Soyuz launch to increase ISS crew to six for first time
17:25, 27 May 2009
MOSCOW. May 27. KAZINFORM. The Soyuz TMA-15 launch vehicle is set to take off on Wednesday on a mission to deliver three astronauts to the International Space Center (ISS), increasing the total number to six for the first time; Kazinform refers to RIA Novosti.
The launch of the Soyuz-FG booster rocket, bearing the manned Soyuz TMA-15 vehicle, is scheduled for 02:34 p.m. Moscow time (10:34 GMT) from the Baikonur space center in Kazakhstan.
The vehicle is due to dock with the ISS at 04:36 p.m. Moscow time (12:36 GMT) on Friday.
During the upcoming 180-day mission, the six-member crew will receive and unload three Russian Progress craft and a Japanese HTV-1 space freighter, conduct two spacewalks and carry out a series of scientific experiments; Kazinform cites RIA Novosti. See www.en.rian.ru for full version.