansen.
The following is USCV-17 ... in 2028
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 12/18/2020 04:10 am
https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-names-astronaut-reid-wiseman-new-chief-of-astronaut-office


Dec. 17, 2020
RELEASE J20-005

NASA Names Astronaut Reid Wiseman New Chief of Astronaut Office

NASA’s Director of Flight Operations Steve Koerner has appointed veteran astronaut Reid Wiseman as chief of the Astronaut Office. Wiseman takes the place of astronaut Pat Forrester, who has held the position since June 2017.

“Pat has provided a bedrock of steadfast, forthright leadership in the astronaut office during a crucial time for NASA as we launched the first commercial crew flights and laid the groundwork for Artemis missions,” Koerner said. “His dedication to the astronaut corps has been evident at every turn and we appreciate all the hard work he has put in over the past three years.”

Forrester is taking an extended leave of absence to pursue a personal opportunity outside of NASA.

In his new role, Wiseman will be responsible for managing Astronaut Office resources and operations at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. He also will help develop astronaut flight crew operation concepts and make crew assignments for future spaceflight missions.

“Reid’s energy and enthusiasm for space exploration are matched only by his thoughtfulness and commitment to his fellow astronauts,” Koerner said. “He will be a great chief for the astronaut office in the exciting times to come."

Wiseman is a U.S. Navy Captain and a native of Baltimore, Maryland. He earned a bachelor’s degree in computer and systems engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York, as well as a master’s degree in systems engineering from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. The naval aviator and test pilot served through three deployments before being selected as an astronaut in 2009.

Wiseman spent 165 days aboard the International Space Station as part of Expeditions 40 and 41 in 2014. During that time, he took part in two spacewalks, spending a total of 12 hours and 47 minutes upgrading the station’s mobile servicing system for the Canadarm2 robotic arm and kicking off reconfigurations needed to prepare NASA for commercial crew missions. Since returning to Earth, he has supported the astronaut office in a number of roles, including as deputy chief astronaut and associate director of the Flight Operations Directorate.

View Wiseman’s complete biography at:

https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/reid-g-wiseman

Follow Wiseman on Twitter at:

https://twitter.com/astro_reid
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: vp. on 12/18/2020 06:34 am
Wiseman is young !
He will fly on Artemis II or III.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 12/18/2020 04:04 pm
Wiseman was deputy chief of the office from 2017 and associate director in FOD from 2019. Extremely talented and qualified for the role.

And with approx 3yr tenure as chief, I would not be at all surprised to see him command Artemis III.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 12/18/2020 04:38 pm
And with approx 3yr tenure as chief, I would not be at all surprised to see him command Artemis III.

I noticed that he was not added to the Artemis cadre, but even so, that would make sense to me, as the Chief of the Astronaut Office often gets the big assignments (STS-1, the first flight of Endeavour, the first Mir docking, STS-133 when it was supposed to be the last shuttle flight, etc.). If that happens, it sounds like Scott Tingle would command Artemis II, as he's the other veteran pilot in the group.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 12/18/2020 05:11 pm
Wiseman is young !
He will fly on Artemis II or III.

While Wiseman is certainly young enough to have a future flight assignment, don't expect him to be on Artemis II or III. The typical tenure of a chief astronaut is 3-4 years, meaning that he's likely to be in that job through 2024.

He will be the individual MAKING those flight assignments, however. And then possibly rotating into the Artemis cadre for a mission circa 2025 or 2026.

Michael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 12/18/2020 05:37 pm
Was very surprised that Nick Hague wasn't included on the Artemis team.
Is he still eligible for future flight assignments?
Thank you.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 12/18/2020 06:26 pm
Obviously NASA will need to fill ISS crew slots through at least 2028, and as such some members of the astronaut office will be focused on that segment of the program. Presumably Hague among them, along with rookies like Zena Cardman, Bob Hines and Loral O'Hara who aren't part of the Artemis cadre. For now..
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Tobias_Corbett on 12/19/2020 07:26 am
Has NASA indicated who the new deputy Chief of the Astronaut Office is? I assume Megan McArthur isn't staying in the role since she is now training for Crew-2.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 12/19/2020 11:03 am
Tingle has been deputy chief since approx July 2020, just before McArthur began her Crew-2 training.

As the Artemis team is a cadre, and as Michael rightly points out, actual mission assignments probably won't be made for some time, maybe Tingle will remain deputy chief for the foreseeable future.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Josh_from_Canada on 12/25/2020 05:27 am
Cross posting this from the ISS schedule thread.

And what about Vande Hei?

https://ria.ru/20201225/soyuz-1590845817.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: DwightM on 12/25/2020 06:44 am
Cross posting this from the ISS schedule thread.

And what about Vande Hei?

https://ria.ru/20201225/soyuz-1590845817.html
With the potential of two movie related Space Flight Participants on MS-19 and the talk of two of the MS-18 crew going for a year to accommodate that, does that mean Mark is targeted for a year long mission?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: vj9 on 12/25/2020 01:19 pm
Very unlikely. The movie idea has been floating around but so far has not been confirmed, it seems this would be a fully private activity and not supported by any state agency, therefore I think it would be hard for NASA and Roscosmos to accommodate their crew assignments and planing. I don't think that such a vague and external idea could possibly affect any of the NASA astronauts in such a major way.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Josh_from_Canada on 12/25/2020 09:05 pm
Very unlikely. The movie idea has been floating around but so far has not been confirmed, it seems this would be a fully private activity and not supported by any state agency, therefore I think it would be hard for NASA and Roscosmos to accommodate their crew assignments and planing. I don't think that such a vague and external idea could possibly affect any of the NASA astronauts in such a major way.

Yes, here's what we know on the current status on the potential film project.
https://twitter.com/katlinegrey/status/1340903476507914240
Quote
Deputy prime minister Yuri Borisov on the Russian space movie: “If Roscosmos finds private funding for the actress’ flight, they are free to make this movie. But as long as it depends on me, I will not allow to finance a feature film at public expense.” https://rbc.ru/interview/society/21/12/2020/5fdc8e669a7947043ec1fe49
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: FutureSpaceTourist on 12/26/2020 06:59 am
https://twitter.com/shuttlealmanac/status/1342649656140910592

Quote
This year 18 people flew into Space. Plans for next year call for 34 people to fly into Space, almost double. Includes Chinese, American and Russian vehicles. Doesnt include temporary sub-orbital joy riders.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Joachim on 12/26/2020 12:06 pm
Some names are only speculations.
About SpaceX Crew-3 there are errors: Chari will be CDR (not Marshburn) and Maurer will be MS-1 (not MS-2).
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: PM3 on 01/11/2021 02:42 pm
Quote
On January 11, 2020, Roskosmos announced that due to medical reasons, cosmonaut Sergei Babkin had been replaced in the Soyuz MS-18 backup crew with Oleg Artemiev.
http://www.russianspaceweb.com/2021.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 01/11/2021 05:16 pm
Quote
On January 11, 2020, Roskosmos announced that due to medical reasons, cosmonaut Sergei Babkin had been replaced in the Soyuz MS-18 backup crew with Oleg Artemiev.
http://www.russianspaceweb.com/2021.html


Does today's announcement mean that the Vande Hei Axiom deal is off the table, or is that still a possibility? Also, for those of you who follow the Russian assignments more closely than me, I'm very puzzled why Artemyev got downgraded from CDR to PLT. Did they just need an experienced guy this close to launch even if he doesn't fly on the prime crew, is he downgraded on the prime crew (it looked like he would be the CDR of MS-21), or what? Or is it known?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Josh_from_Canada on 01/11/2021 07:09 pm
Quote
On January 11, 2020, Roskosmos announced that due to medical reasons, cosmonaut Sergei Babkin had been replaced in the Soyuz MS-18 backup crew with Oleg Artemiev.
http://www.russianspaceweb.com/2021.html


Does today's announcement mean that the Vande Hei Axiom deal is off the table, or is that still a possibility? Also, for those of you who follow the Russian assignments more closely than me, I'm very puzzled why Artemyev got downgraded from CDR to PLT. Did they just need an experienced guy this close to launch even if he doesn't fly on the prime crew, is he downgraded on the prime crew (it looked like he would be the CDR of MS-21), or what? Or is it known?

No, I believe Artemyev is backup to Dubrov while Shkaplerov remains backup to Novitsky. If the deal goes through and Vande Hei ends up flying on this flight, he will also need a backup (maybe Bowen as he was backup to Cassidy on MS-16).

https://twitter.com/anik1982space/status/1344899418420633601
Quote
Amused yesterday:

 “There is no (approved) ISS program (for 2021) yet, so it really is not known who will fly to replace you,” - Oleg Artemyev in communication with Sergei Ryzhikov and Sergei Kud-Sverchkov.

 A little more than three months are left before the launch of the Soyuz MS-18 ...
I don't know what the crew manifest looks like right now. But looks like no one really does, there's a lot of TBD for the
foreseeable future.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 01/11/2021 08:46 pm
I think you're right about the backups; what I meant was that Artemyev went from CDR on MS-08 to backup FE1 here, a step down, especially if Babkin is still off when the backup crews rotates into the prime crew slot for MS-19.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Tobias_Corbett on 01/12/2021 01:18 am
Quote
On January 11, 2020, Roskosmos announced that due to medical reasons, cosmonaut Sergei Babkin had been replaced in the Soyuz MS-18 backup crew with Oleg Artemiev.
http://www.russianspaceweb.com/2021.html


Does today's announcement mean that the Vande Hei Axiom deal is off the table, or is that still a possibility? Also, for those of you who follow the Russian assignments more closely than me, I'm very puzzled why Artemyev got downgraded from CDR to PLT. Did they just need an experienced guy this close to launch even if he doesn't fly on the prime crew, is he downgraded on the prime crew (it looked like he would be the CDR of MS-21), or what? Or is it known?

I assume Vande Hei would be flying in the Flight Engineer 2 seat, so Artemyev coming in as backup Flight Engineer 1 probably doesn't mean the Axiom deal is off. Also I assume they just needed an experienced cosmonaut ASAP since launch is only three months away so it probably doesn't necessarily mean Artemyev is downgraded from CDR to FE1 come his next Prime Crew assignment.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 01/12/2021 01:28 am

I assume Vande Hei would be flying in the Flight Engineer 2 seat, so Artemyev coming in as backup Flight Engineer 1 probably doesn't mean the Axiom deal is off.
[/quote]

Correct. I probably wasn't clear--I wondered if the Axiom deal was off because the press release listed the MS-18 crew as Novitsky-Dubrov-Korsakov.

[/quote]
Also I assume they just needed an experienced cosmonaut ASAP since launch is only three months away so it probably doesn't necessarily mean Artemyev is downgraded from CDR to FE1 come his next Prime Crew assignment.
[/quote]

I figured, but Soyuz crew assignments have surprised me before.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 01/12/2021 11:04 am
There are photos for Korolyov's anniversary at Kremlin wall (01/12/2021):

It's be seen: Malenchenko, Skvortsov, Tokaryev, Vagner, Ivanishin and Andrei Babkin.

https://www.roscosmos.ru/29801/
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John2375 on 01/13/2021 08:56 pm
Any chance Tracy Caldwell-Dyson will ever return to space??
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 01/13/2021 09:38 pm
I've been expecting she'd get another long-duration flight for a while now. I'm surprised she hasn't, too.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 01/13/2021 10:46 pm
I was also surprised she wasn't included in the Artemis 18. I had her on the short list for 1st woman on the moon.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 01/13/2021 11:32 pm
Me, too. She wouldn't be too old to fly then, and she's a private pilot, so I figured she could be an Artemis LMP.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Hog on 01/15/2021 06:05 pm
Too old to fly?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 01/15/2021 07:09 pm
Too old to fly?

It is my impression that astronauts almost never fly after turning 60. There have been multiple astronauts in their upper 50's getting flights, and I think there have been a couple who have turned 60 during their last flights (e.g., Pavel Vinogradov on Expedition 35/36), but I can only think of three in a long time (not counting John Glenn's shuttle flight) who have launched after turning 60: Story Musgrave on his last flight, Paolo Nespoli on Expedition 52/53, and Tom Marshburn late this year on Crew-3. It may not be an actual rule, but that's what I was thinking of.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 01/16/2021 10:42 am
Caldwell-Dyson is 51. As far as age is concerned she's good for the rest of the decade.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 01/16/2021 04:50 pm
Agreed.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 01/17/2021 06:32 pm
Three of the Crew-3 members have been confirmed. The fourth will be announced at a later date. Tom Marshburn and Raja Chari of NASA along with Matthias Maurer of ESA.

https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-esa-choose-astronauts-for-spacex-crew-3-mission-to-space-station

According to: https://forum.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/index.php?msg=2110060

Quote
Quite unexpected news was that Borisenko, by the decision of the MMC (apparently at the end of the year), was recognized as unfit for further training for health reasons and was recommended for expulsion from the cosmonaut corps. Here is such a damn news.

So no Andrei Borisenko on Crew-3 :(
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 01/17/2021 09:53 pm
Maybe Mark Vande Hei on Soyuz MS-18 and Sergei Korsakov on Crew 3? Korsakov was originally one of the 3 cosmonauts listed as candidates for commercial crew, along with Borisenko and Nikolai Chub.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Hog on 01/18/2021 05:43 pm
Too old to fly?

It is my impression that astronauts almost never fly after turning 60. There have been multiple astronauts in their upper 50's getting flights, and I think there have been a couple who have turned 60 during their last flights (e.g., Pavel Vinogradov on Expedition 35/36), but I can only think of three in a long time (not counting John Glenn's shuttle flight) who have launched after turning 60: Story Musgrave on his last flight, Paolo Nespoli on Expedition 52/53, and Tom Marshburn late this year on Crew-3. It may not be an actual rule, but that's what I was thinking of.
Thanks for clarifying. 

As we expand our horizons, getting older and younger humans on spaceflights will be important, as will the eventual development of methodologies to deal with in-space death and birth.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 01/18/2021 08:03 pm
No problem. That makes sense--they'll be way further from home than ever before if we make it to Mars or an asteroid.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 01/18/2021 08:40 pm
Preparation in the hydro laboratory at Star City: Petr Dubrov and Sergei Korsakov.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: tonyq on 01/25/2021 08:02 am
My latest Blog, with full analysis of the complexities around Soyuz crewing plans for this year. (Warning! - Long read!!)

https://spacesleuth2.blogspot.com/2021/01/soyuz-plans-unclear-as-gagarin-60th.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 01/25/2021 03:47 pm
https://twitter.com/katlinegrey/status/1353734859714424846
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 01/25/2021 05:42 pm
My latest Blog, with full analysis of the complexities around Soyuz crewing plans for this year. (Warning! - Long read!!)

https://spacesleuth2.blogspot.com/2021/01/soyuz-plans-unclear-as-gagarin-60th.html

"To muddy the waters further, in January 2021, Andrei Babkin was removed from the back-up crew, on medical grounds. This latest development is very sad for Babkin. He had previously trained for the Nauka related missions with Nikolai Tikhonov who was grounded last year, and who later left the cosmonaut squad after fourteen years of flightless preparation. Babkin was replaced by the very experienced Oleg Artymev, who looks like an over-qualified placeholder, for a back-up MS-18 crew which is unlikely to actually fly, but which is needed to support the prime crew, less than three months before launch. After this assignment, he'll probably revert to his previous planned slot as commander of Soyuz MS-21, due in 2022".

Was wondering, is the cosmonaut staff that limited where a veteran commander is being used to back-up a FE?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 01/25/2021 06:42 pm
My theory is that, since the launch is less than three months away, they needed an experienced guy who could step in on short notice, not a rookie.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 01/26/2021 07:34 pm
https://twitter.com/Axiom_Space/status/1354068756587302913

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: dcfowler1 on 01/27/2021 03:28 am
Having a hard time wrapping my head around tourists being designated as pilots and mission specialists, titles previously reserved for career astronauts.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: russianhalo117 on 01/27/2021 03:56 am
Having a hard time wrapping my head around tourists being designated as pilots and mission specialists, titles previously reserved for career astronauts.
They might bring back Payload Specialist someday. There were only a few STS and other flights with those designations early in my life. Russia giving VE-20 crew the usual flight engineer designations. It will be interesting if USOS also starts calling them visiting expeditions to separate them from the main expeditions.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: gemmy0I on 01/27/2021 04:02 am
Having a hard time wrapping my head around tourists being designated as pilots and mission specialists, titles previously reserved for career astronauts.
Yes, I was surprised to see this as well. The statements that have come out so far have emphasized the extensive training the Ax-1 crew is getting, so I get the impression their role designations are intended to reflect that.

It may have a lot to do with the fact that Axiom is positioning its service not primarily as a tour bus for wealthy dilettantes, but as a means for private (and public) organizations with serious business/mission interests in space to get their own people to the station to do real work there (optical fiber manufacturing, pharmaceutical research, etc.). Such use cases would very much fit the traditional use of titles like "mission specialist" and "payload specialist" for private-sector specialists on Shuttle flights. On Shuttle, those titles were also used for Senators and teachers who weren't exactly "professional astronauts" (or even serving a commercial interest in space) but received serious training on a level similar to the Ax-1 crew.

Given that many of Axiom's top brass are NASA veterans (including a former ISS program manager at the top), it makes sense they would continue those conventions rather than establishing new ones. They clearly see Axiom as a company building a full-fledged successor to the ISS to continue and expand on its mission, not merely a "hotel in space".

As all of the Ax-1 passengers are being sponsored by various organizations to do some sort of scientific research during their time on the station (even if they may have their own recreational motives for choosing to go to space on their own dime), calling them "mission specialists" feels genuinely appropriate this time around. And it sounds like the "pilot" is well qualified to actually learn how to fly Dragon and is in fact being trained for the pilot role.

Not all passengers on future missions may necessarily get the same level of training as these. I suspect the euphemistically lowly "spaceflight participant" title will be reserved for those who are truly recreational tourists, or whose business in space has little to do with the "mission" or "payloads" of the station - e.g. the Tom Cruise movie project. (Though, knowing Cruise's reputation, he will probably insist on going through the maximum level of real training Axiom can offer...)

Some of the past "spaceflight participants" who flew to the ISS on Soyuz got positive reputations for being well-trained and contributing seriously to research while there, so Axiom probably wants to avoid that "under-crediting" problem this time around.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 02/04/2021 03:31 pm
From https://www.ulalaunch.com/explore/blog-detail/blog/2021/02/04/oft-2-combined-teams-simulate-launching-next-starliner

Quote
From consoles in the ASOC and BMCC, NASA astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore, Nicole Mann, Mike Fincke, Sunita Williams, Josh Cassada, Jeanette Epps and Matthew Dominick took the opportunity to familiarize themselves with Atlas V countdown operations and launch pad activities

Will the NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick be the 4th crew member for the Starliner-1 mission in 2022?

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Tobias_Corbett on 02/04/2021 04:22 pm
From https://www.ulalaunch.com/explore/blog-detail/blog/2021/02/04/oft-2-combined-teams-simulate-launching-next-starliner

Quote
From consoles in the ASOC and BMCC, NASA astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore, Nicole Mann, Mike Fincke, Sunita Williams, Josh Cassada, Jeanette Epps and Matthew Dominick took the opportunity to familiarize themselves with Atlas V countdown operations and launch pad activities

Will the NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick be the 4th crew member for the Starliner-1 mission in 2022?

Possible but I would be doubtful as that would mean the crew would be entirely American, maybe he is the new backup replacing Wilmore?.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 02/06/2021 08:33 am
Dominick is assigned to the backup crew for Starliner-1.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Joachim on 02/06/2021 08:41 am
Will Dominick serve as backup for CFT, too?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 02/06/2021 08:58 am
I don't know. I've reached out to Brandi Dean for more detail on that.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: vj9 on 02/12/2021 07:15 pm
NASA astronauts
@astro_kjell and Bob Hines have been assigned to launch on the agency’s @SpaceX Crew-4 mission to the
@Space_Station. The mission is expected to launch in 2022 from

"NASA astronauts Kjell Lindgren and Bob Hines will serve as spacecraft commander and pilot, respectively, for the Crew-4 mission. Additional crew members will be assigned as mission specialists in the future by the agency’s international partners."

I do not understand how the seat allocation on Dragons works. On crew 3 Chari an USAF test pilot and a rookie will sit in the Commander seat and the veteran Mashburn will be a pilot. On crew 4 Hines a NAVY test pilot and a rookie will be pilot and veteran Lindgren not a pilot himself will sit in the commander seat?


Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 02/12/2021 07:23 pm
Lindgren has previous Dragon experience, as he backed up the DM-2 and Crew-1 crews. What surprises me is that Crew-4 is coming up so soon: I had figured that Starliner would get two or three flights in a row to catch up to Dragon.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Zed_Noir on 02/13/2021 01:27 pm
Lindgren has previous Dragon experience, as he backed up the DM-2 and Crew-1 crews. What surprises me is that Crew-4 is coming up so soon: I had figured that Starliner would get two or three flights in a row to catch up to Dragon.

From the US launch thread. It was previously scheduled that OFT-2, CFT, Starliner Crew-1, Starliner Crew-2 & Starliner Crew-3 fly before Crew Dragon Crew-4.

Maybe NASA realizes that asking Boeing to basically do 5 flight in a row with about a 6 month intervals in between flights is pushing their luck. Especially since the test flights haven't flown yet.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 02/13/2021 04:05 pm
Maybe NASA realizes that asking Boeing to basically do 5 flight in a row with about a 6 month intervals in between flights is pushing their luck. Especially since the test flights haven't flown yet.

Oh, I wasn't thinking about the test flights--that would make a lot of sense. I was just thinking about CST-1 through CST-3. Thanks!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 02/21/2021 05:02 pm
https://twitter.com/Astro_Raja/status/1363548759196463104
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 02/22/2021 10:34 am
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210222005280/en/World%E2%80%99s-First-All-Civilian-Mission-to-Space-Inspiration4-Names-Second-Crew-Member

Hayley Arceneaux, physician assistant at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and pediatric cancer survivor, to fill Hope seat on historic Inspiration4 flight. (Photo: Business Wire)



Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 02/22/2021 10:38 am
https://twitter.com/rookisaacman/status/1363812407274045440

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: vj9 on 02/22/2021 01:51 pm
I wonder if they will have any backups and if they would also back-up the other two participants still to be selected. This will be the most "random" and inexperienced space-flight ever so the all four people in the cabin should have positive personalities to survive the training and flight itself as a team. I think two of the participants in recent Soyuz flights were removed due to crew incompatibility and replaced by backups.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 02/26/2021 10:19 am
N° 5–2021: Call for media: Second spaceflight for Samantha Cristoforetti
26 February 2021

Media representatives are invited to a virtual press event at 10:00 GMT (11:00 CET) on Wednesday, 3 March, to learn more about the next spaceflight of Italian ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti.

This will be the second spaceflight for Samantha, who is a member of ESA’s astronaut class of 2009. During her first mission ‘Futura’ in 2014–15, she spent 200 days in space, carrying out science and operations on the International Space Station as a flight engineer for Expeditions 42 and 43.

After returning to Earth, Samantha led Spaceship EAC, a student-centred initiative based at ESA’s European Astronaut Centre (EAC) in Cologne, Germany, focused on the technological challenges of future missions to the Moon. She was crew representative for ESA in the Gateway project to establish a space station in lunar orbit, and led the crew of NASA’s 23rd Extreme Environment Mission Operations (NEEMO23) mission on a 10-day stay in the world’s only undersea research station, Aquarius, in 2019.

Samantha looks forward to her second mission. “The International Space Station is humankind’s outpost in space. It’s an engineering marvel, a place of peaceful and fruitful international cooperation, an interdisciplinary laboratory dedicated to science in weightlessness.

“It’s our first step in establishing continuous human presence in space. As we prepare to take the next step in this decade with a permanent human infrastructure in lunar orbit, I am thrilled and honoured to go back to the International Space Station, my home away from home.”

Programme
11:00–11:45 CET: Press briefing, online

Participants
Samantha Cristoforetti, ESA Astronaut
Josef Aschbacher, ESA Director General as of 1 March
David Parker, ESA Director Human and Robotic Exploration
Giorgio Saccoccia, President of the Italian space agency ASI
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TALsite on 03/02/2021 01:18 pm
N° 5–2021: Call for media: Second spaceflight for Samantha Cristoforetti
26 February 2021

Media representatives are invited to a virtual press event at 10:00 GMT (11:00 CET) on Wednesday, 3 March, to learn more about the next spaceflight of Italian ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti.

This will be the second spaceflight for Samantha, who is a member of ESA’s astronaut class of 2009. During her first mission ‘Futura’ in 2014–15, she spent 200 days in space, carrying out science and operations on the International Space Station as a flight engineer for Expeditions 42 and 43.


Programme
11:00–11:45 CET: Press briefing, online


One seat for her on board Dragon v2 Crew-4 (USCV-4) as MS ??

Or on board Shenzhou-13 to the CSS?  She trained with them time ago.  This would seem fantastic but we must wait a lot more to see manned spaceflight cooperation with the Chinese Space Program.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: vp. on 03/02/2021 02:18 pm
Samantha looks forward to her second mission. “The International Space Station is humankind’s outpost in space. It’s an engineering marvel, a place of peaceful and fruitful international cooperation, an interdisciplinary laboratory dedicated to science in weightlessness."
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ZachS09 on 03/02/2021 03:15 pm
Matthias Maurer also trained with the Chinese space program. Maybe after SpaceX Crew-3, he'll fly on one of the next Shenzhous for his second flight.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 03/03/2021 11:53 am
https://youtu.be/tI1Xhu3fYus
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 03/03/2021 12:03 pm
ESA Press Release for Immediate Release

Wednesday, 3 March 2021

ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti has been assigned a second space mission and will fly to the International Space Station in spring 2022.

In a press briefing today, Samantha Cristoforetti, ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher, ESA Director of Human and Robotic Exploration David Parker and President of the Italian space agency ASI Giorgio Saccoccia announced Samantha will travel to the Station in spring 2022, following ESA astronaut Matthias Maurer.

“It gives me great pleasure to announce Samantha’s second space mission today,” says ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher. “Samantha is an excellent role model for anyone applying to ESA’s recently announced 2021/22 astronaut selection. I look forward to her continuing the essential work of European scientists in orbit as she inspires all Europeans to explore farther and reach higher for the benefit of Earth.”

“I am grateful that in the years since I returned from my first mission I have had many opportunities to grow as a professional. Leading Spaceship EAC, our team of students and young researchers working on technologies for lunar exploration, and being part of the iHAB programme, providing an astronaut’s perspective in the early development of the habitation module that ESA will provide to the Lunar Gateway, were both enriching professional experiences. I also had the chance to live for 10 days underwater as the Commander of NASA’s NEEMO23 crew, experiencing a close analogue to a space mission,” says Samantha.

“But going back to ISS, my home away from home, has always remained my aspiration. I am honoured to be entrusted with a second space mission and look forward to representing again Europe in orbit, as we continue to pursue scientific discovery and technological excellence,” added Samantha.

Preparation in progress
Training for Samantha’s second mission is already under way and has included International Space Station refresher sessions at ESA’s European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany, and NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.

In the coming months, her schedule will intensify as she brushes up on Space Station systems and procedures and trains for the specific experiments and tasks she will perform in space.

Reflecting on Futura
Samantha first flew to the International Space Station in 2014 for ASI ‘Futura’ mission, returning to Earth in a Russian Soyuz vehicle after 200 days in space.
During Futura, she supported an extensive scientific programme of experiments in physical science, biology and human physiology as well as radiation research and technology demonstrations.

Samantha also oversaw the undocking of ESA’s fifth and final Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) marking the end of a successful programme that paved the way for the European Service Modules currently being produced for NASA’s Orion spacecraft that will travel around and to the Moon.

Italian involvement in the mission
The call for applications of the new ASI experiments is still ongoing. While waiting to train on the new experiments, Samantha Cristoforetti will follow among others LIDAL, NUTRISS, Acoustic Diagnostics, Mini-EUSO experiments, already on board on the ISS, and on which Luca Parmitano has already worked during the ESA Beyond mission in 2019.

Europe in low-Earth orbit
During ESA’s Space19+ ministerial council, Member States supported the Agency’s continued commitment to the International Space Station until at least 2030 and the provision of second flights for all astronauts from ESA’s class of 2009.

Samantha’s flight follows the second flights of her classmates Alexander Gerst in 2018, Luca Parmitano in 2019 and Thomas Pesquet in 2021, and could see a direct on-Station handover with Matthias Maurer who is scheduled to fly his first mission to the Space Station later this year.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 03/03/2021 12:46 pm
So Crew-4 with Lindgren/Hines ?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 03/03/2021 04:03 pm
So Crew-4 with Lindgren/Hines ?

Or would it be Starliner-1, with Williams/Cassada/Epps?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Tobias_Corbett on 03/03/2021 04:07 pm
So Crew-4 with Lindgren/Hines ?

Or would it be Starliner-1, with Williams/Cassada/Epps?

Her being on Starliner-1 would mean the crew would be 3/4 (or 75%) made up of women, if I'm not mistaken that would probably make it the first spaceflight in history with a majority woman crew.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 03/03/2021 04:31 pm
So Wakata on Starlink-1 is not a done deal ?

I saw it in the ISS schedule thread
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 03/03/2021 06:52 pm
So Wakata on Starlink-1 is not a done deal ?

I saw it in the ISS schedule thread

Others presumably know way more than me, but my impression was that Wakata flying there was presumed but not finalized.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Tobias_Corbett on 03/03/2021 11:28 pm
So Wakata on Starlink-1 is not a done deal ?

I saw it in the ISS schedule thread

Others presumably know way more than me, but my impression was that Wakata flying there was presumed but not finalized.

The only confirmed crew members for Starliner-1 are Williams-Cassada-Epps, Wakata is just informed speculation and as far as I know there are now official documents putting Wakata on Starliner-1 as of now.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 03/04/2021 03:58 pm
Thanks... we'll know later with which vehicle Samantha Cristoforetti and Koichi Wakata will fly.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: agp on 03/10/2021 12:33 am
https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-signs-contract-to-fly-a-nasa-astronaut-on-april-soyuz-rotation-to-the-international


Quote
NASA has signed a contract with a U.S. commercial company Axiom Space of Houston to fly a NASA astronaut on an upcoming Soyuz rotation on Soyuz MS-18, scheduled to launch April 9.  In exchange, NASA will provide a seat on a future U.S.  commercial spacecraft, expected to launch in 2023, as part of a space station crew rotation mission.

...

NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei will launch aboard the Soyuz for a full expedition aboard the International Space Station.


As previously speculated, Mark Vande Hei will replace Sergei Korsakov on Soyuz MS-18.

From NASA's blog post it sounds like they will send up a crew rotation mission with only three NASA astronauts, and one person chosen by Axiom. I wonder if that person will stay on the station for the full six months - it seems like a long time for a guest. Perhaps the Axiom astronaut will go up on one vehicle with a new set of crew members and then come back down on the vehicle that's already up there with the old crew. That would mean one NASA astronaut would need to stay up for a full year.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: gemmy0I on 03/10/2021 02:24 am
I wonder if the real reason Russia has been reluctant to sign a formal crew-swap arrangement with NASA is that they aren't actually that interested in having a third cosmonaut on the ISS, but would rather keep selling that third Soyuz seat for cash?

The cash NASA was paying for years for Soyuz seats represented a sizeable portion of Roscosmos's budget. The seats were being sold at a high enough margin that they more than paid for the full cost of the vehicle, i.e. effectively subsidized the flights of Russia's own crew. Now that cash flow is gone, and they have to come up with that money somewhere. Absent a substantial increase to Roscosmos's budget from their government (which is probably not so easy to get), or robbing their other programs for the cash (which would be quite painful), the math just doesn't add up.

Soyuz MS-18 will be the first time Russia has actually had to pay to launch its own cosmonauts in quite a while. "Officially" NASA was to stop paying for Soyuz seats several years ago, but it's been strung along to this day. Congress very reluctantly OK'd the MS-16 and MS-17 seat purchases to ensure that the USOS would not be de-crewed in the event of Commercial Crew delays, but now that Dragon is operational, Congress wouldn't be keen on NASA continuing to buy Soyuz seats just to have a 5th USOS crew member on the station, which is what the result would have to be if NASA continued to take 1/3 Soyuz seats and Roscosmos didn't increase their own crew complement to 3.

But the equation changes when private players like Axiom enter the mix. Axiom seems to have a substantial waiting list of private crew lined up who want to fly to the ISS. I wouldn't be surprised if they're going along with this deal not because they're necessarily making a profit on the exchange (they wouldn't be unless Roscosmos is giving them a substantial discount over what they were charging NASA, since Dragon is supposed to be cheaper than that), but because it represents an additional private flight opportunity they wouldn't otherwise have, or would have to wait longer for.

Remember that NASA is only allowing a certain number of private Dragon flights to the station each year, at least until the first Axiom node arrives to add docking ports. I suspect Axiom is already maxing out that current limit. That makes buying an extra seat from an expedition flight worthwhile even if they have to pay a net premium over the per-seat cost of an all-Axiom Dragon (because they're effectively buying a Dragon seat at a Soyuz price).

Depending on how NASA wants to work out the crew rotation logistics, Axiom's seat on the expedition flight might even last for the full 6-month expedition, which might be worth a lot to some of their customers, depending on how strong their demand is that we're not seeing publicly. I could see Axiom even sending one of their own professionals (Lopez-Alegria or Whitson, or who knows else they haven't announced yet) for a full 6-month expedition simply to run commercial experiments full time. Axiom did, after all, recently state in response to NASA's price hike on commercial experiments that they were prepared to support all their customers' needs without relying on NASA-subsidized prices for upmass/downmass and crew time. Especially with the price hike, it might actually be worthwhile for them to send up their own professional to run experiments.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 03/10/2021 08:58 am
So this Axiom 2023 seat...

Does that mean that the Axiom customer will have an expedition-length stay at the ISS (could be a paying governmental astronaut from a non ISS nation for instance).

Or does that mean that an expedition crew will have to do an extended stay in ISS over two expeditions to allow for a short mission for the Axiom customer ?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Zed_Noir on 03/10/2021 06:53 pm
<snip>
I could see Axiom even sending one of their own professionals (Lopez-Alegria or Whitson, or who knows else they haven't announced yet) for a full 6-month expedition simply to run commercial experiments full time.<snip>

Don't think Lopez-Alegria or Whitson can stay at the ISS for 6 months in the future. They will go over their lifetime radiation dosage limit.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: gemmy0I on 03/10/2021 07:56 pm
<snip>
I could see Axiom even sending one of their own professionals (Lopez-Alegria or Whitson, or who knows else they haven't announced yet) for a full 6-month expedition simply to run commercial experiments full time.<snip>

Don't think Lopez-Alegria or Whitson can stay at the ISS for 6 months in the future. They will go over their lifetime radiation dosage limit.
There's been a lot of discussion on this on other threads, but the upshot seems to be that there isn't a clear regulatory basis for NASA to enforce those lifetime radiation limits on private astronauts. There's always a possibility that NASA could choose to be a stickler about it since they can set the rules for visitors to the ISS, but it's probably not in their interest to do so, as they are an exploration agency, not a regulatory agency. It's not really their mandate to "protect" well-informed private professionals from making their own decisions weighing career opportunities vs. health risks (as people do all the time in high-risk professions).

From the discussion that I've seen, I get the impression that the radiation limits have been set very conservatively to reflect the fact that there's a lot we still don't know about living in space long-term. And as a matter of practicality, the limits will need to be re-evaluated in the near future as humanity expands its forays into long-term space missions, particular beyond-LEO (moon and Mars). Mars colonists will, by necessity, end up staying for a long time and the early colonists in particular will be exposed to amounts of radiation that we know will take years off their lives. Yet there will be plenty of astronauts who will gladly and informedly sign up for that risk in order to have the incredible opportunity of setting foot on the Red Planet and blazing the trail for the rest of humanity - just as explorers in past ages accepted substantial risks to life and health when they crossed oceans and continents. Heck, even professional athletes routinely choose to subject themselves to extreme physical stress despite knowing they'll face major surgeries and be "busted-up" for the rest of their lives, in exchange for the opportunity to play sports at the highest level. Astronauts have described the experience of being in space as at least as personally compelling as that.

Private companies like Axiom will likely end up leading that re-evaluation as, unlike NASA, they have a strong financial incentive to let experienced astronauts continue their careers rather than paying to train a constant stream of new ones. NASA, by contrast, is generally committed to taking in X amount of new astronaut candidates every few years, so they have a long line of rookies jockeying for limited flight opportunities. So the career radiation limit is kind of a win/win for them as it helps them spread flight opportunities around and transition their most experienced astronauts into leadership/management roles.

It's also worth noting that the Russian space program has looser limits on lifetime radiation exposure and (so far as we know) their long-duration cosmonauts (some of whom have been in space significantly longer than Lopez-Alegria or Whitson) haven't had major problems that can be directly attributed to that. (Russia has a different approach to solving the problem of balancing flight opportunities between veteran and rookie cosmonauts; they just impose a hard age limit for mandatory retirement, regardless of flight time. They also haven't been training new rookies at anywhere near the pace NASA has.) So it's understood that the "real" radiation tolerance of the human body is somewhat higher than NASA's conservative limit; exactly how much is the million-dollar question. To an extent, the true answer will only be discovered as people keep pushing the limit.

More to the point at hand, I suspect Lopez-Alegria and Whitson signed up with Axiom precisely because (among perhaps other reasons) they knew NASA wouldn't let them continue to fly as agency astronauts. They could have (and did, prior to their respective "retirements") had plenty of fine career opportunities in NASA leadership had they stayed there, but they would've remained firmly earthbound. Evidently that's not the dream they had in mind for the remainders of their careers.

It's possible that Axiom only intends for them to fly short-duration week-long missions, since they seem to have plenty of those in the queue. That would still represent an opportunity they wouldn't have at NASA, because NASA doesn't do short-duration flights these days. In that case they could potentially have long careers of active spaceflight without going over the NASA lifetime limits, simply because the "downtime" between flights so outweighs the time spent in space. Such a career could be at least as exciting as one filled with a few long-duration spaceflights, since you get to launch a lot more. :) But who knows what they have in mind. With Axiom Segment and the future free-flying Axiom Station coming around, Axiom is definitely going to need full-time professional crew for maintenance and operations. Perhaps they have Lopez-Alegria and Whitson in mind for that; or perhaps their intention is for them to pass their experience on to a fresh cadre of privately trained astronauts who'll handle their long-duration crew needs.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 03/14/2021 12:28 pm
https://tass.ru/kosmos/10899521

Quote
Cosmonaut Korsakov may become one of the first Russian participants in flight on CrewDragon
He has already passed the necessary measures necessary for the manufacture of space equipment.

MOSCOW, March 14. / TASS /. Cosmonaut Sergei Korsakov, who was originally scheduled to fly on Soyuz MS-18 in April, is one of the first Russian contenders to fly on the American Crew Dragon spacecraft. This was announced by the head of the Cosmonaut Training Center.  Yu. A. Gagarin (GCPC) Pavel Vlasov.

"Sergei is one of the first applicants to fly on the Crew Dragon, he passed the necessary measures necessary for the manufacture of space equipment," Vlasov said on the air of the Komsomolskaya Pravda radio.

On Wednesday, Roskosmos announced that cosmonaut Sergei Korsakov was removed from the main crew of the Soyuz MS-18 crewed spacecraft, and NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei was appointed to replace him. In the backup crew, instead of Dmitry Petelin, NASA astronaut Anne McClain was appointed. The launch of Soyuz MS-18 is scheduled for April 9th.

Earlier, Dmitry Rogozin, the general director of Roscosmos, said that the state corporation is not yet ready to send Russian cosmonauts on board the Crew Dragon spacecraft developed by SpaceX. According to him, flights are possible after the American ship passes certification. So far, we are talking about technical advice on cross-flights.

Negotiations on the Soyuz crew

Vlasov said that negotiations on the inclusion of American astronauts in the main and backup crews of the Soyuz MS-18 crewed spacecraft were conducted six months before the decision was made.

