Image above: Computer-generated artist’s rendering of the International Space Station following scheduled activities of June 26, 2006. Credit: NASA

Crew prepares for Progress and Shuttle dockings

Expedition 13 Commander Pavel Vinogradov RV3BS and Flight Engineer Jeff Williams KD5TVQ this week prepared for the departure of one unpiloted Progress cargo carrier, the arrival of another, and for the STS-121 shuttle mission of Discovery that will deliver an additional crew member.

Both crew members worked to pack ISS Progress 20 with trash to get ready for its June 19 undocking, deorbit and incineration in the Earth's atmosphere. They continued to use oxygen from its tanks for the station's atmosphere. They closed the hatch and performed a leak check Friday.

Germany's Thomas Reiter DF4TR, who will be the 3rd ISS crew member, will fly to the space station on the Shuttle

The crew also tested the manual docking system, which would be used in the unlikely event the automated docking system is unable to bring ISS Progress 22 to the Pirs docking port.

The new Progress is scheduled to launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome June 24 and dock with the station June 26. It will carry about 2.5 tons of equipment and supplies.

Also on Tuesday, Williams, a Wisconsin native, took time to talk with a reporter from WEAU-TV in Eau Claire, Wis.

• NASA astronauts Michael Lopez-Alegria and Sunita Williams and Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Tyurin have been named as the 14th crew of the International Space Station. Expedition 14 is scheduled to begin this fall.

• Read more about the Expedition 14 crew

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