Space

ISS expedition prepares for return to Earth

RIA Novosti

14:07 25/11/2010

MOSCOW, November 25 (RIA Novosti) - The Soyuz TMA-19 spacecraft crew on the International Space Station (ISS) is completing preparations for their return to Earth on Friday, a spokesman for Russian space agency Roskosmos said.

Expedition 25 Commander Doug Wheelock handed over command of the ISS to Expedition 26 Commander Scott Kelly in a ceremony on Wednesday.

Wheelock and flight engineers Shannon Walker and Russia's Fyodor Yurchikhin are scheduled to land in Kazakhstan at 10:46 a.m. local time [03:46 GMT] on Friday.

Expedition 26 will officially commence when the Soyuz TMA-19 undocks from the station later on Thursday.

Kelly and Russia's Alexander Kaleri and Oleg Skripochka will remain onboard the ISS in anticipation of the Soyuz TMA-20's arrival next month.