"The fact that the American side would attempt to include its astronaut in our crew was known at least six months before this event. This took shape only at the beginning of March. On March 2, by the decision of an interdepartmental commission, Mark Vande Hei was included in the prime crew. and Anne McClain was included as flight engineer-2 of the backup crew, "Vlasov said.

He explained that negotiations on this topic had been going on for a long time. “Realizing that Crew Dragon is a new ship, that there may be surprises with a postponement and so on, the American side has been negotiating for a long time to hedge. astronauts, "- said Vlasov.

According to the head of the GCPC, this practice will be logical in the future as well. “It will be continued when we perform flights with mixed crews: our astronauts will fly on Crew Dragon, on American commercial ships, and NASA astronauts will fly on ours. for one crew member, you need to interrupt the expedition, then the segment remains uninhabited. Russian or American. This situation must be avoided, and there is logic in such actions, "he said.

Vlasov said that the cosmonaut training began before the official decision was made to include the astronauts in the crew.



Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 03/14/2021 01:08 pm
So Crew-3 ?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: tonyq on 03/17/2021 11:07 am
Recent announcements have clarified the crews for Soyuz MS-18 and Soyuz MS-19, including the Movie in Space project.

Official confirmation on Soyuz MS-20 should be coming very soon.

Full details here. Comments of feedback welcome.

https://spacesleuth2.blogspot.com/2021/03/soyuz-plans-for-2021-part-2.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ZachS09 on 03/21/2021 10:55 pm
Is Kayla Barron actually assigned to SpaceX Crew-3?

spacefacts.de (http://spacefacts.de) shows that on their Spaceflights page.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 03/22/2021 12:41 am
Is Kayla Barron actually assigned to SpaceX Crew-3?

spacefacts.de shows that on their Spaceflights page.

Not from how Tom Marshburn has talked about it, I don't think. The best I can figure out is that she's the most likely candidate for MS-2 if Sergei Korsakov (or another Russian) does not fly.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Tobias_Corbett on 04/01/2021 02:12 am
It looks like Samantha Cristoforetti is training alongside Bob Hines and Kjell Lindgren for SpaceX Crew-4.
https://twitter.com/Astro_FarmerBob/status/1377391737505652738?s=20
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 04/07/2021 01:24 am
Does anyone know why NASA says the MS-18 crew belongs to Expedition 64/65 while, at the same time, Roscosmos says it belongs to Expedition 65/66 (see, for example, the first post on page 5 of the MS-18 thread and the current penultimate post in the Expedition 65 thread respectively)?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 04/08/2021 09:34 am
According to NASA:

"Expeditions are marked, not by change of command, but from Soyuz undocking to Soyuz undocking."
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 04/08/2021 04:24 pm
According to NASA:

"Expeditions are marked, not by change of command, but from Soyuz undocking to Soyuz undocking."

Interesting. That could get confusing after a bit if the two sides count them differently. Thanks!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Tobias_Corbett on 04/09/2021 09:09 am
Anyone think it is possible that Thomas Pesquet is flying an extended duration mission? I've been looking at it and it is a possible way to explain some of the gaps currently in the ISS crew manifest.

As of now there are four people scheduled to Command the ISS in the near future, Shannon Walker, Akihiko Hoshide, Oleg Novitsky and Thomas Pesquet, which seems a little hard because both Hoshide and Pesquet will launch (and supposedly land) on SpaceX Crew-2, which is scheduled to land before Soyuz MS-18 (Novitsky's flight).

To me the only way to make this make sense is to have Pesquet fly an extended flight, launching on Crew-2 and landing on Crew-3. Under the timeline I've cooked up in my brain, Walker would take command of the station upon the departure of Soyuz MS-17 and the beginning of Expedition 65, continuing in that role until the departure of Crew-1, when Akihiko Hoshide will take Command. Crew-3 will launch sometime in late 2021, carrying Raja Chari, Thomas Marshburn and Mattias Maurer and either a vacant seat or an Axiom Space Tourist (in return for the agreement the signed that put Vande Hei on MS-18). Following a short handover, Crew-2 will return with Kimbrough, McArther and Hoshide returning with Pesquet's seat either vacant or filled with a space tourist, following which Novitsky will take over is ISS-CDR for the remainder of Expedition 65. Pesquet will then take Command of the station for the start of Expedition 66 following the departure of Soyuz MS-18, and then land on Crew-3 with Chari, Marshburn and Maurer following an extended mission.

Of course, this is all speculation by me and relies on NASA not agreeing to fly a Russian cosmonaut on Crew-3, so take it all with a grain of salt, I've just been spending the last few days (break from uni giving me to much spear time) figuring out how the ISS schedule is supposed to shape up over the next year or so, and honestly this is the only way I can make it work.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 04/09/2021 10:13 am
There was a session of Q&A during the launch broadcast of MS-18. The succession of commanders was provided as follows : Shannon Walker from departure of MS-17 till arrival of Crew-2. During stay of Crew-2, Hoshide except for the last couple of weeks during which Pesquet will command.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 04/09/2021 08:10 pm
youtu.be/CUZY0e7y_vo?t=7635
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 04/10/2021 09:02 am
https://twitter.com/Astro_Raja/status/1380649064019075072
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 04/11/2021 11:58 am
 https://twitter.com/hhshkmohd/status/1380821550304223234?s=21 (https://twitter.com/hhshkmohd/status/1380821550304223234?s=21)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 04/13/2021 10:39 pm
Jeff Williams was moved from "Active Astronauts" to "Management Astronauts" (April 12, 2021).

Reid Wiseman is back to "Active Astronauts" (April 6, 2021).
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Tobias_Corbett on 04/13/2021 10:44 pm
Not sure if anyone has noted this yet but Drew Feustel is the new Deputy Chief Astronaut. Not sure why Tingle is out of the role so quickly, it seems like he only took it a few months back.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 04/14/2021 12:53 am
Reid Wiseman is back to "Active Astronauts" (April 6, 2021).

Not sure if anyone has noted this yet but Drew Feustel is the new Deputy Chief Astronaut. Not sure why Tingle is out of the role so quickly, it seems like he only took it a few months back.

Could Tingle have replaced Wiseman as Chief of the Astronaut Office?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Tobias_Corbett on 04/14/2021 01:23 am
Reid Wiseman is back to "Active Astronauts" (April 6, 2021).

Not sure if anyone has noted this yet but Drew Feustel is the new Deputy Chief Astronaut. Not sure why Tingle is out of the role so quickly, it seems like he only took it a few months back.

Could Tingle have replaced Wiseman as Chief of the Astronaut Office?

That is a possibility, although that brings up the question of what happened to Wiseman? he has been Chief astronaut for like four months. Maybe a flight opportunity that was to good to turn down showed up?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 04/14/2021 03:56 am
That is a possibility, although that brings up the question of what happened to Wiseman? he has been Chief astronaut for like four months. Maybe a flight opportunity that was to good to turn down showed up?

Agreed. The next two bigger slots I can think of are backup commander of the Boeing Crewed Flight Test (unless Suni Williams has that job) and then probably commander of Starliner-2 (an early flight of a new ship) or commander of Artemis 2 (the return to lunar orbit). Neither would completely make sense, though: Starliner-2 isn't for a while, Artemis 2 may be further away than that, and Wiseman wasn't in the Artemis Generation--though there is precedent for the Chief of the Astronaut Office getting important flights.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Tobias_Corbett on 04/14/2021 04:17 am
That is a possibility, although that brings up the question of what happened to Wiseman? he has been Chief astronaut for like four months. Maybe a flight opportunity that was to good to turn down showed up?

Agreed. The next two bigger slots I can think of are backup commander of the Boeing Crewed Flight Test (unless Suni Williams has that job) and then probably commander of Starliner-2 (an early flight of a new ship) or commander of Artemis 2 (the return to lunar orbit). Neither would completely make sense, though: Starliner-2 isn't for a while, Artemis 2 may be further away than that, and Wiseman wasn't in the Artemis Generation--though there is precedent for the Chief of the Astronaut Office getting important flights.

I imagine if that is the case it would be Artemis II. The backup CFT slot has already been taken by Matthew Dominick AFAIK, and Starliner-2 seems like a flight he would have been able to get before being chief astronaut if he wanted it, so it would seem odd for him to have taken the job as chief astronaut only to assign himself to Starliner-2 and return to flight status. So in my opinion, which should be taken with a grain of salt, I think Reid Wiseman will Command Artemis II. Unless possibly NASA is planning another extended duration flight, it is known that NASA wants to fly more year+ long flights to the ISS over the coming years, breaking Polyakov's 14 month record could be seen as prestigious enough to warrant such an early departure from being chief astronaut. Again though, this is all just speculation.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 04/14/2021 04:48 am
That would make sense. I didn't know whether Dominick was down for a Starliner commander slot or pilot slot, and I agree re Starliner-2 more generally. I hadn't thought of an ISS flight that might challenge Polyakov's record, though--that's interesting.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 04/16/2021 01:35 am
I would think it more likely that Scott Tingle is getting ready for another ISS expedition assignment.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 04/16/2021 03:05 am
I would think it more likely that Scott Tingle is getting ready for another ISS expedition assignment.

That would not surprise me either.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 04/18/2021 04:20 pm
Not sure if anyone has noted this yet but Drew Feustel is the new Deputy Chief Astronaut. Not sure why Tingle is out of the role so quickly, it seems like he only took it a few months back.

It's official note as "(...)Andrew Feustel, deputy chief of the Astronaut Office, center (...) at photo

from today "a dress rehearsal" for Crew-2 launch schedule for Thursday April 22, 2021:

at: http://flic.kr/p/2kTy9gu
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Tobias_Corbett on 04/21/2021 02:27 am
https://twitter.com/esa/status/1384429417141841921?s=20

According to this tweet it seems that the Crew-2 crew will become part of Expedition 66, insinuating that their departure will occur after the departure of Soyuz MS-18. I assume this is also be when Pesquet takes Command, with Hoshide giving Command to Pesquet and staying as a flight engineer for the duration of Expedition 66. And he will hold Command until the departure of Crew-2, following which he will probably hand over Command to Shkaplerov, who will Command Expedition 66 for the rest of the mission. This would also mean Novitsky will no longer Command the station at any point in his third flight.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 04/21/2021 01:06 pm
NASA acting Administrator said

Quote
“I believe it’s now too late to develop a suit and do the training for Crew-3,” Jurczyk said, referring to a SpaceX Crew Dragon mission scheduled for launch Oct. 23. “So most likely the earliest mission to have a cosmonaut on it would be Crew-4.”

Can we then assume that Kayla Barron will be the fourth crew member of Crew-3 ?

And Cristoforetti and a Russian for Crew-4.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 04/21/2021 03:13 pm

Can we then assume that Kayla Barron will be the fourth crew member of Crew-3 ?

And Cristoforetti and a Russian for Crew-4.

It would seem so, but I thought the Russians had said that Sergey Korsakov had already begun the suit prep work and training and such over here.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 05/04/2021 01:20 am
https://ria.ru/20210504/kikina-1731048357.html

Quote
Source: Kikina will be the only woman in the cosmonaut corps.

MOSCOW, May 4 - RIA Novosti. Anna Kikina, the only woman in the Russian squad of cosmonauts, has joined the crew for the 2022 flight to the ISS, a source in the rocket and space industry told RIA Novosti.

"Crews for the flight in 2022 are scheduled. Oleg Artemyev, Denis Matveev and Sergei Korsakov will be preparing for the flight in the spring.
Sergei Prokopyev, Anna Kikina and Dmitriy Petelin will fly in the fall,
" - told the source.

Earlier it was reported that Roscosmos director general Dmitry Rogozin instructed the Cosmonaut Training Center to introduce Anna Kikina into one of the next crews of Soyuz spacecraft to fly to the ISS in 2022.

Recently, in an interview with RIA Novosti, Kikina said that there is no exact information on her assignment to the crew yet.

In 2020, the Roscosmos State Corporation tweeted that Kikina would go to the International Space Station in two years. In addition, Cosmonaut Squad Leader Oleg Kononenko previously reported that the flight was possible in the fall of 2022.

Kikina was enrolled in the cosmonaut squadron as a candidate for cosmonaut-testers in 2012, having passed the first open selection. Prior to that, the squadron recruited either military pilots or members of the rocket and space industry. In 2014, Kikina was enrolled in the cosmonaut squadron after completing general space training. In 2017, Kikina took part in the international isolation experiment SIRIUS, simulating a flight to the moon.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Tobias_Corbett on 05/04/2021 02:03 am
First look at the Crew-3 patch via collectspace (http://www.collectspace.com/ubb/Forum18/HTML/001667.html), names around the edge seems like final confirmation that Barron will round out the Crew-3 quartet.

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: DwightM on 05/04/2021 03:40 am
https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/stephen-g-bowen

Stephen Bowen "is currently in training as backup for NASA SpaceX Crew-4 mission to the ISS."
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Tobias_Corbett on 05/04/2021 03:51 am
https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/stephen-g-bowen

Stephen Bowen "is currently in training as backup for NASA SpaceX Crew-4 mission to the ISS."

Has anyone been announced as backup for Crew-3, it seems weird they would have assigned backup to Crew-4 but not Crew-3. I assume Cristoforetti is backup for Maurer, but has their been any word on who will back up Chari-Marshburn and Barron.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 05/04/2021 05:39 am
Biography of Kayla Barron (https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/barron-k.pdf)

Quote
NASA Experience:
Barron reported for duty in August 2017 and completed two years of training as an Astronaut Candidate. She is currently in training for NASA SpaceX Crew-3 mission to the International Space Station.

Maybe we should check all astronaut bios just in case other assignments are mentioned such as back up for Crew-3.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 05/04/2021 05:51 am
Biography of Kayla Barron (https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/barron-k.pdf)

Quote
NASA Experience:
Barron reported for duty in August 2017 and completed two years of training as an Astronaut Candidate. She is currently in training for NASA SpaceX Crew-3 mission to the International Space Station.

Maybe we should check all astronaut bios just in case other assignments are mentioned such as back up for Crew-3.

Very strange practice for a Tuesday times  :o
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 05/04/2021 05:52 am
More questions for MS-19 and MS-20 prime and back-up crews!

Do you know any update for these 4 crews composition? And for MS-21 prime we know the RIA Novosti composition of prime and back-up crews, but no MS-20 back-up?

I have only this:

MS-19) http://lk.astronautilus.pl/loty/sms19.htm;
MS-20) http://lk.astronautilus.pl/loty/sms20.htm;
MS-21) http://lk.astronautilus.pl/loty/sms21.htm;
MS-22) http://lk.astronautilus.pl/loty/sms22.htm.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 05/04/2021 06:05 am
"Crews for the flight in 2022 are scheduled. Oleg Artemyev, Denis Matveev and Sergei Korsakov will be preparing for the flight in the spring.
Sergei Prokopyev, Anna Kikina and Dmitriy Petelin will fly in the fall,
" - told the source.

Is there any word on MS-23 (the 6-month visiting crew)? It seems odd that Prokopyev is not down to command that flight, as he's backing up Misurkin and getting training on singlehandedly operating the Soyuz.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 05/04/2021 06:52 am
I've asked many questions at Russian forum, but there is holidays so we must wait for clarify these unresolved questions!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 05/04/2021 07:32 am
These crews are not officially approved yet, will only be 100% visible after May 13th.

There are crews scheduled for 2022 flight only!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 05/04/2021 08:14 am
https://twitter.com/tobycorbett01/status/1389444354947751946

https://twitter.com/tobycorbett01/status/1389445894483812356

https://twitter.com/ak25892/status/1389489277227225088
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 05/04/2021 12:41 pm
I've asked many questions at Russian forum, but there is holidays so we must wait for clarify these unresolved questions!

Understood. Thanks!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: skeer on 05/05/2021 09:27 am
Posted by: Tobias_Corbett
« on: 05/04/2021 03:51 am »Insert Quote

Kjell Lindgren's NASA Biography states that he is both training to Command Crew 4 but also training as backup of Crew 3. It can probably be extrapolated that he backed up Crew 2
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: tonyq on 05/05/2021 12:19 pm
"Crews for the flight in 2022 are scheduled. Oleg Artemyev, Denis Matveev and Sergei Korsakov will be preparing for the flight in the spring.
Sergei Prokopyev, Anna Kikina and Dmitriy Petelin will fly in the fall,
" - told the source.

Is there any word on MS-23 (the 6-month visiting crew)? It seems odd that Prokopyev is not down to command that flight, as he's backing up Misurkin and getting training on singlehandedly operating the Soyuz.

You are right that Prokopyev is the tentative back-up for MS-20 and has been working with Misurkin on the Soyuz adaptations. However, Shkaplerov (up) and Novitsky (down) will have to fly single-handed with the movie crew, so perhaps it isn't such a specialised task as we've been led to believe.

Meanwhile MS-23 is probably the first mission where Glavkosmos will be marketing the seats directly, without any involvement from Space Adventures:-

https://spacenews.com/glavkosmos-to-sell-seats-on-soyuz-missions/

Duration may be subject to negotiations with potential clients? Who knows!!


 
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 05/05/2021 07:39 pm
You are right that Prokopyev is the tentative back-up for MS-20 and has been working with Misurkin on the Soyuz adaptations. However, Shkaplerov (up) and Novitsky (down) will have to fly single-handed with the movie crew, so perhaps it isn't such a specialised task as we've been led to believe.

Meanwhile MS-23 is probably the first mission where Glavkosmos will be marketing the seats directly, without any involvement from Space Adventures:-

https://spacenews.com/glavkosmos-to-sell-seats-on-soyuz-missions/

Duration may be subject to negotiations with potential clients? Who knows!!

That would make sense! Thanks! I had been wondering how Novitsky especially would pull it off if it were that big a thing, but that could be it.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Zed_Noir on 05/05/2021 09:22 pm
Posted by: Tobias_Corbett
« on: 05/04/2021 03:51 am »Insert Quote

Kjell Lindgren's NASA Biography states that he is both training to Command Crew 4 but also training as backup of Crew 3. It can probably be extrapolated that he backed up Crew 2


Lindgren is the all purpose backup Dragon crew member. He is a backup for Demo-2, Crew-1, Crew-2 & Crew-3 missions if the speculation in @skeer's post is accurate.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 05/06/2021 04:41 am
Why the page: http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=155 was also turned off ... what happened? ? ?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 05/10/2021 07:39 am
Crew-3 has been removed from the bio of Kayla Barron. Without changing the date of the bio (April 2021) although the change was done in May. Talk about configuration management.

Kayla Barron (https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/barron-k.pdf)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 05/10/2021 01:17 pm
I have both this files, so we may find when they change it (on May 6, 2021)!

I attached both files to compare both (smaller is a new one)!

Perhaps Sergey Korsakov, he is now at JSC?

 
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 05/12/2021 04:10 am
More questions for MS-19 and MS-20 prime and back-up crews!

Do you know any update for these 4 crews composition? And for MS-21 prime we know the RIA Novosti composition of prime and back-up crews, but no MS-20 back-up?

I have only this:

MS-19) http://lk.astronautilus.pl/loty/sms19.htm (http://lk.astronautilus.pl/loty/sms19.htm);
MS-20) http://lk.astronautilus.pl/loty/sms20.htm (http://lk.astronautilus.pl/loty/sms20.htm);
MS-21) http://lk.astronautilus.pl/loty/sms21.htm (http://lk.astronautilus.pl/loty/sms21.htm);
MS-22) http://lk.astronautilus.pl/loty/sms22.htm (http://lk.astronautilus.pl/loty/sms22.htm).

No new update so far :(
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 05/13/2021 12:50 pm
Фильм «Вызов»: итоги медкомиссии (https://www.roscosmos.ru/31044/)

Quote
The State Commission has completed the selection of candidates for participation in space flight for filming the feature film "Challenge" (working title). Based on the results of medical and creative selection, it was decided to recommend Yulia Peresild and Klim Shipenko to the prime crew, Alena Mordovina and Alexei Dudin to the backup crew. Filming will take place at the International Space Station. The start of the expedition is scheduled for October 5, 2021 from the Baikonur cosmodrome on the Soyuz MS-19 manned transport spacecraft.

Yulia Peresild (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yulia_Peresild)

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 05/13/2021 12:55 pm
Space Adventures’ Client, Yusaku Maezawa, Plans for Mission to the International Space Station (https://spaceadventures.com/space-adventures-client-yusaku-maezawa-plans-for-mission-to-the-international-space-station/)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 05/13/2021 06:48 pm
If you pile up all the flights - and not considering China and New Shepard - I count 14 individuals who are going to do their first spaceflight between September and early 2022.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 05/13/2021 09:36 pm
If the launch of the Inspiration4 crew will be delayed, it may happen that there will be up 18 people in orbit, including Chinese three on CSS and NewShepard short term, but most !

3+3!+4+4*+3** = 17 + NS (3?) = 20?

MS-18/19!+ Crew-2 + *Inspiriation4 + **on CSS!

3+4+4+4*+3** = 17 people ?

MS-19 + Crew-2/3 + *Insporation4 + **on CSS!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 05/17/2021 11:02 am
Why the page: http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=155 was also turned off ... what happened? ? ?

Today http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=155 has been turned on!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 05/17/2021 07:41 pm
https://twitter.com/NASA_Johnson/status/1394364382776229889

https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/kayla-barron-joins-nasa-s-spacex-crew-3-mission-to-space-station

Quote
Kayla Barron Joins NASA’s SpaceX Crew-3 Mission to Space Station

NASA has assigned Kayla Barron to serve as a mission specialist for the agency’s SpaceX Crew-3 mission to the International Space Station, which is targeted to launch as early as Oct. 23.

This will be the first spaceflight for Barron, who became a NASA astronaut in January 2020 after completing two years of training. She will join NASA astronauts Raja Chari and Tom Marshburn, as the mission’s commander and pilot, respectively, and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Matthias Maurer, who also will serve as a mission specialist.

This will be the third crew rotation mission on SpaceX’s human space transportation system and its fourth flight with astronauts, including the Demo-2 test flight, to the space station through NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.

Barron was born in Pocatello, Idaho, but considers Richland, Washington, her hometown. She earned a bachelor’s degree in systems engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, in 2010. She earned a master’s degree in nuclear engineering from the University of Cambridge, in England, in 2011, as Gates Cambridge Scholar. Lt. Cmdr. Barron earned her submarine warfare officer qualification and deployed three times while serving aboard the USS Maine. At the time of her selection as an astronaut candidate in 2017, she was serving as the flag aide to the superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy.

NASA previously assigned Chari, Marshburn, and Maurer to the mission in December 2020. This will be the first spaceflight for Chari and Maurer. It will be the third spaceflight for Marshburn, who previously served as a crew member of the space shuttle STS-127 mission in 2009 and Expedition 34/35 aboard the space station, which concluded in 2013.

When Barron, Chari, Marshburn, and Maurer arrive at the orbiting laboratory, they will become expedition crew members for the duration of their six-month science mission. The crew will have a slight overlap with the Crew-2 astronauts, who arrived April 24. This will mark the second time commercial crew missions have overlapped on the station. The Crew-1 astronauts, who ended their mission with a splashdown off the coast of Panama City, Florida, on Sunday, May 2, were aboard the station with the Crew-2 astronauts for a seven-day direct crew handover. Increasing the total number of astronauts aboard the station enables the agency to boost the number of science investigations conducted in the unique microgravity environment.

Follow the Crew-3 astronauts on social media:

Kayla Barron:
Instagram: @Astro_Kayla
Facebook: NASA Astronaut Kayla Barron

Raja Chari:
Twitter: @Astro_Raja
Instagram: @Astro_Raja
Facebook: NASA Astronaut Raja Chari

Tom Marshburn:
Twitter: @AstroMarshburn

Matthias Maurer:
Twitter: @Astro_Matthias
Instagram: @ESAMatthiasMaurer
Facebook: Matthias Maurer

Find more information on NASA’s Commercial Crew Program at:

https://www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew

-end-


https://twitter.com/marc_dournel/status/1394373426803093507
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Tobias_Corbett on 05/18/2021 01:15 am
Why the page: http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=155 was also turned off ... what happened? ? ?

Today http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=155 has been turned on!

Anyone else noticed that Soyuz MS-19 has a "spare crew", I assume this is so that if the movie project falls through Shkaplerov won't have to fly alone.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 05/18/2021 02:29 am
Why the page: http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=155 was also turned off ... what happened? ? ?

Today http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=155 has been turned on!

Anyone else noticed that Soyuz MS-19 has a "spare crew", I assume this is so that if the movie project falls through Shkaplerov won't have to fly alone.

https://imgur.com/TgzETFa

VS

https://imgur.com/HE7C5HX

OR

(https://i.imgur.com/TgzETFa.jpg)

VS

(https://i.imgur.com/HE7C5HX.jpg)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Tobias_Corbett on 05/23/2021 08:51 am
http://en.roscosmos.ru/22112/

Odd that on here Klim Shipenko and Yulia Peresild (the Russian director and actor going to the ISS for a movie project) are specifically considered part of the ISS-66 crew, not EP-20 (which would be the next visiting Expedition after Al Mansouri's EP-19 flight), in fact EP-20 has been the designation officially given to the MS-20 #dearMoon (minus the Moon) ISS flight. Could this mean that Shipenko and Peresild will remain on the ISS for a full six month stay? This seems really counterintuitive, it would reduce the number of professional astronauts on the ROS to one for six months and it seems like way more time than is needed to do the filming parts of the movie.

Has anyone seen an official statement saying Shipenko and Peresild will land on MS-18 with Novitsky? because this release from Roscosmos seems to indicate they will remains on the ISS until the end of Expedition 66.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: tonyq on 05/23/2021 05:53 pm
http://en.roscosmos.ru/22112/

Odd that on here Klim Shipenko and Yulia Peresild (the Russian director and actor going to the ISS for a movie project) are specifically considered part of the ISS-66 crew, not EP-20 (which would be the next visiting Expedition after Al Mansouri's EP-19 flight), in fact EP-20 has been the designation officially given to the MS-20 #dearMoon (minus the Moon) ISS flight. Could this mean that Shipenko and Peresild will remain on the ISS for a full six month stay? This seems really counterintuitive, it would reduce the number of professional astronauts on the ROS to one for six months and it seems like way more time than is needed to do the filming parts of the movie.

Has anyone seen an official statement saying Shipenko and Peresild will land on MS-18 with Novitsky? because this release from Roscosmos seems to indicate they will remains on the ISS until the end of Expedition 66.

There have been numerous references in the Russian media, attributed to Roscosmos or GCTC officials, from DOR downwards, that say Shipenko and Peresild will stay for 12 days and return with Novitisky. Whether you would consider such comments 'official' is hard to say.

But, there is no way that they would be adequately trained or prepared for a six month flight, and your scenario would mean there would be only one professional cosmonaut onboard ISS when they are trying to get Nauka up and running. Any suggestion that they might be part of a the formal ISS Expedition 66 is just silly.

That said, I agree that the use of the crew designation ISS-66 is confusing. If you check Peresild's Instagram, you can see that her timetable for the week ahead, is titled "ISS-66 (Yulia Peresild)" thus perpetuating the myth!! !!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 05/28/2021 02:43 pm
Commanding role for ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti
ESA News Release for Immediate Release

28.05.2021

ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti is expected to assume the role of Commander of the International Space Station for Expedition 68a pending consolidation of operational plans and Space Station launch dates.

As a member of Crew-4, Samantha will launch in 2022 alongside NASA astronauts Kjell Lindgren and Bob Hines from Florida, USA, aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft.

This will be Samantha's second space mission and she will be the first European woman to command the Station.
ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti is expected to serve as International Space Station commander for expedition 68a, following an in-principle agreement by international partners on 19 May, pending consolidation of the Space Station’s operational plans and launch dates. 

As a member of Crew-4, Samantha will be launched to the Station alongside NASA astronauts Kjell Lindgren and Bob Hines from Florida, USA on a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft in 2022. This will be Samantha’s second space mission and the experience she brings will stand her in good stead as Europe’s first female in command of the ISS.

“Returning to the International Space Station to represent Europe is an honour in itself,” says Samantha. “I am humbled by my appointment to the position of commander and look forward to drawing on the experience I’ve gained in space and on Earth to lead a very capable team in orbit.”

ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher says, “Samantha’s nomination to the role of ISS commander is an inspiration to a whole generation currently applying to join ESA's astronaut corps. I cannot wait to meet the final candidates and I take this opportunity to once again encourage women to apply.” 

Choosing a commander
Samantha will be ESA’s fifth International Space Station commander and the fourth from ESA’s astronaut class of 2009.

Decisions around crew assignment and the role each astronaut plays on Station are made in consensus by the Multilateral Crew Operations Panel (MCOP), comprising representatives from all five international partners: US space agency NASA, Russian space agency Roscosmos, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency JAXA, the European Space Agency ESA and the Canadian Space Agency CSA.

ESA astronaut Frank De Winne was the first European commander of the International Space Station. He now represents the Agency on the MCOP as ESA’s head of the European Astronaut Centre and says Samantha’s appointment demonstrates the value placed on ESA astronauts by its international partners.

“Though overall control of the Station lies with flight directors on the ground, the Space Station commander works to foster team spirit amongst the astronauts and between ground and space crews, ensuring all crew members can perform at their best,” explains Frank.

“Samantha proved herself to be a highly competent and trusted leader during NASA’s NEEMO23 mission among other activities. Her experience and attitude make her an asset for ESA and our partners and I know she will serve us proudly during her time in space.”

A role model for new recruits
Samantha’s nomination comes at a significant moment for European nationals of all genders, as ESA issues a rare call for new astronauts. The deadline for applications to ESA’s astronaut selection has just been extended to 18 June 2021, to accommodate the addition of Lithuania as an ESA Associate Member.

Samantha joined ESA’s astronaut corps during the Agency’s last recruitment campaign in 2008-09 and ESA Director of Human and Robotic Exploration David Parker says her trajectory is an example of the opportunities available to applicants today.

“Samantha joined us just over a decade ago as a highly capable recruit. Now she is a veteran space flyer taking on a leading role.

“Like a number of our active astronauts, Samantha balances a demanding career with raising a family. She embraces both of these challenges with ESA’s strong support and has been an advocate for all those who might be considering a career as an astronaut to put themselves forward and apply.

“I am delighted to see Samantha’s skills, experience and hard work recognised through her appointment to International Space Station commander position. I have no doubt she will continue to inspire us to embrace challenge, maximise our abilities and further our knowledge in space or on Earth,” he says. 

For more information about ESA’s astronaut selection visit esa.int/yourwaytospace.
 

Further information
Full article: http://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/Commanding_role_for_ESA_astronaut_Samantha_Cristoforetti
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Rian on 06/17/2021 11:48 pm
With Stephanie Wilson as a backup for Crew-3 and no flight assignment yet, wondering if she will be on Crew-4/5 or a possible Soyuz once the agreement with Russia has been reached. 
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 06/18/2021 01:04 am
With Stephanie Wilson as a backup for Crew-3 and no flight assignment yet, wondering if she will be on Crew-4/5 or a possible Soyuz once the agreement with Russia has been reached. 

Me, too. I suspect she'll either be Crew-4 MS-2 or Soyuz MS-21 FE2.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ZachS09 on 06/18/2021 12:06 pm
With Stephanie Wilson as a backup for Crew-3 and no flight assignment yet, wondering if she will be on Crew-4/5 or a possible Soyuz once the agreement with Russia has been reached. 

Me, too. I suspect she'll either be Crew-4 MS-2 or Soyuz MS-21 FE2.

Wilson’s more likely to be MS2 on Crew-4 because they already announced the crews for Soyuz-MS 21 through Soyuz-MS 23. Those three Soyuz missions have all Russian crews.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Tobias_Corbett on 06/18/2021 12:17 pm
With Stephanie Wilson as a backup for Crew-3 and no flight assignment yet, wondering if she will be on Crew-4/5 or a possible Soyuz once the agreement with Russia has been reached. 

Me, too. I suspect she'll either be Crew-4 MS-2 or Soyuz MS-21 FE2.

Wilson’s more likely to be MS2 on Crew-4 because they already announced the crews for Soyuz-MS 21 through Soyuz-MS 23. Those three Soyuz missions have all Russian crews.

To be fair Roscosmos had announced an all Russian crew for MS-18 before Vande Hei replaced Korsakov, so Wilson could be in a "musical chairs" situation with Korsakov (now that hes in line for MS-21 FE2) like Vande Hei was in with him, although that said I imagine it is more likely McClain will be the one playing musical chairs with him, as she was Vande Hei's backup and is unlikely to fly on MS-19 now that it looks like the Russian movie project will go ahead.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Tobias_Corbett on 06/19/2021 08:03 pm
https://twitter.com/katlinegrey/status/1406131152478425088

Looks like I was wrong on both fronts, neither McClain or Wilson is in line for MS-21, according to this O'Hara is be playing musical chairs with Korsakov.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 06/19/2021 08:26 pm
Training crew with Loral O’Hara:
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: DwightM on 06/19/2021 08:49 pm
Loral O'Hara was the Astronaut Office’s Director of Operations in Russia, any idea who may be filling that role now?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 06/19/2021 09:56 pm
Loral O'Hara was the Astronaut Office’s Director of Operations in Russia, any idea who may be filling that role now?

She's almost certainly still the DOR -- astronauts holding that position, like Joe Acaba, have undergone various types of Soyuz training in the past, and frequently transitioned to Soyuz flight assignmentsr.

Michael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 06/21/2021 11:35 pm
I'm not sure if this is the right forum for this or not, but I saw this the other day cited on collectspace.com: https://tass.com/science/1303107. Apparently, more cosmonauts will be flying one-year expeditions after Pyotr Dubrov.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Rian on 06/23/2021 12:43 am
I'm not sure if this is the right forum for this or not, but I saw this the other day cited on collectspace.com: https://tass.com/science/1303107. Apparently, more cosmonauts will be flying one-year expeditions after Pyotr Dubrov.

I'm wondering if this will mean some Americans who fly on Soyuz in the future (assuming an arrangement is made) will get a year-long mission, like Vande-Hei and Dubrov right now.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 06/23/2021 02:28 pm
I'm wondering if this will mean some Americans who fly on Soyuz in the future (assuming an arrangement is made) will get a year-long mission, like Vande-Hei and Dubrov right now.

I would not be surprised by that. I remember reading some time back (after Christina Koch landed but before Vande Hei got added to MS-18, I think) that NASA wanted to do more year-long missions. My personal hunch is that Anna Kikina and either Dmitri Petelin or (if applicable) whoever he swaps seats with will get a year-long flight as sort of the Russian version of Koch's flight, but we shall see.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 06/29/2021 07:37 pm
Apparently, Alex Skvortsov will officially command MS-23, the next tourist mission; see https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=ru&tl=en&u=https://ria.ru/20210629/kosmos-1738986670.html. I hope the link comes through right.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Rian on 06/30/2021 05:25 am
Apparently, Alex Skvortsov will officially command MS-23, the next tourist mission; see https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=ru&tl=en&u=https://ria.ru/20210629/kosmos-1738986670.html. I hope the link comes through right.

With all these Russian tourist Soyuz flights, crew assignments, and mission lengths aboard the ISS are bound to get interesting. Another year-long mission perhaps?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 06/30/2021 05:07 pm
With all these Russian tourist Soyuz flights, crew assignments, and mission lengths aboard the ISS are bound to get interesting. Another year-long mission perhaps?

I suspect so. If so, what I'll be curious to see is whether the tourist flight gets folded in with a regular crew rotation flight and becomes a taxi flight like TMA-18M (with the extra Soyuz moving down the line) or whether it will stay as it is now and there will be room for even more spaceflight participants than previously planned.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: tonyq on 06/30/2021 09:35 pm
With all these Russian tourist Soyuz flights, crew assignments, and mission lengths aboard the ISS are bound to get interesting. Another year-long mission perhaps?

I suspect so. If so, what I'll be curious to see is whether the tourist flight gets folded in with a regular crew rotation flight and becomes a taxi flight like TMA-18M (with the extra Soyuz moving down the line) or whether it will stay as it is now and there will be room for even more spaceflight participants than previously planned.

Glavkosmos, who are marketing the 'tourist' flights for Roscosmos, have made it very clear that they are marketing specific double tourist flights, beginning with two in 2023/4 and are also able to sell single seats on crew rotation flights, if there is demand.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 07/01/2021 03:56 am
Glavkosmos, who are marketing the 'tourist' flights for Roscosmos, have made it very clear that they are marketing specific double tourist flights, beginning with two in 2023/4 and are also able to sell single seats on crew rotation flights, if there is demand.

Oh, that's right. I see a lot of spaceflight participants in their future, then, if Roscosmos does go to year-long flights.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Rian on 07/23/2021 04:41 am
Quote
Montelbano says negotiations with Roscosmos on crew exchanges for future flights are ongoing thru State Dept. Russia planning to fly movie mission this fall which would mean Vande Hei and Dubrov wld stay for a year, so would have American on board throughout that time.

Looking like the crew seat exchange agreement is going well, hopefully, should be put in place for Crew-4/Soyuz MS-21.

https://twitter.com/SpcPlcyOnline/status/1418342606321324037?s=20 (https://twitter.com/SpcPlcyOnline/status/1418342606321324037?s=20)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 08/23/2021 09:05 am
08/23/2021

United States retains interest in Soyuz flights

The United States does not exclude the possibility of acquiring a seat in the Russian Soyuz spacecraft next spring as a backup option in case of force majeure with American commercial ships, Sergei Savelyev, Deputy Director General of the State Corporation Roscosmos for International Cooperation , told RIA Novosti .

“The Americans, as an option, are leaving this opportunity (acquiring a seat in the Soyuz spacecraft in the spring of 2022 - ed.), Counting on Russia's help and assistance, but I can’t say anything concrete yet,” Saveliev said , referring to the possibility of such a flight.

With the arrival of new US spacecraft, NASA has repeatedly announced its decision to complete the purchase of seats in the Russian Soyuz spacecraft, but technical difficulties continue to haunt American spaceships, which is why NASA astronauts have to continue flying on Soyuz. For example, the Starliner test flight was recently postponed for a long period. Following previous problems with this spacecraft, the United States acquired a seat from Russia for its astronaut's flight to the ISS in the spring of 2021.

According to data previously announced by NASA, since 2006 the United States has acquired 72 seats on the Soyuz spacecraft from Russia for more than $ 4 billion. During this time, the cost of a ticket for them has increased from $ 20 million to $ 90 million.

https://www.roscosmos.ru/32272/
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 08/23/2021 09:06 am
8/23/2021

Roscosmos plans to send two more space tourists into orbit

Two space tourists can go to the ISS on the Russian spacecraft Soyuz after 2023, the signing of an agreement is being prepared, Sergei Savelyev, Deputy Director General of the State Corporation Roscosmos for International Cooperation , told RIA Novosti .

“We have commercial customers, I think we will announce them in the fall. And there are serious intentions, ”he said.
Saveliev said that they plan to introduce tourists during the Astronautical Congress in the UAE in October. “Now we are going out with them to sign documents,” he said.

Tourists will be able to fly into space after 2023. Prior to this, the ships of Roskosmos are scheduled. At the end of 2021 and in 2023, tourists who have placed an order through the American operator Space Adventures will fly to Soyuz.

New candidates are negotiating directly with the Russian side, Saveliev said. He did not name the citizens of which country expressed a desire to go into space, but clarified that these were not Russians. “Russian millionaires are not yet ripe,” he said.

https://www.roscosmos.ru/32274/
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 08/23/2021 03:00 pm
Would this be the MS-25 crew, then, presumably?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ZachS09 on 09/19/2021 12:57 am
http://spacefacts.de/bios/astronauts/english/aunon_serena.htm

Apparently, this source says Serena Auñón-Chancellor retired from the NASA astronaut corps two years ago, but I'm not sure if this link is a good source.

I tried looking for further confirmation on other sites, but couldn't find anything. Is this info official?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 09/19/2021 01:46 am
http://spacefacts.de/bios/astronauts/english/aunon_serena.htm

Apparently, this source says Serena Auñón-Chancellor retired from the NASA astronaut corps two years ago, but I'm not sure if this link is a good source.

