Hayadan > The three new 27th crew members have arrived at the space station

The three new 27th crew members have arrived at the space station

The members of the 27th crew of the Hillel station talk with senior officials of the space agencies and their families. In the front row from the left are the new occupants of the space station: Andrey Borisenko, Alexander Smokutiev and Ron Garan. In the back are Paolo Nespoli, station commander Dimitri Kondratiev, and Cady Coleman. Photo: NASA TV

The Soyuz TMA-21 spacecraft as photographed minutes before docking at the space station. Photo: NASA TV

The air vents opened between the Soyuz TMA-21 spacecraft and the International Space Station early yesterday morning (22:13 PM EST, 05:13 AM Israel Time) as the three new crew members floated off to their new home. The three Ron Garen, Andrey Borisenko, Alexander Samokutiev were received in the traditional ceremony and the required safety training.

The three joined the three occupants of the space station who man the 27th crew with them: Dimitri Kondratiev, Cady Coleman and Paolo Nespoli who have been living on the station since they arrived there on December 17.

Garen Smokutoyev and Bruysenko are scheduled to work at the station until September. They will become the 28th crew when they leave Kondretiev, Coleman and Nespoli will return to Earth in May aboard the Soyuz TMA-20 spacecraft. Borisenko will then become the station commander.