Expedition 9 crew back on Earth

"I hereby accept command of the International Space Station." With those words and the traditional ringing of the ISS bell, Expedition 10 Commander Leroy Chiao, KE5BRW, and ISS Flight Engineer Salizhan Sharipov marked the change of command during an October 22 ceremony aboard the space station.

The International Space Station Expedition 9 crew of Commander Gennady Padalka, RN3DT, and NASA ISS Science Officer Mike Fincke, KE5AIT, are now back on Earth after spending nearly 188 days in space and travelling more than 78 million miles on the ISS. Padalka, Fincke and Russian Space Forces Test Cosmonaut Yuri Shargin landed safely in Kazakhstan early October 24. Shargin had accompanied Chiao and Sharipov to the ISS earlier in the month.

The Expedition 10 crew returned to a full schedule October 27 after three days of light duty following the hectic week of crew handover activities. Despite the busy week before departure, Fincke did manage to slip in a few casual QSOs on 2 meters, according to postings on the ISS Fan Club Web site.

In addition to conducting science experiments during his eight days aboard the ISS, Shargin participated in Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) school group contacts with students in Finland and Belgium.

The Expedition 10 crew is not expected to begin its own series of ARISS school group contacts until the week of November 11. Among other locations, ARISS school group contacts are penciled in for Italy, New York, Quebec, and Ontario. Specific dates for those QSOs have not yet been established. The RS0ISS packet system, which was down for a short time earlier this week, is now back in operation.

Padalka and Fincke are in Star City, Russia, for a few weeks of post-flight debriefings and medical exams. They'll return to Houston in mid-November, NASA says. Expedition 10 officially took command of the ISS Expedition 9 when the hatches between the departing Soyuz vehicle and the ISS closed at 1800 UTC October 23.

Chiao and Sharipov are expected to spend the next six months continuing ISS science operations and maintaining station systems. They will also prepare the ISS for the space shuttle's return to flight and conduct two space walks. Expedition 10 is scheduled to return to Earth next April 25.

some information from NASA

Source: ARRL Letter - courtesy of The American Radio Relay League

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