I tried looking for further confirmation on other sites, but couldn't find anything. Is this info official?

I had not noticed that. I thought she was on detached duty but still technically an astronaut.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ras391 on 09/19/2021 01:51 am
NASA lists her as a Management Astronaut.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ZachS09 on 09/19/2021 01:59 am
NASA lists her as a Management Astronaut.

Was Auñón-Chancellor's reassignment to Management Astronaut for undisclosed reasons, or does it have to do with the story of her emotional breakdown in space?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 09/19/2021 02:19 am
NASA lists her as a Management Astronaut.

Was Auñón-Chancellor's reassignment to Management Astronaut for undisclosed reasons, or does it have to do with the story of her emotional breakdown in space?

I think she became a Management Astronaut when she started working at (I think it's) LSU.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Rian on 10/05/2021 03:52 pm
https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/10/nasa-likely-to-move-some-astronauts-off-starliner-due-to-extended-delays/

Quote
NASA will not make an official announcement for weeks or months, but two sources say the space agency is moving several astronauts from Boeing's Starliner spacecraft onto SpaceX's Crew Dragon vehicle for upcoming missions to the International Space Station.

Quote
The most likely scenario is that Nicole Mann, Josh Cassada, and Jeannette Epps will now fly on the SpaceX Crew-5 mission, targeted for launch no earlier than August 2022 on a Falcon 9 rocket. They are likely to be joined by an international partner astronaut, probably Japan's Koichi Wakata, for the mission.

If this does happen I wonder if the astronauts speculated for Crew-5 such as Steve Bowen, Stephanie Wilson, Jasmin Moghbeli would get moved to those now empty Starliner flights or Crew-6. Possibly a few astronauts from 2017 class will get moved to Starliner flights. 
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Tobias_Corbett on 10/05/2021 03:55 pm
Interesting to note that if Mann moves onto Dragon none of the original CFT crew assigned in 2018 will still be assigned to the flight.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 10/05/2021 04:55 pm
Shouldn't there be a Russian (presumably Petelin, since that commercial crew flight would seem to be "linked" to MS-22) on Crew-5? Also, is this confirmation that Crew-5 will fly ahead of CST-1, or is that still technically up for grabs?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Rian on 10/05/2021 05:35 pm
Shouldn't there be a Russian (presumably Petelin, since that commercial crew flight would seem to be "linked" to MS-22) on Crew-5? Also, is this confirmation that Crew-5 will fly ahead of CST-1, or is that still technically up for grabs?

I think you're correct. Assuming Korsakov gets added to Crew-4 (which I believe looks likely), I'd find it odd for Petelin not to be on Crew-5 which would leave either Wakata, Mann, Cassada, or Epps off of Crew-5.

Still unsure who would fill up the 3rd seat for BOE-CFT and 2-3 seats on Starliner-1.

Also wondering if moving these rookies into sooner flights has anything to do with the Artemis Astronauts or just simply trying to get rookies flying sooner since they've been waiting. 
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 10/05/2021 05:59 pm
I think you're correct. Assuming Korsakov gets added to Crew-4 (which I believe looks likely), I'd find it odd for Petelin not to be on Crew-5 which would leave either Wakata, Mann, Cassada, or Epps off of Crew-5.

Still unsure who would fill up the 3rd seat for BOE-CFT and 2-3 seats on Starliner-1.

Also wondering if moving these rookies into sooner flights has anything to do with the Artemis Astronauts or just simply trying to get rookies flying sooner since they've been waiting.

I presume Epps would then move to MS-22--I'd be surprised if they moved a pilot there and kept a mission specialist. I'd be a little surprised if Mann and Cassada go together, though--it seems like they usually have a veteran either as commander or pilot. Maybe Mann and a veteran would move to Dragon and Cassada would move from CST-1 to CFT.

Maybe Boe could go back on the CFT. Other than that, I'm guessing it would be whatever rookies were next up, though I figure Matthew Dominick would go to one of them, as I'm pretty sure I heard he's on the backup crew.

I don't know. Either would make sense.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Josh_from_Canada on 10/06/2021 02:27 am
When's the soonest we'll know if the seat swap program is being used for Soyuz MS-21/SpaceX Crew-4?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: dcfowler1 on 10/06/2021 02:37 am
Until Rozogin gets over his SpaceX-phobia, I don't see cosmonauts flying on Dragon anytime soon.

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: dcfowler1 on 10/06/2021 02:48 am

I presume Epps would then move to MS-22

Epps was already bounced by the Russians once. That does not bode well for them flying her.

Mann and Cassada will, in fact, be flying together.

There is no point in assigning further astronauts to Starliner until Boeing can prove its flightworthiness.

At this point, they just want the rookies to get flight experience.

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Tobias_Corbett on 10/06/2021 02:54 am


Mann and Cassada will, in fact, be flying together.


Makes sense to assume NASA wants Mann and Cassada off the group ASAP, considering they are the last two of the 2013 Group to have yet to fly their first mission and the first two members of the 2017 group fly at the end of this month.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 10/06/2021 03:26 am
Epps was already bounced by the Russians once. That does not bode well for them flying her.

Mann and Cassada will, in fact, be flying together.

Good point. I hadn't thought of that.

Interesting! My hunch was wrong.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: StraumliBlight on 10/06/2021 03:22 pm
NASA Announces Astronaut Changes for Upcoming Commercial Crew Missions (https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-announces-astronaut-changes-for-upcoming-commercial-crew-missions)

Quote
NASA has reassigned astronauts Nicole Mann and Josh Cassada to the agency’s SpaceX Crew-5 mission to the International Space Station as part of the Commercial Crew Program.

Mann and Cassada will serve as spacecraft commander and pilot, respectively, for the Crew-5 mission. Additional crew members will be announced later.

Crew-5 is expected to launch no earlier than fall 2022 on a Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The duo and their crewmates will join an expedition crew aboard station for a long duration stay to conduct science activities for the benefit of humanity and exploration.

“Nicole and Josh have done a tremendous job pioneering the training and path forward for astronauts to fly on Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. They have gained experience that they will take forward as they train to fly in SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft and serve aboard the International Space Station,” said Kathryn Lueders, associate administrator of the Space Operations Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “The NASA team is fortunate to have two commercial crew partners and will continue to work with Boeing and SpaceX to prepare NASA astronauts and our international partners to fly to and from the International Space Station on U.S. spacecraft.”

Mann and Cassada previously were assigned to missions on NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test and NASA’s Boeing Starliner-1 mission, respectively. NASA decided it was important to make these reassignments to allow Boeing time to complete the development of Starliner while continuing plans for astronauts to gain spaceflight experience for the future needs of the agency’s missions.

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore, Mike Fincke, and Suni Williams will continue to provide experience for Boeing as the agency prepares for NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test. Additional Boeing flight assignments will be made in the future.

Mann is a California native and a colonel in the Marine Corps. She earned a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from the United States Naval Academy and a Master of Science in mechanical engineering with a specialty in fluid mechanics from Stanford University. She is an F/A-18 test pilot with more than 2,500 flight hours in more than 25 aircraft. NASA selected Mann as an astronaut in 2013. This will be her first trip to space.

“It has been the opportunity of a lifetime to train on a brand-new spacecraft, the Boeing Starliner, and it has been fantastic to work with the Boeing team,” Mann said. “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to train on another new spacecraft – the SpaceX Crew Dragon – and appreciate the teams at NASA who have made that possible. I am ready to fly and serve on the International Space Station.”

Cassada grew up in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, and is a physicist and U.S. Navy test pilot. He attended college in Michigan and then completed his Ph.D. research at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory before becoming a naval aviator. Cassada has accumulated more than 4,000 flight hours in over 45 different aircraft. NASA selected him as an astronaut in 2013. This will be his first spaceflight.

“It has been great to spend the last few years training with the joint Boeing and NASA team, and I am really looking forward to now have a chance to also train with SpaceX on a new spacecraft. Cross training on both programs is a unique opportunity to learn, but also to provide valuable insight to future astronauts flying these spacecraft,” Cassada said. “And, of course, Nicole and I are incredibly excited to get to work aboard the International Space Station, executing current operations and also contributing to future exploration beyond low-earth orbit.”
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 10/17/2021 03:20 pm
Can someone shed some light on this question...Cosmonaut Oleg Novitsky just completed his third long duration mission with a total of 531 days in space.
How is it that a crew member with all of that experience has never been assigned CDR of the ISS whereas other members with a fraction of his experience were?
Thank you.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Eric Hedman on 10/17/2021 04:16 pm
Can someone can shed some light on this question...Cosmonaut Oleg Novitsky just completed his third long duration mission with a total of 531 days in space.
How is it that a crew member with all of that experience has never been assigned CDR of the ISS whereas other members with a fraction of his experience were?
Thank you.
I have no inside information.  But picking a leader in anything, length of experience is not the only factor.  It can range from him not wanting the command position, to the type of work he did on the ISS, to people picking the crew not thinking he has the right skills, to thinking he is ideally suited for the roles he has worked on.  Unless an insider tells us, which I doubt will happen, we'll never know.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 10/19/2021 08:51 pm
Can someone shed some light on this question...Cosmonaut Oleg Novitsky just completed his third long duration mission with a total of 531 days in space.
How is it that a crew member with all of that experience has never been assigned CDR of the ISS whereas other members with a fraction of his experience were?
Thank you.

I presume it's as simple as he happened to come due for another flight during an expedition not scheduled to be commanded by a Russian.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 11/02/2021 01:44 pm
https://twitter.com/SzabBen004/status/1453698151324475398

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Davejfb on 11/05/2021 11:21 am
Found this on Facebook at one of the groups. Did someone seen this on another source?
Sorry i can't find it anymore in the group. But this website also have put it on their site:

http://www.spacefacts.de/schedule/e_schedule.htm

On the same group someone posted that astronaut Kaylan Barron was selected for Crew 3. Way before the offical announcement. Also in the past with other crew assignments. No idea where he/she get's the info. Next time i'm going to ask the person.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Rian on 11/06/2021 03:43 pm
Found this on Facebook at one of the groups. Did someone seen this on another source?
Sorry i can't find it anymore in the group. But this website also have put it on their site:

http://www.spacefacts.de/schedule/e_schedule.htm

On the same group someone posted that astronaut Kaylan Barron was selected for Crew 3. Way before the official announcement. Also in the past with other crew assignments. No idea where he/she gets the info. Next time I'm going to ask the person.

I've seen no indication that the seat is going to Jessica Watkins. If I remember correctly she was last working in the spacesuit department at NASA. I'm thinking the seat might go to Jasmin Moghbeli who I've seen in the background of a few Crew-3 training pictures. The seat could also maybe go to Stephanie Wilson who is a backup of Crew-3.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 11/06/2021 04:31 pm
I've seen no indication that the seat is going to Jessica Watkins. If I remember correctly she was last working in the spacesuit department at NASA. I'm thinking the seat might go to Jasmin Moghbeli who I've seen in the background of a few Crew-3 training pictures. The seat could also maybe go to Stephanie Wilson who is a backup of Crew-3.

I'd be really surprised if Moghbeli got a Mission Specialist seat when she's a pilot, but I've been surprised by flight crew assignments before. Wilson would make sense.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: skeer on 11/06/2021 06:02 pm
Watkins, being a geologist, would seem a prime candidate for an early Artemis lunar landing and NASA might want her to get a flight as soon as possible before that.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Rian on 11/06/2021 06:09 pm
Watkins, being a geologist, would seem a prime candidate for an early Artemis lunar landing and NASA might want her to get a flight as soon as possible before that.

Yeah, I agree, I just hadn't seen her in any training pictures or backup crews, but I'd be happy if she does indeed get added to Crew-4.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: DwightM on 11/06/2021 07:40 pm
Watkins, being a geologist, would seem a prime candidate for an early Artemis lunar landing and NASA might want her to get a flight as soon as possible before that.

Yeah, I agree, I just hadn't seen her in any training pictures or backup crews, but I'd be happy if she does indeed get added to Crew-4.
See the 30 Oct post in the Crew-4 thread.
https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=52608.0
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Rian on 11/06/2021 09:07 pm
Watkins, being a geologist, would seem a prime candidate for an early Artemis lunar landing and NASA might want her to get a flight as soon as possible before that.

Yeah, I agree, I just hadn't seen her in any training pictures or backup crews, but I'd be happy if she does indeed get added to Crew-4.
See the 30 Oct post in the Crew-4 thread.
https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=52608.0

Must have missed that photo. Thanks!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 11/11/2021 02:44 pm
Speaking of Artemis, any thoughts on when the crew for Artemis 2 will be announced?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 11/11/2021 03:43 pm
There is a picture of her [Watkins] with the crew of Crew-4 in the Crew-4 thread during Water Survival training.

Commercial Crew Program Crew-4 astronauts Kjell Lindgren, Bob Hines, Samantha Cristoforetti and Jessica Watkins in USCV Water Survival training. (https://www.flickr.com/photos/astrosamantha/51465410819/in/dateposted/)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 11/11/2021 03:44 pm
Speaking of Artemis, any thoughts on when the crew for Artemis 2 will be announced?

My understanding is that it should be on the occasion of or right after Artemis I landing.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: skeer on 11/14/2021 04:56 pm
latest NASA statement is to not expect Artemis 2 until 2024 so there may not be any urgency in naming a crew
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Spy on 11/16/2021 07:20 pm
https://twitter.com/SciGuySpace/status/1460701442063351815
Quote
NASA has assigned Jessica Watkins to the Crew-4 mission, set to launch on a Crew Dragon spacecraft in April 2022. She joins NASA astronauts Kjell Lindgren and Robert Hines, and ESA's @AstroSamantha. Watkins and Hines are the 3rd and 4th class of 2017 astronauts to fly.

Officially confirmed. Very excited for her; wouldn't be surprised if she gets Artemis III later on.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ZachS09 on 11/17/2021 12:13 am
.@NASA has assigned astronaut Jessica Watkins to the upcoming @SpaceX Crew-4 mission to the space station.

Man, Epps just can't catch a break.

Then again, Epps may be reassigned to Crew-5. Who knows when?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 11/17/2021 12:48 am
Man, Epps just can't catch a break.

I don't think Epps was ever in the running for Crew-4. To my knowledge, there wasn't even a hint of moving her off Starliner till very recently. I think I saw that either she or a Russian will get the fourth seat on Crew-5.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: alugobi on 11/17/2021 01:17 am
After the latest stunt by the Russians creating a rubbish pile in the vicinity of the space station, the chances of them getting offered a seat likely dropped a notch or two.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 11/17/2021 02:18 am
After the latest stunt by the Russians creating a rubbish pile in the vicinity of the space station, the chances of them getting offered a seat likely dropped a notch or two.

To my knowledge, that was the Russian military, not Roscosmos. If the plans for the seat exchange program have survived as much as they already have, I'm not sure if this would do it in.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: alugobi on 11/17/2021 02:58 am
If the Russian agencies are indeed that segmented, then one has to wonder who is in charge, and how or why could such a boneheaded move be condoned.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Comga on 11/17/2021 04:26 am
If the Russian agencies are indeed that segmented, then one has to wonder who is in charge, and how or why could such a boneheaded move be condoned.

You have to wonder whose in charge in Russia?
Really?
You are surprised that this saber rattling might damage or destroy the ISS. 
The ISS on which they have (two?) cosmonauts and which they recently endangered with an uncontrolled module addition.
A station that used to be a cash cow but now is a costly laboratory for Russian space medicine and space technology but not contributing to the immediate projection of Russian power.
A station Russia often talks about abandoning? 
The ISS is no longer significant in the bigger arena, if it ever was.


Edit: But back on topic, Crew 4 is complete without swapping rides as expected.
It seems unlikely they will see a cosmonaut as part of Crew 5
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Josh_from_Canada on 11/17/2021 05:02 am
It seems unlikely they will see a cosmonaut as part of Crew 5
I disagree, there's still time to work out the details in time for launch.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: skeer on 11/17/2021 05:06 am
That's exactly what I've been hoping.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: zubenelgenubi on 11/17/2021 05:19 am
It seems unlikely they will see a cosmonaut as part of Crew 5
I disagree, there's still time to work out the details in time for launch.

I think Comga means it's not a question of time to work out the details. It's a question of "Is there consistent interest from the Russian government in ride-swaps, as opposed to NASA paying $$$ for more Soyuz seats further into the 2020s, as a revenue stream for Roskosmos?"

The above is also my question. I surmise the answer is "no."

I hypothesize that the Russians cosmonauts will commute to and from ISS via Soyuz, and only Soyuz, for the remainder of Russian participation.
 
Caveat: Unless there's an extensive grounding of the Soyuz spacecraft.  We all know the chances of that are very low.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: russianhalo117 on 11/17/2021 05:23 am
After the latest stunt by the Russians creating a rubbish pile in the vicinity of the space station, the chances of them getting offered a seat likely dropped a notch or two.
Unfounded oppinion/statement as Roscosmos has no binding say and decision authority over these MoD tests in their current organisation structure.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Josh_from_Canada on 11/17/2021 04:41 pm
Four cosmonauts have been selected for Crew Dragon flight opportunities.
https://twitter.com/katlinegrey/status/1461022166728777739
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: dcfowler1 on 11/18/2021 05:00 am
After the latest stunt by the Russians creating a rubbish pile in the vicinity of the space station, the chances of them getting offered a seat likely dropped a notch or two.

To my knowledge, that was the Russian military, not Roscosmos. If the plans for the seat exchange program have survived as much as they already have, I'm not sure if this would do it in.

VKS did that, not Roskosmos.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 12/02/2021 01:17 pm
Dec 2, 2021
MEDIA ADVISORY M21-160
NASA to Announce America’s Next Class of Astronaut Candidates

After evaluating more than 12,000 applications, NASA will introduce its 2021 astronaut candidates at 12:30 p.m. EST Monday, Dec. 6, from Ellington Field near NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. After completing training, these individuals could be eligible for a variety of flight assignments including missions on and around the Moon under Artemis.

The astronaut candidates will join NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy, Johnson Center Director Vanessa Wyche, and Flight Operations Director Norm Knight on stage at the event, which will air live on NASA TV, the agency’s website, and the NASA app.

Following the announcement, media in attendance will have the opportunity to speak with the new astronaut candidates and subject matter experts from the astronaut selection board, International Space Station Program, Commercial Crew Program, and Artemis about astronaut selection and the spacecraft in which the new astronauts could fly. Media must request credentials to attend no later than 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 3, by contacting the Johnson Newsroom at: 281-483-5111 or [email protected].

The astronaut candidates also will be available for virtual interviews the day after the announcement, on Tuesday, Dec. 7. Media interested in this limited opportunity must contact the Johnson newsroom at: 281-483-5111 or [email protected] by 9 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 7.

Following graduation, which requires about two years of training, astronaut candidates could receive assignments for missions performing research aboard the International Space Station, launching from American soil on spacecraft built by commercial companies, and launching on deep space missions on NASA’s Orion spacecraft and Space Launch System rocket.

The astronaut candidates will report to NASA Johnson in January to begin their training in spacecraft systems, spacewalking skills, teamwork, and other necessary skills.

These women and men were selected after completing their applications in March 2020 for a chance to join NASA’s astronaut corps and take part in America’s human spaceflight program.

Requirements to apply included U.S. citizenship, a master’s degree from an accredited institution in a STEM field that emphasized science, technology, engineering, or math, and at least three years of related experience, or at least 1,000 hours of pilot-in-command time in jet aircraft. The candidates also had to pass the NASA long-duration flight astronaut physical. 

Get more information about astronaut selection, and for information about the candidates after their introduction, visit:

https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts

Follow NASA astronauts on Twitter at:

https://www.twitter.com/NASA_Astronauts

-end-
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: AS_501 on 12/04/2021 04:28 am
https://twitter.com/SciGuySpace/status/1460701442063351815
Quote
NASA has assigned Jessica Watkins to the Crew-4 mission, set to launch on a Crew Dragon spacecraft in April 2022. She joins NASA astronauts Kjell Lindgren and Robert Hines, and ESA's @AstroSamantha. Watkins and Hines are the 3rd and 4th class of 2017 astronauts to fly.

Officially confirmed. Very excited for her; wouldn't be surprised if she gets Artemis III later on.

I know it's a long way off before the first Artemis moon landing crew is named, but my bet is on Jessica Watkins for the next person to set foot on the Moon.  She fills the bill in so many respects.  Somewhere out there is a video of her conversing with Harrison Schmidt the JSC lab about surface sampling strategies.  The symbolism of that meeting is obvious...the bridge between the end of the Apollo landings and the beginning of the Artemis landings.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Lars-J on 12/08/2021 05:55 pm
Russian cosmonaut Anna Kikina will fly on SpaceX Crew-5, in the fall of 2022:

https://twitter.com/Rogozin/status/1468609322355732483
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: AstroDave on 12/08/2021 06:50 pm
Russian cosmonaut Anna Kikina will fly on SpaceX Crew-5, in the fall of 2022

  Very cool news! Too long in coming since she will have been in the cosmonaut core for a decade by the time she flies. Is she still slated for a spacewalk?
  I hope that Russia increases number of women in their cosmonaut corps. Crazy to think that the last female cosmonaut to fly was in 2014 (Serova), yet they got an actress up there to do a goofy film. My understanding is that Kikina is only female in cosmonaut corp. Ugh...come on Rogozin!
  Does anyone have a feel for Kikina's longevity in Russian program if she flies on US capsule? I'm sure that performance during deployment at ISS has a great deal to do with future flights and responsibilities, I just hope that being assigned to US capsule is not a "dead end" assignment for her.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Josh_from_Canada on 12/11/2021 06:51 pm
Who is going to fill NASA's seat on Soyuz MS-22? Are there any plans for NASA to acquire a seat on Soyuz MS-21?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: kdhilliard on 12/12/2021 12:49 am
Who is going to fill NASA's seat on Soyuz MS-22?

Epps (https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/jeanette-j-epps/biography)?
1. She already has Soyuz training.  (And perhaps her Sokol suit and seat liner from MS-09 would still be available.)
2. She is currently assigned to Starliner-1, but Starliner program delays have led to an exodus, with Cassada (https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/josh-a-cassada/biography) & Wakata (https://humans-in-space.jaxa.jp/en/astronaut/wakata-koichi/) being transferred from Starliner-1 and Mann (https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/nicole-a-mann) from CFT, all to SpaceX Crew-5.
3. Epps is the only NASA member* of her class (Astronaut Group 20, graduated November 2011) yet to fly, and putting her on MS-22 would likely get her in space a full year before Starliner-1.

* CSA Astronaut Hansen (https://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/astronauts/canadian/active/bio-jeremy-hansen.asp), one of the five international partner members of Group 20, has yet to receive a flight assignment.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 12/12/2021 02:08 am
Who is going to fill NASA's seat on Soyuz MS-22?

Epps (https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/jeanette-j-epps/biography)?
1. She already has Soyuz training.  (And perhaps her Sokol suit and seat liner from MS-09 would still be available.)
2. She is currently assigned to Starliner-1, but Starliner program delays have led to an exodus, with Cassada (https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/josh-a-cassada/biography) & Wakata (https://humans-in-space.jaxa.jp/en/astronaut/wakata-koichi/) being transferred from Starliner-1 and Mann (https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/nicole-a-mann) from CFT, all to SpaceX Crew-5.
3. Epps is the only NASA member* of her class (Astronaut Group 20, graduated November 2011) yet to fly, and putting her on MS-22 would likely get her in space a full year before Starliner-1.

* CSA Astronaut Hansen (https://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/astronauts/canadian/active/bio-jeremy-hansen.asp), one of the five international partner members of Group 20, has yet to receive a flight assignment.

That could depend on why she got pulled off of MS-09. I'm guessing either O'Hara, Wilson, or maybe Bowen.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: dcfowler1 on 12/12/2021 03:00 am
Epps's best chance to fly is on a Starliner flight.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ZachS09 on 12/12/2021 04:13 am
Who is going to fill NASA's seat on Soyuz MS-22?

Epps (https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/jeanette-j-epps/biography)?
1. She already has Soyuz training.  (And perhaps her Sokol suit and seat liner from MS-09 would still be available.)
2. She is currently assigned to Starliner-1, but Starliner program delays have led to an exodus, with Cassada (https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/josh-a-cassada/biography) & Wakata (https://humans-in-space.jaxa.jp/en/astronaut/wakata-koichi/) being transferred from Starliner-1 and Mann (https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/nicole-a-mann) from CFT, all to SpaceX Crew-5.
3. Epps is the only NASA member* of her class (Astronaut Group 20, graduated November 2011) yet to fly, and putting her on MS-22 would likely get her in space a full year before Starliner-1.

* CSA Astronaut Hansen (https://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/astronauts/canadian/active/bio-jeremy-hansen.asp), one of the five international partner members of Group 20, has yet to receive a flight assignment.

That could depend on why she got pulled off of MS-09. I'm guessing either O'Hara, Wilson, or maybe Bowen.

My best guess is O'Hara because she was training with the MS-21 crew in case NASA wanted to purchase a seat. But since Kikina is with Crew-5, why not have O'Hara on MS-22?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Josh_from_Canada on 12/13/2021 12:59 am
Here is the digital version published by astronaut Kjell Lindgren
https://twitter.com/astro_kjell/status/1470141648424296450
Expedition 67 crew members:
Soyuz MS-21:
Oleg Artemyev
Denis Matveev
Sergey Korsakov
SpaceX Crew-4:
Kjell Lindgren
Robert Hines
Samantha Cristoforetti
Jessica Watkins
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 12/16/2021 08:40 pm
https://twitter.com/Space_Station/status/1471588559245447177

https://twitter.com/Astro_Woody/status/1471594096137576455

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 12/17/2021 07:00 am
Is this the mission foreseen for Satoshi Furukawa ?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 12/17/2021 07:15 pm
Interesting that the text of the release mentions "two international partners", with no reference to a third NASA crew member. Perhaps Hansen? Or even Peake?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 12/17/2021 07:31 pm
Interesting that the text of the release mentions "two international partners", with no reference to a third NASA crew member. Perhaps Hansen? Or even Peake?

Presumably it will be one of Furukawa and Hansen and Peake and a Russian (I'm guessing Fedyayev but maybe Chub). I think the only reason there have been three NASA astronauts on before is that the Russians haven't used their slots yet.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 12/18/2021 01:16 pm
What about Andreas Mogensen? He’s due for a ISS expedition assignment.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 12/18/2021 04:32 pm
What about Andreas Mogensen? He’s due for a ISS expedition assignment.

Or him, yes. I had sort of figured he might be the last to get one, though, for the same reason he got a short flight instead of a long flight last time.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: eric z on 12/18/2021 06:10 pm
 What is the real story about what is going on with Ms. Epps? Is her delay simply related to the Starliner issues?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 12/18/2021 06:56 pm
What is the real story about what is going on with Ms. Epps? Is her delay simply related to the Starliner issues?

Real story from three years ago or now? The former may never be known. As far as the latter, she's still on CST-1 last I knew, but I'd heard she might get moved off that if a Dragon seat opened up.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Spy on 12/18/2021 07:50 pm
Or him, yes. I had sort of figured he might be the last to get one, though, for the same reason he got a short flight instead of a long flight last time.

What makes Morgensen different from the rest of the ESA astronauts?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 12/18/2021 08:40 pm
What makes Morgensen different from the rest of the ESA astronauts?

I'm pretty sure I read that the reason he got a short flight last time instead of a long flight was that Denmark is making much less of a contribution to the ISS than the other ESA countries.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TALsite on 12/19/2021 08:05 pm
After replacing only one cosmonaut with the Soyuz MS-19 mission, maybe the russians could have been replaced Dubrov with Misurkin on the tourist flight Soyuz MS-20.  Probably Dubrov don't have commander solo training, and/or the russians want to get a one-year medical data from him.

But I can't understand why they don't return Misurkin, Maezawa and Hirano with Soyuz MS-19, as have happened many times before, letting a fresher Soyuz docked to the ISS, even not needing those extra days.

Or maybe it's not possible the swap because all the entire mission belongs to the purchaser tourists?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 12/19/2021 09:02 pm
After replacing only one cosmonaut with the Soyuz MS-19 mission, maybe the russians could have been replaced Dubrov with Misurkin on the tourist flight Soyuz MS-20.  Probably Dubrov don't have commander solo training, and/or the russians want to get a one-year medical data from him.

But I can't understand why they don't return Misurkin, Maezawa and Hirano with Soyuz MS-19, as have happened many times before, letting a fresher Soyuz docked to the ISS, even not needing those extra days.

Or maybe it's not possible the swap because all the entire mission belongs to the purchaser tourists?

I'm not surprised that they didn't trade a now three-time Soyuz commander (Misurkin) for an ascent/redocking FE1, as you mention, but I had wondered about them going home in MS-19 myself.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Josh_from_Canada on 12/19/2021 10:19 pm
Soyuz MS-20 (№752) was ordered specifically for a tourist mission while Soyuz MS-19 (№749) is one of the standard ISS crew rotational vehicles.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: kdhilliard on 12/20/2021 01:58 am
Soyuz MS-20 (№752) was ordered specifically for a tourist mission while Soyuz MS-19 (№749) is one of the standard ISS crew rotational vehicles.

Are you suggesting that MS-20 was manufactured differently so that it lacked the on-orbit endurance of MS-19?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 12/20/2021 02:04 am
Soyuz MS-20 (№752) was ordered specifically for a tourist mission while Soyuz MS-19 (№749) is one of the standard ISS crew rotational vehicles.

Oh, right.

Are you suggesting that MS-20 was manufactured differently so that it lacked the on-orbit endurance of MS-19?

I presume it was whatever they did to make it easier for one cosmonaut to operate it.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TALsite on 12/20/2021 05:49 pm


I presume it was whatever they did to make it easier for one cosmonaut to operate it.

Oh, that make sense...

But I'm doubtious Mr. Shipenko have had more FE1 formation than Mr. Maezawa; I think both of them had a similar formation.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 12/20/2021 08:14 pm
Oh, that make sense...

But I'm doubtious Mr. Shipenko have had more FE1 formation than Mr. Maezawa; I think both of them had a similar formation.

Very possibly. I just don't remember whether they actually ended up modifying MS-19 or whether they launched a normal Soyuz with a (comparatively) underqualified FE1.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Sniffles on 12/23/2021 12:25 am
NASA lists astronauts such as Don Pettit and Michael Barratt as eligible for flight assignment, but they are both close to 65 years old. Is it actually possible that they will fly again, given that the soonest assignment would be at least a year out?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ZachS09 on 12/23/2021 12:43 am
NASA lists astronauts such as Don Pettit and Michael Barratt as eligible for flight assignment, but they are both close to 65 years old. Is it actually possible that they will fly again, given that the soonest assignment would be at least a year out?

Can't say for sure. Plus, I don't know if there's an age limit at which NASA will make Pettit and/or Barratt Management Astronauts.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 12/23/2021 12:51 am
NASA lists astronauts such as Don Pettit and Michael Barratt as eligible for flight assignment, but they are both close to 65 years old. Is it actually possible that they will fly again, given that the soonest assignment would be at least a year out?

Astronauts don't usually fly if they're over 60 at launch. Tom Marshburn right now is only the third I can think of off the top of my head, not counting John Glenn (of course).
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Anu on 12/23/2021 11:18 am
Story Musgrave, Paolo Nespoli……..this is who I was thinking of…..any more?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Anu on 12/23/2021 11:19 am
I know Nespoli is ESA but ESA comes under USOS so that’s why I included him
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 12/23/2021 04:19 pm
Story Musgrave, Paolo Nespoli……..this is who I was thinking of…..any more?

Those and Tom Marshburn now are the only ones I can think of.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: tonyq on 12/23/2021 09:22 pm
Soyuz MS-20 (№752) was ordered specifically for a tourist mission while Soyuz MS-19 (№749) is one of the standard ISS crew rotational vehicles.

Oh, right.

Are you suggesting that MS-20 was manufactured differently so that it lacked the on-orbit endurance of MS-19?

I presume it was whatever they did to make it easier for one cosmonaut to operate it.

Both MS-19 (up) and MS-18 (down) were able to be operated by a single cosmonaut, so I doubt that there was anything special about MS-20 in this regard. AFAIK the adaptations to make Soyuz operable by one cosmonaut are software changes and a handheld tablet style device which allows certain controls which are otherwise out of reach, to be operated from the centre seat.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 12/24/2021 05:04 pm
Both MS-19 (up) and MS-18 (down) were able to be operated by a single cosmonaut, so I doubt that there was anything special about MS-20 in this regard. AFAIK the adaptations to make Soyuz operable by one cosmonaut are software changes and a handheld tablet style device which allows certain controls which are otherwise out of reach, to be operated from the centre seat.

Fascinating! I had never heard exactly what those changes entailed. Thanks!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 01/02/2022 05:42 pm
Are there any updates as to who has been assigned the third seat on this years first Boeing Starliner flight?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 01/02/2022 10:20 pm
Given the delays maybe they will be able to assign someone from Group 23 ?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 01/03/2022 11:29 am
Are there any updates as to who has been assigned the third seat on this years first Boeing Starliner flight?

Health permitting, I had wondered if they'd go back to Eric Boe.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 01/03/2022 05:42 pm
Matthew Dominick is currently the backup CDR. Maybe he might move into the PLT spot?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 01/03/2022 07:18 pm
Matthew Dominick is currently the backup CDR. Maybe he might move into the PLT spot?

I thought he was just Suni Williams' backup, but I could be wrong.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ZachS09 on 01/03/2022 08:21 pm
Matthew Dominick is currently the backup CDR. Maybe he might move into the PLT spot?

I thought he was just Suni Williams' backup, but I could be wrong.

There aren't any backups on the Starliner-1 mission. Just the CFT.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 01/03/2022 11:37 pm
There aren't any backups on the Starliner-1 mission. Just the CFT.

I did not realize that.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 01/05/2022 05:23 am
Not sure if this is official yet but ....  Fingers crossed!

https://twitter.com/CDNSpacegal/status/1478524354220773377

https://twitter.com/CDNSpacegal/status/1478528412612534273

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Hog on 01/05/2022 05:05 pm
Not sure if this is official yet but ....  Fingers crossed!

https://twitter.com/CDNSpacegal/status/1478524354220773377

https://twitter.com/CDNSpacegal/status/1478528412612534273
Will Mr Hansen beat Dr Epps to orbit?  These are the last 2 astronauts from the NASA Group, "The Chumps" to have not flown yet.  Epps is the last NASA astro and Hansen is the last International Mission Specialists to fly.  David ST-Jacques, the other Canadian International astro from the 2009 class flew Expedition 58/59.

I'm seeing Dr Epps for Starliner-1.    Is that correct?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 01/05/2022 06:31 pm
If my understanding is correct and IF the schedule remains anything like currently expected than Epps would be on the first actual crew swap Starliner flight and may be there to do a brief handover with Hansen as she leaves and he arrives.  Still a lot of IF's.  If Starliner works, if etc, etc.





Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 01/05/2022 07:33 pm
If my understanding is correct and IF the schedule remains anything like currently expected than Epps would be on the first actual crew swap Starliner flight and may be there to do a brief handover with Hansen as she leaves and he arrives.  Still a lot of IF's.  If Starliner works, if etc, etc.

It looks like it would be the other way around, actually--CST-1 in Fall 2023 and Crew-7 in Spring 2024.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 01/05/2022 10:52 pm
So he is not the CSA astronaut on Artemis II?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 01/05/2022 10:58 pm
Further tweets of the thread rumor Crew-7 to be Jonny Kim, Tracy Caldwell, Jeremy Hansen and a Russian.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Josh_from_Canada on 01/05/2022 11:00 pm
So he is not the CSA astronaut on Artemis II?
No, the CSA astronaut on Artemis II will be either Joshua Kutryk or Jennifer Sidey-Gibbons from the 2017 selection group. Jeremy Hansen was selected with David Saint-Jacques in 2009 for ISS missions.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 01/06/2022 03:24 am
Further tweets of the thread rumor Crew-7 to be Jonny Kim, Tracy Caldwell, Jeremy Hansen and a Russian.

That surprises me. I would have figured that Kim would fly on Soyuz, especially with multiple unassigned pilots.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 01/06/2022 03:26 am
If my understanding is correct and IF the schedule remains anything like currently expected than Epps would be on the first actual crew swap Starliner flight and may be there to do a brief handover with Hansen as she leaves and he arrives.  Still a lot of IF's.  If Starliner works, if etc, etc.

It looks like it would be the other way around, actually--CST-1 in Fall 2023 and Crew-7 in Spring 2024.

???Isn't that what I said?   You say I'm wrong way round and then say the exact same thing.   Epps on CST in fall 2023 and Hansen on Crew 7  in spring 24.    So how am I wrong?    I said  "she leaves and he arrives."   

I am Space Oriented!   She leaves ISS as he arrives at ISS     I assumed that was clear because I was talking about handover which is the time they spend together at ISS, ie. spring 2024  .  You must be an Earth dweller and Earth oriented and read what I said as leaving Earth and arriving back on Earth.   I have always been Space oriented since childhood  :D
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 01/06/2022 12:10 pm
???Isn't that what I said?   You say I'm wrong way round and then say the exact same thing.   Epps on CST in fall 2023 and Hansen on Crew 7  in spring 24.    So how am I wrong?    I said  "she leaves and he arrives."   

I am Space Oriented!   She leaves ISS as he arrives at ISS     I assumed that was clear because I was talking about handover which is the time they spend together at ISS, ie. spring 2024  .  You must be an Earth dweller and Earth oriented and read what I said as leaving Earth and arriving back on Earth.   I have always been Space oriented since childhood  :D

I think I just misread your message. Sorry about that.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 01/06/2022 12:31 pm
So he is not the CSA astronaut on Artemis II?
No, the CSA astronaut on Artemis II will be either Joshua Kutryk or Jennifer Sidey-Gibbons from the 2017 selection group. Jeremy Hansen was selected with David Saint-Jacques in 2009 for ISS missions.

He was at KSC with Randolph Bresnik for the arrival of the Antonov carrying the ESM-2 from Bremen so I was kind of expecting he would be selected.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Spy on 01/18/2022 03:21 pm
https://twitter.com/StephenClark1/status/1483460485026623503

Do we place bets here? If so, I'd got a few names I'd like to spitball.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 01/18/2022 08:39 pm
Here’s my prediction:

Randolph Bresnik -CDR
Stephanie Wilson
Kayla Barron
Josh Kutryk.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Rian on 01/18/2022 09:47 pm
If we're doing predictions...

Commander - Scott Tingle
Pilot - Anne McClain
Mission Specialist - Joe Acaba
Mission Specialist - Jenni Sidey-Gibbons


Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 01/18/2022 11:13 pm
Here’s my prediction:

Randolph Bresnik -CDR
Stephanie Wilson
Kayla Barron
Josh Kutryk.
  I don't believe Bresnik is one of the 18 "Artemis" astronauts chosen for the program.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 01/18/2022 11:23 pm
But he is assistant to the Chief Of The Astronaut Office for Exploration, which means he’s the point man on Orion, SLS and Artemis. i. e. the head of the Artemis branch of the office. So in effect he is an Artemis astronaut.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 01/18/2022 11:39 pm
I also wouldn’t rule out Reid Wiseman.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Targeteer on 01/19/2022 02:46 am
If we're doing predictions...

Commander - Scott Tingle
Pilot - Anne McClain
Mission Specialist - Joe Acaba
Mission Specialist - Jenni Sidey-Gibbons




I heard on the ISSlive feed that Anne McClain was assigned to an ISS program office, meaning she's not on the active flight crew list, correct?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Rian on 01/19/2022 03:07 am
If we're doing predictions...

Commander - Scott Tingle
Pilot - Anne McClain
Mission Specialist - Joe Acaba
Mission Specialist - Jenni Sidey-Gibbons




I heard on the ISSlive feed that Anne McClain was assigned to an ISS program office, meaning she's not on the active flight crew list, correct?

