Station Crew Handover Activities Continue

The six-member Expedition 25 crew is preparing for a change of command as Commander Doug Wheelock and Flight Engineers Shannon Walker and Fyodor Yurchikhin pack up for their return to Earth.

The departing trio is scheduled to land in Kazakhstan Thursday at 11:46 p.m. EST (Friday 10:46 a.m. Kazakhstan time). When they undock in the Soyuz TMA-19 spacecraft Expedition 26 will officially begin. Remaining onboard the station will be Expedition 26 commander Scott Kelly and Flight Engineers Alexander Kaleri and Oleg Skripochka.

Even as he prepares to depart, Wheelock is sampling and analyzing the water inside the station. The water is being tested for micro-organisms and bacteria.

Walker, along with Kelly, reviewed her skills with the station’s robotic arm, Canadarm2, using the DOUG (Dynamic Onboard Ubiquitous Graphics) computer. She also spent time storing biological samples in the Destiny laboratory’s Human Research Facility.

Yurchikhin continued his packing activities and spent time editing data in the Inventory Management System.

The transitioning Expedition 26 crew continues its handover activities. The crew members reviewed their new emergency roles and responsibilities as the outgoing Expedition 25 crew ends its increment.