Spacers

Soyuz Docks To Station

Spacers Update

NASA astronaut Timothy (T.J.) Creamer, Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kotov, and Japanese astronaut Soichi Noguchi docked their Soyuz capsule to the International Space Station at 5:48pm EDT. Hatches are scheduled to be opened at 7:35pm EDT, after comprehensive leak checks are performed to ensure a solid seal between the Soyuz and the ISS.

Their arrival marks the return to a five person crew aboard the station, which has been manned by a crew of two since the departure of the previous Soyuz at the start of December.

[update: 7:30pm EST] Hatches are open.

[update: 7:35pm EST] T. J. Creamer enters the station wearing an elf hat ears. Cosmonaut Oleg Kotov enters the station wearing a Santa hat carrying a wreath. Soichi Noguchi enters wearing a Santa hat and is carrying a bag of presents over his shoulder.

SpaceHead