No idea, all I know is she was back up on Soyuz MS-18. She's still listed as active on the NASA astronaut page if that means anything.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 01/20/2022 05:19 am
In case of signing between Roscosmos and @NASA
 agreements on “cross” flights to the ISS, Anna Kikina is planned to be included in the main crew of the Crew Dragon spacecraft.

Instead, NASA astronaut Francisco Rubio joined the main crew of #SoyuzMS22 spacecraft.


https://twitter.com/roscosmos/status/1484043796467929088

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 01/20/2022 09:12 am
ISS crews approved for 2022-2024:

The interdepartmental commission for the selection of cosmonauts approved the main and backup crews of long-duration expeditions to the International Space Station on Soyuz MS transport manned spacecraft in 2022-2024.

The flight (approval itself took place in May 2021) of Roscosmos cosmonauts Oleg Artemyev, Denis Matveev and Sergey Korsakov in the main crew of ISS-67, flying on Soyuz MS-21 in March 2022, has been confirmed.

For the first time in the history of the ISS project, the Soyuz crew will include three Russian professional cosmonauts.

Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergei Prokopyev, Dmitry Petelin and Anna Kikina have been confirmed to fly in the main crew of ISS-68 (approved in May 2021), flying on Soyuz MS-22 in September 2022.

In addition, the crews of Soyuz MS spacecraft with launches in 2023-2024 for the first time include cosmonauts from the 2018 set: Konstantin Borisov, Alexander Gorbunov, Alexander Grebenkin, Alexei Zubritsky, Sergey Mikayev and Oleg Platonov.

If Roscosmos and NASA sign an agreement on "crossover" flights to the ISS, Anna Kikina is scheduled to join the main crew of Crew Dragon (flight USCV-5), the launch of which is expected in August 2022, and NASA astronaut Francisco Rubio will join the main crew of Soyuz MS-22 instead.

https://www.roscosmos.ru/33857/
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 01/21/2022 03:15 am
In addition, the crews of Soyuz MS spacecraft with launches in 2023-2024 for the first time include cosmonauts from the 2018 set: Konstantin Borisov, Alexander Gorbunov, Alexander Grebenkin, Alexei Zubritsky, Sergey Mikayev and Oleg Platonov.

If Roscosmos and NASA sign an agreement on "crossover" flights to the ISS, Anna Kikina is scheduled to join the main crew of Crew Dragon (flight USCV-5), the launch of which is expected in August 2022, and NASA astronaut Francisco Rubio will join the main crew of Soyuz MS-22 instead.

I wonder why they're putting a pilot on Soyuz instead of a commercial crew flight, unless he'll be FE1 and Petelin will be FE2 (which would surprise me). Are Babkin and Aymakhanov still waiting for assignments, then? Any word on the Belarusian flight or (on the US side) the deal with Axiom to get Mark Vande Hei's seat on MS-18?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 01/21/2022 05:34 am
Victor Glover is currently Branch Chief for HLS, which might point him towards Artemis III? Perhaps?

As for a couple of others, Anne McClain is currently Branch Chief for Mission Support and Randy Bresnik remains Assistant to the Chief for Exploration. Interestingly, Don Pettit is Branch Chief for Gateway.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 01/21/2022 05:38 am
Also per NASA, upcoming ISS CDRs are as follows:

Shkaplerov til end of March
Marshburn til Crew-3 return
Then Cristoforetti, Artemyev and Wakata. Not known yet in which order.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 01/25/2022 11:20 pm
Has something changed with the plans for the Soyuz MS-23 tourist or UAE flight? The Roscosmos press release about Nikolai Chub (seen, for example, in the MS-22 thread) not getting a visa and one or two other things I have seen have talked about Oleg Kononenko's Soyuz crew being the MS-23 crew (but still in April 2023), not the MS-24 crew.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: vp. on 01/26/2022 06:44 am
Has something changed with the plans for the Soyuz MS-23 tourist or UAE flight? The Roscosmos press release about Nikolai Chub (seen, for example, in the MS-22 thread) not getting a visa and one or two other things I have seen have talked about Oleg Kononenko's Soyuz crew being the MS-23 crew (but still in April 2023), not the MS-24 crew.

ESA also discussed with Roscosmos to have an astronaut on Soyuz MS23 to avoid a too big European absence on the ISS during the flight of Hansen.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 01/26/2022 02:34 pm
My understanding is that the "tourist" flight is now MS-25.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 01/27/2022 04:58 pm
My understanding is that the "tourist" flight is now MS-25.

Interesting! Last I had heard, MS-23 was the six-month UAE/TBD flight and MS-25 was a tourist flight more like MS-20.

ESA also discussed with Roscosmos to have an astronaut on Soyuz MS23 to avoid a too big European absence on the ISS during the flight of Hansen.

That surprises me. I had presumed that ESA would have a seat on Crew-6 (and then Furukawa on Starliner-1), which would be around the same time if MS-23 launches the end of this year.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: vp. on 01/28/2022 06:17 am

ESA also discussed with Roscosmos to have an astronaut on Soyuz MS23 to avoid a too big European absence on the ISS during the flight of Hansen.

That surprises me. I had presumed that ESA would have a seat on Crew-6 (and then Furukawa on Starliner-1), which would be around the same time if MS-23 launches the end of this year.

The discussions would have started in August 2019
https://tass.ru/kosmos/6948536
https://tass.ru/interviews/7657531
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 01/28/2022 03:45 pm
The discussions would have started in August 2019
https://tass.ru/kosmos/6948536
https://tass.ru/interviews/7657531

Ah, yes, of course. Thanks!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 02/02/2022 04:10 pm
The latest future crews from GCTC:
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 02/02/2022 07:12 pm
The latest future crews from GCTC:

Is there anything recent on specific Soyuz ships linked to these flights? It looks like the tourist MS-23 and MS-25 may have been moved.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Rian on 02/02/2022 07:56 pm
The latest future crews from GCTC:

Crazy how some of the cosmonauts who flew recently (Sergey Kud-Sverchkov, Sergey Ryzhikov) already will be training for their next missions meanwhile I'm wondering when the astronauts they flew with (2013 class especially) will be getting their next mission assignments.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ZachS09 on 02/02/2022 08:40 pm
The latest future crews from GCTC:

Can you translate that to English, please? It’s kinda hard for me to read Russian.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 02/02/2022 09:08 pm
Crazy how some of the cosmonauts who flew recently (Sergey Kud-Sverchkov, Sergey Ryzhikov) already will be training for their next missions meanwhile I'm wondering when the astronauts they flew with (2013 class especially) will be getting their next mission assignments.

No kidding! Before today, it looked to me for a bit like Babkin might get his first flight on MS-26 [which I'd heard a recent rumor he was assigned to unofficially] with Vagner, who replaced him on MS-16 and would then be on his second flight.

Can you translate that to English, please? It’s kinda hard for me to read Russian.

Beginning with Expedition 70 (67-69 are as previously reported, though Petelin and Kikina have swapped sides on MS-22), Expedition 70 is Skvortsov-Platonov-Borisov, 71 is Ovchinin-Mikaev-Grebyonkin, and 72 is Ryzhikov-Zubritsky-Gorbunov. Sergei Kud-Skverchkov is backing up Ryzhikov.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Sniffles on 02/22/2022 06:00 am
Is it possible that a NASA astronaut will fly on the first crewed flight of Starship with Jared Isaacman?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 02/22/2022 04:45 pm
Is it possible that a NASA astronaut will fly on the first crewed flight of Starship with Jared Isaacman?

Polaris is a totally private program.  If there is a NASA astronaut aboard they would have to be a paying customer.

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: AstroDave on 02/24/2022 03:36 am
Hard to see Rubio and Kikina exchange happening now.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Rian on 02/24/2022 03:49 am
Hard to see Rubio and Kikina exchange happening now.

Yeah... we will have to wait and see
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 02/24/2022 01:46 pm
https://twitter.com/SpcPlcyOnline/status/1496510498430464003?s=20 (https://twitter.com/SpcPlcyOnline/status/1496510498430464003?s=20)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 03/13/2022 12:49 am
Any word on when the third crew member will be named for the first Boeing Starliner mission?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: dcfowler1 on 03/13/2022 04:12 am
Should be this month.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Tobias_Corbett on 03/24/2022 08:31 am
https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/ESA_astronaut_Andreas_Mogensen_set_to_return_to_space

https://twitter.com/esaspaceflight/status/1506919548401987592

https://twitter.com/esaspaceflight/status/1506922535010684929

According to ESA Jasmin Moghbeli will also be on the flight, so Crew-7 will probably be Moghbeli (Commander), Mogensen (Pilot), Hansen (MS1) and a Russian cosmonaut or American astronaut in the fourth seat.

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 03/24/2022 04:35 pm
https://twitter.com/Commercial_Crew/status/1507019111179730944

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: eric z on 03/24/2022 04:48 pm
 I'm sorry if I missed something, but could we get a real update on Astronaut Epps flight status? What is the big mystery?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Rian on 03/24/2022 04:54 pm
I'm sorry if I missed something, but could we get a real update on Astronaut Epps flight status? What is the big mystery?

As of now, she is still assigned to Starliner-1, but there has been a rumor that if crew exchange with Russia doesn't go through she might get moved to Crew-5. NASA hasn't said anything official yet, but I imagine they will soon.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Sniffles on 03/24/2022 05:41 pm
Very surprising to see a non-US astronaut as pilot.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Zed_Noir on 03/24/2022 06:32 pm
Very surprising to see a non-US astronaut as pilot.
It is the autonomous Crew Dragon. The commander and the pilot mostly monitored the readouts.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 03/24/2022 08:12 pm
https://twitter.com/Commercial_Crew/status/1507019111179730944

Any idea who the international astronaut on Crew-6 will be, then? Furukawa? Or someone else? I had assumed it would be Mogensen to keep the ESA-JAXA rotation going, since it wasn't Hansen's turn yet.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ZachS09 on 03/24/2022 11:55 pm
I would say Satoshi Furukawa. There's been a lot of unofficial sources saying he'll be a Crew-6 mission specialist. Can't remember what those sources were, though.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Tobias_Corbett on 03/25/2022 01:22 am
Someone has edited wikipedia saying Tim Peake is backup for Mogensen, does anyone have a source for this or is it purely speculative?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: dcfowler1 on 03/25/2022 02:34 am
Very surprising to see a non-US astronaut as pilot.
It is the autonomous Crew Dragon. The commander and the pilot mostly monitored the readouts.

There are, I believe, legal requirements listed in the Code of Federal Regulations, requiring that a NASA spacecraft be commanded by a "NASA commander." There are also chain of command requirements in the law, but as far as I can see, they do not require the other members of the chain of command to be NASA personnel.

Still, this is the first time that this has happened.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: vp. on 03/25/2022 06:01 am
Someone has edited wikipedia saying Tim Peake is backup for Mogensen, does anyone have a source for this or is it purely speculative?

Speculation, although Peake should be next, before the new ESA astronauts fly.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ZachS09 on 03/30/2022 01:34 pm
https://spaceflightnow.com/2022/03/29/nasa-astronaut-two-cosmonauts-set-for-wednesday-return-to-earth/

Per this Spaceflight Now article, following the landing of Soyuz-MS 19, Mark Vande Hei will retire from the NASA Astronaut Corps.

Not sure if he'll stay at NASA with a different role.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Zed_Noir on 03/31/2022 03:11 am
https://spaceflightnow.com/2022/03/29/nasa-astronaut-two-cosmonauts-set-for-wednesday-return-to-earth/

Per this Spaceflight Now article, following the landing of Soyuz-MS 19, Mark Vande Hei will retire from the NASA Astronaut Corps.

Not sure if he'll stay at NASA with a different role.
Axiom might asked him to take a short trip back to the ISS.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 03/31/2022 07:04 am
GT: Alexander Misurkin completes his activities in the cosmonaut corps of Roscosmos 🚀

 Today, March 31, 2022, is Alexander Alexandrovich Misurkin's last working day at the CTC. He completes his activity in the cosmonaut corps of Roscosmos.

https://twitter.com/Space_Dahlia/status/1509424277673680896

https://twitter.com/katlinegrey/status/1509419558687416323

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 04/25/2022 11:34 am
Who is the leading contender for the third seat on the first Boeing Starliner mission?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Zed_Noir on 04/25/2022 12:35 pm
Who is the leading contender for the third seat on the first Boeing Starliner mission?
For a short stay at the ISS. Maybe only a 2 person crew is needed for the CFT mission.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 04/25/2022 02:30 pm
My prediction is Matthew Dominick. He’s currently backup for Starliner 1.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ZachS09 on 04/25/2022 03:50 pm
The reason for a third CFT astronaut was because Boeing wanted an employee of their own to fly aboard Starliner. In this case, it was Chris Ferguson.

But since Ferguson dropped out, I don’t see a need for a third crew member. A two-person crew is sufficient enough to carry out CFT similar to Demo-2.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 04/25/2022 04:25 pm
Who is the leading contender for the third seat on the first Boeing Starliner mission?

I had wondered if it had been long enough that they might be able to add Eric Boe back in.

I was also wondering--does anyone know anything recent about the status of the seat that went to Axiom in the MS-18 deal and when that might be?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: vp. on 04/25/2022 05:41 pm
The reason for a third CFT astronaut was because Boeing wanted an employee of their own to fly aboard Starliner. In this case, it was Chris Ferguson.

But since Ferguson dropped out, I don’t see a need for a third crew member. A two-person crew is sufficient enough to carry out CFT similar to Demo-2.

Given the drift of the first manned Starliner flight, perhaps Ferguson's family worries will be over and he will rejoin the crew.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Rian on 04/25/2022 05:50 pm
If they do indeed have a 3rd seat for BOE-CFT I would imagine it's either announced in May during OFT2
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 04/29/2022 01:44 pm
Who is the leading contender for the third seat on the first Boeing Starliner mission?

I had wondered if it had been long enough that they might be able to add Eric Boe back in.

I was also wondering--does anyone know anything recent about the status of the seat that went to Axiom in the MS-18 deal and when that might be?

The seat from MS-18 has morphed into a UAE astronaut six month stay on board the ISS in 2023 on Crew-6.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Rian on 04/29/2022 02:25 pm
Who is the leading contender for the third seat on the first Boeing Starliner mission?

I had wondered if it had been long enough that they might be able to add Eric Boe back in.

I was also wondering--does anyone know anything recent about the status of the seat that went to Axiom in the MS-18 deal and when that might be?

The seat from MS-18 has morphed into a UAE astronaut six month stay on board the ISS in 2023 on Crew-6.

Astronaut hasn't been announced yet but I'm assuming it's Sultan Al Neyadi
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 04/29/2022 03:17 pm
The seat from MS-18 has morphed into a UAE astronaut six month stay on board the ISS in 2023 on Crew-6.

Oh, interesting! Would this be instead of or in addition to a cosmonaut (presumably Fedyayev)? I had assumed Satoshi Furukawa was up for Crew-6.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 04/29/2022 08:06 pm
https://twitter.com/katlinegrey/status/1519924242351104001

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 04/29/2022 08:55 pm
The seat from MS-18 has morphed into a UAE astronaut six month stay on board the ISS in 2023 on Crew-6.

Oh, interesting! Would this be instead of or in addition to a cosmonaut (presumably Fedyayev)? I had assumed Satoshi Furukawa was up for Crew-6.

The logic would be that there is at least one Russian on Dragon with the seat swap agreement. We'll see.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 04/29/2022 09:42 pm
The logic would be that there is at least one Russian on Dragon with the seat swap agreement. We'll see.

That's what I kind of figured, but since the UAE astronauts were originally supposed to fly with Russia, I wasn't sure.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Zed_Noir on 04/30/2022 08:08 pm
The logic would be that there is at least one Russian on Dragon with the seat swap agreement. We'll see.

That's what I kind of figured, but since the UAE astronauts were originally supposed to fly with Russia, I wasn't sure.
Maybe UAE and JAXA has come to an agreement to insert the UAE astronaut ahead of Furukawa. It would avoid the need to pay Roscosmos in the near future.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 04/30/2022 08:46 pm
Maybe UAE and JAXA has come to an agreement to insert the UAE astronaut ahead of Furukawa. It would avoid the need to pay Roscosmos in the near future.

That would make sense.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Tomness on 04/30/2022 11:59 pm
The logic would be that there is at least one Russian on Dragon with the seat swap agreement. We'll see.

That's what I kind of figured, but since the UAE astronauts were originally supposed to fly with Russia, I wasn't sure.
Maybe UAE and JAXA has come to an agreement to insert the UAE astronaut ahead of Furukawa. It would avoid the need to pay Roscosmos in the near future.

Crew 6 would be NASA, USOS, Russia, UAE/Axiom. Axiom bought a Russia Seat and traded it to Nasa for a Crew Seat. So Soyuz would be Russia, Russia, USOS if they do the seat swap. Who knows, Russia might sell one of their seats.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 05/03/2022 04:39 am
GT: Cosmonaut Andrei Babkin leaves the Roskosmos detachment (TsPK named after Yu. A. Gagarin), following Alexander Misurkin and Alexander Skvortsov. Unfortunately, unlike them, Andrei never flew into space.



https://twitter.com/Aleksandr_Space/status/1521201409026404352

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Joachim on 05/03/2022 08:11 am
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 05/04/2022 03:35 pm
Tikhonov portrait from 2016:
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skyrocket on 05/04/2022 03:55 pm
Tikhonov portrait from 2016:

It is not Tikhonov, but also Babkin.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 05/04/2022 06:21 pm
https://twitter.com/katlinegrey/status/1521738703009374208

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 05/05/2022 09:24 pm
GT: Clarification about test cosmonaut Andrei Babkin, he remains in the Detachment and continues training, despite some medical restrictions. Information received earlier has not been confirmed. I spoke personally with Andrew.

I really hope that justice will prevail and he will be able to fly into space.
 TsPK im. Yu. A. Gagarin is Terra incognita, especially now, when cosmonauts cannot comment without the consent of Roscosmos.

 Photo from the event of the Federation of Cosmonautics in St. Petersburg.

https://twitter.com/Aleksandr_Space/status/1522209581899911168

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 05/25/2022 08:28 pm
Axiom Space has announced today Walter Villadei as back-up crew member of Ax-2.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ZachS09 on 05/25/2022 09:31 pm
Axiom Space has announced today Walter Villadei as back-up crew member of Ax-2.

Will Villadei be backing up Whitson or Shoffner?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skyrocket on 05/25/2022 11:41 pm
Axiom Space has announced today Walter Villadei as back-up crew member of Ax-2.

Will Villadei be backing up Whitson or Shoffner?

Interesting. Villadei is also planned to be one of three Italian Airforce passengers on the next SpaceShipTwo flight.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 05/25/2022 11:53 pm
Axiom Space has announced today Walter Villadei as back-up crew member of Ax-2.

Will Villadei be backing up Whitson or Shoffner?

Not known. He could even back up one of the two yet-unnamed other passengers. The press release also hints that he will be prime for Ax-3 if and when it happens.

Axiom Space and Italian Government Sign Historic MOU to Expand Commercial Utilization of Space (https://www.axiomspace.com/news/axiom-space-and-italian-government-sign-historic-mou-to-expand-commercial-utilization-of-space)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 05/26/2022 05:04 am
GT: TELSTAR has also participated in the press conference of Mr. Noguchi, who will retire from JAXA on the 1st of next month! The warm applause from the reporters was impressive 👏

https://twitter.com/telstar_freemgz/status/1529388375681437697

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 05/26/2022 05:05 am
GT:  Best wishes for @Astro_Soichi
 on his retirement from JAXA. It was a harmonious press conference with the media! Thank you to Astronaut Soichi Noguchi, his family, and everyone involved in JAXA. I also remember 11 years ago, and I am grateful again. The challenge will continue!

https://twitter.com/Astro_Naoko/status/1529368244209197056

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Rian on 06/17/2022 10:24 pm
So now that we know Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will be Commander and Pilot respectively for BOE-CFT. Are we alright to assume that Mike Fincke will be commander on Starliner-1. There is also the case of Matthew Dominick who seems to also be training on the Starliner.

I'm hoping once CFT flies successfully NASA will publish the crews (NASA Astronauts) for hopefully 1-3 of the Starliner flights since that's what they've been doing with SpaceX. But I guess it will all depend on when the Starliners fly since NASA won't want to announce too far ahead.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: DanClemmensen on 06/17/2022 10:31 pm
So now that we know Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will be Commander and Pilot respectively for BOE-CFT. Are we alright to assume that Mike Fincke will be commander on Starliner-1. There is also the case of Matthew Dominick who seems to also be training on the Starliner.

I'm hoping once CFT flies successfully NASA will publish the crews (NASA Astronauts) for hopefully 1-3 of the Starliner flights since that's what they've been doing with SpaceX. But I guess it will all depend on when the Starliners fly since NASA won't want to announce too far ahead.
Big difference: Starliner will fly once a year, as will Crew Dragon after Starliner-1 flies. Up to now and onward thru Q2 2023 Crew Dragon flies every six months. It's reasonable to publish crew lists a year out, but not three years out.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ZachS09 on 06/17/2022 11:38 pm
I would guess Mike Fincke as commander of Starliner-1 with Matthew Dominick commanding Starliner-2. And Jeanette Epps stays on Starliner-1 as Mission Specialist 1 or 2.

Maybe if Eric Boe is cleared of his medical issues, he could fly as pilot on either Starliner-1 or Starliner-2.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 06/18/2022 02:20 am
I would guess Mike Fincke as commander of Starliner-1 with Matthew Dominick commanding Starliner-2. And Jeanette Epps stays on Starliner-1 as Mission Specialist 1 or 2.

Maybe if Eric Boe is cleared of his medical issues, he could fly as pilot on either Starliner-1 or Starliner-2.

I had presumed that Dominick would be Starliner-1 PLT with Fincke, Epps, and an international astronaut (probably Furukawa), but I could see him ending up in a Kjell Lindgren situation (backup several times in a row) and getting a command slot a little further down the line.

I'd be surprised if Boe flew as pilot, since he piloted the shuttle twice.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 06/18/2022 07:01 am
Yes, I agree. If Boe does ever fly, I can't imagine a two-time Shuttle PLT would not want the CDR spot.

Dominick is currently Starliner-1 backup CDR, so a likely contender either for Starliner-1 PLT or perhaps Starliner-2 CDR.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ZachS09 on 06/18/2022 12:18 pm
Yes, I agree. If Boe does ever fly, I can't imagine a two-time Shuttle PLT would not want the CDR spot.

Dominick is currently Starliner-1 backup CDR, so a likely contender either for Starliner-1 PLT or perhaps Starliner-2 CDR.

I guessed Boe as pilot because he was originally the CFT Joint Operations Commander (before Fincke replaced him). To me, that’s a form of the pilot role similar to Behnken’s assignment on Demo-2.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 06/18/2022 08:52 pm
Yes, I agree. If Boe does ever fly, I can't imagine a two-time Shuttle PLT would not want the CDR spot.

Dominick is currently Starliner-1 backup CDR, so a likely contender either for Starliner-1 PLT or perhaps Starliner-2 CDR.

Agreed on both counts.

I guessed Boe as pilot because he was originally the CFT Joint Operations Commander (before Fincke replaced him). To me, that’s a form of the pilot role similar to Behnken’s assignment on Demo-2.

That makes sense!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: skeer on 06/19/2022 12:08 am
Is it true, however, that actually Boe would have been commander if Ferguson had not been brought in to push him into the pilot's seat?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 06/19/2022 02:25 am
Is it true, however, that actually Boe would have been commander if Ferguson had not been brought in to push him into the pilot's seat?

Originally? Presumably so, since Nicole Mann was the only other person on the crew.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 06/19/2022 09:48 am
Were the actual "original" CFT assignments ever determined? I don't ever remember it being announced in Aug 2018 who was in command. I only found out much later about the CDR, PLT and JOC roles.

After Ferguson and Boe's departure, my understanding was:

Wilmore (CDR)
Mann (PLT)
Fincke (JOC)

But am I correct in thinking that at the time of the original assignments in Aug 2018, the plan was:

Ferguson (CDR)
Mann (PLT)
Boe (JOC)

That would have been somewhat odd, having a senior NASA Pilot Astronaut (Boe) in the junior (?) position of JOC to the rookie Mann. And it would have been equally odd to have had a Boeing CDR on a NASA mission.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 06/19/2022 07:43 pm
We know that Ferguson was going to be CDR, as that was the position Wilmore (who had been training for any position if what I saw was correct) rotated into. I think it was unofficially known, too, even though it was not officially announced. We know that, after Boe left, it was Ferguson-Mann-Fincke left to right in the capsule (and I presume the pilot would be next to the commander), as that's what pictures showed. I had presumed that Mann moved up a seat when Boe left (Ferguson-Boe-Mann to Ferguson-Mann-Fincke). I could also see them wanting Boe as PLT due to his familiarity with Ferguson from STS-126.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 06/20/2022 01:40 pm
There’s scuttlebut that if the US and Russia can’t come to an agreement on Anna Kikina flying on Crew 5, (meaning the current political climate puts the kibosh on it), that her seat will be taken by Jeanette Epps. Epps has reportedly been training to fly the Dragon 2. I presume that decision will have to be made soon.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 06/30/2022 03:25 am
Don't think assignments have been set yet but ...  TRACY!!!

https://twitter.com/katlinegrey/status/1542092751432450048

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 07/18/2022 04:49 pm
https://spaceflightnow.com/2022/07/15/russian-space-chief-dismissed-nasa-gets-deal-for-joint-crews/

Cosmonaut Anna Kikina also will launch in September aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule along with NASA astronauts Nicole Mann, Josh Cassada and veteran Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata. Launch had been targeted for Sept. 1, but NASA officials are no longer saying when the mission might get underway, indicating a delay may be in the offing.

NASA also announced Friday that astronaut Loral O’Hara will launch aboard the Soyuz MS-23 spacecraft next spring, along with Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub. Cosmonaut Andrei Fedyaev will join astronauts Steve Bowen and Woody Hoburg aboard a SpaceX capsule that’s also targeting a spring 2023 launch.



Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: DanClemmensen on 07/18/2022 05:12 pm
https://spaceflightnow.com/2022/07/15/russian-space-chief-dismissed-nasa-gets-deal-for-joint-crews/

Cosmonaut Anna Kikina also will launch in September aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule along with NASA astronauts Nicole Mann, Josh Cassada and veteran Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata. Launch had been targeted for Sept. 1, but NASA officials are no longer saying when the mission might get underway, indicating a delay may be in the offing.

NASA also announced Friday that astronaut Loral O’Hara will launch aboard the Soyuz MS-23 spacecraft next spring, along with Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub. Cosmonaut Andrei Fedyaev will join astronauts Steve Bowen and Woody Hoburg aboard a SpaceX capsule that’s also targeting a spring 2023 launch.

My uninformed guess based on nothing whatsoever is that they do not want to launch on Sept. 1 because Artemis I may be on its pad at LC-39B if it was rolled out for a possible launch on Aug. 29, and Crew Dragon launches from LC-39A.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 07/18/2022 08:53 pm
https://twitter.com/esaspaceflight/status/1548997583766437889

Quote
Human Spaceflight @esaspaceflight
It's like walking on the #Moon, so they say. 🌚
Astronauts @Astro_Andreas and @NASA's Kate Rubins are exploring a fjord in #Norway 🇳🇴
for the grand @ESA_CAVES
#geology finale. ⛏️👨‍🚀👩‍🚀

More on this @ESA training #ForwardToTheMoon:
https://blogs.esa.int/caves/2022/07/18/geology-finale-for-astronauts-on-a-moon-like-fjord%ef%bf%bc/
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ZachS09 on 07/25/2022 12:41 pm
Sultan Al Neyadi has been selected as a mission specialist for SpaceX Crew-6.

https://twitter.com/SarwatNasir/status/1551524370429919232
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 07/26/2022 10:30 pm
Космонавт Борисов полетит на МКС на корабле Crew Dragon весной 2024 года (https://www.interfax.ru/world/853929)

Quote
Cosmonaut Borisov will fly to the ISS on the Crew Dragon spacecraft in the spring of 2024
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 07/27/2022 03:45 pm
Is it known yet what the nationality of the fourth member of Crew-7 will be--U.S. or a third international astronaut? It seems like they need an LDF veteran in there somewhere.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ZachS09 on 07/27/2022 03:47 pm
Is it known yet what the nationality of the fourth member of Crew-7 will be--U.S. or a third international astronaut? It seems like they need an LDF veteran in there somewhere.

Unofficial sources say that Satoshi Furukawa will be the fourth Crew-7 member, which means that all four members could be each from one nation.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 07/27/2022 07:40 pm
Unofficial sources say that Satoshi Furukawa will be the fourth Crew-7 member, which means that all four members could be each from one nation.

Interesting! Thank you! I had presumed that Furukawa would take the second mission specialist seat on Starliner-1. I wonder if that means Jeremy Hansen will fly next year, or maybe an ESA astronaut will get that seat.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 07/27/2022 08:55 pm
https://twitter.com/NASA_Johnson/status/1552396176460107777

https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-announces-astronaut-shane-kimbrough-to-retire

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 07/28/2022 06:15 am
With Hansen pointed towards a 2024 flight, do we definitely know that he is not in the running for Artemis-2?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: SMS on 07/28/2022 08:04 am
https://twitter.com/NASA_Johnson/status/1552396176460107777

https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-announces-astronaut-shane-kimbrough-to-retire



https://twitter.com/NASA_Johnson/status/1552400718702723075
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: NasaFan95 on 08/01/2022 03:46 am
So now that we know Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will be Commander and Pilot respectively for BOE-CFT. Are we alright to assume that Mike Fincke will be commander on Starliner-1. There is also the case of Matthew Dominick who seems to also be training on the Starliner.

I'm hoping once CFT flies successfully NASA will publish the crews (NASA Astronauts) for hopefully 1-3 of the Starliner flights since that's what they've been doing with SpaceX. But I guess it will all depend on when the Starliners fly since NASA won't want to announce too far ahead.
I kinda hope Eric Boe commands a Starliner mission, & that Don Pettit flies as a mission specialist on either a Space x or Boeing mission, I also read that Tracy Caldwell Dyson is supposed to fly on the Soyuz but some sites like spacefacts say she’s been replaced by Konstantin Borisov so I’m wondering if she’ll be a mission specialist on Boeing Starliner crew 2, or if she’ll fly on space X Crew 8 & serve as commander of expedition 71 or 72.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: NasaFan95 on 08/01/2022 03:51 am
I would guess Mike Fincke as commander of Starliner-1 with Matthew Dominick commanding Starliner-2. And Jeanette Epps stays on Starliner-1 as Mission Specialist 1 or 2.

Maybe if Eric Boe is cleared of his medical issues, he could fly as pilot on either Starliner-1 or Starliner-2.
No, Eric Boe would serve as commander.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 08/01/2022 03:52 am
I kinda hope Eric Boe commands a Starliner mission, & that Don Pettit flies as a mission specialist on either a Space x or Boeing mission, I also read that Tracy Caldwell Dyson is supposed to fly on the Soyuz but some sites like spacefacts say she’s been replaced by Konstantin Borisov so I’m wondering if she’ll be a mission specialist on Boeing Starliner crew 2, or if she’ll fly on space X Crew 8 & serve as commander of expedition 71 or 72.

I'd like to see Boe fly again, too, but I'd be surprised if Pettit flew again at 67. Spacefacts still has Tracy Caldwell Dyson on MS-24, and Borisov was announced to fly on Crew-7.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: NasaFan95 on 08/01/2022 03:59 am
I kinda hope Eric Boe commands a Starliner mission, & that Don Pettit flies as a mission specialist on either a Space x or Boeing mission, I also read that Tracy Caldwell Dyson is supposed to fly on the Soyuz but some sites like spacefacts say she’s been replaced by Konstantin Borisov so I’m wondering if she’ll be a mission specialist on Boeing Starliner crew 2, or if she’ll fly on space X Crew 8 & serve as commander of expedition 71 or 72.
I'd like to see Boe fly again, too, but I'd be surprised if Pettit flew again at 67. Spacefacts still has Tracy Caldwell Dyson on MS-24, and Borisov was announced to fly on Crew-7.
Don petit at 67 or 68 flying in space would be epic.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: NasaFan95 on 08/01/2022 04:02 am
Don't think assignments have been set yet but ...  TRACY!!!

https://twitter.com/katlinegrey/status/1542092751432450048
I kinda hope Tracy commands expedition 71 or 72.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TALsite on 08/01/2022 11:29 am
A visual overview to the flight crew assignments.
Much of the launch dates are tentative.  Comments and corrections are welcome.  :)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ZachS09 on 08/01/2022 01:05 pm
If I had to guess, Loral O'Hara's backup for Soyuz-MS 23 will be Tracy Caldwell-Dyson.

Since Stephanie Wilson is eligible for flight assignments, I have a hunch she'll go on Crew Dragon. Can't say if she'll ultimately be on Starliner, but that's also a possibility.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: NasaFan95 on 08/01/2022 02:20 pm
With Hansen pointed towards a 2024 flight, do we definitely know that he is not in the running for Artemis-2?
I have a feeling Stephanie Wilson we’ll be selected to be on Artemis one.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 08/01/2022 03:53 pm
A visual overview to the flight crew assignments.
Much of the launch dates are tentative.  Comments and corrections are welcome.  :)

Thanks for doing this! I noted three things: The Russians are showing Tracy Caldwell-Dyson training with the MS-24 crew, I think Jean Epps was going to be a Starliner mission specialist (not pilot), and Konstantin Borisov will fly on Dragon (Crew-7/USCV-8).

I have a feeling Stephanie Wilson we’ll be selected to be on Artemis one.

Artemis II (the first manned flight)? I agree.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: zubenelgenubi on 08/02/2022 01:47 am
Moderator:
The thread is for current and future assignments, not alternate histories discussions of past possible assignments.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 08/02/2022 10:11 am
Interesting to contemplate Wiseman, who will be coming up on 2 years as chief in Dec 2022 and will likely rotate out of that role in the next few months or perhaps 2023.

With the "Artemis Cadre" having been identified in 2020, there was some talk about whether or not Artemis mission crews would be drawn only from that cadre. Looking at Commercial Crew assignments, which have now expanded greatly beyond their original cadres (and with some astros having moving from Dragon to Starliner or vice versa), I wonder if the Artemis Cadre is not the golden ticket to the Moon that it first appeared?

I still think Wiseman would be logical choice to command Artemis-2 or Artemis-3, regardless of whether or not he was in the cadre.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: NasaFan95 on 08/04/2022 10:35 am
I would guess Mike Fincke as commander of Starliner-1 with Matthew Dominick commanding Starliner-2. And Jeanette Epps stays on Starliner-1 as Mission Specialist 1 or 2.

Maybe if Eric Boe is cleared of his medical issues, he could fly as pilot on either Starliner-1 or Starliner-2.

I had presumed that Dominick would be Starliner-1 PLT with Fincke, Epps, and an international astronaut (probably Furukawa), but I could see him ending up in a Kjell Lindgren situation (backup several times in a row) and getting a command slot a little further down the line.

I'd be surprised if Boe flew as pilot, since he piloted the shuttle twice.
it’s kinda weird cuz Wikipedia which isn’t a great source for who was what mission specialist on the shuttle, they have borisov flying on Boeing starliner 1 as pilot and I’m like with the stuff going on politically right now not a chance I’ll leave it at that it would be either a nasa astronaut or an ESA astronaut assigned to pilot crew 1 or crew 2 crew 1 I have that feeling since Matthew Dominick will be the pilot, Mike fincke as commander, and Satoshi furukawa & Jeanette Epps are on that mission well I know Epps is they have to confirm furukawa, he hasn’t been confirmed yet. So my 2 cents is either a rookie like Jonny Kim or a veteran Drew Morgan, Scott tingle  and or Jessica Meir would get that 3rd seat and if not a nasa astronaut that would get that spot space x crew 7 on the crew dragon, I could see Alex Gerst a veteran in the ESA or Aki Hoshide a veteran from JAXA would get that spot flies as MS 1 on Crew 7. I also have that feeling that Suni Williams will command starliner 3 down the line, either that or her & Stephanie Wilson will get selected to Artemis 2 along with Joe Acaba & Mike Hopkins.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 08/04/2022 03:59 pm
Keep in mind that there is a CSA astronaut on Artemis 2. So your Artemis 2 crew is a no go.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 08/04/2022 04:16 pm
it’s kinda weird cuz Wikipedia which isn’t a great source for who was what mission specialist on the shuttle, they have borisov flying on Boeing starliner 1 as pilot and I’m like with the stuff going on politically right now not a chance I’ll leave it at that it would be either a nasa astronaut or an ESA astronaut assigned to pilot crew 1 or crew 2 crew 1 I have that feeling since Matthew Dominick will be the pilot, Mike fincke as commander, and Satoshi furukawa & Jeanette Epps are on that mission well I know Epps is they have to confirm furukawa, he hasn’t been confirmed yet. So my 2 cents is either a rookie like Jonny Kim or a veteran Drew Morgan, Scott tingle  and or Jessica Meir would get that 3rd seat and if not a nasa astronaut that would get that spot space x crew 7 on the crew dragon, I could see Alex Gerst a veteran in the ESA or Aki Hoshide a veteran from JAXA would get that spot flies as MS 1 on Crew 7. I also have that feeling that Suni Williams will command starliner 3 down the line, either that or her & Stephanie Wilson will get selected to Artemis 2 along with Joe Acaba & Mike Hopkins.

That is odd re Borisov, especially as he was simultaneously showing as Crew-7 MS-2. I took him off the Starliner page. I doubt that Tingle and Meir would fly as mission specialists--Tingle will probably either get a commander slot or an Artemis slot, and it hasn't been long enough since Meir flew for her to get a second slot yet. I have Gerst on Artemis IV; I doubt that he or Hoshide will get a third long-duration flight with other ESA and JAXA astronauts waiting for their second. Suni Williams and Mike Hopkins are not in the Artemis cadre, but like Ben E noted above, I don't know if that means as much as it used to.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 08/04/2022 07:18 pm
Christina Hammock-Koch recently tweeted about her and Suni Williams doing helicopter training to simulate a lunar landing. And when NASA announced the Artemis astronaut cadre, it did state that other astronauts could/would be added in the future. Reid Wiseman has also been going through said helicopter training recently.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 08/04/2022 07:46 pm
In my opinion, the CDRs of Artemis II and III will be 2 of the following:

Tingle
Glover
Bresnik (who is Wiseman’s assistant for exploration, i.e. Artemis)
Wiseman.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: vp. on 08/04/2022 08:28 pm
It would be logical for the commanders of Artemis II and III to be astronauts who have piloted a spacecraft and in the Artemis group are: Glover, Chari ... Mann, Moghbeli ... Dominick

We can add former pilots who are in a hierarchical position or in the Artemis group, but who have no experience piloting a spacecraft: Bresnik, Tingle, Wiseman, McClain ... Rubio

In my opinion, Glover is the favorite to be the commander of Artemis III, Wiseman for Artemis II.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jmt27 on 08/04/2022 09:02 pm
Guys its the Artemis program... its pretty clear that commanders for these missions will be female. At least for the first couple of missions. I could see either McClain, Koch or Wilson for Artemis 2 and 3. Tingle and Acaba as pilots.
Astronauts who will be walking on the moon will be mission specialists (will not have role as cmdr or pilot). We'll surely see the likes of Meir, Watkins and Glover walk on the moon. My 2 cents...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 08/04/2022 09:41 pm
It would be logical for the commanders of Artemis II and III to be astronauts who have piloted a spacecraft and in the Artemis group are: Glover, Chari ... Mann, Moghbeli ... Dominick

We can add former pilots who are in a hierarchical position or in the Artemis group, but who have no experience piloting a spacecraft: Bresnik, Tingle, Wiseman, McClain ... Rubio

In my opinion, Glover is the favorite to be the commander of Artemis III, Wiseman for Artemis II.

I currently have Bob Behnken (a pilot and former Chief of the Astronaut Office) commanding Artemis II and Bresnik commanding Artemis III, but I could easily see Wiseman getting a slot.

