Soyuz Express
You might think the next International Space Station crew (from left, NASA's Chris Cassidy, Soyuz Commander Pavel Vinogradov and Flight Engineer Alexander Misurkin) is in a hurry. After they launch from Kazakhstan on March 28, they'll reach the station in just six hours instead of the usual two days. The express trip requires precise timing and alignment with the ISS passing overhead, with little margin for error, but the technique has worked well for unmanned Progress cargo deliveries. This will be the first time it's been tried with a crew onboard. Cassidy, a former Navy SEAL,is making his second spaceflight. Misurkin is a rookie, and it will be the third spaceflight for 59-year-old Vinogradov, who lived for six months on the station in 2006.
NASA
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