Guys its the Artemis program... its pretty clear that commanders for these missions will be female. At least for the first couple of missions. I could see either McClain, Koch or Wilson for Artemis 2 and 3. Tingle and Acaba as pilots.
Astronauts who will be walking on the moon will be mission specialists (will not have role as cmdr or pilot). We'll surely see the likes of Meir, Watkins and Glover walk on the moon. My 2 cents...

Though I agree with you that all three are likely to fly on Artemis, I can't see any of McClain or Koch or Wilson getting a CDR slot. McClain, though a pilot, only has Soyuz FE2 experience, and Koch and Wilson are mission specialists with no piloting experience. Especially with the early flights, that seems like a non-starter.

I suspect that the commander and (if they keep this title) lunar module pilot will be the ones to walk on the moon.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Hog on 08/04/2022 10:45 pm
Has CSA's Jeremy Hansen not been officially tapped for a mission yet?  He was a longtime CF-18 fighter pilot, though not a test pilot from what I gather.   He and Epps are the last 2 of their Astronaut class who haven't flown yet.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 08/04/2022 11:03 pm
Hansen has been officially announced a crew member for an ISS expedition. I believe he’s tentatively scheduled to be launched in 2024 on Space X Dragon Crew 8.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 08/04/2022 11:29 pm
Hansen has been officially announced a crew member for an ISS expedition. I believe he’s tentatively scheduled to be launched in 2024 on Space X Dragon Crew 8.

I thought it was USCV-8 (vehicle TBD), not Crew-8? I wonder if that changed when Mogensen was announced as a pilot rather than a mission specialist. If Satoshi Furukawa flies on Crew-7, it seems like Hansen would end up on Starliner-1, but if there's a second American on Crew-7 and Furukawa is on Starliner-1, I could see Hansen on Crew-8.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: cwr on 08/05/2022 02:35 am
Has CSA's Jeremy Hansen not been officially tapped for a mission yet?  He was a longtime CF-18 fighter pilot, though not a test pilot from what I gather.   He and Epps are the last 2 of their Astronaut class who haven't flown yet.

In today's [Aug 4th] Crew 5 briefing there was a tease from Kathy L that there would be
a Canadian on the next Artemis mission. [unless she meant the Crew 6 mission and I misunderstood]
I assumed that would be Hansen but no further data was supplied like role and there were
no followups in the Q&A.

Carl

Edit: to clarify which briefing.
Edit2: Having thought more about that part of the briefing, I really doubt that Kathy would have
        announced an Artemis crew member since it's no longer her area of responsibility. But neither
        does it correlate with crew 5 or Crew 6 crews that are basically known. Kathy's comment was about
         45-50 minutes into the briefing during the Q&A. But the 1hr Artemis briefing yesterday and
         2 hours of Crew 5 briefings today are beginning to blend into a blur so I'd recommend someone
         listening to a recording and report back.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ZachS09 on 08/05/2022 04:01 am
Has CSA's Jeremy Hansen not been officially tapped for a mission yet?  He was a longtime CF-18 fighter pilot, though not a test pilot from what I gather.   He and Epps are the last 2 of their Astronaut class who haven't flown yet.

In today's [Aug 4th] Crew 5 briefing there was a tease from Kathy L that there would be
a Canadian on the next Artemis mission. [unless she meant the Crew 6 mission and I misunderstood]
I assumed that would be Hansen but no further data was supplied like role and there were
no followups in the Q&A.

Carl

Edit: to clarify which briefing.

I think the Canadian on Artemis 2 maybe either Joshua Kutryk or Jennifer Sidey-Gibbons.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 08/05/2022 04:14 am
I predict Kutryk will be assigned to Artemis II. He has flight test experience and this will be a test flight. And NASAs choice for the first woman to fly to the moon won’t be a Canadian. Or if they want an all-veteran crew it would have to be David St. Jacques.

My prediction:
Scott Tingle CDR
Stephanie Wilson
Kathleen Rubins
Josh Kutryk.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: vp. on 08/05/2022 07:20 am
I predict Kutryk will be assigned to Artemis II. He has flight test experience and this will be a test flight. And NASAs choice for the first woman to fly to the moon won’t be a Canadian. Or if they want an all-veteran crew it would have to be David St. Jacques.

My prediction:
Scott Tingle CDR
Stephanie Wilson
Kathleen Rubins
Josh Kutryk.

My prediction:
Wiseman
McClain
Wilson
Kutryk
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jmt27 on 08/05/2022 05:32 pm
Wiseman wasn't selected as an Artemis astronaut back in 2020 but since he just announced (Artemis 1 briefing) that all 42 astronauts are eligible for Artemis missions, I guess any guess is good. I still say that commanders will be female for the first couple of missions.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 08/07/2022 02:26 am
I'm curious where you got your ISS CDR information?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: NasaFan95 on 08/07/2022 03:48 am
I'm curious where you got your ISS CDR information?
I get it from spacefacts
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 08/07/2022 06:50 am
As a side note, has there been movement on the cut-off age of 60yrs for astronauts?

My understanding has been that 60 at the point of assignment to a mission is generally the cut-off point, thus allowing astros to fly by age 61-62 at the latest. With lots of the Artemis cadre (Acaba, Tingle, Wilson) heading into their mid-50s, is there a sense that "time is running out" for them to draw an ISS and/or an Artemis assignment? I think it would be great (and should happen) for more older astronauts to fly.

And as Wiseman said in his remarks on Friday, if they can pass the physical, we'll stick 'em on a rocket. For the older astros who've more than paid their dues to the program (incl Pettit), Wiseman's remarks are spot on.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 08/07/2022 07:28 pm
My understanding has been that 60 at the point of assignment to a mission is generally the cut-off point, thus allowing astros to fly by age 61-62 at the latest.

Interesting! My read on it was that they didn't generally even launch past 60--I can only think of three or so that did other than John Glenn.

[Borisov] is on Crew-7, launching in Spring 2024--Spacefacts is wrong there. I know I've seen it, and I'm nearly positive Oleg Kononenko has confirmed it. (The manned launches page and the upcoming expeditions page also do not always agree.) As far as Tracy Caldwell-Dyson, the red doesn't mean she's not flying: that just means that she was part of that group of updates (there was one or more in red font, just like in blue font or brown font).
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: NasaFan95 on 08/07/2022 08:10 pm
My understanding has been that 60 at the point of assignment to a mission is generally the cut-off point, thus allowing astros to fly by age 61-62 at the latest.
Tom marshburn he was 60 while in space turned 61 in space.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: NasaFan95 on 08/07/2022 08:12 pm
[Borisov] is on Crew-7, launching in Spring 2024--Spacefacts is wrong there. I know I've seen it, and I'm nearly positive Oleg Kononenko has confirmed it. (The manned launches page and the upcoming expeditions page also do not always agree.) As far as Tracy Caldwell-Dyson, the red doesn't mean she's not flying: that just means that she was part of that group of updates (there was one or more in red font, just like in blue font or brown font).
thanks for letting me know that on Caldwell & borisov.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Delta7 on 08/10/2022 01:27 pm
I think you’ll see the currently unassigned members of Group 22 get assigned to the earliest flights possible. Cardman, Dominick, Kim.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: JoeFromRIUSA on 08/10/2022 07:13 pm
There is no more "Artemis Group"

Reid Wiseman, current chief astronaut, has stated that all 42 active NASA astronauts are available for Artemis missions


https://www.spaceflightinsider.com/organizations/nasa/are-all-astronauts-eligible-for-artemis-moon-missions/?fbclid=IwAR3O-OC3PRZk4UNX3F4RaMmOGZndmZ3ux3fBcvDx9TJwNQ1gFANzxvk1YsA


Posted from "Artemis Astronaut Assignments"
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 08/11/2022 04:01 am
There is no more "Artemis Group"

Reid Wiseman, current chief astronaut, has stated that all 42 active NASA astronauts are available for Artemis missions

I realize that, but thank you for making sure I knew. If you're referring to my thoughts on Acaba, I wasn't predicting who would fly on Artemis (I personally have him on Artemis III)--I was just saying I couldn't see him as commander.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: JoeFromRIUSA on 08/11/2022 09:04 pm
No harm no foul. I thought Victor Glover was a shoo-in to command Artemis 3
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: NasaFan95 on 08/13/2022 05:16 pm
[Borisov] is on Crew-7, launching in Spring 2024--Spacefacts is wrong there. I know I've seen it, and I'm nearly positive Oleg Kononenko has confirmed it. (The manned launches page and the upcoming expeditions page also do not always agree.) As far as Tracy Caldwell-Dyson, the red doesn't mean she's not flying: that just means that she was part of that group of updates (there was one or more in red font, just like in blue font or brown font).
they haven’t announced who the crew 7 MS1 is it’s not furukawa according to multiple sources borisov is MS2, I have a feeling Tim peake will be assigned to space x crew 8 as either pilot or mission specialist. Don’t know who will be assigned as commander the launch isn’t until 2024 maybe drew feustel gets assigned to command that mission or someone like a Randy bresnik or a Scott tingle. Cuz bresnik was selected as a pilot back in 04.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 08/13/2022 08:26 pm
Seems that Tunisia wants to fly a woman with Russia to ISS in 2024.

Tunisie : 8 femmes en lice pour être la première femme astronaute tunisienne (https://www.aa.com.tr/fr/afrique/tunisie-8-femmes-en-lice-pour-être-la-première-femme-astronaute-tunisienne/2660635#)

Eight female fighter pilots are in the running to be selected :Hala Awassa, Ibtihal Youssef, Wafa El-Baldi, Yomna El-Dalali, Olfa Lajnef, Rahma Trabelsi, Hind Safferi and Malika Mabrouk
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 08/13/2022 09:41 pm
No harm no foul. I thought Victor Glover was a shoo-in to command Artemis 3

I suspect it will either be someone with previous CDR experience or more Artemis experience (e.g., Bresnik), but I could see that.

they haven’t announced who the crew 7 MS1 is it’s not furukawa according to multiple sources borisov is MS2

Interesting! I had not heard that Furukawa was not expected to fly on Crew-7.

Seems that Tunisia wants to fly a woman with Russia to ISS in 2024.

Does anyone know whether this would be a taxi crew (like TMA-18M) or a dedicated tourist flight (like MS-20?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: NasaFan95 on 08/13/2022 10:19 pm
The thing on Furukawa was on Wikipedia than someone edited it out and put him on Boeing starliner 1 which is yet to be confirmed the only astronaut confirmed is Jeanette Epps I have a feeling Mike fincke will command the first starliner mission with Matthew Dominick as pilot but idk who’ll command and pilot Boeing starliner 1.only one ik assigned to the mission is Jeanette Epps. Satoshi furukawa is yet to be confirmed if he’s flying on starliner 1 or starliner 2.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: NasaFan95 on 08/13/2022 10:22 pm
No harm no foul. I thought Victor Glover was a shoo-in to command Artemis 3

I suspect it will either be someone with previous CDR experience or more Artemis experience (e.g., Bresnik), but I could see that.

I think the two females that will walk on the moon first in 2025 will be 58 year old Stephanie Wilson, & 60 year old Suni Williams, since their the most senior astronauts. Although I could see Megan mcarthur get an Artemis slot.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jmt27 on 08/14/2022 01:56 am
[Borisov] is on Crew-7, launching in Spring 2024--Spacefacts is wrong there. I know I've seen it, and I'm nearly positive Oleg Kononenko has confirmed it. (The manned launches page and the upcoming expeditions page also do not always agree.) As far as Tracy Caldwell-Dyson, the red doesn't mean she's not flying: that just means that she was part of that group of updates (there was one or more in red font, just like in blue font or brown font).
they haven’t announced who the crew 7 MS1 is it’s not furukawa according to multiple sources borisov is MS2, I have a feeling Tim peake will be assigned to space x crew 8 as either pilot or mission specialist. Don’t know who will be assigned as commander the launch isn’t until 2024 maybe drew feustel gets assigned to command that mission or someone like a Randy bresnik or a Scott tingle. Cuz bresnik was selected as a pilot back in 04.

You are forgetting Jeremy Hansen. If Furukawa flies on Crew-7 then Hansen flies on Starliner-1, or vice-versa.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 08/14/2022 02:46 am
You are forgetting Jeremy Hansen. If Furukawa flies on Crew-7 then Hansen flies on Starliner-1, or vice-versa.

Do we know that it will be a third international astronaut and not a second American?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: NasaFan95 on 08/14/2022 04:28 am
You are forgetting Jeremy Hansen. If Furukawa flies on Crew-7 then Hansen flies on Starliner-1, or vice-versa.

Do we know that it will be a third international astronaut and not a second American?
That’s the issue Boeing hasn’t come out and told us who’s flying the first starliner mission if Hansen doesn’t fly on starliner one he’ll fly on starliner 2.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: eric z on 08/14/2022 03:54 pm
 I am wondering if the time has come to split this thread into 2 parts: one for confirmed actual verified officially flight crew assignments and a second one for speculation. Hey, I love reading everyone's guesses and reasoning, but it would be great to come straight to real information. I would still enjoy both parts, of course!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 08/14/2022 09:30 pm
I am wondering if the time has come to split this thread into 2 parts: one for confirmed actual verified officially flight crew assignments and a second one for speculation. Hey, I love reading everyone's guesses and reasoning, but it would be great to come straight to real information. I would still enjoy both parts, of course!

Yes, I wholeheartedly agree.    I thought this thread was for "confirmed actual verified officially flight crew assignments"  not speculations but was biting my tongue hoping they would run out of gas soon but they seem to go on forever.  Speculation should maybe be a thread associated with a particular flight?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: NasaFan95 on 08/15/2022 01:35 am
I am wondering if the time has come to split this thread into 2 parts: one for confirmed actual verified officially flight crew assignments and a second one for speculation. Hey, I love reading everyone's guesses and reasoning, but it would be great to come straight to real information. I would still enjoy both parts, of course!

Yes, I wholeheartedly agree.    I thought this thread was for "confirmed actual verified officially flight crew assignments"  not speculations but was biting my tongue hoping they would run out of gas soon but they seem to go on forever.  Speculation should maybe be a thread associated with a particular flight?
someone should create a separate thread on predictions for Boeing starliner & the space x crew dragon crew assignments.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jmt27 on 08/16/2022 01:26 am
I am wondering if the time has come to split this thread into 2 parts: one for confirmed actual verified officially flight crew assignments and a second one for speculation. Hey, I love reading everyone's guesses and reasoning, but it would be great to come straight to real information. I would still enjoy both parts, of course!

Yes, I wholeheartedly agree.    I thought this thread was for "confirmed actual verified officially flight crew assignments"  not speculations but was biting my tongue hoping they would run out of gas soon but they seem to go on forever.  Speculation should maybe be a thread associated with a particular flight?
someone should create a separate thread on predictions for Boeing crew dragon crew assignments, & starliner crew assignments.
"Boeing crew dragon" ? lol that's a new one. No worries, Bill Nelson also have them mixed up...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 08/16/2022 07:18 am
Tim Peake returns to ESA at the end of October. From that point on, he can be assigned to a mission.

When will the UK take another giant leap into space? (https://www.theregister.com/2022/08/15/uk_space_feature/)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: NasaFan95 on 08/16/2022 07:19 pm
I am wondering if the time has come to split this thread into 2 parts: one for confirmed actual verified officially flight crew assignments and a second one for speculation. Hey, I love reading everyone's guesses and reasoning, but it would be great to come straight to real information. I would still enjoy both parts, of course!

Yes, I wholeheartedly agree.    I thought this thread was for "confirmed actual verified officially flight crew assignments"  not speculations but was biting my tongue hoping they would run out of gas soon but they seem to go on forever.  Speculation should maybe be a thread associated with a particular flight?
someone should create a separate thread on predictions for Boeing crew dragon crew assignments, & starliner crew assignments.
"Boeing crew dragon" ? lol that's a new one. No worries, Bill Nelson also have them mixed up...
I fixed it.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: NasaFan95 on 08/17/2022 07:59 pm
https://imgur.com/5YMstdx according to GCTC !

Is that Tracy Caldwell-Dyson showing as Loral O'Hara's backup? I can sometimes figure out the Cyrillic alphabet but am having trouble here.
Yes.
is caldwell gonna command the station like on expedition 71 or 72 I haven’t heard anything.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 08/18/2022 02:23 pm
The mission of Andreas Mogensen will be called Huginn (press conference of today)

https://twitter.com/esaspaceflight/status/1560312172768628738?s=20 (https://twitter.com/esaspaceflight/status/1560312172768628738?s=20)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: NasaFan95 on 08/18/2022 10:59 pm
I read on spacefacts today that Caldwell was rumored to have been removed from Soyuz MS24, it says their gonna have a space flight participant on the next two Soyuz flights. So idk what’s going on if someone could confirm this as fact not fiction or if it’s false or if it just got announced let me know. Theirs rumors of a Belarusian space tourist that’ll fly with ovchinin and land with kononenko & O’Hara, & a Turkish space flight participant would fly on Soyuz MS25, and would land with ovchinin & Chubb, so I wonder if Hansen & borisov will swap spots Hansen to crew 7 borisov to crew 8 or if it’ll be borisov & furukawa that fly on crew 7 & Hansen & Caldwell on crew 8. Or if Caldwell will fly on crew 7 or Boeing starliner mission one or if furukawa fly’s on the first Boeing starliner mission. Nasa hasn’t come out and released any statement yet but if these two space flight participants fly they’ll have Caldwell fly  on either the space x crew dragon or the Boeing starliner, idk about Caldwell all these changes it’s weird. Only Americans lined ik for the Soyuz are Rubio & O’Hara. Whenever someone comes out with a statement please let me know.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 08/19/2022 07:41 am
I was under the impression that the Turkish flight was Axiom-2, not a Soyuz mission.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Joachim on 08/19/2022 08:29 am
I read on spacefacts today that Caldwell was rumored to have been removed from Soyuz MS24, it says their gonna have a space flight participant on the next two Soyuz flights. So idk what’s going on if someone could confirm this as fact not fiction or if it’s false or if it just got announced let me know. Theirs rumors of a Belarusian space tourist that’ll fly with ovchinin and land with kononenko & O’Hara, & a Turkish space flight participant would fly on Soyuz MS25, and would land with ovchinin & Chubb, so I wonder if Hansen & borisov will swap spots Hansen to crew 7 borisov to crew 8 or if it’ll be borisov & furukawa that fly on crew 7 & Hansen & Caldwell on crew 8. Or if Caldwell will fly on crew 7 or Boeing starliner mission one or if furukawa fly’s on the first Boeing starliner mission. Nasa hasn’t come out and released any statement yet but if these two space flight participants fly they’ll have Caldwell fly  on either the space x crew dragon or the Boeing starliner, idk about Caldwell all these changes it’s weird. Only Americans lined ik for the Soyuz are Rubio & O’Hara. Whenever someone comes out with a statement please let me know.

My schedule for MS-25 contains the flag of Tunesia. It's not the Turkish flag.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 08/19/2022 12:12 pm
So the Tunisian female astronaut.

Eight Women Selected for First Tunisian and African Female Astronaut Project (https://africanews.space/eight-women-selected-for-first-tunisian-and-african-female-astronaut-project/)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: NasaFan95 on 08/19/2022 10:22 pm
I read on spacefacts today that Caldwell was rumored to have been removed from Soyuz MS24, it says their gonna have a space flight participant on the next two Soyuz flights. So idk what’s going on if someone could confirm this as fact not fiction or if it’s false or if it just got announced let me know. Theirs rumors of a Belarusian space tourist that’ll fly with ovchinin and land with kononenko & O’Hara, & a Turkish space flight participant would fly on Soyuz MS25, and would land with ovchinin & Chubb, so I wonder if Hansen & borisov will swap spots Hansen to crew 7 borisov to crew 8 or if it’ll be borisov & furukawa that fly on crew 7 & Hansen & Caldwell on crew 8. Or if Caldwell will fly on crew 7 or Boeing starliner mission one or if furukawa fly’s on the first Boeing starliner mission. Nasa hasn’t come out and released any statement yet but if these two space flight participants fly they’ll have Caldwell fly  on either the space x crew dragon or the Boeing starliner, idk about Caldwell all these changes it’s weird. Only Americans lined ik for the Soyuz are Rubio & O’Hara. Whenever someone comes out with a statement please let me know.
My schedule for MS-25 contains the flag of Tunesia. It's not the Turkish flag.
that’s what it was but their was another flag on MS24.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Joachim on 08/20/2022 05:42 am
The flag on MS-24 is from Belarus.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: zubenelgenubi on 08/25/2022 10:38 pm
Moderator:
The thread is for current and future assignments, not alternate histories discussions of past possible assignments.
Neither is it the place for speculation not anchored in some kind of fact or logical deduction from fact.

We have the party thread 🥳 or the homeless thread for unbridled speculation.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: NasaFan95 on 08/26/2022 11:13 pm
Moderator:
The thread is for current and future assignments, not alternate histories discussions of past possible assignments.
Neither is it the place for speculation not anchored in some kind of fact or logical deduction from fact.

We have the party thread 🥳 or the homeless thread for unbridled speculation.
I’m on Wikipedia & spacefacts & that the Soyuz, crew dragon collaboration missions after crew 7 ends for awhile after O’Hara lands on a Soyuz crew swap with a Belarusian astronaut, and the next one that lands has a Tunisian astronaut & on crew 7 on Wikipedia when you look up list of crew dragon flights they have an American flag as one of the mission specialists on crew 7, so I wonder if Caldwell got bumped to crew 7 nasa hasn’t come out and publicly said anything yet it’s kinda been hush hush which it’s like just announce something, but I just wondered Jeremy Hansen Will he more than likely be on crew 8, I can tell you I was on a space website and they said that the Boeing starliner test flight got bumped to February and no later than early to mid February. Idk how true that is but if someone could confirm that if they’ve heard that let me know the only confirmed crew member for starliner 1 is Jeanette Epps, Satoshi furukawa has yet to be confirmed for starliner 1 by JAXA, & the commander and pilot have yet to be confirmed by nasa, & the fourth astronaut the supposed American for crew 7 has yet to be confirmed by nasa on the space x crew 7, the only confirmed crew members are moghbeli, morgensen, & borisov, i’m not trying to speculate anything or start rumors but if anyone that’s works for nasa that’s on here can say something I’d appreciate It.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jmt27 on 08/27/2022 01:27 am
Moderator:
The thread is for current and future assignments, not alternate histories discussions of past possible assignments.
Neither is it the place for speculation not anchored in some kind of fact or logical deduction from fact.

We have the party thread 🥳 or the homeless thread for unbridled speculation.
I’m on Wikipedia & spacefacts & that the Soyuz, crew dragon collaboration missions after crew 7 ends for awhile after O’Hara lands on a Soyuz crew swap with a Belarusian astronaut, and the next one that lands has a Tunisian astronaut & on crew 7 on Wikipedia when you look up list of crew dragon flights they have an American flag as one of the mission specialists on crew 7, so I wonder if Caldwell got bumped to crew 7 nasa hasn’t come out and publicly said anything yet it’s kinda been hush hush which it’s like just announce something, but I just wondered Jeremy Hansen Will he more than likely be on crew 8, I can tell you I was on a space website and they said that the Boeing starliner test flight got bumped to February and no later than early to mid February. Idk how true that is but if someone could confirm that if they’ve heard that let me know the only confirmed crew member for starliner 1 is Jeanette Epps, Satoshi furukawa has yet to be confirmed for starliner 1 by JAXA, & the commander and pilot have yet to be confirmed by nasa, & the fourth astronaut the supposed American for crew 7 has yet to be confirmed by nasa on the space x crew 7, the only confirmed crew members are moghbeli, morgensen, & borisov, i’m not trying to speculate anything or start rumors but if anyone that’s works for nasa that’s on here can say something I’d appreciate It.
About Starliner, yes its being pushed back to NET February as mentionned on the NASA/Boeing media teleconference yesterday. As for Wikipedia, you have to remember that its been updated by regular people. I often see mistakes and update stuff on there. As of now there is no news on that mission specialist for Crew-7... could be an american but I doubt it would be Caldwell-Dyson as she's started training for Soyuz.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: NasaFan95 on 08/27/2022 04:13 am
Moderator:
The thread is for current and future assignments, not alternate histories discussions of past possible assignments.
Neither is it the place for speculation not anchored in some kind of fact or logical deduction from fact.

We have the party thread 🥳 or the homeless thread for unbridled speculation.
I’m on Wikipedia & spacefacts & that the Soyuz, crew dragon collaboration missions after crew 7 ends for awhile after O’Hara lands on a Soyuz crew swap with a Belarusian astronaut, and the next one that lands has a Tunisian astronaut & on crew 7 on Wikipedia when you look up list of crew dragon flights they have an American flag as one of the mission specialists on crew 7, so I wonder if Caldwell got bumped to crew 7 nasa hasn’t come out and publicly said anything yet it’s kinda been hush hush which it’s like just announce something, but I just wondered Jeremy Hansen Will he more than likely be on crew 8, I can tell you I was on a space website and they said that the Boeing starliner test flight got bumped to February and no later than early to mid February. Idk how true that is but if someone could confirm that if they’ve heard that let me know the only confirmed crew member for starliner 1 is Jeanette Epps, Satoshi furukawa has yet to be confirmed for starliner 1 by JAXA, & the commander and pilot have yet to be confirmed by nasa, & the fourth astronaut the supposed American for crew 7 has yet to be confirmed by nasa on the space x crew 7, the only confirmed crew members are moghbeli, morgensen, & borisov, i’m not trying to speculate anything or start rumors but if anyone that’s works for nasa that’s on here can say something I’d appreciate It.
About Starliner, yes its being pushed back to NET February as mentionned on the NASA/Boeing media teleconference yesterday. As for Wikipedia, you have to remember that its been updated by regular people. I often see mistakes and update stuff on there. As of now there is no news on that mission specialist for Crew-7... could be an american but I doubt it would be Caldwell-Dyson as she's started training for Soyuz.
thank you for letting me know.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: NasaFan95 on 08/27/2022 05:29 pm
Moderator:
The thread is for current and future assignments, not alternate histories discussions of past possible assignments.
Neither is it the place for speculation not anchored in some kind of fact or logical deduction from fact.

We have the party thread 🥳 or the homeless thread for unbridled speculation.
I’m on Wikipedia & spacefacts & that the Soyuz, crew dragon collaboration missions after crew 7 ends for awhile after O’Hara lands on a Soyuz crew swap with a Belarusian astronaut, and the next one that lands has a Tunisian astronaut & on crew 7 on Wikipedia when you look up list of crew dragon flights they have an American flag as one of the mission specialists on crew 7, so I wonder if Caldwell got bumped to crew 7 nasa hasn’t come out and publicly said anything yet it’s kinda been hush hush which it’s like just announce something, but I just wondered Jeremy Hansen Will he more than likely be on crew 8, I can tell you I was on a space website and they said that the Boeing starliner test flight got bumped to February and no later than early to mid February. Idk how true that is but if someone could confirm that if they’ve heard that let me know the only confirmed crew member for starliner 1 is Jeanette Epps, Satoshi furukawa has yet to be confirmed for starliner 1 by JAXA, & the commander and pilot have yet to be confirmed by nasa, & the fourth astronaut the supposed American for crew 7 has yet to be confirmed by nasa on the space x crew 7, the only confirmed crew members are moghbeli, morgensen, & borisov, i’m not trying to speculate anything or start rumors but if anyone that’s works for nasa that’s on here can say something I’d appreciate It.
About Starliner, yes its being pushed back to NET February as mentionned on the NASA/Boeing media teleconference yesterday. As for Wikipedia, you have to remember that its been updated by regular people. I often see mistakes and update stuff on there. As of now there is no news on that mission specialist for Crew-7... could be an american but I doubt it would be Caldwell-Dyson as she's started training for Soyuz.
is Boeing starliner crew 1 gonna fly before space x crew 7. Cuz idk which one is gonna fly first
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: kdhilliard on 08/27/2022 06:15 pm
is Boeing starliner crew 1 gonna fly before space x crew 7. Cuz idk which one is gonna fly first
We don't know either.
On Thursday, Boeing said (https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=47917.msg2399970#msg2399970) that in addition to flying their CFT (Crewed Flight Test) in February 2023, they are targeting having a Starliner ready for the Fall 2023 crew rotation mission opportunity.  (Boeing's Mark Nappi called it PCM-1 for Post Certification Mission 1, but we also see it go by Starliner-1 and Boeing-1.)
But some statements from ESA (https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/Introducing_Huginn) and from Andreas Mogensen (https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=55543.msg2387378#msg2387378) suggest SpaceX Crew-7 will get the slot.
However TASS & Roscosmos suggest (https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=55543.msg2399306#msg2399306) a Crew-7 mission in 2024.
NASA hasn't said anything on the subject, though we might learn more during the pre-flight briefing next month for Crew-5.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 09/01/2022 03:39 am
This makes it sound like the Tunisian flight will be a full-length one and not a spaceflight participant: https://www.republicworld.com/science/space/roscosmos-to-launch-tunisias-first-woman-to-international-space-station-in-2024-articleshow.html. Does anyone know anything more about this?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: NasaFan95 on 09/01/2022 05:15 pm
This makes it sound like the Tunisian flight will be a full-length one and not a spaceflight participant: https://www.republicworld.com/science/space/roscosmos-to-launch-tunisias-first-woman-to-international-space-station-in-2024-articleshow.html. Does anyone know anything more about this?
so does that mean someone else will get bumped to crew 7 as pilot that being someone like a Matthew dominick or a Jonny Kim. Only confirmed member of starliner crew 1 is Jeanette Epps Satoshi furukawa is still to be confirmed.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: kdhilliard on 09/01/2022 05:22 pm
This makes it sound like the Tunisian flight will be a full-length one and not a spaceflight participant: https://www.republicworld.com/science/space/roscosmos-to-launch-tunisias-first-woman-to-international-space-station-in-2024-articleshow.html. Does anyone know anything more about this?

Oops!  Non-sequitur follows.  (I totally misread John's question.)

Quoting Wikipedia's SpaceX Crew-6 § Crew (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpaceX_Crew-6#Crew):
Quote
MBRSC (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammed_bin_Rashid_Space_Centre) participation in this mission is a byproduct of a 2021 agreement between NASA and Axiom to fly a NASA astronaut, Mark T. Vande Hei (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_T._Vande_Hei), onboard Soyuz MS-18 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_MS-18) (launch) and Soyuz MS-19 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_MS-19) (return) in order to ensure a continuing American presence onboard the ISS. In return, Axiom received the rights to a NASA owned seat onboard SpaceX Crew-6. Axiom provided the flight opportunity to MBRSC professional crew member through an agreement with the United Arab Emirates Space Agency (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Arab_Emirates_Space_Agency). Later the astronaut was confirmed to be Sultan Al Neyadi (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sultan_Al_Neyadi).

That looks correct to me.

I don't recall if NASA was prohibited from buying seats from the Russians at that point, if they just wanted to avoid doing so for political / optics concerns, or if this was thought to be a cheaper way.  But for whatever reason, it was decided that this barter arrangement was the best course.

I'd love to hear more about NASA's thoughts on integrating Al Neyadi in as a full USOS member of Expeditions 68/69, which is what I assume is happening.

(However it was obtained, that Vande Hei seat turned out to be even more valuable to NASA when his stay was converted into a year-long (355 day) mission.  Though I thought it funny at the time how that aspect of Vande Hei's mission wasn't emphasized much, compared to all the hoopla give the year-long (340 day) mission.  I suppose it was overshadowed by Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the public concern over Vande Hei return on 30 March 2022.  But still, the man does hold the record for the longest US single spaceflight.)

A short-stay mission for Al Neyadi would be hard to pull off if Starliner flies it's first Post Certification Mission in Fall 2023 (as Boeing says they are targeting).  It would be easier to do so if that Fall mission is SpX Crew-7 (as the same suit would be used up and down), with one member of Crew-6 having their stay extend to a year.  I've no reason to think that is being considered as a possibility, but I don't know that NASA would be publicly discussing it if it were.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: NasaFan95 on 09/01/2022 05:29 pm
is Boeing starliner crew 1 gonna fly before space x crew 7. Cuz idk which one is gonna fly first
We don't know either.
On Thursday, Boeing said (https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=47917.msg2399970#msg2399970) that in addition to flying their CFT (Crewed Flight Test) in February 2023, they are targeting having a Starliner ready for the Fall 2023 crew rotation mission opportunity.  (Boeing's Mark Nappi called it PCM-1 for Post Certification Mission 1, but we also see it go by Starliner-1 and Boeing-1.)
But some statements from ESA (https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/Introducing_Huginn) and from Andreas Mogensen (https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=55543.msg2387378#msg2387378) suggest SpaceX Crew-7 will get the slot.
However TASS & Roscosmos suggest (https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=55543.msg2399306#msg2399306) a Crew-7 mission in 2024.
NASA hasn't said anything on the subject, though we might learn more during the pre-flight briefing next month for Crew-5.
is Mike fincke the commander or pilot of Boeing starliner crew 1 I’ve only read stuff nasa and Boeing have yet to confirm it,  unless Matthew dominick is gonna be the first rookie to command a Boeing mission. Or if Eric boe is medically able to fly Again idk I just looked on Wikipedia and Satoshi furukawa has supposedly been confirmed for space x crew 7 he’ll probably command the second half of expedition 70 if he has been confirmed can someone from JAXA confirm it.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 09/01/2022 05:50 pm
is Boeing starliner crew 1 gonna fly before space x crew 7. Cuz idk which one is gonna fly first
We don't know either.
On Thursday, Boeing said (https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=47917.msg2399970#msg2399970) that in addition to flying their CFT (Crewed Flight Test) in February 2023, they are targeting having a Starliner ready for the Fall 2023 crew rotation mission opportunity.  (Boeing's Mark Nappi called it PCM-1 for Post Certification Mission 1, but we also see it go by Starliner-1 and Boeing-1.)
But some statements from ESA (https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/Introducing_Huginn) and from Andreas Mogensen (https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=55543.msg2387378#msg2387378) suggest SpaceX Crew-7 will get the slot.
However TASS & Roscosmos suggest (https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=55543.msg2399306#msg2399306) a Crew-7 mission in 2024.
NASA hasn't said anything on the subject, though we might learn more during the pre-flight briefing next month for Crew-5.
is Mike fincke the commander or pilot of Boeing starliner crew 1 I’ve only heard stuff nasa and Boeing have yet to confirm it,  unless Matthew dominick is gonna be the first rookie to command a Boeing mission. Or if Eric boe is medically able to fly Again idk I just looked on Wikipedia and Satoshi furukawa has supposedly been confirmed for space x crew 7 he’ll probably command the second half of expedition 70 if he has been confirmed can someone from JAXA confirm it.

As someone who has played the what-if crew game for years, I'm in a poor position to criticize, but really... if you're going to speculate and cite Wikipedia and use terms like "I've only heard" (from whom?), at least try using capital letters and punctuation so we can actually read what you've written.

Michael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 09/01/2022 08:56 pm
Quoting Wikipedia's SpaceX Crew-6 § Crew (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpaceX_Crew-6#Crew):
Quote
MBRSC (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammed_bin_Rashid_Space_Centre) participation in this mission is a byproduct of a 2021 agreement between NASA and Axiom to fly a NASA astronaut, Mark T. Vande Hei (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_T._Vande_Hei), onboard Soyuz MS-18 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_MS-18) (launch) and Soyuz MS-19 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_MS-19) (return) in order to ensure a continuing American presence onboard the ISS. In return, Axiom received the rights to a NASA owned seat onboard SpaceX Crew-6. Axiom provided the flight opportunity to MBRSC professional crew member through an agreement with the United Arab Emirates Space Agency (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Arab_Emirates_Space_Agency). Later the astronaut was confirmed to be Sultan Al Neyadi (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sultan_Al_Neyadi).

That looks correct to me.

I'm confused here. I was talking about the Tunisian who's supposed to fly on Soyuz, not the UAE flight on Crew-6. As far as I know, that has always been planned to be a 6-month flight, but I thought the Tunisian flight was going to be as a spaceflight participant. Sorry if I'm missing something.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: kdhilliard on 09/01/2022 09:51 pm
I'm confused here. I was talking about the Tunisian who's supposed to fly on Soyuz, not the UAE flight on Crew-6. ...
You think you're confused?
Clearly it was I who was confused!
Next thing you know I'll be quoting cryogenic temperatures in Rankine off by a full order of magnitude!

I do remember reading "Tunisian", but my mind latched onto the full-length mission part and ran with some musings I've had about Al Neyadi's stay.  Sorry.   My bad. :-[
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jmt27 on 09/02/2022 01:31 am
Quoting Wikipedia's SpaceX Crew-6 § Crew (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpaceX_Crew-6#Crew):
Quote
MBRSC (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammed_bin_Rashid_Space_Centre) participation in this mission is a byproduct of a 2021 agreement between NASA and Axiom to fly a NASA astronaut, Mark T. Vande Hei (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_T._Vande_Hei), onboard Soyuz MS-18 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_MS-18) (launch) and Soyuz MS-19 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_MS-19) (return) in order to ensure a continuing American presence onboard the ISS. In return, Axiom received the rights to a NASA owned seat onboard SpaceX Crew-6. Axiom provided the flight opportunity to MBRSC professional crew member through an agreement with the United Arab Emirates Space Agency (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Arab_Emirates_Space_Agency). Later the astronaut was confirmed to be Sultan Al Neyadi (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sultan_Al_Neyadi).

That looks correct to me.

I'm confused here. I was talking about the Tunisian who's supposed to fly on Soyuz, not the UAE flight on Crew-6. As far as I know, that has always been planned to be a 6-month flight, but I thought the Tunisian flight was going to be as a spaceflight participant. Sorry if I'm missing something.

I'm confused too John. Let's get things straight:
- Crew-6's Sultan Al Neyadi's flight is a 6 months stay.
- Crew-7's still got one seat unannounced yet (probably between Hansen and Furukawa).
- Starliner-1 only has Epps assigned. We'll likely see an international partner in that 4th seat (Hansen or Furukawa)
- Crew-8 and over, no assignments known yet.
- MS-23 has O'hara confirmed. Caldwell-Dyson as backup.

Now for the speculation zone:
- MS-24 was thought to have Caldwell-Dyson as prime crew but its now looking like a Belarussian visitor for a short duration stay, with a Russian cosmonaut staying for a full year.
- MS-25 would be the Tunisian woman for a short duration stay, with another Russian cosmonaut staying for a full year.
- MS-26 would have 3 Russian cosmonauts.

If its true, there would be no crew swap of NASA astronaut on Soyuz and Roscosmos cosmonaut on Dragon for quite a while.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 09/02/2022 04:01 am
I'm confused too John. Let's get things straight:

Assuming that Crew-7 (with Borisov) flies in Spring 2024, it seems likely that there will be an American (probably Tracy Caldwell-Dyson) on MS-25, probably ascent FE1 with an SFP and descent FE2 with Platonov (with Mikayev and Grebyonkin both getting bumped), but other than that, I think you've got it.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 09/02/2022 09:37 pm
Nah mate, you're rationalizing.

If you were making logical deductions you'd be using phrases like "something, something therefore".

The phrases you actually used were "assuming", "seems likely", "probably" - clear markers of speculation.

Kindly cut it out.

Perhaps I could have picked a clearer word than "deductions," but respectfully, please do not accuse me of rationalizing. I do not want to derail this thread (and indeed have been frustrated by recent derailment into speculation--you and Joachim and I are all, I believe, on the same side here), but I am not speculating. kdhilliard and I were collecting the facts that we did know on a confusing topic and trying to figure out what facts we do not know and then to go from there. I was not expecting to continue it beyond what I had already said. All of it, however, was connected to what has come before, both on this thread and more generally. "Assuming", e.g., could be speculation, but it could also be "Presuming that things stay as they have been announced in the news and ..."

Mods, feel free to delete this, but I wanted to clarify my motives.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 09/03/2022 05:20 am
Am I correct in thinking that if Crew-7 flies in late 2023, it'll only have one U.S. crew member (Moghbeli) and Soyuz MS-23 will also only have one U.S. crew member (Caldwell)? So potentially their increment will be 2 U.S., 3 Russians, Mogensen of Denmark and possibly Furukawa of Japan or Hansen of Canada?

Past precedent (at least during 7-crew ops) has typically seen 3 U.S. crew, 3 Russian crew and one IP. Is this expected to change?

Also, flying in such close proximity to Artemis II, is Hansen definitively out of the running for the lunar-orbit mission? In other words, is he unquestioningly aimed at ISS and Kutryk/Sidey-Gibbons at Artemis?

Apologies for the questions/speculation/rambling/curiosity.





Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: rdale on 09/03/2022 01:09 pm
who’s commanding expedition 68

https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=53984.msg2399173#msg2399173
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: NasaFan95 on 09/09/2022 11:23 pm
Am I correct in thinking that if Crew-7 flies in late 2023, it'll only have one U.S. crew member (Moghbeli) and Soyuz MS-23 will also only have one U.S. crew member (Caldwell)? So potentially their increment will be 2 U.S., 3 Russians, Mogensen of Denmark and possibly Furukawa of Japan or Hansen of Canada?

Past precedent (at least during 7-crew ops) has typically seen 3 U.S. crew, 3 Russian crew and one IP. Is this expected to change?

Also, flying in such close proximity to Artemis II, is Hansen definitively out of the running for the lunar-orbit mission? In other words, is he unquestioningly aimed at ISS and Kutryk/Sidey-Gibbons at Artemis?

Apologies for the questions/speculation/rambling/curiosity.

I think launch of space x crew 7 is going for early 2024 now Boeing starliner crew 1 I think is supposed to fly first but could be wrong. Someone please correct me if I’m wrong.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: NasaFan95 on 09/09/2022 11:26 pm
Quoting Wikipedia's SpaceX Crew-6 § Crew (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpaceX_Crew-6#Crew):
Quote
MBRSC (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammed_bin_Rashid_Space_Centre) participation in this mission is a byproduct of a 2021 agreement between NASA and Axiom to fly a NASA astronaut, Mark T. Vande Hei (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_T._Vande_Hei), onboard Soyuz MS-18 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_MS-18) (launch) and Soyuz MS-19 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_MS-19) (return) in order to ensure a continuing American presence onboard the ISS. In return, Axiom received the rights to a NASA owned seat onboard SpaceX Crew-6. Axiom provided the flight opportunity to MBRSC professional crew member through an agreement with the United Arab Emirates Space Agency (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Arab_Emirates_Space_Agency). Later the astronaut was confirmed to be Sultan Al Neyadi (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sultan_Al_Neyadi).

That looks correct to me.

I'm confused here. I was talking about the Tunisian who's supposed to fly on Soyuz, not the UAE flight on Crew-6. As far as I know, that has always been planned to be a 6-month flight, but I thought the Tunisian flight was going to be as a spaceflight participant. Sorry if I'm missing something.

I'm confused too John. Let's get things straight:
- Crew-6's Sultan Al Neyadi's flight is a 6 months stay.
- Crew-7's still got one seat unannounced yet (probably between Hansen and Furukawa).
- Starliner-1 only has Epps assigned. We'll likely see an international partner in that 4th seat (Hansen or Furukawa)
- Crew-8 and over, no assignments known yet.
- MS-23 has O'hara confirmed. Caldwell-Dyson as backup.

Now for the speculation zone:
- MS-24 was thought to have Caldwell-Dyson as prime crew but its now looking like a Belarussian visitor for a short duration stay, with a Russian cosmonaut staying for a full year.
- MS-25 would be the Tunisian woman for a short duration stay, with another Russian cosmonaut staying for a full year.
- MS-26 would have 3 Russian cosmonauts.

If its true, there would be no crew swap of NASA astronaut on Soyuz and Roscosmos cosmonaut on Dragon for quite a while.
I think Soyuz MS26 through MS29 or MS30 is supposed to have three cosmonauts.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Yiosie on 09/09/2022 11:50 pm
Am I correct in thinking that if Crew-7 flies in late 2023, it'll only have one U.S. crew member (Moghbeli) and Soyuz MS-23 will also only have one U.S. crew member (Caldwell)? So potentially their increment will be 2 U.S., 3 Russians, Mogensen of Denmark and possibly Furukawa of Japan or Hansen of Canada?

Past precedent (at least during 7-crew ops) has typically seen 3 U.S. crew, 3 Russian crew and one IP. Is this expected to change?

Also, flying in such close proximity to Artemis II, is Hansen definitively out of the running for the lunar-orbit mission? In other words, is he unquestioningly aimed at ISS and Kutryk/Sidey-Gibbons at Artemis?

Apologies for the questions/speculation/rambling/curiosity.

I think launch of space x crew 7 is going for early 2024 now Boeing starliner crew 1 I think is supposed to fly first but could be wrong. Someone please correct me if I’m wrong.

SpaceX Crew-7, Huginn mission patch, 2023

ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen (DK) is scheduled to fly on a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station on its seventh crewed operational flight called Crew-7, the thirteenth overall Crew Dragon orbital flight. Flying with commander NASA astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli, Andreas will serve as spacecraft pilot - the first non-US astronaut assigned in this capacity. Two more crew members are to be named at a later date.

The name of Andreas’s second mission to the Space Station is ‘Huginn’. Inspired by Norse mythology, the name is taken from one of two ravens who serve as helper spirits of the god Odin. Called Huginn and Muninn, these two birds sit on Odin’s shoulders and are sent flying across the world at dawn. They return at night to inform him of the many events they have seen and heard. In Old Norse, ‘Huginn’ means ‘thought’ and ‘Muninn’ means ‘mind’ or ‘memory’.

The mission patch itself, designed by ESA graphic designer Karen Lochtenberg, is rendered in the red and white of the Danish flag, and ESA’s own ‘Deep Space Blue’ colour.

The raven Huginn is depicted flying to the right, moving into the future as he glides over an Earth-rise horizon, which could also be seen as the Moon or Mars. His wing includes shading in the shape of Andreas’s homeland, Denmark, while the white of the wing’s highlight – referred to by the designer as the ‘swoosh’ – depicts the journey to the Space Station from Andreas’s birthplace in Copenhagen.

Two stripes on Huginn’s back depict the distinctive solar arrays of the Station, and represent Andreas’s second spaceflight. Six stars in the background form a constellation that resembles the Viking symbol for 'safe travels'.

Related article: Introducing Huginn (https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/Introducing_Huginn)

https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2022/08/SpaceX_Crew-7_Huginn_mission_patch_2023

Image credit: ESA
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 09/14/2022 06:09 pm
Please note this is for flight assignment news. If you want to speculate, please use the specific discussion threads we have for all crew vehicles. I've trimmed this back and removed one disruptive person who should know better about civility on a thread with a six figure viewing number.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 09/19/2022 12:37 pm
Axiom Space Signs Historic Agreement with Türkiye to Send First Turkish Astronaut to Space  (https://www.axiomspace.com/news/turkiye-agreement)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 09/20/2022 07:04 pm
H/T gongora on the AX-2 thread: https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/exclusive-saudi-arabia-buys-pair-spacex-astronaut-seats-axiom-sources-2022-09-20/
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 09/21/2022 07:51 am
The article clarifies also that the two Turkish astronauts should fly on Axiom-3.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 09/21/2022 05:48 pm
The article clarifies also that the two Turkish astronauts should fly on Axiom-3.

I think that may be a typo: all of the other articles I have seen refer to one Turkish astronaut (and one backup), so I suspect that it's a total of two and not two flying. I could be wrong, though.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 09/21/2022 07:12 pm
https://twitter.com/SciGuySpace/status/1572661190370672640

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ZachS09 on 09/21/2022 07:28 pm
What about Jeanette Epps? Has she been bumped from Starliner-1?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 09/21/2022 07:51 pm
What about Jeanette Epps? Has she been bumped from Starliner-1?

I presume it means the third unannounced crewmember, i.e., the second mission specialist.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 09/22/2022 01:48 pm
Saudi Arabia plans to send female astronaut to space in 2023 (https://apnews.com/article/astronomy-space-launches-exploration-science-technology-b97e84e169e2e545557153852d3b5031)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: marcdrnl on 09/30/2022 02:44 pm
NASA Updates Crew Assignments for First Starliner Crew Rotation Flight.

Scott Tingle and Mike Fincke assigned as Starliner-1 CDR and PLT respectively.

https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-updates-crew-assignments-for-first-starliner-crew-rotation-flight
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 09/30/2022 04:08 pm
Forgive me for committing the cardinal sin of guessing crew assignments, but my top two picks for Artemis II CDR were either Tingle or Bresnik.

If Randy doesn't now get Artemis II, I'll eat my hat. (If I had one.)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 09/30/2022 07:43 pm
Either Artemis II or Artemis III for sure--that seems very likely given his seniority and piloting experience and work with Artemis.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 10/06/2022 03:26 pm
From Saudi Arabia and Turkey compete to get a woman astronaut into orbit as soon as possible (https://atalayar.com/en/content/saudi-arabia-and-turkey-compete-get-woman-astronaut-orbit-soon-possible)

Quote
The selection process for the Turkish astronauts is carried out by the Tübitak Space Technology Research Institute in Ankara, with the support of Axiom and under the direction of the Turkish Space Agency on behalf of the Turkish government. In the case of Saudi Arabia, the responsibility for selection rests with its Space Commission.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: NasaFan95 on 10/09/2022 01:30 am
https://twitter.com/SciGuySpace/status/1572661190370672640
I’m surprised fincke didn’t get the command he has more experience than tingle. I mean no disrespect to tingle.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: NasaFan95 on 10/09/2022 01:31 am
https://twitter.com/SciGuySpace/status/1572661190370672640
I’m surprised fincke didn’t get the command he has more experience than tingle. I mean no disrespect to tingle.
have they announced who’s gonna command expedition 70 yet or no.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ZachS09 on 10/09/2022 01:34 am
https://twitter.com/SciGuySpace/status/1572661190370672640
I’m surprised Fincke didn't get the command since he has more experience than Tingle. I mean, no disrespect to Tingle.

It's not uncommon for a spacecraft commander to have less experience than the pilot. On SpaceX Crew-3, the commander Raja Chari was making his first flight while pilot Tom Marshburn was on his third flight.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: NasaFan95 on 10/09/2022 03:29 am
https://twitter.com/SciGuySpace/status/1572661190370672640
I’m surprised Fincke didn't get the command since he has more experience than Tingle. I mean, no disrespect to Tingle.

It's not uncommon for a spacecraft commander to have less experience than the pilot. On SpaceX Crew-3, the commander Raja Chari was making his first flight while pilot Tom Marshburn was on his third flight.
that one did surprise some people but raja chari or grinder as he’s known by is an amazing test pilot.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 10/09/2022 07:22 am
I imagine test-piloting credentials still count in these contexts. Chari and Tingle are both military test pilots, whereas Marshburn and Fincke are not.

Then you have anomalies like Crew-4, where a military test pilot (Hines) flies as PLT to a civilian physician CDR (Lindgren), but the same precedent didn't apply on Crew-3. Strange.

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 10/09/2022 09:13 pm
I imagine test-piloting credentials still count in these contexts. Chari and Tingle are both military test pilots, whereas Marshburn and Fincke are not.

Then you have anomalies like Crew-4, where a military test pilot (Hines) flies as PLT to a civilian physician CDR (Lindgren), but the same precedent didn't apply on Crew-3. Strange.



NASA, especially the astronaut office, judges Starliner to be a more demanding flying challenge than Dragon, at least for the first few piloted flights. They want the CDR to be a test pilot, for now.  Not sure if that will apply to Starliner-2, but it does explain the difference between the two vehicles and crewing.

Michael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 10/09/2022 09:54 pm
NASA, especially the astronaut office, judges Starliner to be a more demanding flying challenge than Dragon, at least for the first few piloted flights. They want the CDR to be a test pilot, for now.  Not sure if that will apply to Starliner-2, but it does explain the difference between the two vehicles and crewing.

Interesting! I'm not looking to derail the thread, but is there a short answer to what makes Starliner more demanding? Is it the previous problems, the way the vehicle is flown, or something else?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Zed_Noir on 10/10/2022 05:26 pm
NASA, especially the astronaut office, judges Starliner to be a more demanding flying challenge than Dragon, at least for the first few piloted flights. They want the CDR to be a test pilot, for now.  Not sure if that will apply to Starliner-2, but it does explain the difference between the two vehicles and crewing.

Interesting! I'm not looking to derail the thread, but is there a short answer to what makes Starliner more demanding? Is it the previous problems, the way the vehicle is flown, or something else?
My guess is that the crew interfaces on the Dragon is easier to use than the more physical interfaces on the Starliner. Touch screens on the Dragon versus the buttons and readouts of the Starliner (late 90ish military cockpit look & feel).

Also maybe the vehicle interfaces usage could be easily logged on the Dragon for the entire mission. While the Starliner is less capable of logging interfaces usage. So the CDR & PLT have to do more oversight and confirmations with the mission control on Earth.

So the Starliner might need people that have experience with the older cockpit look and feel. Instead of folks use to flying in glass cockpits in most of the modern aircraft.

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 10/11/2022 08:59 am
It does seem strange that Boeing has gone for such an "outdated", non-state-of-the-art and pilot-reliant approach to Starliner's cockpit architecture, which is still unflown with crew, several years after SpaceX's touchscreen-based Crew Dragon is not only proven with crew, but fully operational for NASA and non-NASA civilian missions.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 10/12/2022 05:55 pm
https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1580187425006985216

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 10/18/2022 11:43 pm
Spacefacts is showing Jeremy Hansen on Crew-7 now--has there been an announcement about that (whether official or unofficial)? As of last I knew, from the pictures posted in the Crew-7 thread recently, Satoshi Furukawa was in training for that flight.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: NasaFan95 on 10/21/2022 05:18 pm
Spacefacts is showing Jeremy Hansen on Crew-7 now--has there been an announcement about that (whether official or unofficial)? As of last I knew, from the pictures posted in the Crew-7 thread recently, Satoshi Furukawa was in training for that flight.
I think it’s official, if furukawa doesn’t fly on crew 7 or Starliner 1, he’ll probably fly on starliner 2. Or crew dragon crew 8.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ZachS09 on 10/21/2022 05:35 pm
I don’t know the answer to your question, John_Marshall.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 10/22/2022 12:16 am
Spacefacts is showing Jeremy Hansen on Crew-7 now--has there been an announcement about that (whether official or unofficial)? As of last I knew, from the pictures posted in the Crew-7 thread recently, Satoshi Furukawa was in training for that flight.

I think it’s official, if furukawa doesn’t fly on crew 7 or Starliner 1, he’ll probably fly on starliner 2. Or crew dragon crew 8.

Neither of these is official. Hansen was a reasonable speculation from one poster many comments upthread: Canada was owed ISS increments in 2019 (that was St. Jacques) and 2024, so some CSA astronaut is likely in the long-duration flow soon.

Don't forget that CSA has a seat on Artemis II.

Michael Cassutt

[zubenelgenubi: Edit]
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 10/22/2022 01:00 am
Neither of these is official. Hansen was a reasonable speculation from one poster many comments upthread: Canada was owed ISS increments in 2019 (that was St. Jacques) and 2024, so some CSA astronaut is likely in the long-duration flow soon.

Don't forget that CSA has a seat on Artemis II.

Thank you, Michael. I had not realized that the Canadian seat was in 2024--I thought it was a little sooner. I had not forgotten about the Artemis II seat; I was thinking that Hansen would have already gotten an assignment and thus assuming that the Artemis seat would go to Kutryk or Sidey-Gibbons.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 11/28/2022 04:05 am
https://twitter.com/CNSpaceflight/status/1597034999739731969

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 11/28/2022 04:06 am
https://twitter.com/CNAstronauts/status/1597072520402071558

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 11/28/2022 04:07 am
https://twitter.com/CNAstronauts/status/1597073577466941441

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 11/28/2022 04:09 am
https://twitter.com/CNAstronauts/status/1597074593809694722

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: NasaFan95 on 01/10/2023 02:36 am
Michael quick question Ik Wikipedia isn’t a reliable source but is Frank Rubio landing on space x crew 6, & is it gonna be only 3 astronauts launching and 4 landing, & I’m reading that fedayev was reassigned to space x crew 7 so if that’s the case borisov would be reassigned to crew 8 but idk how true that is, idk if nasa has released a statement or if Roscommos has released a statement again I don’t know.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: russianhalo117 on 01/10/2023 02:48 am
Michael quick question Ik Wikipedia isn’t a reliable source but is Frank Rubio landing on space x crew 6, & is it gonna be only 3 astronauts launching and 4 landing, & I’m reading that fedayev was reassigned to space x crew 7 so if that’s the case borisov would be reassigned to crew 8 but idk how true that is, idk if nasa has released a statement or if Roscommos has released a statement again I don’t know.
The information on RussianSpaceWeb comes from reliable government and industry sources. ROSCOSMOS and NASA are in a denial/stall tactics game until the official January 11th public announcement despite the decisions by the senior engineers occurring within TsNIIMash research institute and other Roscosmos entities in a joint meeting. It has since been handed over to the more political Chief Designer Council for their January 10th meeting ahead of the state commission meeting which will direct their representatives to the ISS MCB to inform the ISS partners of the decision. The descion results will become official publicly as either a press wire or in a press conference. The official announcement format has yet to be determined as of the timestamp of writing this.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 01/10/2023 03:19 am
The information on RussianSpaceWeb comes from reliable government and industry sources. ROSCOSMOS and NASA are in a denial/stall tactics game until the official January 11th public announcement despite the decisions by the senior engineers occurring within TsNIIMash research institute and other Roscosmos entities in a joint meeting. It has since been handed over to the more political Chief Designer Council for their January 10th meeting ahead of the state commission meeting which will direct their representatives to the ISS MCB to inform the ISS partners of the decision. The descion results will become official publicly as either a press wire or in a press conference. The official announcement format has yet to be determined as of the timestamp of writing this.

So what we've heard is official, then? Interesting! Thanks!

Have you heard anything about why Kononenko is launching by himself on MS-23 instead of having it launch unmanned?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 01/10/2023 02:08 pm
I imagine Kononenko will ensure a continuous 3-person Russian presence on the ISS.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 01/10/2023 03:54 pm
I imagine Kononenko will ensure a continuous 3-person Russian presence on the ISS.

Of course--either that or extend Kikina, which would still mess up Crew-6.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: russianhalo117 on 01/10/2023 05:56 pm
The information on RussianSpaceWeb comes from reliable government and industry sources. ROSCOSMOS and NASA are in a denial/stall tactics game until the official January 11th public announcement despite the decisions by the senior engineers occurring within TsNIIMash research institute and other Roscosmos entities in a joint meeting. It has since been handed over to the more political Chief Designer Council for their January 10th meeting ahead of the state commission meeting which will direct their representatives to the ISS MCB to inform the ISS partners of the decision. The descion results will become official publicly as either a press wire or in a press conference. The official announcement format has yet to be determined as of the timestamp of writing this.

So what we've heard is official, then? Interesting! Thanks!

Have you heard anything about why Kononenko is launching by himself on MS-23 instead of having it launch unmanned?
It is the sole preferred scenario sent to the Chief Designers Council which will either select the current rapidly expedited crewed MS-22 landing scenario in March which had existed since the event or the preferred scenario which the ISS MCB also preferred after recommendations from the investigative committee. Then the semi-political state commission will make the decision formal and official ahead of the Director General of Roscosmos making it public.

NASA will provide a press conference

https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-to-host-media-update-on-space-station-plans-soyuz-status

Quote
Jan 10, 2023
MEDIA ADVISORY M23-003

NASA to Host Media Update on Space Station Plans, Soyuz Status

NASA will host a media teleconference at 9 a.m. EST Wednesday, Jan. 11, to discuss results from the investigation of the Roscosmos Soyuz MS-22 external coolant leak and the forward strategy for uninterrupted human operations aboard the International Space Station.

Live audio of the call will stream on the agency’s website at:

https://www.nasa.gov/live

Briefing participants include:

Joel Montalbano, International Space Station program manager, NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston
Sergei Krikalev, Human Space Flight Programs executive director, Roscosmos
Media interested in participating by phone must contact the Johnson newsroom no later than one hour before the start of the call at 281-483-5111 or [email protected].

The leak was first detected around 7:45 p.m. on Dec. 14, 2022, when pressure sensors in the spacecraft’s cooling loop showed low readings. At the time of the leak, Roscosmos cosmonauts were preparing to conduct a spacewalk. The spacewalk was postponed, so no crew members exited the space station or were exposed to the leaking coolant.

NASA provided an additional inspection of the Soyuz exterior using the station’s Canadarm2 robotic arm on Dec. 18. The agency and Roscosmos specialists have continued to closely monitor Soyuz spacecraft systems. NASA and Roscosmos are concluding their work together to develop a course of action following the analysis.

The Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft carried NASA astronaut Frank Rubio and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitri Petelin into space after launching from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Sept. 21.

For updates, follow along on NASA’s space station blog at:

https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/

-end-

Photo caption:

Quote
The Soyuz MS-22 crew ship is pictured on Oct. 8, 2002, in the foreground docked to the Rassvet module as the International Space Station orbited 264 miles above Europe. In the background, is the Prichal docking module attached to the Nauka multipurpose laboratory module.
Credits: NASA
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: NasaFan95 on 01/31/2023 01:29 am
I do have a question when are they gonna announce the crew for Space X crew 8 they’ve been hush hush about it Ik the Boeing crewed flight test is in April of this year, & the space x crew 6 is scheduled to launch in February.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 01/31/2023 01:40 am
I do have a question when are they gonna announce the crew for Space X crew 8 they’ve been hush hush about it Ik the Boeing crewed flight test is in April of this year, & the space x crew 6 is scheduled to launch in February.

Unless Crew-8 moves ahead of Starliner-1, the crew probably won't come out for a while. I don't think the flights this year will affect that.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 01/31/2023 05:52 am
With Peake now gone, Alex Gerst is the next ESA astronaut in the rotation to fly. Interesting to see him and Don Pettit doing NBL runs together in December, as referenced in this tweet:

https://twitter.com/Astro_Alex/status/1602636886987706369

Wonder if the pair might fly together in 2024, one via Crew-8 and the other via Soyuz?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 02/12/2023 11:51 am
https://twitter.com/SarwatNasir/status/1624745738159681538

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 02/12/2023 12:01 pm
In Line with Vision 2030, the Kingdom Returns to Space by Sending a Male and Female Astronaut to the International Space Station

Riyadh, February 12, 2023, SPA -- The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia announced today sending the first Saudi female astronaut and a Saudi male astronaut (Rayyanah Barnawi & Ali AlQarni), respectively, to the International Space Station during the second quarter of 2023. This aims to empower national capabilities in human spaceflight geared towards serving humanity and benefiting from the promising opportunities offered by the space industry, as well as contributing to scientific research in many aspects such as health, sustainability, and space technology. The astronauts (Rayyanah Barnawi & Ali AlQarni) will join the crew of the AX-2 space mission.

The spaceflight is scheduled to launch from the USA to the International Space Station. In addition, the Saudi Human Spaceflight Program includes the training of two more astronauts on all mission requirements(Mariam Fardous& Ali AlGamdi).
The Chairman of the Saudi Space Commission, Eng. Abdullah Bin Amer Al-Swaha, clarified today that the Kingdom’s leadership is keen to give unlimited support to the space program. Through this program, the Kingdom seeks to activate scientific innovations at the level of space sciences, enhance its ability to independently conduct its own research that will reflect positively on the future of the industry and the country, increase the interest of graduates in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), and develop human capital by attracting talents and the necessary skills.

Additionally, Mohammed Bin Saud Al-Tamimi, the CEO of the Saudi Space Commission, expressed his gratitude to the leadership for the support and empowerment to the commission, which has diminished the obstacles and challenges and enabled major leaps of the Kingdom into the space sector. Human spaceflight is a symbol of countries' superiority and global competitiveness in many fields such as technology, engineering, research, and innovation. This mission is also historic as it will make the Kingdom one of the few countries in the world that brings two astronauts of the same nationality aboard the International Space Station simultaneously.

The Saudi Space Commission also states that this program comes in cooperation with a group of entities, led by the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Sport, the General Authority of Civil Aviation and King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, in addition to international partners such as Axiom Space, which specializes in human spaceflights and the development of space infrastructure in the USA.

It is also to be noted that the Saudi Space Commission had previously launched the Saudi Human Spaceflight Program. This flight is an integral milestone of a comprehensive program aiming to train and qualify experienced Saudis to undertake human spaceflight, conduct scientific experiments, participate in international research, and future space-related missions contributing to the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.
--SPA
https://www.spa.gov.sa/viewfullstory.php?lang=en&newsid=2425562#2425562
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 02/12/2023 03:26 pm
If it is not a case of homonymy, Mariam Fardous had already her own wikipedia entry and a very interesting background.

Maryam Fardous on wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mariam_Fardous)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TALsite on 03/01/2023 06:44 pm
Roscosmos announces on its Telegram channel, that Aleksandr Grebenkin will fly to the ISS "as a member of the Crew-8 mission in the first half of 2024."
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 03/01/2023 08:57 pm
I thought the US Crew flight in first half of 2024 would be the first operational Starliner (so between Crew-7 and Crew-8) ?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 03/01/2023 10:04 pm
I thought the US Crew flight in first half of 2024 would be the first operational Starliner (so between Crew-7 and Crew-8) ?

You are correct. I wonder if they're putting a cosmonaut on the first Starliner flight. I recall reading that part of the delay for putting cosmonauts on Dragon was thanks to Rogozin, and he is no longer in charge now. Maybe Yuri Borisov feels differently.

Also, I don't know Russian, so I couldn't begin to guess, but it would make sense to me if the Telegram post were referring to USCV-8 (which could be either vehicle), not Crew-8 (which would be Dragon).
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: DanClemmensen on 03/01/2023 10:59 pm
I thought the US Crew flight in first half of 2024 would be the first operational Starliner (so between Crew-7 and Crew-8) ?

You are correct. I wonder if they're putting a cosmonaut on the first Starliner flight. I recall reading that part of the delay for putting cosmonauts on Dragon was thanks to Rogozin, and he is no longer in charge now. Maybe Yuri Borisov feels differently.

Also, I don't know Russian, so I couldn't begin to guess, but it would make sense to me if the Telegram post were referring to USCV-8 (which could be either vehicle), not Crew-8 (which would be Dragon).
For Crew Dragon, Roscosmos declined to start the crew swap until Dragon 2 had completed three operational flights, and I seem to recall that they intended to do the same with Starliner.
  https://tass.com/science/1489645
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 03/02/2023 03:04 am
For Crew Dragon, Roscosmos declined to start the crew swap until Dragon 2 had completed three operational flights, and I seem to recall that they intended to do the same with Starliner.
  https://tass.com/science/1489645

Correct. That's what I was saying may have been thanks to Rogozin and therefore might be different now.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: DanClemmensen on 03/02/2023 05:00 am
For Crew Dragon, Roscosmos declined to start the crew swap until Dragon 2 had completed three operational flights, and I seem to recall that they intended to do the same with Starliner.
  https://tass.com/science/1489645

Correct. That's what I was saying may have been thanks to Rogozin and therefore might be different now.
However, Roscosmos has apparently assigned the next two cosmonauts, one for Crew-7 and one for Crew-8, with nobody assigned to the Starliner flights.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 03/02/2023 05:02 am
https://twitter.com/katlinegrey/status/1631160321510371328

https://t.me/roscosmos_gk/8629
GT: Roscosmos cosmonauts Konstantin Borisov and Alexander Grebenkin will go to the ISS on Crew Dragon spacecraft in 2023-2024

Today, a meeting of the interdepartmental commission was held at Roscosmos, which included Konstantin Borisov and Alexander Grebenkin in the crews of the Crew Dragon spacecraft.

The flights will take place under the cross-flight program between Roscosmos and NASA.

👨‍🚀 Konstantin Borisov - as part of the Crew-7 mission in the second half of 2023.

👨‍🚀 Alexander Grebenkin - as part of the Crew-8 mission in the first half of 2024.

Tomorrow we expect the launch of the Crew-6 mission with Andrey Fedyaev.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 03/02/2023 08:48 am
Prokopyev will command Exp69 through his crew's return to Earth in September 2023.
Mogensen will command Exp70a from September 2023 through his crew's return to Earth in early 2024.
Kononenko will command Exp70b from early 2024 through his crew's return to Earth in March 2024.

As such, Mogensen becomes the first Danish commander of the ISS.
And Prokopyev will do the longest single continuous ISS command, eclipsing Mike L-A's 202 days on Exp14.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 03/02/2023 09:59 am
Could the Crew-8 announcement mean that Starliner-1 is now H2 2024 ?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 03/02/2023 10:00 am
Prokopyev will command Exp69 through his crew's return to Earth in September 2023.
Mogensen will command Exp70a from September 2023 through his crew's return to Earth in early 2024.
Kononenko will command Exp70b from early 2024 through his crew's return to Earth in March 2024.

As such, Mogensen becomes the first Danish commander of the ISS.
And Prokopyev will do the longest single continuous ISS command, eclipsing Mike L-A's 202 days on Exp14.

First and probably only. There is no other Danish astronaut. And no new selection cycle at ESA before end of the ISS program.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TALsite on 03/02/2023 12:32 pm
Could the Crew-8 announcement mean that Starliner-1 is now H2 2024 ?

Roscosmos only said "Crew-8" and nothing about spacecrafts.
I think Russians probably says: if Americans fly their astronauts on Starliner, why ours not?

Prokopyev will command Exp69 through his crew's return to Earth in September 2023.
Mogensen will command Exp70a from September 2023 through his crew's return to Earth in early 2024.
Kononenko will command Exp70b from early 2024 through his crew's return to Earth in March 2024.

As such, Mogensen becomes the first Danish commander of the ISS.
And Prokopyev will do the longest single continuous ISS command, eclipsing Mike L-A's 202 days on Exp14.

About commanding ISS, just add that in the past we have saw rookie astronauts becoming ISS CDRs after a stint as ISS FE: Dmitri Kondratyev (EXP 26-27), Andrei Borisenko (EXP 27-28)...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: DanClemmensen on 03/02/2023 04:14 pm
Could the Crew-8 announcement mean that Starliner-1 is now H2 2024 ?
Roscosmos only said "Crew-8" and nothing about spacecrafts.
I think Russians probably says: if Americans fly their astronauts on Starliner, why ours not?
This may be a nomenclature issue. I had perhaps mistakenly assumed that the names "Crew-7" and "Crew-8" referred to Crew Dragon missions, and that "Starliner-1" would refer to the Starliner flight. I also think the seat-swap deal was for one seat swap per year, so using two Dragon missions that have an intervening Starliner mission would work out.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 03/02/2023 05:12 pm
Roscosmos only said "Crew-8" and nothing about spacecrafts.
I think Russians probably says: if Americans fly their astronauts on Starliner, why ours not?

Actually, what I read (see Katya Pavluschenko's tweet) does mention Crew Dragon. I wonder if Crew-8 is tentatively listed as next up after Crew-7 until Starliner shows that it is ready to move into that slot, at which point Crew-8 would be delayed six months.

This may be a nomenclature issue. I had perhaps mistakenly assumed that the names "Crew-7" and "Crew-8" referred to Crew Dragon missions, and that "Starliner-1" would refer to the Starliner flight. I also think the seat-swap deal was for one seat swap per year, so using two Dragon missions that have an intervening Starliner mission would work out.

As I understand it, you are correct about nomenclature, although Starliner might be PCM-# instead of Starliner-#.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: NasaFan95 on 03/04/2023 08:11 pm
So is Bowen no longer commanding expedition 69 cuz Ik it’s not a reliable source but Wikipedia has Bowen talking command in September idk if that’s true if it isn’t that’s a travesty. Considering this is bowen’s 4th flight.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ZachS09 on 03/04/2023 11:15 pm
So is Bowen no longer commanding expedition 69 cuz Ik it’s not a reliable source but Wikipedia has Bowen talking command in September idk if that’s true if it isn’t that’s a travesty. Considering this is bowen’s 4th flight.

Wikipedia is not a reliable source for flight crew assignments. And just because it’s Steve Bowen’s fourth flight, it doesn’t mean he should be ISS commander. Personally, I don’t think it has to do with spaceflight experience.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 03/04/2023 11:56 pm
There's an answer to this question in the Expedition 69 thread.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 03/05/2023 02:57 am
Per the mods, this is not the right thread for things like hope and speculation.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Orbiter on 03/10/2023 12:05 pm
https://twitter.com/SenBillNelson/status/1633922018692198400
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 03/10/2023 11:09 pm
Announcement of the crew to fly on the Artemis II mission around the Moon and back to Earth – Johnson Space Center.

Artemis 2 (officially Artemis II) is the second scheduled mission of NASA's Artemis program and the first scheduled crewed mission of NASA's Orion spacecraft, currently planned to be launched by the Space Launch System (SLS) in November 2024.

The crewed Orion spacecraft will perform a lunar flyby test and return to Earth. This is planned to be the first crewed spacecraft to travel beyond low Earth orbit since Apollo 17 in 1972. Formerly known as Exploration Mission-2 (EM-2), the mission was renamed after introducing the Artemis program. The crewed mission initially intended to collect samples from a captured asteroid in lunar orbit by the now-canceled robotic Asteroid Redirect Mission.

This is also planned to be the first crewed launch from LC-39B since STS-116.
NASA will introduce the primary and backup crew for Artemis II. It is to be expected that the crew will consist of 3 NASA astronauts and one CSA astronaut from the Canadian Space Agency.
Following the NASA routine, the backup crew is expected to launch with Artemis III and land on the Moon.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jmt27 on 03/10/2023 11:19 pm
Announcement of the crew to fly on the Artemis II mission around the Moon and back to Earth – Johnson Space Center.

Artemis 2 (officially Artemis II) is the second scheduled mission of NASA's Artemis program and the first scheduled crewed mission of NASA's Orion spacecraft, currently planned to be launched by the Space Launch System (SLS) in November 2024.

The crewed Orion spacecraft will perform a lunar flyby test and return to Earth. This is planned to be the first crewed spacecraft to travel beyond low Earth orbit since Apollo 17 in 1972. Formerly known as Exploration Mission-2 (EM-2), the mission was renamed after introducing the Artemis program. The crewed mission initially intended to collect samples from a captured asteroid in lunar orbit by the now-canceled robotic Asteroid Redirect Mission.

This is also planned to be the first crewed launch from LC-39B since STS-116.
NASA will introduce the primary and backup crew for Artemis II. It is to be expected that the crew will consist of 3 NASA astronauts and one CSA astronaut from the Canadian Space Agency.
Following the NASA routine, the backup crew is expected to launch with Artemis III and land on the Moon.

If what you mention is true, I doubt NASA will announce the backup crew for Artemis II as this would unveil who will be flying on Artemis III, which is by far the most important mission. I don't think the backup crew will be the ones flying on Artemis III. This isn't a typical ISS mission. Objectives for Artemis II and III are very different. BTW where did you get this info?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 03/11/2023 01:14 am
Announcement of the crew to fly on the Artemis II mission around the Moon and back to Earth – Johnson Space Center.

Artemis 2 (officially Artemis II) is the second scheduled mission of NASA's Artemis program and the first scheduled crewed mission of NASA's Orion spacecraft, currently planned to be launched by the Space Launch System (SLS) in November 2024.

The crewed Orion spacecraft will perform a lunar flyby test and return to Earth. This is planned to be the first crewed spacecraft to travel beyond low Earth orbit since Apollo 17 in 1972. Formerly known as Exploration Mission-2 (EM-2), the mission was renamed after introducing the Artemis program. The crewed mission initially intended to collect samples from a captured asteroid in lunar orbit by the now-canceled robotic Asteroid Redirect Mission.

This is also planned to be the first crewed launch from LC-39B since STS-116.
NASA will introduce the primary and backup crew for Artemis II. It is to be expected that the crew will consist of 3 NASA astronauts and one CSA astronaut from the Canadian Space Agency.
Following the NASA routine, the backup crew is expected to launch with Artemis III and land on the Moon.

If what you mention is true, I doubt NASA will announce the backup crew for Artemis II as this would unveil who will be flying on Artemis III, which is by far the most important mission. I don't think the backup crew will be the ones flying on Artemis III. This isn't a typical ISS mission. Objectives for Artemis II and III are very different. BTW where did you get this info?

https://www.facebook.com/events/1116307635992277/?ref=newsfeed
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 03/18/2023 10:52 am
The final four Hungarian astronauts have been selected for the Axiom seat. Is it known what is the flight ? in the ISS calendar it is said to be AX-5. I did not even know there was an AX-5, I thought the SpaceX Axiom deal covered four missions.

Hungary’s Professional Astronaut Candidates Presented (https://hungarytoday.hu/hungarys-professional-astronaut-corps-presented/)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 03/19/2023 02:51 am
AX-5 seemed to be the implication of those dates to me as well. I would conclude that AX-5 has been unofficially planned even if it has not yet been officially planned in the way that AX-2 through AX-4 have been.

The final four Hungarian astronauts have been selected for the Axiom seat. Is it known what is the flight ? in the ISS calendar it is said to be AX-5. I did not even know there was an AX-5, I thought the SpaceX Axiom deal covered four missions.

Hungary’s Professional Astronaut Candidates Presented (https://hungarytoday.hu/hungarys-professional-astronaut-corps-presented/)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 03/21/2023 03:09 pm
Announcement of the crew to fly on the Artemis II mission around the Moon and back to Earth – Johnson Space Center.

Artemis 2 (officially Artemis II) is the second scheduled mission of NASA's Artemis program and the first scheduled crewed mission of NASA's Orion spacecraft, currently planned to be launched by the Space Launch System (SLS) in November 2024.

The crewed Orion spacecraft will perform a lunar flyby test and return to Earth. This is planned to be the first crewed spacecraft to travel beyond low Earth orbit since Apollo 17 in 1972. Formerly known as Exploration Mission-2 (EM-2), the mission was renamed after introducing the Artemis program. The crewed mission initially intended to collect samples from a captured asteroid in lunar orbit by the now-canceled robotic Asteroid Redirect Mission.

This is also planned to be the first crewed launch from LC-39B since STS-116.
NASA will introduce the primary and backup crew for Artemis II. It is to be expected that the crew will consist of 3 NASA astronauts and one CSA astronaut from the Canadian Space Agency.
Following the NASA routine, the backup crew is expected to launch with Artemis III and land on the Moon.

If what you mention is true, I doubt NASA will announce the backup crew for Artemis II as this would unveil who will be flying on Artemis III, which is by far the most important mission. I don't think the backup crew will be the ones flying on Artemis III. This isn't a typical ISS mission. Objectives for Artemis II and III are very different. BTW where did you get this info?

https://www.facebook.com/events/1116307635992277/?ref=newsfeed

Just confirmed with NASA -- and I don't know where the original info came from, though that Facebook entry makes it seem official -- only the prime crew will be announced on April 3.

Michael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 03/22/2023 01:30 pm
Michael, does that indicate that Artemis II does not require a backup crew? Or will one be announced at a future time?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 03/22/2023 02:23 pm
Michael, does that indicate that Artemis II does not require a backup crew? Or will one be announced at a future time?

I didn't ask ;) I would assume at least two backup astros at some point. Recall the way the first USCV crews were announced: nine prime for Dragon and Starliner with one Dragon and one Starliner backup revealed some time later.

MC
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 03/22/2023 08:19 pm
Just confirmed with NASA -- and I don't know where the original info came from, though that Facebook entry makes it seem official -- only the prime crew will be announced on April 3.

Michael, do we know the crew position titles in Orion? I've been wondering whether it will be CDR and CMP and LMP, like Apollo, plus something else for the fourth seat (probably FE or MS), or CDR and PLT and MS-1 and MS-2 like in Commercial Crew and the flight deck portion of shuttle crews.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Steve G on 03/31/2023 05:04 pm
The four currently active Canadian astronauts are rookies Joshua Kutryk, Jennifer Sidey-Gibbons, Jeremy Hansen, and veteran David Saint-Jacques. My guess for Artemus II is that it's Jeremy Hansen who became an astronaut in 2011. He is the first Canadian astronaut to train NASA astronauts. David Saint Jacques has already flown and with so few available flight assignments it's likely they will let another get flight experience. Kutryk and Sidey-Gibbons are too green, only being in the astronaut office since 2020. I'm certain our PM would be rooting for a Canadian woman to fly, but, I don't think the Americans want the first woman to fly to the moon to be a non-American, and one of their astronauts will have that distinction.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: NasaFan95 on 03/31/2023 05:41 pm
Announcement of the crew to fly on the Artemis II mission around the Moon and back to Earth – Johnson Space Center.

Artemis 2 (officially Artemis II) is the second scheduled mission of NASA's Artemis program and the first scheduled crewed mission of NASA's Orion spacecraft, currently planned to be launched by the Space Launch System (SLS) in November 2024.

The crewed Orion spacecraft will perform a lunar flyby test and return to Earth. This is planned to be the first crewed spacecraft to travel beyond low Earth orbit since Apollo 17 in 1972. Formerly known as Exploration Mission-2 (EM-2), the mission was renamed after introducing the Artemis program. The crewed mission initially intended to collect samples from a captured asteroid in lunar orbit by the now-canceled robotic Asteroid Redirect Mission.

This is also planned to be the first crewed launch from LC-39B since STS-116.
NASA will introduce the primary and backup crew for Artemis II. It is to be expected that the crew will consist of 3 NASA astronauts and one CSA astronaut from the Canadian Space Agency.
Following the NASA routine, the backup crew is expected to launch with Artemis III and land on the Moon.

If what you mention is true, I doubt NASA will announce the backup crew for Artemis II as this would unveil who will be flying on Artemis III, which is by far the most important mission. I don't think the backup crew will be the ones flying on Artemis III. This isn't a typical ISS mission. Objectives for Artemis II and III are very different. BTW where did you get this info?

https://www.facebook.com/events/1116307635992277/?ref=newsfeed

Just confirmed with NASA -- and I don't know where the original info came from, though that Facebook entry makes it seem official -- only the prime crew will be announced on April 3.

Michael Cassutt
Michael we know the crew of the first two starliner missions have been announced with the exception of one crew member on the first crewed mission, I keep hearing starliner 1’s maiden voyage has been pushed back to next year, the Boeing crewed flight test they said would launch no earlier than July 21st. Have they announced the crew of space x crew 8, or when they’ll announce it, I wonder if they’ll  announce it after crew 7 launches, cuz I keep reading and hearing through the grapevine due to tingle, fincke & Epps flight being pushed back that crew 8 was gonna fly first what’s the deal with that. If that’s true or not. Again I get spacefacts isn’t a reliable source, that I get, but Ik one Russian cosmonaut has been announced for crew 8 they just haven’t announced the other 3 crew members.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: NasaFan95 on 03/31/2023 05:43 pm
The four currently active Canadian astronauts are rookies Joshua Kutryk, Jennifer Sidey-Gibbons, Jeremy Hansen, and veteran David Saint-Jacques. My guess is that it's Jeremy Hansen who became an astronaut in 2011. He is the first Canadian astronaut to train NASA astronauts. David Saint Jacques has already flown and with so few available flight assignments it's likely they will let another get flight experience. Kutryk and Sidey-Gibbons are too green, only being in the astronaut office since 2020. I'm certain our PM would be rooting for a Canadian woman to fly, but, I don't think the Americans want the first woman to fly to the moon to be a non-American, and one of their astronauts will have that distinction.
Sidey Gibbons will prolly either be on this mission Artemis 2 or Artemis 4 or 5. That’s my theory.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: NasaFan95 on 03/31/2023 05:59 pm
Announcement of the crew to fly on the Artemis II mission around the Moon and back to Earth – Johnson Space Center.

Artemis 2 (officially Artemis II) is the second scheduled mission of NASA's Artemis program and the first scheduled crewed mission of NASA's Orion spacecraft, currently planned to be launched by the Space Launch System (SLS) in November 2024.

The crewed Orion spacecraft will perform a lunar flyby test and return to Earth. This is planned to be the first crewed spacecraft to travel beyond low Earth orbit since Apollo 17 in 1972. Formerly known as Exploration Mission-2 (EM-2), the mission was renamed after introducing the Artemis program. The crewed mission initially intended to collect samples from a captured asteroid in lunar orbit by the now-canceled robotic Asteroid Redirect Mission.

This is also planned to be the first crewed launch from LC-39B since STS-116.
NASA will introduce the primary and backup crew for Artemis II. It is to be expected that the crew will consist of 3 NASA astronauts and one CSA astronaut from the Canadian Space Agency.
Following the NASA routine, the backup crew is expected to launch with Artemis III and land on the Moon.

If what you mention is true, I doubt NASA will announce the backup crew for Artemis II as this would unveil who will be flying on Artemis III, which is by far the most important mission. I don't think the backup crew will be the ones flying on Artemis III. This isn't a typical ISS mission. Objectives for Artemis II and III are very different. BTW where did you get this info?

https://www.facebook.com/events/1116307635992277/?ref=newsfeed

Just confirmed with NASA -- and I don't know where the original info came from, though that Facebook entry makes it seem official -- only the prime crew will be announced on April 3.

Michael Cassutt
Michael I keep reading on space sites not just spacefacts but others that crew dragon mission 8 is gonna launch in February or March of next year, they already have a cosmonaut announced Aleksandr grebyonkin is the lone crew member that supposedly has been announced I’m not trying to speculate but I also keep hearing  Boeing starliner mission 1 with tingle, fincke, Epps & an astronaut TBA their flight got pushed back to late summer, early fall 2024 idk how true this is but if you or someone could confirm it to me I’d appreciate it. Ik the Boeing crewed flight test got pushed back to July of this year that I do know cuz it was all over twitter.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 03/31/2023 07:13 pm
Announcement of the crew to fly on the Artemis II mission around the Moon and back to Earth – Johnson Space Center.

Artemis 2 (officially Artemis II) is the second scheduled mission of NASA's Artemis program and the first scheduled crewed mission of NASA's Orion spacecraft, currently planned to be launched by the Space Launch System (SLS) in November 2024.

The crewed Orion spacecraft will perform a lunar flyby test and return to Earth. This is planned to be the first crewed spacecraft to travel beyond low Earth orbit since Apollo 17 in 1972. Formerly known as Exploration Mission-2 (EM-2), the mission was renamed after introducing the Artemis program. The crewed mission initially intended to collect samples from a captured asteroid in lunar orbit by the now-canceled robotic Asteroid Redirect Mission.

This is also planned to be the first crewed launch from LC-39B since STS-116.
NASA will introduce the primary and backup crew for Artemis II. It is to be expected that the crew will consist of 3 NASA astronauts and one CSA astronaut from the Canadian Space Agency.
Following the NASA routine, the backup crew is expected to launch with Artemis III and land on the Moon.

If what you mention is true, I doubt NASA will announce the backup crew for Artemis II as this would unveil who will be flying on Artemis III, which is by far the most important mission. I don't think the backup crew will be the ones flying on Artemis III. This isn't a typical ISS mission. Objectives for Artemis II and III are very different. BTW where did you get this info?

https://www.facebook.com/events/1116307635992277/?ref=newsfeed

Just confirmed with NASA -- and I don't know where the original info came from, though that Facebook entry makes it seem official -- only the prime crew will be announced on April 3.

Michael Cassutt
Michael we know the crew of the first two starliner missions have been announced with the exception of one crew member on the first crewed mission, I keep hearing starliner 1’s maiden voyage has been pushed back to next year, the Boeing crewed flight test they said would launch no earlier than July 21st. Have they announced the crew of space x crew 8, or when they’ll announce it, I wonder if they’ll  announce it after crew 7 launches, cuz I keep reading and hearing through the grapevine due to tingle, fincke & Epps flight being pushed back that crew 8 was gonna fly first what’s the deal with that. If that’s true or not. Again I get spacefacts isn’t a reliable source, that I get, but Ik one Russian cosmonaut has been announced for crew 8 they just haven’t announced the other 3 crew members.

Given that NASA just announced the new CFT launch date of July 21 and that all attention is on the Artemis II reveal this Monday, it shouldn't be a surprise that information on Starliner-1 and Crew-8 is still to come. Many informed sources, on NSF and elsewhere, have noted that Boeing and NASA almost certainly need a year's gap between CFT and Starliner-1, so I would expect that change to be made official any time after April 3.

At which time you could expect NASA to announce the Crew-8 team, which has been selected and in training for months -- aiming at either the USCV-8 (Spring 2024) or USCV-9 (early Fall 2024) slot. A complete Starliner-1 crew would follow a Crew-8 announcement by some months.

MC
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 03/31/2023 07:15 pm
The four currently active Canadian astronauts are rookies Joshua Kutryk, Jennifer Sidey-Gibbons, Jeremy Hansen, and veteran David Saint-Jacques. My guess is that it's Jeremy Hansen who became an astronaut in 2011. He is the first Canadian astronaut to train NASA astronauts. David Saint Jacques has already flown and with so few available flight assignments it's likely they will let another get flight experience. Kutryk and Sidey-Gibbons are too green, only being in the astronaut office since 2020. I'm certain our PM would be rooting for a Canadian woman to fly, but, I don't think the Americans want the first woman to fly to the moon to be a non-American, and one of their astronauts will have that distinction.
Sidey Gibbons will prolly either be on this mission Artemis 2 or Artemis 4 or 5. That’s my theory.

You mean "guess". Canada has flight crew opportunities on Artemis II and a Gateway mission TBD.

MC
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 03/31/2023 07:47 pm
Given that NASA just announced the new CFT launch date of July 21 and that all attention is on the Artemis II reveal this Monday, it shouldn't be a surprise that information on Starliner-1 and Crew-8 is still to come. Many informed sources, on NSF and elsewhere, have noted that Boeing and NASA almost certainly need a year's gap between CFT and Starliner-1, so I would expect that change to be made official any time after April 3.

I had not heard about the one-year gap. I was expecting something closer to what Space-X had. Thanks!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: DanClemmensen on 03/31/2023 08:01 pm
Given that NASA just announced the new CFT launch date of July 21 and that all attention is on the Artemis II reveal this Monday, it shouldn't be a surprise that information on Starliner-1 and Crew-8 is still to come. Many informed sources, on NSF and elsewhere, have noted that Boeing and NASA almost certainly need a year's gap between CFT and Starliner-1, so I would expect that change to be made official any time after April 3.

I had not heard about the one-year gap. I was expecting something closer to what Space-X had. Thanks!
Crew Dragon Demo-2 launched on 30 May 2020, and Crew-1 launched on 16 November 2020, but the circumstances are very different now. In 2020 NASA was paying for Soyuz seats and had no alternatives, so they wanted to fly Crew-1 as soon as it was safe to do so. Now, NASA has no particular urgency to fly Starliner-1, and in fact it would be somewhat disruptive, since crew assignments depend on Spacecraft type. Much simpler to just fly Crew-8 in Spring 2024 and Starliner-1 in Fall 2024.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Steve G on 03/31/2023 09:36 pm
Given that NASA just announced the new CFT launch date of July 21 and that all attention is on the Artemis II reveal this Monday, it shouldn't be a surprise that information on Starliner-1 and Crew-8 is still to come. Many informed sources, on NSF and elsewhere, have noted that Boeing and NASA almost certainly need a year's gap between CFT and Starliner-1, so I would expect that change to be made official any time after April 3.

I had not heard about the one-year gap. I was expecting something closer to what Space-X had. Thanks!

Yes, poor writing on my part. I meant the Canadian astronaut for Artemus II mission and I edited my post.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 04/03/2023 04:00 pm
https://twitter.com/NASA/status/1642911787669389314

https://twitter.com/NASA/status/1642911463781068806

https://twitter.com/NASA/status/1642911119491694592

https://twitter.com/NASA/status/1642910860845756419

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 04/03/2023 04:02 pm
https://twitter.com/NASA_Johnson/status/1642912219712172035

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 04/03/2023 04:04 pm
https://twitter.com/csa_asc/status/1642912555009036291

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 04/03/2023 09:33 pm
Interesting that Artemis is continuing the Shuttle, Crew Dragon and Starliner crew member designator heritage of CDR, PLT, MS1, MS2.

Is there a rationale for this? Or did NASA simply decide that it doesn't really matter and opted to recycle the old Shuttle designations rather than invent something new?

How will this fit with landing crews from Artemis III onwards? Will either (or both?) the CDR and PLT be on the landing crew, or a mix of CDR/MS or PLT/MS?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Phil Stooke on 04/03/2023 09:59 pm
I would think the Apollo designations would be used, perhaps slightly modified (LLP for Lunar Lander Pilot rather than LMP), with the Mission Specialists staying in orbit tasked with a suite of observations.  One MS might become a Crew Module Pilot to run things in orbit with another MS being more science-oriented. So my guess is CDR, LLP, CMP, MS.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: billshap on 04/04/2023 12:45 am
Artemis II is the next mission, a big one--going around the moon.  It is getting a lot of attention and deservedly so.  But isn't Artemis III—the first landing—the big prize?  It's a different time in a different world, so the Apollo 10/11 comparison is only remotely applicable.  But shouldn't the big deal be the first landing crew?  Is it too early to start that speculation?  Assuming the II crew is not going to be recycled, what is the early handicapping on the plum assignments to Artemis III?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Hog on 04/04/2023 02:15 am
Epps and Hansen, the two remaining Class astros who haven't yet flown. NASA Group 20 was selected in 2009.  That's dedication.  I'm glad that these last 2 "Chumps" have finally both received their flight assignments. (Starliner-1/Artemis-2).
From London, Ontario Canada(just down the road) to being a Hornet guy, now to the Moon.  Wow, we're all real proud Colonel! Not bad for a fly-boy. 
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 04/04/2023 03:31 pm
In light of yesterdays announcement of the Artemis II crew I thought this old video was interesting as background.

https://twitter.com/esaspaceflight/status/1643197745451212800

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Hog on 04/06/2023 02:20 pm
^
Duplicate post.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 04/08/2023 10:06 am
Someone has edited the English language wikipedia biographies of Michael Barratt and Matthew Dominick to write that they are pilot and commander of Crew-8, respectively.

Now the point is to know whether this is a prank or someone who actually has the information and could not help telling it somewhere...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 04/08/2023 03:04 pm
I would think the Apollo designations would be used, perhaps slightly modified (LLP for Lunar Lander Pilot rather than LMP), with the Mission Specialists staying in orbit tasked with a suite of observations.  One MS might become a Crew Module Pilot to run things in orbit with another MS being more science-oriented. So my guess is CDR, LLP, CMP, MS.

I'd be surprised if one of the Mission Specialists didn't land, particularly as Watkins (a non-test pilot) would almost certainly be a Mission Specialist if she flew and almost certainly would not serve as CDR or PLT. It seems plausible that the CDR and one MS will land, with the PLT and the other MS remaining in lunar orbit. Or vice versa. Possibly.

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 04/08/2023 03:43 pm
Someone has edited the English language wikipedia biographies of Michael Barratt and Matthew Dominick to write that they are pilot and commander of Crew-8, respectively.

That's odd. Last I knew from this thread, Dominick was backup CDR for PCM-1, but I suppose there is precedence for a move like that (Mann and Cassada).

I'd be surprised if one of the Mission Specialists didn't land, particularly as Watkins (a non-test pilot) would almost certainly be a Mission Specialist if she flew and almost certainly would not serve as CDR or PLT. It seems plausible that the CDR and one MS will land, with the PLT and the other MS remaining in lunar orbit. Or vice versa. Possibly.


I concur. Someone like Jessica Meir might be able to be PLT, as a private pilot who now also has helicopter training, but I agree re Watkins. CDR and MS-1 (who would effectively be LMP) would make sense; I can't see the PLT getting precedence over the CDR.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: JoeFromRIUSA on 04/08/2023 09:46 pm


I'd be surprised if one of the Mission Specialists didn't land, particularly as Watkins (a non-test pilot) would almost certainly be a Mission Specialist if she flew and almost certainly would not serve as CDR or PLT. It seems plausible that the CDR and one MS will land, with the PLT and the other MS remaining in lunar orbit. Or vice versa. Possibly.

Wouldn't be more likely that the MS involved in the landing be qualified and trainewd to fly the lander in an emergency?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Zed_Noir on 04/09/2023 12:33 am
.....
I'd be surprised if one of the Mission Specialists didn't land, particularly as Watkins (a non-test pilot) would almost certainly be a Mission Specialist if she flew and almost certainly would not serve as CDR or PLT. It seems plausible that the CDR and one MS will land, with the PLT and the other MS remaining in lunar orbit. Or vice versa. Possibly.

Wouldn't be more likely that the MS involved in the landing be qualified and trainewd to fly the lander in an emergency?
AIUI, the SpaceX HLS lander lands autonomously without the need of a pilot, once the landing site is selected. SpaceX plans to land an uncrewed precursor HLS lander prior to Artemis-3.

The flight crew is mostly for monitoring the flight systems and providing fail-safe abort command to low Lunar orbit in case of contingencies, IMO.

Somehow don't think it will be ever be easy to land anything as large as the SpaceX HLS Moonship on the Moon manually.

The NASA option of having only a 2 person crew for the Artemis-3 Lunar landing was premised on something like the NASA reference design being chosen as the Lunar lander with a very small crew compartment with not much cargo capacity. That is no longer the case.

NASA appears to be sticking with their hyped "crew selection criteria" of a person of color and a woman with the Artemis-3 Lunar landing, still with a 2 person crew. When the entire 4-person crew could be included in the landing party.


Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: skeer on 04/09/2023 01:05 am
Watkins could take of two of those criteria, plus being a geologist.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 04/09/2023 01:11 am
NASA appears to be sticking with their hyped "crew selection criteria" of a person of color and a woman with the Artemis-3 Lunar landing, still with a 2 person crew. When the entire 4-person crew could be included in the landing party.

I don't think it was ever promised that both of those would be on Artemis III; that seems to me to be a common misreading of what NASA said. My understanding was that a woman would land on the moon as part of Artemis III and that a person of color would land on the moon as part of the Artemis program.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 04/10/2023 05:28 pm
Maybe that was not was NASA or the Biden Administration meant, maybe you are right.

But that is what everyone has understood, and in particular the mainstream media. So now, if for instance the landing crew of Artemis III was a Caucasian male and a Caucasian female, the backlash would be enormous. I do not see NASA taking such a risk.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 04/10/2023 08:22 pm
But that is what everyone has understood, and in particular the mainstream media. So now, if for instance the landing crew of Artemis III was a Caucasian male and a Caucasian female, the backlash would be enormous. I do not see NASA taking such a risk.

That's an interesting point. I had not thought of it from that perspective.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 04/11/2023 06:38 am
Bresnik and Watkins for Artemis III landing, then?

All political and positively discriminatory bases covered? ;)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: zubenelgenubi on 04/13/2023 06:07 pm
Moderator:
Again, stay on-topic.  This is not a discussion thread for unbridled speculation.  Posts deleted.

Also, please submit a "report to moderator" in these circumstances.  Thank you.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ZachS09 on 04/13/2023 06:25 pm
I don’t understand why NasaFan95 has to speculate on who’s flying on [insert spaceflight here].

This is puzzling.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: NasaFan95 on 04/13/2023 10:51 pm
Ok I won’t speculate I was replying to what Ben e said. Who he wanted to see fly on Artemis 3 & who I wanted to see.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Joachim on 04/14/2023 06:19 am
Ok I won’t speculate I was replying to what Ben e said. Who he wanted to see fly on Artemis 3 & who I wanted to see.

But it was not a crew assignment.
This thread is for assignments only.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: NasaFan95 on 04/14/2023 01:12 pm
Ok but bresnik & Watkins haven’t been assigned to Artemis 3 no one has. They won’t announce that until late next year I do have a quick question has it been confirmed if Matt Dominick is commanding & Michael Barratt is piloting space x crew 8 or is that just rumors. I just wondered cuz of Dominick got assigned to that mission wouldn’t they have to replace him on the backup commander seat of the first starliner mission that I wonder.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: NasaFan95 on 04/14/2023 01:22 pm
Again for crew 8 I’m not trying to speculate that’s just from what I’ve read.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 04/14/2023 02:13 pm
Ok but bresnik & Watkins haven’t been assigned to Artemis 3 no one has. They won’t announce that until late next year I do have a quick question has it been confirmed if Matt Dominick is commanding & Michael Barratt is piloting space x crew 8 or is that just rumors. I just wondered cuz of Dominick got assigned to that mission wouldn’t they have to replace him on the backup commander seat of the first starliner mission that I wonder.

You're correct about Artemis III. As far as Crew-8, I presume that it will be announced as soon as it's confirmed, so if we haven't heard anything, I doubt it has been confirmed. (I would presume that it is not confirmed until I have evidence that it is, in other words.)

Let me add a distinction that you might find helpful. Compare the Dominick-Barratt rumor and the Bresnik-Watkins discussion. Talking about the Dominick-Barrett rumor is not speculation (as I view it), since there is evidence behind it--we just don't know what all of that evidence is, as we don't know what led the person who made the Wikipedia edit to do so. Bresnik-Watkins, in contrast, was just a proposal; I kind of doubt even Joe Acaba knows who will be on Artemis III right now. The mods have said further back in this thread that this thread is for two things: (1) discussion of assignments and (2) discussions of things other than official assignments that have evidence behind them. I believe that Dominick-Barratt falls within #2 but Bresnik-Watkins or (to pick something out of the air) throwing out four names for who might fly on Crew-10 does not.

If the mods disagree with this, what they say goes, of course. However, I hope this helps!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: NasaFan95 on 04/14/2023 06:36 pm
Thank you
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 04/15/2023 12:52 am
Thank you

No problem!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 04/15/2023 05:08 am
Crikey, sorry folks. My Bresnik-Watkins speculation was based upon Bresnik's position (from 2018) as assistant to the chief for exploration and (from 2019 until Jan 2022 at least) as the SLS/Orion/EGS Branch Chief of the astronaut office & Watkins as (the only) African-American geologist.

It was merely a "thinking aloud"-type thing, based on the roles this pair have done in the past. Sorry to have caused any annoyance with my comment.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 04/15/2023 02:31 pm
https://twitter.com/katlinegrey/status/1647245216947027972

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Tobias_Corbett on 04/16/2023 10:54 am
Not sure if this has been discussed on here before (feel free to delete this if so), but someone has updated the Commercial Crew Program Wikipedia page to show Josh Kutryk of the Canadian Space Agency as having been assigned to Starliner PCM-1, with a source added that doesn't seem to reflect that in any way. Just wanted to put it out there and see if anyone had any information on that before I reverse the edit.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 04/20/2023 01:05 am
https://twitter.com/chs42/status/1648802464424943622

https://www.esa.int/Newsroom/Press_Releases/Sweden_intends_to_send_ESA_astronaut_to_the_International_Space_Station
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 04/20/2023 07:42 am
First for a European maybe not.

There is an agreement between Italy and Axiom for a flight on Axiom-3.

... without mentioning Turkey.

It is not clear on which fly Marcus Wandt is flying ? AX-3 ? AX-4 ? later ?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: jacqmans on 04/20/2023 10:14 am
https://twitter.com/katlinegrey/status/1647245216947027972



And looks like Epps wil be on Crew-8 as well

https://twitter.com/SciGuySpace/status/1648507444556107779?s=20
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 04/25/2023 02:27 pm
https://twitter.com/CommanderMLA/status/1650857327283585024?s=20 (https://twitter.com/CommanderMLA/status/1650857327283585024?s=20)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TALsite on 04/26/2023 02:29 pm
https://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=6276

Translated with DeepL.  Image taken from the GCTC page

(Bold is mine)


Joint training of backup crews took place in the CPC
| Preparation
April 26, 2023

The duplicating crew of the ISS-70, like the main crew, continues to prepare for the upcoming expedition. Yesterday, astronauts and astronauts "fixed" accidents aboard the ISS.

For the backup crew of manned transport spaceship "Soyuz" Alexei Ovchinin, Oleg Platonov and Tracy Dyson, and "doubles" mission Crew-7 consisting of Matthew Dominic, Michael Barratt, Janette Epps and Alexander Grebenkin specialists simulated two scenarios of major emergency situations in the Russian segment of the station. One of the accidents the cosmonauts and astronauts had to parry, working together.

They successfully handled the situation of depressurization on the ISS RS simulator. After searching for a leaky compartment, the crews repaired the malfunction.

Astronauts and astronauts showed high results in this part of the test. The actions of Crew-7 mission duplicators were evaluated by the committee, and the crew of Soyuz spacecraft continued training.

The next emergency situation, which was introduced by the Center instructors, was a "fire" on the station. Having analyzed the situation, the crew decided to "leave" the ISS on the manned spacecraft.

Astronauts and astronauts moved from the hall of the Russian segment of the station to the simulator of Soyuz spacecraft. Wearing gas masks, Alexey Ovchinin, Oleg Platonov and Tracy Dyson donned spacesuits and took their places in the spacecraft. Then the crew performed "undocking" from the station and "urgent descent" to Earth.


====================

So probably they will be the astronauts assigned to the Crew-8 flight
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 04/26/2023 06:22 pm
Shouldn't there be an international astronaut, or is Crew-8 different?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ZachS09 on 04/26/2023 06:28 pm
Shouldn't there be an international astronaut, or is Crew-8 different?

I don't think there has to be. My understanding is that three USOS astronauts & one Russian cosmonaut comprise the crew.

Also, I presume that Dominick will be commander with Barratt as pilot.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 04/29/2023 06:05 pm
The new Turkish astronaut has started tweeting

https://twitter.com/AstroAlper_/status/1652296561332715520?s=20 (https://twitter.com/AstroAlper_/status/1652296561332715520?s=20)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 04/29/2023 07:01 pm
https://twitter.com/SarwatNasir/status/1652319071424184320

Story here:
https://apnews.com/article/turkey-erdogan-astronaut-space-0f787aadc7e5ef660e311916c209f550
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 04/29/2023 07:16 pm
I understand that the crew will be
CMR : Michael López-Alegría
PLT : Walter Villadei
MS : Alper Gezeravci
MS : Marcus Wandt

so three astronauts financed by their own government. Difficult to call this flight "space tourism".
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: dcfowler1 on 04/30/2023 04:27 am
Difficult to call this flight "space tourism".

It's not tourism. It's commercial spaceflight.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 04/30/2023 07:59 am
I know, but that is generally the label you get in the media or wikipedia for these missions, this gives a nice negative, controversy spin to it. Rich guys having fun and so forth...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 04/30/2023 08:01 am
Some biography details (birth date, studies, etc)

https://twitter.com/tuajans/status/1652321004029444098?s=20 (https://twitter.com/tuajans/status/1652321004029444098?s=20)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Fu45MDxWIAAFmuj?format=jpg&name=small)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Fu45MZsXwAEN4kp?format=jpg&name=small)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: NasaFan95 on 05/01/2023 07:05 pm
https://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=6276

Translated with DeepL.  Image taken from the GCTC page

(Bold is mine)


Joint training of backup crews took place in the CPC
| Preparation
April 26, 2023

The duplicating crew of the ISS-70, like the main crew, continues to prepare for the upcoming expedition. Yesterday, astronauts and astronauts "fixed" accidents aboard the ISS.

For the backup crew of manned transport spaceship "Soyuz" Alexei Ovchinin, Oleg Platonov and Tracy Dyson, and "doubles" mission Crew-7 consisting of Matthew Dominic, Michael Barratt, Janette Epps and Alexander Grebenkin specialists simulated two scenarios of major emergency situations in the Russian segment of the station. One of the accidents the cosmonauts and astronauts had to parry, working together.

They successfully handled the situation of depressurization on the ISS RS simulator. After searching for a leaky compartment, the crews repaired the malfunction.

Astronauts and astronauts showed high results in this part of the test. The actions of Crew-7 mission duplicators were evaluated by the committee, and the crew of Soyuz spacecraft continued training.

The next emergency situation, which was introduced by the Center instructors, was a "fire" on the station. Having analyzed the situation, the crew decided to "leave" the ISS on the manned spacecraft.

Astronauts and astronauts moved from the hall of the Russian segment of the station to the simulator of Soyuz spacecraft. Wearing gas masks, Alexey Ovchinin, Oleg Platonov and Tracy Dyson donned spacesuits and took their places in the spacecraft. Then the crew performed "undocking" from the station and "urgent descent" to Earth.


====================

So probably they will be the astronauts assigned to the Crew-8 flight
so I do have a question when crew 8 is in orbit or middle of next year late this year will they announce Epps replacement on the starliner crew 1. Cuz that mission was originally slated for august or September of next year, does anyone know if they’ll push it back. And we know kononenko is commanding expedition 70 any news on expedition 71 I’m trying not to speculate but nasa & Roscommos have been hush hush about expedition 71, I mean kononenko takes command from prokopyev in late September, of this year, unless it’s morgensen from September to March & kononenko from late March to mid April 2024 for expedition 70, but if anyone knows what’s going on please let me know. I’d appreciate what’s going on with the starliner. We know tingle & fincke have been assigned as commander and pilot with two other astronauts TBA. But if anyone who’s close to nasa knows anything it be greatly appreciated.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 05/01/2023 08:11 pm
I think commands tend to change, as circumstances change. Originally, of course, Bowen and Kononenko were set to command parts of Exp69, but that never transpired, following last December's Soyuz leak.

My understanding at present is that Prokopyev commands Exp69 through September, Mogensen commands Exp70a through his return to Earth in February 2024 and Kononenko commands Exp70b through his return to Earth in March 2024.

After that, with all but Barratt as rookies on Crew-8, it seems plausible that Barratt may command (in a manner not unlike Marshburn commanding on Crew-3). Or perhaps Ovchinin or Caldwell-Dyson, if they definitely end up on Soyuz MS-25.

As another question: What is happening with Pettit? The ISS thread implies that he is on the March 2024 (Soyuz MS-25), but he seems more likely to be pointed at the Sept 2024 (Soyuz MS-26)? After all, isn't he Caldwell-Dyson's backup, not the other way around?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 05/01/2023 09:36 pm
As another question: What is happening with Pettit? The ISS thread implies that he is on the March 2024 (Soyuz MS-25), but he seems more likely to be pointed at the Sept 2024 (Soyuz MS-26)? After all, isn't he Caldwell-Dyson's backup, not the other way around?

He can't be on MS-25: the backup crew for MS-24 is Ovchinin, Platonov, and Caldwell-Dyson. Since there was (last I knew) supposed to be a Tunisian spaceflight participant on MS-26, I highly doubt that Pettit is on that crew, since a launching crew of Ryzhikov-Pettit-SFP would leave six USOS astronauts and one cosmonaut on ISS for whichever expedition has PCM-1 and MS-26. Based on what we have seen about who is in training, the best conclusion that I can draw is that Pettit will get the first seat rotation slot after Tracy Caldwell-Dyson, which appears to be either Crew-9 or MS-27 in early 2025.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 05/02/2023 08:30 am
Yes, that makes sense.

Am I right in thinking the Belarusian cosmonaut (if it happens) will fly Soyuz MS-25 in March 2024?
If that happens, Chub flies a year and relinquishes his return seat.
But who will be deleted from the Soyuz MS-25 crew - Caldwell-Dyson or Platonov? I would guess Platonov, as there'll already be a full ROS staff of Ovchinin, Chub and Grebyonkin.

That would create an Exp71 (March-September 2024) of:
Alexei Ovchinin
Tracy Caldwell-Dyson
Nikolai Chub
Matthew Dominick
Mike Barratt
Alexander Grebyonkin
Jeanette Epps

So 4 U.S. and 3 Russian.

If the Belarusian doesn't fly, Platonov launches on MS-25 and Chub returns after six months.

If Platonov gets moved, will he move one place to the right as FE1 on Ryzhikov's Soyuz MS-26 crew?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 05/02/2023 02:42 pm
Agreed on all counts. That makes sense and matches the evidence we have so far.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 05/06/2023 12:32 pm
https://twitter.com/tonyquine/status/1654803044075200514

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: tonyq on 05/08/2023 12:40 pm
https://twitter.com/tonyquine/status/1654803044075200514



Thanks for sharing my Tweet. I neglected to post the link here myself!

I suspect that whether this flight actually happens is very much linked to what happens in Russia/Ukraine/Belarus over the next few months.

The choice of a young doctor makes sense, but I am bemused that they have short-listed an airline cabin-crew member, who has no higher education, and was previously a professional ballroom dancer! But then, Belarus and a weird country, ruled by a despot, so nothing should be surprising.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ZachS09 on 05/23/2023 06:53 pm
https://twitter.com/nasaspaceops/status/1661069616100126720
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: marcdrnl on 05/29/2023 02:46 pm
Big move on the crew assigned to Soyuz MS-24 to MS-28 :

MS-24 launching : Kononenko / Chub / O'Hara - landing : Novitsky / Belarusian / O'Hara
MS-25 launching : Novitsky / Belarusian / T.C Dyson - landing : Kononenko / Chub / T.C Dyson
MS-26 launching : Ovchinin / Platonov / Gorbunov or NASA - landing : Ovchinin / Platonov / Gorbunov or NASA
MS-27 launching : Ryzhikov / Mikayev / Peskov or NASA - landing : Ryzhikov / Mikayev / Peskov or NASA
MS-28 launching : Kud-Sverchkov / Vagner / Zubritsky or NASA - landing : Kud-Sverchkov / Vagner / Zubritsky or NASA

source : GCTC telegram and https://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=155
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 05/29/2023 06:17 pm
So the female Tunisian cosmonaut project is off the table?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 05/31/2023 04:11 pm
So the female Tunisian cosmonaut project is off the table?

It's also possible that this is a provisional assignment until someone is named.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Tomness on 06/01/2023 04:47 pm
So the female Tunisian cosmonaut project is off the table?
No Bucks, No Buck Rogers. Kremlin got to pay back their IOUs. Ergo Belarus getting a Soyuez Ride. Worth 80 million a pop.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 06/02/2023 06:45 am
Am I right in thinking this will produce a situation with only 2 Russians on the ISS in the late summer of 2024?

Kononenko and Chub are flying a year from Sept 2023-Sept 2024.
Grebyonkin flies on Crew-8 from Feb-Aug 2024.
No Russian (?) on Starliner-1, so from Aug 2024 onwards (assuming there's a U.S. astronaut on the Sept 2024 Soyuz), there will be 5 USOS and 2 ROS.

Unless of course the Russians have changed their position and are happy for a cosmonaut to be on Starliner-1?
Or perhaps fly Ovchinin, Platonov and Gobunov on the Sept 2024 Soyuz and hold Pettit for the Mar 2025 Soyuz?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Zed_Noir on 06/02/2023 09:07 am
Am I right in thinking this will produce a situation with only 2 Russians on the ISS in the late summer of 2024?

Kononenko and Chub are flying a year from Sept 2023-Sept 2024.
Grebyonkin flies on Crew-8 from Feb-Aug 2024.
No Russian (?) on Starliner-1, so from Aug 2024 onwards (assuming there's a U.S. astronaut on the Sept 2024 Soyuz), there will be 5 USOS and 2 ROS.

Unless of course the Russians have changed their position and are happy for a cosmonaut to be on Starliner-1?
Or perhaps fly Ovchinin, Platonov and Gobunov on the Sept 2024 Soyuz and hold Pettit for the Mar 2025 Soyuz?
You are presuming Starliner-1 will fly in around August 2024. The Russians are better off planning for their ISS crew rotation, that NASA Crew-9 will be more likely flown on a Crew Dragon with a Russian aboard.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 06/02/2023 03:34 pm
Am I right in thinking this will produce a situation with only 2 Russians on the ISS in the late summer of 2024?

If the Tunisian flight goes ahead and PCM-1 flies in August, then yes, you are correct, because it would have to be Tracy Caldwell-Dyson whose flight was extended (otherwise, someone would fly for a year and a half). If not, then they could launch a three-Russian Soyuz.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: eric z on 06/02/2023 04:01 pm
 Please excuse if not the right place to bring this up. Should not we be using the now-limited lifetime of ISS to keep pushing mission durations for at least a couple crew members at a time? What is wrong with an 18-month mission? Or 2 years , building towards 3 years? I thought one of the prime directives of station was to push these boundaries.? We could also be using our assets to get as many Artemis Acccords representative astronauts into space as possible, before the End.
 At his seniority level get Don back up there ASAP. ;)
 I think we need to get real about the odds we don't have any station by 2030, and maybe not a moon landing either. The public has a short attention span!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Tomness on 06/03/2023 04:46 pm
Please excuse if not the right place to bring this up. Should not we be using the now-limited lifetime of ISS to keep pushing mission durations for at least a couple crew members at a time? What is wrong with an 18-month mission? Or 2 years , building towards 3 years? I thought one of the prime directives of station was to push these boundaries.? We could also be using our assets to get as many Artemis Acccords representative astronauts into space as possible, before the End.
 At his seniority level get Don back up there ASAP. ;)
 I think we need to get real about the odds we don't have any station by 2030, and maybe not a moon landing either. The public has a short attention span!

Apparently Radiation Hard Limits start creeping up on senior astronauts and cosmonauts that they have go in management positions, retire or transition to commercial company and hope to fly again like Axiom
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: NasaFan95 on 06/05/2023 12:02 pm
So does that mean kononenko is gonna contour his command after expedition 70 or will he assign it to barrart or Caldwell. I’m not trying to speculate I just wondered cuz of his extended stay.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Chris Bergin on 06/05/2023 02:00 pm
Please use this thread for general comments about assignments.

https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=59008.0
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 06/13/2023 07:50 am
https://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=155

Have I misread this, or does this state that the ISS command for Exp 70, 71, 72 and 73 will all be Russians?

Kononenko is listed as Expedition CDR (CE) for (end of) Exp 70 and 71 (up to Sept 2024)
Ovchinin is CDR for Exp 72 (up to Mar 2025)
Ryzhikov is CDR for Exp 73 (up to Sept 2025)

I appreciate that things change with crewing patterns and so forth, but this seems rather specific and from GCTC too.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 06/13/2023 03:58 pm
https://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=155

Have I misread this, or does this state that the ISS command for Exp 70, 71, 72 and 73 will all be Russians?

I would nuance it. The way I read it, there will be Russian commanders of ISS during Expeditions 70, 71, 72, and 73, but not all of the ISS commanders for those expeditions will be Russians. Kononenko, Ovchinin, and Ryzhikov are all listed as ISS flight engineers and also as commanders. This would match well with Andreas Mogensen, possibly someone from Crew-8, and probably Mike Fincke (assuming PCM-1 flies before Crew-9) also getting to command.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Rian on 06/14/2023 01:10 am
Haven't seen this posted yet but selection of two cosmonauts for ROSS station to be selected late this year/next year.

https://tass.com/russia/1629311

Quote
MOSCOW, June 8. /TASS/. The inaugural selection of cosmonauts for space flights to the future Russian Orbital Station (ROS) is planned for 2023-2024, the press office of the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center reported on Thursday.

"First targeted selection of cosmonauts for flights to the ROS is planned for 2023-2024," the press service announced.

The training center added that active cosmonauts from the Russian Space Agency Roscosmos would also participate in the flights to Russia’s future orbital outpost.

In April 2021, then-Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov said that the condition of the International Space Station left much to be desired and Russia might focus on creating its own orbital outpost. Work on the future orbital station’s conceptual design is currently underway.

Deputy Prime Minister, Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov said in October last year that Russia had already determined the preliminary cost of its future orbital station.

Deputy Chief Designer of the Energia Space Rocket Corporation (part of the State Space Corporation Roscosmos), ROS Chief Designer Vladimir Kozhevnikov told TASS in February that Russia would launch the first research/energy module at the end of 2027 and the nodal, gateway, basic and special-purpose modules in 2028-2030.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 06/15/2023 12:09 am
Shouldn't the previous two posts go in the new general flight crew assignments thread?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 06/15/2023 10:36 am
 N° 28–2023: ESA proposes Marcus Wandt from Sweden to fly on a future Axiom space mission (https://www.esa.int/Newsroom/Press_Releases/ESA_proposes_Marcus_Wandt_from_Sweden_to_fly_on_a_future_Axiom_space_mission)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 06/15/2023 03:17 pm
https://twitter.com/esaspaceflight/status/1669285229234667522

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 06/16/2023 10:13 am
https://twitter.com/astro_marcus/status/1669584803178373120?s=20 (https://twitter.com/astro_marcus/status/1669584803178373120?s=20)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Garrett on 06/16/2023 11:15 am
Quote
Media representatives are invited to a press event on Friday 16 June at 16:00 CEST in Stockholm with Marcus Wandt, member of the ESA astronaut reserve, and learn more about a future spaceflight with Axiom Space.

Quote
Press Conference details
Time: 16:00 (doors open at 15:30)

Venue: Rödbodgatan 6, Stockholm or via Zoom

ESA Web TV offers a livestreaming of the complete event (from 16:00): www.esa.int/ESA_Web_TV (http://www.esa.int/ESA_Web_TV)

Participants

-      David Parker, ESA Director of Human and Robotic Exploration

-      Mats Persson, Swedish Minister for Education

-      Anna Rathsman, Director General of Swedish National Space Agency

-      Marcus Wandt, ESA Project Astronaut

https://www.esa.int/Newsroom/Press_Releases/ESA_proposes_Marcus_Wandt_from_Sweden_to_fly_on_a_future_Axiom_space_mission
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 06/16/2023 02:22 pm
GT: "Middle-aged star" Kimiya Yui, for the second long-term stay on the ISS ... Scheduled for next year: Yomiuri Shimbun Online https://yomiuri.co.jp/science/20230616-OYT1T50128/
Yomiuri Shimbun, who asked the question "Middle-aged star" at the press conference, is a true headline w

https://twitter.com/ohnuki_tsuyoshi/status/1669602282848256001

Info from here:
https://www.yomiuri.co.jp/science/20230616-OYT1T50128/

GT: ``Middle-aged star'' Kimiya Yui to make a second long-term stay on the ISS...Scheduled for next year

It has been decided that astronaut Kimiya Yui (53) will stay on the International Space Station (ISS) for a long period of time around 2024. Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Nagaoka made the announcement at a press conference after the cabinet meeting on the 16th. This is Yui's second stay in space since 2015.

Mr. Yui is a former pilot of the Air Self-Defense Force. In 2009, he was selected as an astronaut candidate by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) at the age of 39, the oldest at the time, and was called a "middle-aged star." During his first space stay from July to December 2015, he was the first Japanese to capture a Japanese unmanned supply ship, Kounotori, with a robot arm on the ISS.

At a news conference, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Nagaoka said, "(Mr. Yui) is not only a middle-aged man, but a pride of Japanese people. I think he will show the public that 'if you work hard, you can go to space.'"

Among Japanese astronauts, Satoshi Furukawa (59) is scheduled to stay on the ISS for a long period after August this year.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 06/16/2023 02:38 pm
GT: Today, June 16th, is World Sea Turtle Day.

Our fellow turtle @Astro_Kimiya
 Today, a new departure was announced📣

Be prepared and don't forget anything❗️
I'm looking forward to communicating with you from the #Tsukuba Space Center and working together at the Japanese Experiment Module "Kibo" 🇯🇵👋

https://twitter.com/Astro_Kanai/status/1669697049707806720

Official info here:
https://www.jaxa.jp/press/2023/06/20230616-1_j.html

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 06/16/2023 02:42 pm
https://twitter.com/esaspaceflight/status/1669707147846860803

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 06/16/2023 02:43 pm
https://twitter.com/esaspaceflight/status/1669712150258917378

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: zubenelgenubi on 06/23/2023 01:46 am
2024 ISS flight probably Axiom:
As part of Indian PM's visit to the USA, India is signing onto the Artemis Accords
ISRO and NASA will also carry out a joint mission to the International Space Station in 2024.

https://www.businesstoday.in/latest/in-focus/story/india-to-sign-artemis-accords-for-space-exploration-isro-nasa-to-launch-joint-mission-to-iss-386747-2023-06-22

Quote
India to Sign Artemis Accords for Space Exploration; ISRO-NASA to Launch Joint Mission to ISS

The Artemis Accords are based on the Outer Space Treaty of 1967 and serve as a non-binding framework of principles to guide civil space exploration


The White House on Thursday said that India has decided to join the Artemis Accords, an agreement that brings together like-minded nations in the field of civil space exploration

The White House announced that the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) have also agreed to collaborate on a joint mission to the International Space Station in 2024.

These developments were revealed prior to the meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden at the Oval Office.

The Artemis Accords are based on the Outer Space Treaty of 1967 and serve as a non-binding framework of principles to guide civil space exploration and utilisation in the 21st century.

The accords are part of an American-led initiative to return humans to the moon by 2025 and eventually expand space exploration to Mars and beyond.

Furthermore, NASA and ISRO are working on establishing a strategic framework for cooperation in human spaceflight this year. The senior administration official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, also mentioned that several partnerships are being formed in the field of semiconductors.

...

Cooperation in advanced computing, artificial intelligence, and quantum information science is also being fostered through the establishment of a joint Indo-US quantum coordination mechanism and the signing of an implementation arrangement on artificial intelligence, advanced wireless, and quantum technologies.

Both countries are working together on 5G and 6G technologies, including Open Radio Access Network (RAN) systems, with plans for field trials, rollouts, and scale deployments in both markets.

“Here we'll be announcing partnerships on open ran, field trials and rollouts, including scale deployments in both countries with operators and vendors of both markets. This will involve backing from the US International Development Finance, for cooperation and to promote the deployments in India,” the official said.

...

These various initiatives aim to enhance cooperation between India and the United States across multiple sectors, promoting technological advancements, innovation, and shared goals in space exploration, semiconductors, critical minerals, advanced telecommunications, and higher education.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 07/12/2023 07:14 am
Based on this

Interest grows for human spaceflight in Europe  (https://spacenews.com/interest-grows-for-human-spaceflight-in-europe/)

Sławosz Uznański is slated for a future Axiom flight since he is the only Polish astronaut at ESA.

Sławosz Uznański (https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/Astronauts/Slawosz_Uznanski)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 07/22/2023 04:53 pm
I'm not sure if Google Translate will handle this properly, but this link confirms that Marina Vasilevskaya will be the Belarusian prime crew member for MS-25 next spring: https://euroradio-fm.translate.goog/ru/stalo-izvestno-kakuyu-belorusku-otobrali-dlya-poleta-v-kosmos?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-US. Assuming that the translation is accurate, it also implies to me (contrary to much reporting to date) that Tracy Caldwell-Dyson will be ascent FE1, not FE2, since it talks (in translation) about Novitsky being the commander and Caldwell-Dyson being the flight engineer.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 08/04/2023 08:51 pm
Not really news to anyone that follows this stuff but now it's official.

[NASA HQ News] Space Station Assignments Out for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 Mission

August 04, 2023
RELEASE 23-080
Space Station Assignments Out for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 Mission

Four crew members now are assigned to launch on NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 mission for a long-duration stay aboard the International Space Station.

NASA astronauts Commander Matthew Dominick, Pilot Michael Barratt, and Mission Specialist Jeanette Epps, along with Roscosmos cosmonaut Mission Specialist Alexander Grebenkin, will join Expedition 70 and 71 crew members aboard the station in early 2024 to conduct a wide-ranging set of operational and research activities.

This will be the first spaceflight for Dominick, who became a NASA astronaut in 2017. He is from Wheat Ridge, Colorado, and earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of San Diego, California, and a master’s in systems engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. He is an active-duty U.S. Navy astronaut. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School in Patuxent River, Maryland, and then served as a test pilot specializing in testing landing on and catapult launches from U.S. Navy aircraft carriers.

This will be Barratt’s third trip to the space station. In 2009, Barratt served as a flight engineer for Expeditions 19 and 20 as the station transitioned its standard crew complement from three to six, and performed two spacewalks. He flew aboard the space shuttle Discovery in 2011 on STS-133, which delivered the Permanent Multipurpose Module and fourth Express Logistics Carrier. He has spent a total of 212 days in space. Born in Vancouver, Washington, he Considers Camas, Washington, to be his hometown. Barratt earned a bachelor’s in zoology from the University of Washington, Seattle, and a doctor of medicine from Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois. He completed residencies in internal medicine at Northwestern and aerospace medicine along with a master’s degree at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. After nine years as a NASA flight surgeon and project physician, Barratt joined the astronaut corps in 2000.

This also will be Epps’ first trip to the space station. She is from Syracuse, New York, and earned a bachelor’s in physics from LeMoyne College in Syracuse, New York, and a master’s in science and a doctorate in aerospace engineering from the University of Maryland, College Park. Prior to joining NASA, she worked at Ford Motor Company and the Central Intelligence Agency. She was selected as an astronaut in July 2009, and has served on the Generic Joint Operation Panel working on space station crew efficiency, as a crew support astronaut for two expeditions, and as lead capsule communicator in the Mission Control Center at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Epps previously was assigned to NASA’s Boeing Starliner-1 mission. NASA reassigned Epps to allow Boeing time to complete development of Starliner while also continuing plans for astronauts to gain spaceflight experience for future mission needs.

Grebenkin, who graduated from Irkutsk High Military Aviation School, Irkutsk, Russia, majoring in engineering, maintenance, and repair of aircraft radio navigation systems, also is flying on his first mission. He graduated from Moscow Technical University of Communications and Informatics with a degree in radio communications, broadcasting, and television.

This is the eighth rotational mission to the space station under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, which works with the American aerospace industry to provide safe, reliable, and cost-effective transportation to and from the orbital outpost on American-made rockets and spacecraft launching from American soil.

For more than 22 years, humans have lived and worked continuously aboard the International Space Station, advancing scientific knowledge and demonstrating new technologies, making research breakthroughs not possible on Earth. As a global endeavor, 244 people from 19 countries have visited the unique microgravity laboratory that has hosted more than 3,000 research and educational investigations from researchers in 108 countries and areas.

The station is a critical testbed for NASA to understand and overcome the challenges of long-duration spaceflight and to expand commercial opportunities in low Earth orbit. As commercial companies focus on providing human space transportation services and destinations as part of a robust low Earth orbit economy, NASA is able to more fully focus its resources on deep space missions to the Moon and Mars.

Find more information on NASA’s Commercial Crew Program at:

https://www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew

https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/space-station-assignments-out-for-nasa-s-spacex-crew-8-mission
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 08/10/2023 05:42 am
 Axiom Space, ESA Sign Agreement with Poland for Future Human Spaceflight Mission (https://www.axiomspace.com/news/poland-esa-agreement)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TALsite on 08/15/2023 01:01 pm
https://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=6389

Translated with DeepL

Quote
The Main Medical Commission has recommended that cosmonaut Oleg Platonov be removed from the duplicate crew of the Soyuz MS-24 manned spacecraft, the 70th and 71st long-duration expeditions to the International Space Station.

The main crew of the Soyuz MS-24 spacecraft and the ISS-70/71 expeditions includes Roscosmos cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko, Nikolai Chub and NASA astronaut Loral O'Hara. Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexei Ovchinin and NASA astronaut Tracy Dyson continue to prepare to duplicate the main crew. Alexei Ovchinin duplicates both Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub.

The Soyuz MS-24 manned spacecraft is scheduled to be launched by a Soyuz-2.1a launch vehicle from Baikonur Cosmodrome on September 15, 2023.



If Platonov don't recover health, maybe Mikayev (the next in line) will be assigned the Soyuz MS-26 seat.
We'll watch next news
https://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=155
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: marcdrnl on 08/15/2023 05:46 pm
With today removal of Platonov, here is the current situation in the futur Soyuz crews :

Prime -- Back-Up

MS-24 : Kononenko/Chub/O'Hara -- Ovchinin/Dyson
MS-25 : Novitsky/Dyson/Vasilevskaya -- Vagner/Pettit/Lenkova
MS-26 : Ovchinin/Platonov (Vagner can replace but no conformation yet)/Tunisian or Pettit -- Ryzhikov/Mikayev/???

If the Tunisian flight is perform on MS-26, Dyson will have a year stay on ISS.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 08/15/2023 07:53 pm
With today removal of Platonov, here is the current situation in the futur Soyuz crews :

Prime -- Back-Up

MS-24 : Kononenko/Chub/O'Hara -- Ovchinin/Dyson
MS-25 : Novitsky/Dyson/Vasilevskaya -- Vagner/Pettit/Lenkova
MS-26 : Ovchinin/Platonov (Vagner can replace but no conformation yet)/Tunisian or Pettit -- Ryzhikov/Mikayev/???

If the Tunisian flight is perform on MS-26, Dyson will have a year stay on ISS.

Would Vagner jump ahead of Mikaev, Marc? Last I knew, he was Mikaev's backup for MS-27.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: marcdrnl on 08/16/2023 03:52 pm
With today removal of Platonov, here is the current situation in the futur Soyuz crews :

Prime -- Back-Up

MS-24 : Kononenko/Chub/O'Hara -- Ovchinin/Dyson
MS-25 : Novitsky/Dyson/Vasilevskaya -- Vagner/Pettit/Lenkova
MS-26 : Ovchinin/Platonov (Vagner can replace but no conformation yet)/Tunisian or Pettit -- Ryzhikov/Mikayev/???

If the Tunisian flight is perform on MS-26, Dyson will have a year stay on ISS.

Would Vagner jump ahead of Mikaev, Marc? Last I knew, he was Mikaev's backup for MS-27.

Mikayev is paired with Ryzhikov since 1 year and an half so according to some sources I have, Roscosmos is less likely to split both Sergey and would prefer to go ahead with Vagner paired with Ovchinin.

But maybe Platonov is only grounded for few weeks and will be able to stay on MS-26 as planned. We need to wait to have more info coming officlay or not from Roscosmos
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 08/16/2023 04:27 pm
Mikayev is paired with Ryzhikov since 1 year and an half so according to some sources I have, Roscosmos is less likely to split both Sergey and would prefer to go ahead with Vagner paired with Ovchinin.

But maybe Platonov is only grounded for few weeks and will be able to stay on MS-26 as planned. We need to wait to have more info coming officlay or not from Roscosmos

Interesting! Thanks!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 08/25/2023 10:00 pm
Mods, feel free to move if this is not the right thread. Does anyone with contacts in NASA or Roscosmos know without speculating what flight this is likely to be? https://www.reuters.com/technology/space/russia-us-agree-additional-us-astronaut-flight-iss-interfax-2023-08-25/
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 08/27/2023 04:46 pm
Sorry to commit the carnal sin of speculating, but I imagine it would be to make up for the lost U.S. seat on March's Soyuz MS-23?

O'Hara has moved one seat to the right, but Rubio's stay has essentially taken up two U.S. crew spots on Soyuz.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 08/27/2023 06:39 pm
Sorry to commit the carnal sin of speculating, but I imagine it would be to make up for the lost U.S. seat on March's Soyuz MS-23?

O'Hara has moved one seat to the right, but Rubio's stay has essentially taken up two U.S. crew spots on Soyuz.

You're not speculating, Ben--you're asking a specific clarifying question based on very good evidence, unlike some. Yes, you are correct. That is my understanding.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: David27 on 09/09/2023 02:49 pm
Whilst researching for a site/blog that I am creating, I discovered an article relating to the training of astronauts in preparation for landing on the Moon. The training was undertaken by Randy Bresnik and Zena Cardman, at the U.S. Army’s High-Altitude Aviation Training Site, at Eagle County airport in Gypsum.

https://www.vaildaily.com/news/nasa-astronauts-using-eagle-county-as-a-training-ground-for-moon-landing/

Both astronauts gifted signed photographs by means of thanks to the people of Gypsum. Interestingly, Cardman's is signed ~ 'Zena Cardman CREW 9'
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 09/09/2023 08:57 pm
Not sure if this belongs here. Apologies if not.

Per Rob Navias, the ISS commands over the next year as presently defined are as follows:

Mogensen commands Expedition 70 from Sept 2023 to Feb 2024
Kononenko commands Expedition 70/71 from Feb to Sept 2024
Ovchinin commands Expedition 72 from Sept 2024

So it appears no command for Barratt or Caldwell Dyson, sadly.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 09/09/2023 11:27 pm
Per Rob Navias, the ISS commands over the next year as presently defined are as follows:

Mogensen commands Expedition 70 from Sept 2023 to Feb 2024
Kononenko commands Expedition 70/71 from Feb to Sept 2024
Ovchinin commands Expedition 72 from Sept 2024

Did he have anything to say on why someone from Crew-9 will not command between Kononenko and Ovchinin?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 09/09/2023 11:54 pm
Sadly, no. But I think it does tend to alternate between USOS and ROS, although sometimes the partners negotiate to get back-to-back commands.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 09/12/2023 04:09 pm
Human Spaceflight
@esaspaceflight
🤩 It's official!
👨🏻‍🚀 @esa project astronaut Marcus Wandt from Sweden 🇸🇪 will fly to the International @Space_Station on an @Axiom_Space  mission no earlier than January 2024.
🐦‍⬛ More about @astro_marcus, his 14-day mission called #Muninn and the #Ax3 crew: https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/Marcus_Wandt_will_fly_to_International_Space_Station_on_third_Axiom_Space_mission

"
Axiom Space announced the four crew members who will spend up to 14 days on board the Space Station during the Ax-3 mission. Marcus will serve as mission specialist under the command of Michael López-Alegría, Axiom Space’s chief astronaut, representing both USA and Spain as a dual-citizen.

Ax-3 will be the first commercial human spaceflight mission with an ESA-sponsored astronaut. Marcus’s mission, called Muninn, is supported by ESA and the Swedish National Space Agency (SNSA).

“ESA is supporting a new generation of space explorers that use commercial access to space with new ideas, concepts and research. A more versatile access for humans to space will fuel the European economy and knowledge beyond Earth,” says ESA’s Director of Human and Robotic Exploration Daniel Neuenschwander.

The other two Ax-3 crew members are Walter Villadei, an Italian Air Force colonel and pilot for the mission, and Mission Specialist Alper Gezeravci from Türkiye.
"

https://twitter.com/esaspaceflight/status/1701582456418124099
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ZachS09 on 09/12/2023 04:54 pm
With Mike Lopez-Alegria’s assignment as Ax-3 commander, he’ll be the tenth astronaut/cosmonaut to make six spaceflights.

The other nine who’ve made that feat include:
- John Young
- Story Musgrave
- Jerry Ross (flew a seventh time later on)
- Franklin Chang-Diaz (flew a seventh time later on)
- Sergei Krikalev
- Jim Wetherbee
- Mike Foale
- Curt Brown
- Yuri Malenchenko
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 09/15/2023 05:42 pm
Known for some time but finally officially announced.

NASA Space Operations
@NASASpaceOps
.@NASA
 has assigned astronaut Tracy C. Dyson to her second long-duration mission to the @Space_Station
 as a flight engineer and member of the Expedition 70/71 crew. Dyson will launch on the Roscosmos Soyuz MS-25 spacecraft in March 2024 and spend approximately six months aboard the orbital complex. More: https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-astronaut-tracy-c-dyson-receives-third-space-station-assignment

https://twitter.com/NASASpaceOps/status/1702735668915343565
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 09/21/2023 08:28 pm
Is there any new news on the Vagner-Platonov-Mikaev situation?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Joachim on 09/22/2023 05:54 am
On Soyuz MS-26 Platonov was replaced by Vagner.

https://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=155
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 09/22/2023 12:33 pm
On Soyuz MS-26 Platonov was replaced by Vagner.

https://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=155

I had not heard! Thanks!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 10/17/2023 10:57 am
NASA: Alysson Muotri será o 1º Cientista Brasileiro a Viajar para o Espaço (https://tudoparabrasileiros.com/nasa-alysson-muotri-sera-o-1o-cientista-brasileiro-a-viajar-para-o-espaco/)

Quote
The scheduled launch of this mission is expected to take place no earlier than August 2024, as stated in a NASA press release. Departing from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA, aboard a SpaceX rocket and spacecraft, the mission is projected to spend up to 14 days docked at the ISS.

Although NASA and Axiom Space have not yet confirmed the final crew of the mission named Ax-4, details about Muotri's journey to space remain confidential. However, it has been disclosed that the Brazilian scientist's trip is scheduled for November 2024. This timeline aligns with Axiom's planning for the ISS: the first mission took place in April 2022, followed by the second in May 2023, the third is scheduled for November of this year, and the Ax-4 mission will follow this trajectory.

Last month, the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (MCTI) officially announced Muotri's upcoming trip to the International Space Station.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 10/19/2023 05:21 am
It'll be interesting to see how the Ax commands pan out over the next year or so. With only Lopez-Alegria and Whitson as Axiom astronauts, and a requirement from NASA that commanders must be former NASA astronauts, does that mean the two will essentially alternate, flight by flight? Hence, Whitson as Ax-4 CDR?

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Zed_Noir on 10/19/2023 09:36 am
It'll be interesting to see how the Ax commands pan out over the next year or so. With only Lopez-Alegria and Whitson as Axiom astronauts, and a requirement from NASA that commanders must be former NASA astronauts, does that mean the two will essentially alternate, flight by flight? Hence, Whitson as Ax-4 CDR?
Think Axiom will need to expand their former NASA Astronaut roster. Just to be sure there is a former Astronaut available in case of either Lopez-Alegria or Whitson getting down-check from whatever reason.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Skylon on 10/19/2023 01:52 pm
It'll be interesting to see how the Ax commands pan out over the next year or so. With only Lopez-Alegria and Whitson as Axiom astronauts, and a requirement from NASA that commanders must be former NASA astronauts, does that mean the two will essentially alternate, flight by flight? Hence, Whitson as Ax-4 CDR?
Think Axiom will need to expand their former NASA Astronaut roster. Just to be sure there is a former Astronaut available in case of either Lopez-Alegria or Whitson getting down-check from whatever reason.


Rex Walheim is on Axiom's payroll. While the website shows him as "Safety Officer", a management role, is he considered as part of the company's pool of Astronauts that can fly a mission?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 10/19/2023 03:52 pm
With only Lopez-Alegria and Whitson as Axiom astronauts, and a requirement from NASA that commanders must be former NASA astronauts, does that mean the two will essentially alternate, flight by flight? Hence, Whitson as Ax-4 CDR?

Yes. See #6 in the quote on post #50 of the AX-3 thread on this site.

Rex Walheim is on Axiom's payroll. While the website shows him as "Safety Officer", a management role, is he considered as part of the company's pool of Astronauts that can fly a mission?

That's a good question! I had wondered the same myself.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 10/19/2023 06:53 pm
During the Ax-3 crew press conference, MLA said that Peggy and him will continue to alternate and are enough to fulfill Axiom obligations towards NASA, which strongly implies Peggy will command Ax-4.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Yellowstone10 on 11/14/2023 01:57 am
New press release from JAXA: Takuya Onishi has been selected for another long-term stay on the ISS in 2025, and Kimiya Yui's stay has been pushed back from 2024 to 2025. (Not entirely sure what that means re: who's flying on which crew rotation mission.)

https://www.jaxa.jp/press/2023/11/20231114-1_j.html
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 11/14/2023 02:03 am
GT: I will be able to go on a long-term mission to the ISS once again 👨‍🚀
thank you very much!
I will work together with my fellow Kibo operational controllers to make this mission a fruitful one.
We will do our best to introduce the progress of the training to everyone, so please continue to support us.

[press release]
Regarding long-term stay of JAXA astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS)

JAXA Astronaut ONISHI Takuya Assigned as a Member of ISS Expedition Crew and Modification of JAXA Astronaut YUI Kimiya's ISS Schedule

Regarding long-term stay of JAXA astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS)

November 14, 2023 (Reiwa 5)

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency

We would like to inform you that astronaut Takuya Onishi of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has been chosen for a long-term stay on the ISS. We would also like to inform you that the period of long-term ISS stay for Astronaut Kamiya Yui has been changed.

1. About Astronaut Takuya Onishi's long-term stay on the ISS
Period of stay: Around 2025
Main mission: As a long-term ISS crew member, we plan to carry out maintenance, preservation, and utilization missions (scientific experiments, etc.) of various ISS facilities, including Kibo.

 2. Regarding changes to Astronaut Kamiya Yui’s long-term stay on the ISS
Period of stay: (before change) Around 2024
(After change) Around 2025

https://twitter.com/Astro_Onishi/status/1724250213261750496
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 11/14/2023 02:07 am
New press release from JAXA: Takuya Onishi has been selected for another long-term stay on the ISS in 2025, and Kimiya Yui's stay has been pushed back from 2024 to 2025. (Not entirely sure what that means re: who's flying on which crew rotation mission.)

https://www.jaxa.jp/press/2023/11/20231114-1_j.html

If you scroll way down on that page you posted it shows the order of JAXA Astronauts flights.   Looks like Yui first, then Onishi


油井 亀美也 Kimiya.Yui
@Astro_Kimiya

Congratulations Onishi-san on your decision to stay for a long time!
My long-term stay is now scheduled for around 2025, so I wonder if I might be able to temporarily stay on the ISS at the same time?
I would like to make this a mission where we can give back to each other and make everyone happy.
Let's work hard together!

https://twitter.com/Astro_Kimiya/status/1724260362046836848
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 11/14/2023 02:14 am
金井 宣茂
@Astro_Kanai

GT: ㊗️ Mission assignment 🎊🥳🎉
Astronaut Onishi @Astro_Onishi 's second long-term space stay has been decided ‼️

Astronaut Yui @Astro_Kimiya , who has already started training for the mission, is likely to fly around 2025, so I'm looking forward to it ♪

https://twitter.com/Astro_Kanai/status/1724256215084179924
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 11/14/2023 02:40 pm
New press release from JAXA: Takuya Onishi has been selected for another long-term stay on the ISS in 2025, and Kimiya Yui's stay has been pushed back from 2024 to 2025. (Not entirely sure what that means re: who's flying on which crew rotation mission.)

https://www.jaxa.jp/press/2023/11/20231114-1_j.html

Does this mean that either Kutryk or Sidey-Gibbons is likely to fly on Crew-9, or is the fourth seat (other than the usual two Americans and one Russian) likely to go to someone else? I'm pretty sure I saw that the next ESA seat isn't likely until Crew-10.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 11/14/2023 03:16 pm
With Gerst pictured last year doing NBL training with Pettit, a possible place for him on Crew-9 would potentially see them flying together in late 2024.

Unless Gerst (and Pesquet) are being held back for ESA Gateway flights, of course...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 11/14/2023 03:32 pm
With Gerst pictured last year doing NBL training with Pettit, a possible place for him on Crew-9 would potentially see them flying together in late 2024.

Unless Gerst (and Pesquet) are being held back for ESA Gateway flights, of course...

I'm nearly positive it was announced earlier this year, I think by Aschenbacher, that the veteran astronauts are being held back for Gateway and that the new class will finish out ESA's ISS seats.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Joachim on 11/14/2023 05:00 pm
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20231114/p2g/00m/0sc/029000c gives more information.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 11/15/2023 12:43 am
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20231114/p2g/00m/0sc/029000c gives more information.

Interesting. Thanks!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: hektor on 11/20/2023 07:51 am
https://twitter.com/SzabBen004/status/1726245810130858210?s=20 (https://twitter.com/SzabBen004/status/1726245810130858210?s=20)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 11/20/2023 06:25 pm
Canadian Space Agency
@csa_asc
Don’t miss this! 👉 We’ll be live on November 22 at 9:30 a.m. ET for an announcement regarding new Canadian Space Agency astronaut assignments! The event will be streamed on our Facebook and YouTube pages.

https://twitter.com/csa_asc/status/1726649102153421071

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 11/22/2023 01:30 pm
LIVE NOW - Announcement of new assignments for Canadian Space Agency astronauts
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTAHJfw-UZw
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 11/22/2023 01:57 pm
Joshua Kutryk
@Astro_Kutryk
I am honoured to take part in Starliner-1 mission to the International Space Station.

https://twitter.com/Astro_Kutryk/status/1727340243148542156

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 11/22/2023 02:00 pm
Gordon Oz Osinski
@drcrater
So cool!! AMAZING to hear that @Astro_Jenni has been assigned to the back-up crew for the #ArtemisII mission!!!! So happy for my friend & proud that whatever happens, we'll have a Canadian on this historic mission! #ToTheMoon #CanadaInSpace

https://twitter.com/drcrater/status/1727340219832139850

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 11/22/2023 02:02 pm
Dr. Jenni Sidey-Gibbons
@Astro_Jenni
I have been assigned as the CSA backup astronaut for the #Artemis II mission. I can’t wait to contribute to this historic mission, and to train alongside @Astro_Jeremy and the crew.

https://twitter.com/Astro_Jenni/status/1727339592016379935

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 11/22/2023 02:05 pm
Gordon Oz Osinski
@drcrater
And huge congratulations to @Astro_Kutryk who will embark on a 6 month extended mission to the @Space_Station in 2025!!! So excited for you Josh!! #CanadaInSpace

https://twitter.com/drcrater/status/1727340815700340902

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 11/22/2023 02:18 pm
Canadian Space Agency
@csa_asc
Just announced! @Astro_Kutryk will be the next Canadian to fly to the @Space_Station as a crewmember of the Starliner-1 mission, Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner crew ship’s first operational mission. Launch is targeted for no earlier than the beginning of 2025. https://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/missions/starliner-1/mission.asp

He will become the first CSA astronaut to be part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. During his mission, Joshua will conduct science experiments and technology demonstrations. He will also support critical operations and maintenance activities.

https://twitter.com/csa_asc/status/1727343761703989615
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 11/22/2023 02:20 pm
NASA Commercial Crew
@Commercial_Crew
Welcome aboard,@Astro_Kutryk!

@csa_asc astronaut Joshua Kutryk has been selected as a mission specialist for NASA’s Boeing Starliner-1 mission. Kutryk joins @NASA_Astronauts Scott Tingle + Mike Fincke for its first crew rotation flight to @Space_Station: https://go.nasa.gov/3Rc7Rvp

https://twitter.com/Commercial_Crew/status/1727345662801670423

Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 11/22/2023 02:25 pm
Canadian Space Agency
@csa_asc
Breaking news! @Astro_Jenni has been assigned as a CSA backup astronaut for #Artemis II. This secures a seat for Canada on the first crewed mission to the Moon in over 50 years, in the event that @Astro_Jeremy Hansen is unable to fly. https://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/news/articles/2023/2023-11-22-astronaut-jenni-gibbons-designated-canadian-backup-artemis-ii.asp

Jenni Gibbons will help define and validate the astronauts’ training and processes for future Moon missions.

https://twitter.com/csa_asc/status/1727342699010007072
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 11/22/2023 04:52 pm
Is it safe to assume (not speculating, folks) that this means that there is very likely to be an Indian on Crew-9, since we know that the international seat on that flight will not go to Kutryk or to Yui or to Onishi or to anyone from ESA?
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Rian on 11/28/2023 11:58 pm
Is it safe to assume (not speculating, folks) that this means that there is very likely to be an Indian on Crew-9, since we know that the international seat on that flight will not go to Kutryk or to Yui or to Onishi or to anyone from ESA?

I believe so. With the Zena Cardman Crew-9 signature and Russian already "assigned" all that's left is presumably the commander. Here's to hoping we get an announcement this week.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 12/05/2023 02:38 pm
This appears to confirm that the Indian astronaut will fly on Axiom. I infer that it will be AX-4, not AX-5. https://www.space.com/indian-astronauts-nasa-week-long-trip-iss. Now I'm really curious who will get the third seat on Crew-9! Time will tell.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Hog on 12/06/2023 10:57 pm
Hansen's gotta be 'chomping at the bit' for Artemis-2 to launch.  It's been, what, since April when he got the Arty 2 nod, and him being one of the last "Chumps" of 2009 to get a flight assignment.  Jeanette Epps is the other "Chump" that's been flightless. Epps has received training on every crewed ISS system-post STS   

Hansen was selected during the CSA selection of 2009 where St Jacques was the other CSA Astronaut Candidate. 2018-2019 St Jacques EVA'd breaking the Canadian spacewalking drought of 12 years which began back when David Williams walked in August 11, 2007 during 2006 STS-118, after Steve McLean walked during STS-115(Sept 2006), and the first Canadian to space walk was Hadfield who EVA'd during STS-100 in 2001.

With Gibbons given the Artemis-2 CSA backup slot, Hansen had better stay healthy.

Edit: proper EVA dates.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 01/25/2024 08:13 pm
Per Rob Navias, the Crew-9 assignment will be announced next week.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 01/25/2024 08:26 pm
Per Rob Navias, the Crew-9 assignment will be announced next week.

Cool! Finally! The crew assignments have been rather sparse recently. Were there any spoilers (a la Epps on Crew-8)? I'm thinking especially of crew make-up, given the whole international astronaut switch-up.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 01/25/2024 08:29 pm
There are a few rumours swirling around (including a very surprising possible candidate for CDR), but let's wait and see...
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 01/25/2024 08:38 pm
There are a few rumours swirling around (including a very surprising possible candidate for CDR), but let's wait and see...

Interesting. I've heard at least three or four rumors myself for CDR and PLT (presuming Cardman) but absolutely nothing on MS-1 (replacing Kanai). Looking forward to finding out!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 01/31/2024 07:46 pm
There are a few rumours swirling around (including a very surprising possible candidate for CDR), but let's wait and see...

Interesting. I've heard at least three or four rumors myself for CDR and PLT (presuming Cardman) but absolutely nothing on MS-1 (replacing Kanai). Looking forward to finding out!

Just announced, Crew-9:

CDR Cardman
PLT Hague
MS1 Wilson
MS2 Gorbunov


Michael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 01/31/2024 07:53 pm
Just announced, Crew-9:

CDR Cardman
PLT Hague
MS1 Wilson
MS2 Gorbunov

Thanks! I hadn't seen. Cardman over Hague for CDR seems quite odd.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: catdlr on 01/31/2024 08:04 pm
https://twitter.com/NASASpaceOps/status/1752792001278341267
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 01/31/2024 08:09 pm
Nice to see Wilson get another assignment. With Pettit hopefully arriving in September and Fincke in the spring, we should see the final three active "Sardines" in orbit together early next year.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 01/31/2024 08:34 pm
Nice to see Wilson get another assignment. With Pettit hopefully arriving in September and Fincke in the spring, we should see the final three active "Sardines" in orbit together early next year.

I hadn't realized that! Cool!!
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: TJL on 01/31/2024 10:23 pm
There are a few rumours swirling around (including a very surprising possible candidate for CDR), but let's wait and see...

Interesting. I've heard at least three or four rumors myself for CDR and PLT (presuming Cardman) but absolutely nothing on MS-1 (replacing Kanai). Looking forward to finding out!

Just announced, Crew-9:

CDR Cardman
PLT Hague
MS1 Wilson
MS2 Gorbunov


Michael Cassutt

Just wondering, how are crew members selected for SpaceX Dragon missions?
Does NASA select them or SpaceX?
Also, once the (NASA) astronauts are chosen for a flight, who assigns their specific role (ie: CDR, PLT, MS)?
Thank you.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 01/31/2024 11:21 pm
There are a few rumours swirling around (including a very surprising possible candidate for CDR), but let's wait and see...

Interesting. I've heard at least three or four rumors myself for CDR and PLT (presuming Cardman) but absolutely nothing on MS-1 (replacing Kanai). Looking forward to finding out!

Just announced, Crew-9:

CDR Cardman
PLT Hague
MS1 Wilson
MS2 Gorbunov


Michael Cassutt

Just wondering, how are crew members selected for SpaceX Dragon missions?
Does NASA select them or SpaceX?
Also, once the (NASA) astronauts are chosen for a flight, who assigns their specific role (ie: CDR, PLT, MS)?
Thank you.

It all depends on who is buying the SpaceX Dragon missions. Axiom assigns its crew members, private buyers like Isaacman assign theirs... NASA assigns its ISS crews, including CDR, PLT or MS roles.

MC
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Zed_Noir on 02/01/2024 02:40 am
<snip>
Just wondering, how are crew members selected for SpaceX Dragon missions?
Does NASA select them or SpaceX?
Also, once the (NASA) astronauts are chosen for a flight, who assigns their specific role (ie: CDR, PLT, MS)?
Thank you.

It all depends on who is buying the SpaceX Dragon missions. Axiom assigns its crew members, private buyers like Isaacman assign theirs... NASA assigns its ISS crews, including CDR, PLT or MS roles.

MC
More precisely, Astronauts for NASA missions is chosen by the opaque NASA Astronaut Office, AIUI. 
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: dcfowler1 on 02/01/2024 04:20 am
Crew for any flight to the ISS, whether NASA, Soyuz or Axiom have to be approved by the international partners.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: ddspaceman on 02/01/2024 04:42 pm
Guys, this is not a discussion thread.   There is an appropriate place for this and it is called, strangely enough:
Flight crew assignments questions
https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=59008.120
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: marcdrnl on 02/09/2024 10:56 am
I think it's time to do a round of the assign crew for the upcoming ISS Expedition :

Exp-71 :
Soyuz : Kononenko / Chub / Dyson
Crew-8 : Dominick / Barratt / Epps / Grebyonkin

Exp-72 :
Soyuz : Ovchinin / Vagner / Pettit
Crew-9 : Cardman / Hague / Wilson / Gorbunov

Exp-73 :
Soyuz : Ryzhikov / Mikayev / Russian or Tourist
Starliner-1 : Tingle / Fincke / Kutryk / Yui

Exp-74 :
Soyuz : Kud-Sverchkov / Zubritsky / NASA
Crew-10 : NASA / NASA or ESA  / Onishi / Russian

Name that have been italicized are waiting an official statement but are more then likely
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 02/09/2024 07:39 pm
Exp-73 :
Soyuz : Ryzhikov / Mikayev / Russian or Tourist
Starliner-1 : Tingle / Fincke / Kutryk / Yui

Exp-74 :
Soyuz : Kud-Sverchkov / Zubritsky / NASA
Crew-10 : NASA / NASA or ESA  / Onishi / Russian

I did not know that there were rumors of a tourist on MS-27, Marc--interesting! That would seem odd, though, as it would either lock Pettit into a one-year flight, which would seem odd given his age, or lock Vagner into a one-year flight, which would seem odd given that it would bounce Soyuz FE1s around.

It will be interesting to see whether Crew-10 has one international astronaut or two.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Ben E on 02/10/2024 06:44 am
Knowing Pettit, I don't think he'd baulk at a longer flight ;)
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: JoeFromRIUSA on 02/14/2024 12:58 am
I thought Petit had exceded his lifetime radiation dosage
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: John_Marshall on 02/14/2024 02:50 am
I thought Petit had exceded his lifetime radiation dosage

Not that I've heard, but I could have missed something.
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: JoeFromRIUSA on 02/22/2024 01:12 pm
Mea Culpa. It was Don THOMAS who was removed from flight consideration for the above mentioned condition
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Michael Cassutt on 02/22/2024 06:50 pm
I thought Petit had exceded his lifetime radiation dosage

Not that I've heard, but I could have missed something.

Those standards and limits have, er, evolved over the years. Not sure what they are and in any case each astronaut has a different one . . . it's not just a matter of days in space.

Michael Cassutt
Title: Re: Flight crew assignments
Post by: Yellowstone10 on 03/27/2024 07:57 pm
Don Pettit is now official for MS-26, along with Ovchinin and Vagner:

https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-astronaut-don-pettit-to-conduct-science-during-fourth-mission/

Quote
During his fourth mission to the International Space Station, NASA astronaut Don Pettit will serve as a flight engineer and member of the Expedition 71/72 crew. After blasting off to space, Pettit will conduct scientific investigations and technology demonstrations to help prepare crew for future space missions.

Pettit will launch on the Roscosmos Soyuz MS-26 spacecraft in September 2024, accompanied by Roscosmos cosmonauts Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner. The trio will spend approximately six months aboard the orbital laboratory.